What do you think?
Rate this book
Fuera de las Sombras del Islam, guiemos a las musulmanas a la luz de cristo
Many Christian women encounter Muslim women in everyday life--at their children's schools, in their neighborhoods, at the grocery store, or sometimes in a foreign country. How can a Christian woman understand this mysterious stranger and reach out to her with the love of Christ? Authors Ergun and Emir Cancer are brothers, Christian scholars, and former Muslims. The Drs. Caner share practical guidelines for Christian women, reminding them that they have a unique role in reaching the Muslim world, since Muslim women may only be reached by other women. The Caners also provide insights regarding the treatment of women in Islam. The Caners' evangelical principles are illustrated by powerful testimonies of Muslim women both in the U.S. and overseas who have embraced the gospel of grace.
- GenresChristian
Paperback
First published August 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 9, 2024
TWO CONVERTS FROM ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY ADDRESS MUSLIM WOMEN
Ergun Michael [‘Mehmet’] Caner is currently Dean of the Graduate School of Theology at the Arlington Baptist University; he was formerly President of Brewton-Parker College [2013-2015], and the former dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary [2005-2011], but was removed from this position after a controversy over some of his background statements, etc. Emir Fethi Caner is President of Truett McConnell University, and formerly taught at Baptist Theological Seminary.
They explained in the first chapter, “Muslims seem to U.S. Christians to be enigmatic, a mystery, and an oddity… Their customs seem strange… Why do some wear a covering over their entire body? Why do they put their foreheads on the ground when they pray? Why do the women walk behind the men?... It is precisely because these questions arise that we have written this book… the religion still seems a puzzle to western Christians… We view them with a mixture of curiosity, fear, and disdain. If you are reading this book, however, the likelihood is that you believe this has to change.” (Pg. 23)
They wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, “All three Caner brothers, Ergun, Erdem, and Emir, were saved within one year of each other, and all three of us were saved out of Islam. We were immigrants to the U.S. We were raised as devout and faithful Muslims… Assurance. Peace. Hope. Salvation. Absolute forgiveness. These were the themes that reached us.” (Pg. 12-14)
They state, “One can deduce that assurance of heaven is not in abundance in the Muslim world… Do Christians arrogantly believe that God in Christ provided the means for our eternal forgiveness so we can act in any way we wish and still go to heaven? We believe that it is precisely BECAUSE of the grace of God that we are compelled to live faithful lives, out or assurance rather than fear. We trust in His salvation … because He is our Father.” (Pg. 48-49)
They advise about the Crusades, “In those horrific eras of history when Christians did not act with love toward unbelievers and instead sought to conquer them… the Church was acting in direct defiance of the teachings of Jesus Christ… When a Muslim reminds you of the tragic acts of Christians in history, or those purported to act on Christ’s behalf, do not even begin to defend them. Sadly, Christianity does indeed have crusades to convert unbelievers in its history, and persecution of non-Christian groups. They serve as a constant embarrassment and reminder of our sin.” (Pg. 52-53)
They suggest, “When comparing and contrasting the assurance of salvation within the two faiths, there area three specific questions that must be asked: 1. Do the sacred texts of each religion give believers assurance of salvation? 2. Was the founder of each religion assured of his own final destination? 3. Do the lives of adherents, followed in accordance to the mandates of the religion, demonstrate a faith that is desirable? Ultimately, if assurance is to be a reality, it should come from the revelation of God, through the prophet of God, in the people of God. If all three of these are not the case, then assurance is only a fleeting notion that has no foundation.” (Pg. 77)
They observe “a new trend in modern terrorism: female suicide bombers. While Islam has normally not asked women to carry out 'jihad,’ the practice is becoming accepted and even approved. Women suicide bombers are being given the status of martyrs in Islam… no one can deny that now even women are carrying out bombings, and claiming Islamic adherence in doing so.” (Pg. 88)
They acknowledge, “Alert Christians also lament the sin and lasciviousness that has saturated western culture. But… we point to the fact that Christ elevated the status of women, who were treated as property in the culture of His day, to that of disciples and followers. He taught women, and befriended women. He crossed barriers to speak to women openly and share the gospel with women directly. He treated women as neither better than men nor less than men, but simply as humans, as much in need of God’s grace as men. In the final analysis, Islam’s treatment of women is at best a chivalrous attempt at protection that is subject to rampant abuse, and at worst an enslaving practice from medieval times that never learned from its mistakes.” (Pg. 103)
They continue, “In true Christianity, women stand on equal footing with men. In Islam, even in the prayer room, a woman’s place is different… Yet in Christianity, we are all kin in Jesus, and thus completely equal. Christianity makes absolutely no distinction between the salvation of standing of a man or a woman. If you are saved, you are free.” (Pg. 109)
They conclude, “Since both Islam and Christianity are exclusive religions, both deny any universal salvation. The Qur’an clearly teaches that only Muslims will go to heaven… Revelation 21:6-8 also teaches us that many people will not enter heaven. All are offered the water of life… Many will not enter heaven due to their rejection of Christ… the punishment of the wicked will be as strong as the blessing of the saved… As we witness to our Muslim friends, it must be emphasized that good works do not earn us heaven; neither do bad works earn us hell… Many Bible passages… clearly teach us that Christ is the only try way to heaven.” (Pg. 157-158)
This book will be of keen interest to those (particularly women) looking for comparisons of Islam and Christianity.
Ergun Michael [‘Mehmet’] Caner is currently Dean of the Graduate School of Theology at the Arlington Baptist University; he was formerly President of Brewton-Parker College [2013-2015], and the former dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary [2005-2011], but was removed from this position after a controversy over some of his background statements, etc. Emir Fethi Caner is President of Truett McConnell University, and formerly taught at Baptist Theological Seminary.
They explained in the first chapter, “Muslims seem to U.S. Christians to be enigmatic, a mystery, and an oddity… Their customs seem strange… Why do some wear a covering over their entire body? Why do they put their foreheads on the ground when they pray? Why do the women walk behind the men?... It is precisely because these questions arise that we have written this book… the religion still seems a puzzle to western Christians… We view them with a mixture of curiosity, fear, and disdain. If you are reading this book, however, the likelihood is that you believe this has to change.” (Pg. 23)
They wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, “All three Caner brothers, Ergun, Erdem, and Emir, were saved within one year of each other, and all three of us were saved out of Islam. We were immigrants to the U.S. We were raised as devout and faithful Muslims… Assurance. Peace. Hope. Salvation. Absolute forgiveness. These were the themes that reached us.” (Pg. 12-14)
They state, “One can deduce that assurance of heaven is not in abundance in the Muslim world… Do Christians arrogantly believe that God in Christ provided the means for our eternal forgiveness so we can act in any way we wish and still go to heaven? We believe that it is precisely BECAUSE of the grace of God that we are compelled to live faithful lives, out or assurance rather than fear. We trust in His salvation … because He is our Father.” (Pg. 48-49)
They advise about the Crusades, “In those horrific eras of history when Christians did not act with love toward unbelievers and instead sought to conquer them… the Church was acting in direct defiance of the teachings of Jesus Christ… When a Muslim reminds you of the tragic acts of Christians in history, or those purported to act on Christ’s behalf, do not even begin to defend them. Sadly, Christianity does indeed have crusades to convert unbelievers in its history, and persecution of non-Christian groups. They serve as a constant embarrassment and reminder of our sin.” (Pg. 52-53)
They suggest, “When comparing and contrasting the assurance of salvation within the two faiths, there area three specific questions that must be asked: 1. Do the sacred texts of each religion give believers assurance of salvation? 2. Was the founder of each religion assured of his own final destination? 3. Do the lives of adherents, followed in accordance to the mandates of the religion, demonstrate a faith that is desirable? Ultimately, if assurance is to be a reality, it should come from the revelation of God, through the prophet of God, in the people of God. If all three of these are not the case, then assurance is only a fleeting notion that has no foundation.” (Pg. 77)
They observe “a new trend in modern terrorism: female suicide bombers. While Islam has normally not asked women to carry out 'jihad,’ the practice is becoming accepted and even approved. Women suicide bombers are being given the status of martyrs in Islam… no one can deny that now even women are carrying out bombings, and claiming Islamic adherence in doing so.” (Pg. 88)
They acknowledge, “Alert Christians also lament the sin and lasciviousness that has saturated western culture. But… we point to the fact that Christ elevated the status of women, who were treated as property in the culture of His day, to that of disciples and followers. He taught women, and befriended women. He crossed barriers to speak to women openly and share the gospel with women directly. He treated women as neither better than men nor less than men, but simply as humans, as much in need of God’s grace as men. In the final analysis, Islam’s treatment of women is at best a chivalrous attempt at protection that is subject to rampant abuse, and at worst an enslaving practice from medieval times that never learned from its mistakes.” (Pg. 103)
They continue, “In true Christianity, women stand on equal footing with men. In Islam, even in the prayer room, a woman’s place is different… Yet in Christianity, we are all kin in Jesus, and thus completely equal. Christianity makes absolutely no distinction between the salvation of standing of a man or a woman. If you are saved, you are free.” (Pg. 109)
They conclude, “Since both Islam and Christianity are exclusive religions, both deny any universal salvation. The Qur’an clearly teaches that only Muslims will go to heaven… Revelation 21:6-8 also teaches us that many people will not enter heaven. All are offered the water of life… Many will not enter heaven due to their rejection of Christ… the punishment of the wicked will be as strong as the blessing of the saved… As we witness to our Muslim friends, it must be emphasized that good works do not earn us heaven; neither do bad works earn us hell… Many Bible passages… clearly teach us that Christ is the only try way to heaven.” (Pg. 157-158)
This book will be of keen interest to those (particularly women) looking for comparisons of Islam and Christianity.
August 10, 2025
I'm not the target audience, but this book left me somewhat unsatisfied. Although I see the relevance of the selected topics, they are treated rather superficially. I get the impression that the authors are more knowledgeable in Christian theology than in Islam.
December 22, 2025
4,5 ⭐️
me sirvió mucho toda la información sobre el Islam. Me hubiese gustado que el final fuese con una conclusión, siento que faltó un poco más de cierre
me sirvió mucho toda la información sobre el Islam. Me hubiese gustado que el final fuese con una conclusión, siento que faltó un poco más de cierre
February 4, 2017
The authors are brothers who converted from Islam to Christianity. The objective of this book is to help Christians understand Muslim women and their beliefs. I learned a lot and was very moved.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews