Islam & Jihad

By John Ankerberg and Emir Caner

In this study, former Sunni Muslim Dr. Emir Caner explains what he and other Muslims were taught about jihad. He answers the questions: What do Islam's most authoritative sources, the Qur’an and Hadith, teach regarding jihad? Is jihad only an internal struggle or does it include radical acts of violence? What did Muhammad teach and practice about violent jihad? Which Muslim leaders can declare jihad on another nation? Is it true that in over 24 Islamic countries, if a Muslim converts to another religion, he or she is to be executed by other Muslims for the crime of conversion? If this is true, how can Islam claim to be a peaceful religion?

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Ankerberg
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781941135495

John Ankerberg

Host of the award-winning John Ankerberg Show, has three earned degrees: an MA in church history and the philosophy of Christian thought, an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a DMin from Luther Rice Seminary. He has authored, co-authored and/or edited 92 books, including the 2-million-selling “Facts On” series of apologetic books.

Book preview

Islam & Jihad

Study Guide

By John Ankerberg and Emir Caner

Published by ATRI Publishing

Copyright 2019

ISBN 9781941135495

License Notes

No part of this publication, including the artwork, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations in printed reviews—without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. NIV ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Additional Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version, public domain.

Edited by Dillon Burroughs. Layout and Cover Design by Beth Lamberson, ATRI Publishing, Chattanooga, Tennessee .

Table of Contents

Title page

A Word Regarding Sources

Introduction

Session 1: What Is Jihad?

Session 2: What Did Muhammad Teach about Jihad?

Session 3: What Would Muhammad Say to Today’s Muslim Extremists?

Session 4: How to Share Christ with Muslims

Leader Resources

Appendix A: How to Begin a Relationship with God

Appendix B: Praying for Those Who Do Not Believe

About the Authors

About the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute

A Word Regarding Sources

In Islam, the Qur’an is considered the religion’s most holy book. In this study guide, we have quoted the version most authoritative among English-speaking Muslims called The Holy Qur’an: Text, Translation and Commentary by ‘Abdullah Yusuf ‘Ali. A free searchable addition of several English versions of the Qur’an can be found at www.quranbrowser.org.

In addition, Muslims consider the Hadiths as authoritative commentaries on the Qur’an. There are four main Hadiths. They include Buhkari, the Muslim Hadith, Abu Dawud, and Malik’s Muwatta. All quotes used in this resource are from the online source at http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/search.html.

Introduction

Welcome to the Islam and Jihad study guide! This small group curriculum was developed to answer the difficult questions regarding jihad that are presented by Islam, the world’s second-largest religion with over 1.5 million adherents and growing. What do Islam’s holy books teach on this volatile issue? The answer to this question impacts every person on the planet.

If jihad is only a spiritual battle or struggle, then why do some Muslims wage war or commit acts of terror against innocent civilians? If jihad is indeed a sixth pillar to many Muslims and is understood to include physical war, the implications could be devastating.

Rather than attempting to interview various contemporary Muslims, we look to the foundational and authoritative documents of Islam to investigate what the Qur’an and the Hadith teach regarding jihad. We also study the life of Islam’s founder, Muhammad, to grasp his perspective on jihad in his time and for his followers. Further, we examine the history of Islam to better understand how jihad has been interpreted in theory and practice. Finally, we discuss how Christians can discuss their faith with Muslims and some of the specific issues to address in the process.

We look forward to how this study will help you both better understand your own Christian faith and how it will help you in sharing your faith with Muslims. Through it, we hope you will be better able to contend for the faith (Jude 3) as well as to show Christ’s love to those