Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs

by Ergun Mehmet Caner, Emir Fethi Caner

As sons of a Muslim muazzein (Islamic cleric), the Caner brothers have first-hand knowledge of the major beliefs and daily practices of Islamic life. Now Christians, the Caners are in a unique position to present an insider s look at Muslim beliefs.

In a sympathetic yet honest presentation, the Caner brothers offer clear explanations of what is and what is not Islamic doctrine and the religion s impact on daily life. Western readers will find this candid presentation extraordinarily helpful.

Unveiling Islam covers the entire scope of Islam—its practices, ethics, and beliefs. It explains the Jihad, sects within Islam, and how Islam can be used to justify violence when one of its primary tenets is peace. The final two chapters show how Islam views Christianity and how Christians can open understanding dialogue with Muslims.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Islam, Christian, Theology, Faith, Christianity

251 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Brother to Emir Fethi Caner

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is written by two brothers who converted to Christianity. As a result, it's very biased against Islam and does not give a realistic picture of what Islam is and why it is the fastest growing religion. If you want to learn about Islam, read a book written by a Muslim. I read this when I was first studying Islam and it was clear to me at that time that it doesn't really explain Islam or give an insider's view of what it's like to be a Muslim...how can someone who is now on the outside give a balanced, fair picture of Islam?

[Sheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

TLDR version of this monster – average outsider book on Islam, but I think their suggested Christian defenses sometimes focus too much on man instead of God.


As others have pointed out, this is a Christian book on Islam, although I’m a bit puzzled why anyone would think otherwise. The description on the back cover of my copy ends with, “the authors then present a practical strategy Christians can use to open a productive dialogue with Muslims,” which makes it about as clear as possible what the authors were trying to accomplish.

Not really sure I think they accomplished their goals, and IMHO, some of the back cover description is an exaggeration, particularly the “raised as Sunni Muslims” and “lived the Muslim life” parts, since the boys were raised by their non-Muslim mother, had a “weekend” relationship with their Muslim father, and they both converted to Christianity before they could legally drive. A teenager living in a non-Christian family can certainly be a Christian, but they’re not exactly immersed in Christian culture, and I would assume the same is true of Muslim teens. So while the Caners may have identified as Muslim, they weren’t the typical Muslim the back cover implies.

For the most part the Caners present the same info on Islam that I’ve gotten from other secular, Christian, and Islamic sources, although I believe they’re incorrect in arguing that “Islam… teaches that Judas, not Jesus, was crucified,” since so far as I can tell, all the Quaran says is that “they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them.” (Surah 4:157) Some Muslims do believe the substitute was Judas, but I’ve seen Simon of Cyrene or some other disciple suggested as well.

I find it ironic that the Caners repeatedly point out that Islam has as many divisions as Christianity, while at the same time presenting the occasional idea that is disputed as being “Islamic”. Best I can tell, Islam, like Christianity, has some core beliefs that all true believers follow, surrounded by an enormous amount of minor theological differences even among the true believers, and on the far edges are a couple of fringe groups (the Nation of Islam, for a Muslim example, or the Mormons for Christians) who deny the fundamental tenants of the faith but still want to claim the label of “Islam” or “Christianity.”

Islamic groups tend to be structured more like the Amish or Mennonite Christians, without a multi-level hierarchy, where each particular congregation can have its own spin on things, which in all three groups makes these differences less obvious to outsiders, and less likely to lead to the creation of new “denominations” over minor issues (although new congregations are common). Still, although the debates are between smaller communities, the minor differences still exist, and the disagreement over who was substituted for Jesus is one of those in Islam.

But that’s a trivial complaint. Where I think this book is weakest is in its stated goal – Christians opening “a productive dialogue with Muslims.” They start out stating Muslims believe that “Allah is everyone’s god. No one has a choice of the god they serve. No one has the right to call anyone or anything else god, and to do so is an unforgivable sin if not repented.” Then they recommend that the Christian first establish that “Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God.”

But Christians believe that *their* God is the true God everyone owes allegiance to, and that rejecting that True God is an unforgivable sin if not repented. The big three monotheistic religions – Muslim, Christian, and Jewish – all make that claim; that’s why non-monotheists find them so annoying. I suppose a liberal Christian who sees the Bible as primarily symbolic could have a brief theological conversation with a liberal Muslim who doesn’t take the Quran any more seriously, and they might both walk away thinking they believe in the same god, but in my experience any serious Muslim and Christian holding a theological discussion of any depth at all will quickly figure out they’re following very, very different gods.

Muslims may insist, “we believe in the God of the Bible, we just know more about Him,” but any Muslim who knows anything about Christians – namely, that we believe Christ is part of the God head – must really mean, “We believe in the True God who inspired the inerrant Bible, but you guys have been deluded by the corruptions in the Bible into following a false god.” Maybe there are American Muslims who don’t actually see Christian beliefs as a huge offense against Allah, but the Muslims I have talked to definitely see the Christian god as “another Jesus,” to use the pertinent Biblical phrase.

Since the Muslims I’ve actually talked religion with generally figure out all by their lonesome that Christians and Muslims don’t worship the same god, I found that advice kinda pointless. The Caners go on to add five more points Muslims would likely hold, with their recommended defense, some of which I find weak. For instance, they say that Muslims believe, “The true Christian gospel has been changed” and recommend that the Christian respond with the historical evidence “that affirms Christianity.”

But I say, why get into “my historian is better than yours” when you can point back at scripture? The Quran says that Muhammad is mentioned in the Bible.

"Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures) - in the Law and the Gospel. "
Surah 7.157

But I have read the Bible cover to cover, and while the Old Testament is full of Jesus, I have found no hint of Mohammed. For example, many Muslims claim that Muhammad was predicted in the Bible as the “prophet like Moses” foretold in Deuteronomy 18:18:

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him".
Deuteronomy 18.18

But they ignore the rest of the passage, particularly verses 15 & 16

"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren - him you shall heed - just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die' ".
Deuteronomy 18.15-16.

The prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18 will be like Moses in that he will see God face to face, and serve as a mediator between God and the Israelites. Did Muhammad see God face to face? No. Did Jesus? Yes. Did Muhammad claim to be mediator between the people and God, protecting the people from God’s wrath? No. Did Jesus? Yes. Or how about some other discussions of the prophet like Moses in Deuteronomy, like this one:

"And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel."
Deuteronomy 34.10-12.

Did Muhammad present “signs and wonders” like those of Moses? No. Did Jesus? Yes. For example, Moses fed the Israelites with manna – when Jesus performed “the miracle of the 5000,” feeding over 5000 people with five loaves of barley and two fish, the Jews exclaimed, “'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14) Other prophets had power over rivers, but only Moses (Exodus 14.21), and Jesus (Matthew 8.27, Mark 4:39), had power over a sea. And so on.

For that matter, all through the Bible God verifies his prophets by foretelling the future – mostly “If you do not repent, this will happen” kind of stuff, but also some quite extensive prophecies that look far into the future. Jeremiah 31:38-40, for instance, not only predicts that the Jews will one day return to Jerusalem and form a nation there – it outlines how the city will expand, with specific markers like the tower of Hananel, the hill Gareb, Goah, the valley of ashes, the fields as far as the brook Kidron, and the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east. Zechariah 14:10 adds Benjamin’s Gate, First Gate, Corner Gate, the king’s wine presses. Modern archeologists can’t identify all of these points for sure, but enough of them are still known to make it clear that modern-day Jerusalem is indeed filling in these spaces, in order.

So these prophecies, written long before the time of Christ, were at least partially fulfilled in the twentieth and twenty-first century. By the same token, Jesus said Capernaum “will descend to hades” – Capernaum was destroyed in an earthquake in 400 AD. Jesus also spoke against Capernaum’s sister cities, Chorazin and Bethsaida, which are both long gone as well. But the last sister city, Tiberias, which was not condemned, still stands these 2000 years later.

There's also the fact that Daniel, in the days of Babylon, tells the Babylonian king in symbolic terms that the Babylonians will be conquered by the Medo-Persians, the Medo-Persians by the Greeks, and the Greeks by the Romans, and that, in the days of the Roman kings, a “stone not cut by human hands” will smash the rest of the kingdoms and become a new kingdom that will grow to fill all the world. (Daniel 2) Clearly the “smashing” of the kingdoms is not about military conquest – all the nations except Rome have already been conquered by the time the rock smashes them. The last kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, that will smash the gods of the nations that went before. So the “stone not cut by humans hands” in Daniel 2 is the Christian Church, which, as it has grown to reach every nation on earth, has done in nearly all the gods of the nations mentioned (Zoroastrianism is still around, last I checked, although it’s also arguably a spin off of Judaism). That's a pretty specific Biblical prophecy, part of which was fulfilled in New Testament times, that contradicts Islam.

While the Old Testament is filled with prophecies regarding Jesus Christ, I have yet to run across one clearly pointing to Muhammad. And I have yet to see any prophecy from the Quran that foretells something that happens long, long after Muhammad is gone, except vague repetitions of the much more specific Biblical prophecies.

So, while I would certainly point out that even unbelieving historians support the historical accuracy of the our copies of the Old and New Testaments, I would also say, “all through the Bible, God demonstrates his presence via prophecy, recognizing the prophecy won’t make any difference to those who reject Him, but giving that proof ‘for those who have ears to hear.’ If Mohammad was Allah’s greatest prophet, why are his prophecies so weak? Why does the Old Testament foretell the coming of Christ, in such detail that unwary Jews will accuse Christians of quoting the New Testament when they share Isaiah 52:12 through 53:12, but no verses that clearly foretell Mohammad?”

I guess my real problem with the Caners suggested defense is that they focus on man instead of God. As they themselves point out, the fundamental disagreement between Muslims and Christians is which god is the right one; the one in the Bible, or the one in the Quran. When dealing with people who already recognize that there is a God, and that the Bible has some validity, why take the focus off that issue?

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better books I've read discussing Islam from a Christian point of view. If you are not a Christian I would hesitate to recommend this.

But as far as getting inside the religion of Islam: this says basically the same thing as the many other books I've read. But very clearly. Its a quick journey through the life of Muslim's, so don't expect endless details.
You get just enough to know how dangerous this religion is to the rest of the world. Be prepared to lose all of your valued freedoms if Islam has the impact it is fighting for.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd have a hard time recommending this book. The authors have an agenda, and they are very up front about it. They don't have anything nice to say about Islam, and if you are already afraid of Muslims, this book will add fuel to that fire.

That said, I'd like the opportunity to talk to a Muslim about some of the claims the authors make.

[Christina Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion it felt biased, written by a convert to Christianity.

[Sindre Fidje Nilssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For meg, en kort og nyttig innføring i Islam og forskjeller fra Kristen lære. Det mest nyttige var delen om hvordan ydmykt og på en god måte tilnærme seg folk med andre oppfatninger. Boken oppfordrer også oss kristne i vesten til en grundig selvransakelse.

[Don Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 former Muslims (3 brothers covert to Christianity, get Ph.Ds, and travel the country giving speeches. Sounds like the beginning of a good joke!) write a book exlaining to Westerners how the religion works. Well, not quite. At the end of every chapter (practially literally, they might have forgotten one), these two take the time out to explain/show/'prove' why Christainity is 'better' than Islam and why Christianity is the 'true' faith. Um... sure. Obviously, they don't want to give an explanation of the faith as more as 'compare' it to Christianity and then bash it to shreds. It's not until page 206 do they give their real underlying reason for writing the book: Entice Westerners read the Bible and become more invested/interested in their faith.
Instead of explaining some interesing points about Islam (they use both a lunar and solar calendar - how and why? Not explored), they try to point out the flaws and give arugmentative points 'for' Christianity (eg, 'why' the Qaran can't be the 'only' true word of God). They do cover/explain the various sects of Islam, but not extremely deeply (they simply say Sikhs are 'not' Muslims, for instance, and never really explain why not).
It's no wonder why ther father disowned them - they claim it's expected for a Muslim to disown anyone who turns his back on Islam, but after reading what these guys say about their former faith, I wouldn't want to admit that I knew them eitehr!

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Caners, now teaching at Liberty and SEBTS, converted to Christianity from Islam while in their late teens. Their book is easy to read and covers crucial issues, all with an eye toward evangelism.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too Christian- biased, too annoying to finish.

[Jaimie]

This book was written shortly after 9/11 by brothers who converted from Islam to Christianity in the 80s. Even though written nearly 25 years ago, the content is just as necessary for Western Christians, and actually more so given the current state of the world and every country that’s facing a large influx of Muslim migrants and asylum seekers. Being more familiar with the beliefs of Islam is important to me, not for hate or judgmental purposes, but to understand and be able to have a conversation with someone in the religion. As pointed out by the authors, straight up offending a Muslim by being ignorant of their religion and culture won’t get you on good footing for trust and potentially witnessing to them. After 9/11, Americans on the whole became somewhat informed of what Islamists believe, but I learned a lot from this book and recommend it. I understand the authors came a bit under attack after writing this book, but I don’t believe the general information presented in this book has much to do with whether or not their personal testimony was embellished. It’s still great information for Christians to know.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

TWO CONVERTS FROM ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY CONTRAST THE TWO FAITHS

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. [NOTE: This review and page numbers below refer to the 256-page 2002 paperback edition.]

They wrote in the Preface, “As you begin this investigation into Islam, its teachings, and its adherents, we want you to see the human side of religion---where faith often means the total rejection of culture, ethnicity, family, and friends. To find heaven’s glory in Jesus Christ, we Caner brothers lost our father… Since September 11, 2001, we have spoken nationwide in hundreds of [places]. Often, reporters are puzzled about our disinheritance. Implied is the question, ‘Why would switching your religion mean the loss of family? Doesn’t religion enhance the family? Isn’t your nuclear family the most important thing?’ The question betrays a postmodern and Americanized bias. For the other 95 percent of the world’s population, conversion to Jesus Christ often means disowning, disinheritance, expulsion, arrest, and even death… If you believe that torture and murder because of belief in Jesus Christ is a thing of the past, then you are tragically mistaken. Across our globe, the blood of Christians runs down cobblestone streets… and concrete prison floor.” (Pg. 15-16)

They recount, “Our father… met Mother in Sweden... After… getting married, and having their first two son, Ergun and Erdem in Stockholm, Father and Mother moved to America… Emir was born after we arrived in Ohio. The marriage was doomed from the beginning, a clash of cultures… The divorce … was painful… Entering high school, Ergun was a typical young man, except that he was a devout Muslim. Even through the divorce, our parents had maintained our rearing in the mosque… In every way, we were devout, serious Muslims. But our devotion was not an act of love, but of fear… Jerry Tackett, Ergun’s best friend in high school… told Ergun that Jesus loved him, and invited him to church for revival services… the conviction of the Holy Spirit was palpable. On the next day… Ergun returned to the Islamic center a new creature… He assumed that other Muslims also wanted to be free of fear. That was not the case. Ergun’s brothers, however, listened. Erdem accepted Christ in the basement of their home… [Then] the following year… Emir was born again… [Their father] disowned his sons…” (Pg. 17-19)

They explain, “The hadith makes it transparent that jihad has as its primary characteristic a bloody struggle involving military battles… The promise of eternal security is the ultimate motive behind the passion for Allah in the eager young Muslim warrior… He is obeying the noble words of the Qur’an and Hadith, which legitimize his use of the sword. And if he is killed in battle, he achieves … Allah’s guarantee of a spot at the highest level of Paradise.” (Pg. 36)

They state, “the greatest difference between Jesus Christ as God and Savior and Muhammed as prophet of Allah, comes at this point. Jesus Christ shed his own blood on the cross so that people could come to God. Muhammed shed other people’s blood so that his constituents could have political power throughout the Arabian Peninsula… we need to look no further for explanation of violent acts within Islam than at the character of its founder.” (Pg. 49)

They argue, “Some may claim that those who fought for the cross of Christ committed similar crimes against humanity during the Crusades and in other military expeditions. But at issue is not what followers do in wartime that besmirches the supposed honor of Muhammed or Allah or Christ. Both sides have committed grave offenses. Indeed, war itself demonstrate the extent of human sinfulness. At issue is the worthiness of the leader. Jesus did not command the murderous crusaders. Muslim apologists do to present a powerful argument for Muhammad’s worthiness when they equate his penchant for bloodshed to the Christian armies, who disobeyed Scripture.” (Pg. 52) They add, “From a Christian point of view the Crusades: *failed to achieve a united Church. *demonstrated far more Christian concern for booty and possession of special places than for spiritual renewal; *emphasized victory by the sword over evangelization. For many Muslims, the Crusades have never ended. For many Christians, they became the past that would haunt the future.” (Pg. 74-75)

They summarize, “Several conclusions must be drawn from the fourteen hundred years of shared Muslim-Christian history: *With the notable exception of the Crusades, Muslims have initiated almost all wars, due largely to the philosophy of jihad. *War is not a sidebar of history for Islam; it is the main vehicle for religious expansion. It is the Muslim duty to bring world peace via the sword. *Conservative Muslims see Western culture as destructive to Islamic traditions and beliefs. *While modern people are familiar only with the defensive Islem of the last three hundred years, the religion has never forgotten the previous one thousand years of conquest in the cause of Allah. It is this traditional conquering Islam that has reemerged.” (Pg. 78)

They recount, “By the time of Uthman, various versions of the Qur’an had spread across the Islamic community. Setting out to dispose of the variations in the codices and standardize the text, Uthman chose the collection of Zaid ibn Thatbit… Copies of Zaid’s collection were sent throughout the Muslim provinces, while all other manuscripts---some twenty-four variants---were summarily burned. The final choice for a ‘canon,’ then, had little to do with its authenticity. One can deduce that at the time of Uthman, no two Qur’ans were alike, yet in one edict they were all destroyed---except one.” (Pg. 86-87)

They note, “One can find a number of facts and statements in the Qur’an that simply do not match well with other statements found therein. These internal inconsistencies and disagreements seldom sway the Muslim, but they illustrate human fallibility in the central source of Islamic teaching… According to surah 21:76, Noah and all of his family survived the flood, but surah 11:42-43 reports that one of Noah’s sons drowned… The Qur’an is unclear as to what happened to the Pharaoh who pursued Moses. Surah 10:92 states that he survived the battle, but three other texts say that he drowned (surahs 28:40, 17:103, 43:55)… Surah 3:144 states that all messengers died before Muhammad, but surah 4:158 claims that Jesus was raised to God without death.” (Pg. 91-93)

They point out, “Most Muslims will declare that their men hold women in an elevated regard and believe that they must be protected. In comparison with the cultural context from which Islam emerged, there truly was an elevation of women. Yet Islam has deserved its reputation around the world for both educated and successful, but most remain illiterate, hidden, and treated as property. Muslim apologists had a difficult task in defending Islamic doctrines regarding gender and sexuality, for Muhammad was painfully specific about his beliefs concerning women. Some Qur’an texts are a public relations nightmare in societies conditioned by the feminist movement to assume gender equality… Islam teaches that women are inherently inferior to men… How is this subordinate status defined?” (Pg. 133)

They acknowledge, “There is no doubt that Christianity is separated into too many denominations… but to say that Muslims are unified is ridiculous. Shiites, Sunnis, and Sufis separate the Muslim world into different authority structures that are every bit as divergent as the Christian divisions of Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants… Muslims point out differences ‘among’ fringe groups that are not accepted as Christian by the vast majority of believers in Jesus Christ. Comparing quasi-Christian cults with traditional Christianity is akin to associating all of Islam with the theology of the Nation of Islam as conceived by Elijah Poole [Muhammed].” (Pg. 208)

They assert, “The Qur’an and the Bible cannot both be the Word of God, because God does not teach different and contradictory things at different points in history. The texts are antithetical to each other in essential statements…. Unless God lies… it cannot be that both books are divine. If God is less than God, then discussions of salvation, redemption, heaven, and hell are moot, because no god has spoken concretely.” (Pg. 230)

This book will be of keen interest to those looking for comparisons of Islam and Christianity.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this. It's a long read not because it's a big book but because it's so full of info. I needed lots of time between readings to digest. I learned tons from this book and it will be a very valuable resource should a Muslim ever enter my life.

The biggest take-away info for me was this: Yes Christians as well as Muslims have behaved deplorably through the ages. The Christians murdered many Muslims during the Crusades and the Muslims have killed and persecuted Christians aplenty. But if you go back to each group's holy books (Bible and Koran) you can see clearly the stance of each group's leader (Jesus and Muhammed). Muhammed condoned and encouraged this behavior. Muhammed said to kill the infidel. One example, surah 9:29, "Fight those who believe not in Allah." Jesus said, "love the enemy. Do good to those who persecute you." "Blessed are the peacemakers." When "Christians" fought the Crusades they acted contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus shed His blood so others could come to God. Muhammad shed others' blood to expand the Islamic kingdom. Jesus taught love and peace. Muhammed taught war and aggression.

"War is not a side bar of history for Islam; it is the main vehicle for religious expansion. It is the Muslim duty to bring world peace via the sword."

Muslims are taught by the Koran and Allah's messenger to "fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them." (surah 9:5) Christians are taught to live at peace by Jesus and the Bible.

If I forget most of what I read in this book, and I probably will, I don't thing I'll forget this most critical issue. Jesus was/is all about love, peace, mercy. Muhammed was very wrapped up in violence.

This is a very informative book and one that any Christian, especially one who has a Muslim friend or such, will benefit from.

[Dianne Flavian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative if you really want to know the proper way to reach out to the Muslim. There are very useful tips in ways to start a dialog without being unknowingly offensive. Essentially, how to reach out with the love that Jesus embodies. There is a very informative chapter that addresses the popular idea that everyone prays to the same god. I recommend this book for Christians who want a better understanding of Islam or Muslims who want to begin a comparative study of the two religions

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book from ex-Muslim,Christian brothers about the beliefs of Islam. The Caner brothers are masters of explaining the whys and wherefores of this growing religion and what Christians need to know about these people who need a Savior.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative overview of Islam from Muhammed to the present by two former Muslims. It also is a great resource for Christians who wish to be a more effective witness to Muslims.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very infomative book. It was also written so someone with limited knowledge on the subject could understand it.

[Taneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great, and eye-opening book. Definitely for older audiences, although that may be obvious. Otherwise, definitely read it!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down. Moved me to tears and gave me new direction in my prayer life....opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of Islam.

[Michelle Kssili · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bias book written by 2 brothers who converted to Christianity. It is very rare that a man born Muslim converts. They are so quick to judge Islam, allow me to explain:

(Pg23) They lay claims that Afghans were behind the 9/11 attacks, but what they did not inform you was that the zionist planned this attack 3 yrs prior to eliminate Bin Laden. All books I have read that Christians have written on Islam address this same issue with little or no knowledge. You dont condemn the religion you condemn the man.

Christians, for many years, have had a way of twisting and rewriting the bible without telling telling the actual truth. The book of Barnaby, which was the bible, then has been rewritten by Christian philosphers, leaving out parts of the truth. Which does not surprise me. Why would God sacrifice anyone for your sins? (Pg29)

Of course, "inshallah" if god willing. No one, including Muslims are sure of their destiny. Only god knows. (Pg 32) To say, Muslim disowned children if they choose a different religion, but you fail to mention that Amish do the same. Yes, prayer is rejected if you are unclean, bu it does not mean you will go to hell.

(Pg 40) Aisha was promised at 9 yrs, but Muhammad never touched her until she was of age. You also fail to mention that Abraham married a 3 year old. Quick to condemn one man but the other. Your book has nothing to do with religion but with the man. (Pg48) How can Jesus be god? God is not human. He is not son of god.

(Pg51) You compare Jesus & Muhammad, and yet they came from 2 different time periods. Allah gave each different task to be carried out. ( pg55) Muhammad never condemned beating your wife, but it is known in Islam to punish her with a tap of the Siwak( toothbrush). ( pg65) Christopher Columbus did not discover America.

Muslims dont write books condemning Christianity bit Christians write books condemning Islam. (Pg70) The Great Mosque of Damascus replaced the Cathedral church > you say this demonstrates the superiority of Islam over corrupt Christianity. But in Cordoba, Spain, Christians built a church inside a mosque. When the Spaniards conquered Spain, they forced Muslims to convert to Christianity or die. Never will that happen in Islam.

(Pg88) Pharoah's wife found and adopted moses. Correction was not his daughter. Christians believe in a trinity but not the 10 commandments that state one god. Final thought I stopped at pg 123, Christians have a problem with Prophet Muhammad, not Islam per say. Judging a religion based on very little knowledge is never good. And who are we to judge, we aren't god.

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This informative book was written by brothers who were raised Muslim and later became Christians. Both are now academics. Among others, they make these points about Islam:

1. Allah is not the God revealed by Jesus. Allah doesn’t love everybody; he only loves you if you love him first.
2. The Hadith and Sunnah are sacred books in addition to the Qur’an. The Hadith in particular lays out rules for living. There are rules for every aspect of life.
3. Islam is based on works. At the last judgment, your good and bad deeds are placed on a balance, and if you’re at least 51% good, you have a chance at Paradise. Muhammad himself expressed doubt that he would make it. There is no forgiveness unless you die on jihad.
4. In addition to your good works, you need Allah’s mercy to enter Paradise.
5. Dying as a martyr on a jihad is the only guarantee of Paradise. Jihad martyrs get additional perks in Paradise such as their own house and beautiful virgins.
6. Islam is not a religion of peace. The authors quote sura after sura that urge Muslims to kill infidels. Muslims who live at peace at home are specifically mentioned as inferior. “Islam does in fact have an essential and indispensable tenet of militaristic conquest.”
7. Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and press “are completely foreign to the traditions of Islam and are regularly condemned by Muslims wordwide.”
8. Women are genetically inferior to men, physically and mentally. Women are unclean by nature and a bad omen. Women cannot participate in jihad. Hell is full of women.
9. Muslim hell is worse than the “Christian” version of hell.
10. Muslims pray five times a day, but this prayer is not communication between god and man. It’s a prescribed ritual.

[Jeffrey Mast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of good things in this book. It does a decent job of showing the error of Islam and instructing Christians on how to respond. There were a few things that were either poorly researched or plain out mistakes. Like on page 90 where it claims that the Hebrew text (Gen 22) makes no indication as to which son Abraham sacrificed and going on to claim that the Quran (Sura 37) identifies Ishmael. In fact the opposite is true the Bible clearly says Isaac was the son sacrifice while the Quran doesn't identify the son. Another small quibble is the way that they would lead you to believe that most Muslims don't eat certain kinds of seafood whereas it is actually a minority that are choosy with their seafood accepting only scaled fish. Most Muslims eat anything that comes from the water. The last and perhaps most weighty critique is that they like to appear as though they are insiders to Islam and have something more to bring to the discussion because their father was Muslim.

[Rachel Grepke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great smaller book for those wanting a basic overview and understanding of the Muslim faith. It is a easy read and packs a ton of information in the small amount of pages it is. There are moments my eyes glazed over a bit, yet, it was worth continuing. This was written by two brothers who were Islamic but turned to Christ! Praise be for that! Because of their journey, they bring a different insight to the conversation.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ergun and Emir Caner laid out the basic beliefs of Islam in an easy to read book. They introduced many of the chapters with a real-life example of people and their misunderstanding of Islam and then explained the basic tenants of Islam often comparing Islam to Christianity. If you are looking for an introductory understanding of Islam this book is helpful.

[Nancy Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you a not a Christian you will not like or understand this book It is about evangelism and the Bible’s command in Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” NIV

[Steven Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, informative read. I found the history of the authors a compelling reason to dive in. Specifically, the authors were raised w/ Islamic beliefs before converting to Christianity, I found the articulations quite balanced. I felt the narrative was culturally astute while being neutral in assessments. Some of the suggestions were quite insightful that I would never have thought of (e.g. it’s disrespectful to use a left hand to shake or greet a Muslim). As a positive, I was able to see some common ground. Additionally, I did not know of the history of Muslim beliefs regarding the role of Jesus being a prophet and his mother Mary. There was a lot of detail and information shared that at times had me slow the read. Otherwise I would recommend as a good overview, quite insightful.

[Lydia Gunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and useful book. I admit to skimming some of the chapters towards the back that I felt merely restated points already made.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introductory book. I'm saddened by the vast numbers without God's truth and the vast numbers who have God's truth but don't really know it or share it.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative.

[Lou Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somewhat educational

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read because my son was reading it for a class. It was interesting. The class had a very strong bias. If I want a better understanding I would want to read other material.