The Imam of the Christians


Book Description

How Christian leaders adapted the governmental practices and political thought of their Muslim rulers in the Abbasid caliphate The Imam of the Christians examines how Christian leaders adopted and adapted the political practices and ideas of their Muslim rulers between 750 and 850 in the Abbasid caliphate in the Jazira (modern eastern Turkey and northern Syria). Focusing on the writings of Dionysius of Tel-Mahre, the patriarch of the Jacobite church, Philip Wood describes how this encounter produced an Islamicate Christianity that differed from the Christianities of Byzantium and western Europe in far more than just theology. In doing so, Wood opens a new window on the world of early Islam and Muslims’ interactions with other religious communities. Wood shows how Dionysius and other Christian clerics, by forging close ties with Muslim elites, were able to command greater power over their coreligionists, such as the right to issue canons regulating the lives of lay people, gather tithes, and use state troops to arrest opponents. In his writings, Dionysius advertises his ease in the courts of ʿAbd Allah ibn Tahir in Raqqa and the caliph al-Ma’mun in Baghdad, presenting himself as an effective advocate for the interests of his fellow Christians because of his knowledge of Arabic and his ability to redeploy Islamic ideas to his own advantage. Strikingly, Dionysius even claims that, like al-Ma’mun, he is an imam since he leads his people in prayer and rules them by popular consent. A wide-ranging examination of Middle Eastern Christian life during a critical period in the development of Islam, The Imam of the Christians is also a case study of the surprising workings of cultural and religious adaptation.




How the Bible Led Me to Islam


Book Description

In the summer of 1996, Yusha Evans went on a passage through the Bible and its four Gospel. He scrutinized more than five different religions in search of God and His message. In 1998, he reverted to Islam. He yearned for the truth in life which is to “Worship God alone as one, obey Him and His Messenger to go to Heaven,” of which he found through Islam.







The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World


Book Description

The Prophet Muhammad s treaties with the Christians of his time, which John Andrew Morrow has rediscovered in obscure collections and often newly translated, uniformly state that Muslims are not to attack peaceful Christian communities, but defend them until the End of the World. Authored by the Prophet himself, they represent a third foundational pillar for Islam outside of Qur an and hadith. The Covenants Initiative within the book represents a movement by Muslims, both prominent and unknown, in support of Christians under attack. These treaties desperately need to be better known among Christians, Muslims, and the general public. For scholars, this book provides much difficult-to-obtain material: facsimiles of primary sources in Arabic and Persian; corrected versions in modern Arabic typescript; and alternate translations. They now have all they need to study the covenants in depth. "This narrative has the power to unite Muslim and Christian communities. A work of scholarship, its release is timely, and its content critical in fostering mutual respect and religious freedom."--IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF, Chairman, Cordoba Initiative "In his indispensable contribution to the study of the Abrahamic faiths, John Andrew Morrow tells the story of how the Prophet Muhammad used his desert experiences of hospitality and protection to bring Muslims and Christians together."--JOSEPH HOBBS, University of Missouri "These letters from the Prophet Muhammad to Christian communities can serve to inspire both Muslims and Christians about our ability to live together as God's people, as friends, as neighbors, and as custodians of the same small planet."--OMID SAFI, University of North Carolina "With painstaking effort and much dedication invested in this groundbreaking work, Professor Morrow will surely manage to attract the attention of Islamic studies students and specialists."--AMAR SELLAM, Mohamed I University "This book documents what is possibly the third foundational source of Islam: the Prophet's treaties and covenants among people of the Abrahamic faiths. Dr. Morrow brings forth exceptionally important findings that dictate peaceful coexistence among Jews, Christians, and Muslims."--BRIDGET BLOMFIELD, University of Nebraska




Why Muslim Integration Fails in Christian-Heritage Societies


Book Description

Amid mounting fears of violent Islamic extremism, many Europeans ask whether Muslim immigrants can integrate into historically Christian countries. In a groundbreaking ethnographic investigation of France’s Muslim migrant population, Why Muslim Integration Fails in Christian-Heritage Societies explores this complex question. The authors conclude that both Muslim and non-Muslim French must share responsibility for the slow progress of Muslim integration. “Using a variety of resources, research methods, and an innovative experimental design, the authors contend that while there is no doubt that prejudice and discrimination against Muslims exist, it is also true that some Muslim actions and cultural traits may, at times, complicate their full integration into their chosen domiciles. This book is timely (more so in the context of the current Syrian refugee crisis), its insights keen and astute, the empirical evidence meticulous and persuasive, and the policy recommendations reasonable and relevant.” —A. Ahmad, Choice




A Christian Guide to the Qur'an


Book Description

"A Christian guide to the Qur'an will prepare Christians to understand the central messages of the Qur'an in simple terms, and illustrates how knowledge of Islam's sacred text can provide bridges to religious understanding and evangelism."--From back cover




The 12th Imam: Rise of the Antichrist


Book Description

Today the news is filled with accounts of the rising tide of Islamic governments across the Middle East based on Sharia Law leading into an Islamic caliphate. Iran is now closer than ever to developing a nuclear weapon and Muslim terrorism against the United States is increasing as the events in Benghazi have shown. Against this backdrop, in the not too distant future, Iran has successfully developed several nuclear bombs and decided to use them against Israel and the West. The attack goes better than planned as the nuclear attacks coincide with the biblical event known as the rapture,which devastates America, but leaves the Muslim world virtually untouched due to the small number of Christians within their borders. This disparity now leaves the Islamic countries in a perfect situation to continue their move to take over the world and to unite it under Islam. Iran receives unexpected help from the Mahdi, the long awaited Islamic messiah, whose coming was predicted 1,200 years ago. The 12th Imam is based on actual prophecies found in the Bible, Jewish and Islamic writings that parallel each other, making for an exciting read leaving one to wonder how much is fiction and how much is soon to be reality. In a story ripped from today’s headlines, Iran has launched a nuclear attack on Israel and the Great Satan, the United States. The president of Iran has little idea that his grand plan would initiate a series of events that fulfills prophecies in both Islamic and Christian holy writings. The return of the Islamic Messiah, the one the Bible calls the Antichrist, is imminent. The missiles go astray and destroy the Dome of the Rock. While the Israeli attack fails, Iranian agents succeed in destroying the nation’s capital as well as several American cities. At the same time, Christians are removed from the earth in a mass exodus. The 12th Imam, the long awaited Islamic Messiah, returns from the Jamkaran well, from a slumber of nearly 1,200 years. These events unite Jewish, Islamic and the remaining Christian adherents as each of their end-times writings converge on a single individual. The Twelfth Imam: Rise of the Antichrist is a fast-paced thriller that will keep the reader on a rollercoaster ride that never slows down. The book is not your normal work of Christian end-times non-fiction. Its doomsday premise is based not just on real-world events, but actual threat assessments from national security experts and think tanks regarding scenarios that can plunge America back to the dark ages. About 1.8 billion live under Islam, the second largest religion. Islam has been trying to take over the world since Mohamed established it in the 6th century. Shia Islam, Iran being one of the largest Shiite countries, believes in a coming Islamic Messiah, the 12th Imam, who will come and rule the world for 7 years at the end of time. Antichrist? Many Shiites believe they can hurry his return by destroying Israel. Islamic details about the 12th Imam line up with Bible details about the Antichrist. Could the Religion of the Antichrist be with us already? James Parker has taken the well-established Bible doctrine of the rapture and presented it with a fresh look by tying it to Islamic end-time prophesies. Parker has shown there is a clear Islamic connection to Christian end-time prophesies regarding the antichrist. His first novel is a fast-paced political action thriller that will appeal to religious and secular lovers of mystery and mayhem. The action takes place mostly in New York City and the Islamic countries of the Middle East. Parker skillfully weaves together end times theology from the three great Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – and explores a maze of ancient prophecies that, if unchecked, might lead to “the end of days.”




Islam and Christianity


Book Description

In light of the widespread public perception of incompatibility between Islam and Christianity, this book provides a much-needed straightforward comparison of these two great faith traditions from a broad theological perspective. Award-winning scholar John Renard illuminates the similarities as well as the differences between Islam and Christianity through a clear exploration of four major dimensions—historical, creedal, institutional, and ethical and spiritual. Throughout, the book features comparisons between concrete elements such as creedal statements, prayer texts, and writings from major theologians and mystics. It also includes a glossary of technical theological terms. For western readers in particular, this balanced, authoritative work overturns some common stereotypes about Islam, especially those that have emerged in the decade since September 11, 2001.







The Islamic Antichrist


Book Description

"In 'The Islamic Antichrist', Richardson exposes Western readers to the traditions of Islam and predicts that the end times may not be far away. His book will stun readers unaware of the similarities between the Antichrisst and the "Islamic Jesus." His research on the relationship between Christian end-time prophecy and Islamic expectations of world domination will shock readers and shape the debate over radical Islam for years to come. This is the book to read to understand Islam's potential role in fulfilling the prophecies of the Bible"--Page 2 of cover.