Matthew Bennett - 40 Questions About Islam

This is a superb book! It is rare to have a solidly evangelical author address Islam and Muslims objectively yet fairly, but maintain an uncompromising imperative to befriend Muslims and share the lifesaving good news of Jesus with them. This work does just that. Matthew Bennetts thorough, professional, straightforward (and easy-to-read!) approach places just what we need at our fingertips.

Ant Greenham, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

40 Questions About Islam is the best one-stop introduction to Islam written by an evangelical Christian. In it, Matthew Bennett provides concise and reliable answers to the most important questions people have about Islam and Muslims, encouraging Christians all the while to relate lovingly, respectfully, and evangelistically to their Muslim neighbors. Recommended highly and without reservation.

Bruce Riley Ashford, Provost, Professor of Theology & Culture, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

With the rise of Islam around the world, now is the time for Christians to become more conversant and more committed to gospel conversations with Muslims. I have had the unique privilege of observing Dr. Bennett engage Muslims in person about the critical differences between Christianity and Islam. 40 Questions About Islam is the work of scholar-practitioner who is committed to loving and sharing the gospel with Muslims around the world. This book helps equip Christians to converse with their Muslim neighbors, co-workers, and friends about the truth.

Paul Akin, Dean of the Billy Graham School, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Matthew Aaron Bennett is a careful scholar, thorough researcher, and thoughtful missiologist. His discussion of Islam does not merely develop from a host of books anyone may read, but rather from his many years of experience in loving and connecting with Muslims. With a great joy, I welcome the publication of his 40 Questions About Islam.

Ayman S. Ibrahim, Bill and Connie Jenkins Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

In an age when far too many Christians dont recognize the clear differences between Christianity and Islam, Matthew Bennett has done us all a great service by writing this accessible, well-researched, and comprehensive volume exploring the complex ideologies of Islam through the framework of 40 questions. Exploring the theology, practice, writings, and mission of Islam, Bennett frames our understanding of this growing religion in such a way that it properly equips readers to take the Christian gospel to their Muslim neighbors.

Dustin W. Benge, Provost and Professor, Union School of Theology

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40 Questions About Islam

2020 Matthew Aaron Bennett

Published by Kregel Academic, an imprint of Kregel Publications, 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-6020.

This book is a title in the 40 Questions Series edited by Benjamin L. Merkle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All quotations of the Quran, unless otherwise indicated, are from A. J. Droge, trans., The Quran: A New Annotated Translation. Bristol, CT: Equinox, 2015.

The Hebrew font, NewJerusalemU, and the Greek font, GraecaU, are available from www.linguistsoftware.com/lgku.htm, +1-425-775-1130.

ISBN 978-0-8254-4622-1

Printed in the United States of America

20 21 22 23 24 / 5 4 3 2 1

To Emily,

my loving wife, my best friend,

and my wise co-laborer in the gospel.

A s with any project of this nature, I am indebted to a number of people who have contributed to its completion. From the more personal side of things, my wife Emily encouraged me along the way and labored through early draft chapters with patience and creative criticism. My dear friend and ministry partner Chris Watkins was also one who served to critique chapters along the way. Im grateful to both of you for your patience and insight.

Likewise, on the academic side, I want to express my gratitude to Ayman Ibrahim, Ant Greenham, and Scott Bridger who did me the great service of reading through the manuscript and offering feedback. I am also grateful for colleagues such as J. R. Gilhooly, Anthony Moore, and Dan DeWitt at Cedarville University who read through various chapters and helped me write with greater clarity. Their critique has certainly helped me to avoid a number of missteps, though obviously any way in which this book is yet wanting is solely my responsibility.

As for the publishing process, working with Ben Merkle has been an absolute joy and privilege. Thank you, Ben, for your editing work and your encouragement of the project along the way. Of course, I am indebted to Kregel Publications for the chance theyve given me to put together what I hope will be a helpful resource for those seeking to better understand some of the worldview of their Muslim friends and neighbors.

Finally, lest it go without saying, I am grateful to the Triune God who would make himself known to an undeserving creation in the gospel of Jesus the Messiah. May this book glorify him alone while encouraging readers to extend his boundless love and his beautiful gospel to their Muslim friends in meaningful ways.

I f you are reading this book, I am assuming that your personal interest in learning about Islam may arise from a number of motivations. It may be that you are taking a class on Islam, or that you are encountering confusing reports about Islam in the news. Perhaps your interest has been piqued because you are noticing a growing Muslim population in your community. Or perhaps it is because you either already have some Muslim friends or anticipate developing relationships with Muslim neighbors. Regardless of your motivation, it is a true privilege to play a small part in helping you develop an understanding of the complex and intriguing world of Islam.

I have spent significant time living in Muslim-majority countries, and I have also made Muslim friends in my home country of the United States. Many of those friends from various parts of the world have left an indelible impression on my life. Our conversations regarding our respective faiths have been formative and informative, and I am hopeful that you will experience the same things in dialogue with your Muslim friends. I also trust that this book will help to shed light on why conversations can be strained over certain issues or can even reach points of impasse.