Holy Injil, Luke - A New Translation from the Original Greek with Commentary

Holy Injil, Luke – A New Translation from the Original Greek with Commentary

This is a great Christmas gift for Muslim friends, as well as to any Muslim who is interested in learning more about Isa al Masih (Jesus Christ) throughout the year.

The new English translation of Luke was officially launched at a Christmas Mehfil, with guest, including the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society. 

What’s included in Holy Injil, Luke?

• An introduction which encourages Muslims to read the Injil (New Testament), quoting from the Qur’an

• A new and improved translation of Luke from the original Greek into Muslim idiom English, using religious terminology and names Muslims are familiar with

• Commentary provides useful Old Testament or cultural background, attempts to deal with difficulties a Muslim reader may encounter as they read through Luke, explain biblical themes, and cross- references the Qur’an where helpful to do so

• Hard cover

• Colour photos of very early New Testament manuscripts

See below to order copies.

Comments on Holy Injil, Luke

“I have found this English edition to be appreciated... and makes a wonderful friendly introduction to the Word.”

“... the wonderful ‘Holy Injil Luke’... really is a first rate contextualised translation, and so sensitive and thoughtful in its approach, footnotes and appendices.”

“A young woman from Indonesia looked at the literature but refused NT etc in her native tongue saying she was a Muslim. I then offered her your book. She scanned it and was so excited to accept it. Others have shown similar joy in accepting. “

“They are well presented and were very well received.”

“For a competent interested English reader, it is a fantastic resource.”

“I and many people I know have been using the Holy Injil Luke for a couple of years now. I love it!”

“Your version of the ‘Holy Injil’ has been a really exciting find for us, as it is just so accessible for (local Muslims).”

“a terrific English translation for Muslims.”

Recommendations for 'Holy Injil, Luke'

“We recommend it as a translation to be used in discussion with Muslims to shed light on the beautiful and majestic life that is Jesus Christ without hampering them by using terminology not familiar to their ears. And we already know of Muslims who have read it with joy.”

— Tom & Judi

“Duncan Peter has prepared this version of Luke’s Gospel for a conservative Muslim audience. There are helpful appendices dealing with the most common Muslim questions, like the allegation that the text of the Bible has been changed, and the objection that God cannot have a son”

— Julyan

“The translation is brilliantly done and is enhanced by excellent notes and appendices which face the difficult critical questions Muslim readers may have with deep sensitivity and wisdom. From a Christian perspective, this unique volume will not only prove invaluable in developing conversations with Muslim neighbours and friends, but it points toward the future of mission in a pluralist world.”

— David

How to order a copy of Holy Injil, Luke

RRP is £12.00 a copy. However, if you order direct from www.holyinjil.com

One copy = £7.00 + £2.60 postage*

Five copies = £20.00 + £2.99 postage*

Thirty copies = £112.00 + £5.99 postage*

* To UK. To overseas, different rates apply.

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

The significance of Ramadan to Muslims & what they do during the month

Each year our Muslim friends look forward to “The Sultan of the Months”. The best month of the year – the month of Ramadan. It is a month with both deep religious significance, and it is also important for family and community.

During daylight hours our Muslim friends fast from food, water and intimate relationships. This gives them an opportunity to think of the hungry and poor; a time to think of God through prayer; and a chance to find the strength to control fleshly desires.

Each day at the end of the fast there is a communal meal (Iftar) eaten together with family, friends or the wider community. This meal offers a way to strengthen relationships.

During this month, where there is such a strong focus on the spiritual life and an emphasis on community ties, there are openings for us to share with our Muslim friends important principles of worship and love which are priorities for us too.

As we meet with people who are practicing a ‘spiritual discipline’, we can share our experience of fasting, waiting on God and listening to his voice. We can share things which strengthen our relationship with God and guide us on our walk with him. During close family and community times we can join in, helping to build up and strengthen our friendships.

This Ramadan let’s pray for one another as we look for the opportunities God gives us to speak his words and show his love within the communities around us, communities made up of people who are focusing on God and seeking to know him in a new way.

Ramadan Opportunities

Image Unsplash

Ramadan Opportunities

“Brother, we’d like to invite you to give a speech from the Holy Bible at an iftār (breaking of fast) meeting in our mosque,” the mosque leader said to me, “it’s for Nazūl-i-Injil.” Surprised and delighted, I readily agreed. 

Nazūl-i-Injīl means “Descent of the Gospel”. You may be familiar with the Muslim belief that the Qur’an descended from heaven to earth during Ramadan. That event is known as the Nazūl-i-Qur’an. The Night of Power, Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic, is when, in Islamic belief, the Qur’an was sent down to earth and when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Muhammad. Many believe that the Night of Power falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan. 

Less well known is the fact that some Muslims also commemorate the descent of the earlier holy books during Ramadan. Nazūl-i-Taurāt (Descent of the Torah) is commemorated on 6th Ramadan, Nazūl-i-Injīl on the 12th, and Nazūl-i-Zabūr (Descent of the Psalms) on the 18th (some traditions change these last two round: Psalms on 12th and Gospel on 18th). Ibn Kathîr mentions this tradition in his Stories of the Prophets (p.561). 

Not all Muslims seem to be aware of these traditions, but in my city some mosques have these three Nazūl dates marked in their Ramadan calendar. For a number of years this has led to the maulana (leader) inviting me to go to the mosque and give a speech from the Bible on one evening during Ramadan.  

I usually start by bringing greetings from my church community. I commend them for the tradition of celebrating Nazūl-i-Taurāt/Zabūr/Injīl, and stress that these are shared books – not just Jewish and Christian books, but Muslim books too. I then read a passage which I feel is appropriate and speak for a few minutes on that passage (examples over the years include Isaiah 58*, Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 7:11-17; 18:9-14). My aim and prayer is to whet people’s appetite to want to discover more of the message of the Bible. 

This Ramadan, why not ask your Muslim friends whether they are aware of or celebrate this tradition. You may get an opportunity for creative engagement with Muslim friends – perhaps explaining what the Bible means to you, telling a story from it, or giving an attractively presented Bible or Gospel to your friend or to a mosque.

A member of the Mahabba Network

*Click here to see how Isaiah 58 can be used

A glossary of words & terms Mahabba uses

Mahabba glossary

• BMB

  BMB is an acronym that stands for ‘Believer from a Muslim Background’.

  Specifically, a believer in Jesus Christ, so an individual who has turn away from their faith in Islam.

  These acronyms can have certain connotations, depending on what context you use them in and your audience.

  See also MBB.

  For more info: Muslim-Background Believers: Q&A by International Christian Concern

• Circle

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• Circleholder

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• Coordinator

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• Generosity Fund

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• MBB

  - MBB

  - BMB

  - Circle

  - Hivemind

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A Halal Christmas

A Halal Christmas

Christmas is a good time to invite Muslim friends to visit your home. They may be curious to see your decorations and learn about what Christmas means to you. They may also want to check it is not like they've seen on TV!

One year, we had made quite a number of connections with a local mosque through having ‘Meetings for Better Understanding’. We thought it would be good to invite them all round near to Christmas. So we decorated our home, prepared halal refreshments (no alcohol and pork products). We also prepared some nice gifts for them to take home with them.

We then considered should we share a Christian message? We felt ‘no’ on this occasion, as they were being invited to our home for Christmas event and didn’t want them to be a captive audience under false pretences. So instead we literally prayed that the Lord would initiate a conversation that would be like ripples in a pond. We also prayed they would feel the Lord’s peace in our home.

When our guests arrived they brought lovely gifts for us! The cranberry and orange mulled with spices went down a treat as did the home made halal mince pies! Then after a short time one of the older Muslim men said ‘I was reading Luke’s gospel recently and I would like to ask a question’ which he did. Then he said ‘I am just throwing a stone in the pond and letting the ripples go out’! We could hardly believe what he said but he repeated ‘I am just throwing a stone in the pond and letting the ripples go out’! We had a great conversation for the rest of the evening! Meanwhile, the ladies (we practised segregation as they usually do) said, ‘It is so peaceful in your home’!

You may not be able to invite a whole group, but you could do just the same with a family or one or two individuals. Hospitality is a central part of Muslim culture and is a great way to build trust and have significant conversations that can be built on over time.

Chas from the Network

Click here for more about Christmas with Muslim friends

Sharing the Reason for the Season

Sharing the Reason for the Season

Christmas and Easter are great opportunities for us to be sharing the meaning behind our celebrations and to point our Muslim friends to consider Jesus. Far from shying away from this we can be encouraged to prayerfully consider how best to do this – knowing that our Muslim friends would expect us to be sharing if our faith is of any consequence to us.

Whether you are holding an English conversation group leading an ESOL class, a sewing, craft or cooking group with Muslim women as participants, make time to have 15 minutes of the session talking about the Christmas festival and being willing to answer questions or objections. Sometimes I have done this using a simple worksheet with pictures – as a reading exercise. Another year I bought in a nativity scene, with each character to be unwrapped from its Christmas paper and as we set it up, the story was told. If cooking together why not make Christmas treats and use them as a way to explain the reason for the joy we experience through the Good news of Jesus’ coming to us. If you do this remember to buy halal mincemeat for the mince pies so that all can enjoy the results of the baking!

Some friends I know welcome a Muslim family to their home for Christmas tree decorating every year. Others invite friends for tea and cake where the nativity scene can be handled by the children and explained by the hosts. In past times we have had window displays of either a Christmas scene or a simple, 1 sentence message of Hope/Joy/Peace facing the street and lit up so that passers-by can see.

Christmas is a time for gift – giving and so, again, an opportunity to give a well thought out gift for your Muslim friend or family. Calendars are always popular and we pray that the words printed on them will give spiritual life to those who receive them. ‘Hope’ calendars are available here in many languages. The new translation of Luke’s gospel by Duncan Peters might be suitable for some friends.

Some pointers to get you started on how you share

· We are not celebrating Jesus’ birthday but that God has come to us, in Jesus.

· Explain the importance of Jesus, God with us, to you in daily life

· Share an experience of knowing the truth of “God with us” in time of trouble

· There is a lot in the Qur’an about being moved from darkness to light. Talk about the Christmas lights, candles and glitter as echoing the light which came into the world – through the person of Jesus. Explain that through Jesus, we can we moved from darkness to light.

· Be prepared for objections about seeing Jesus as God’s son. Explaining that Jesus is known as this because he did god-like things whilst on earth such as healing, raising the dead, having power over nature, casting out evil spirits

· The ‘I am’ sayings speak volumes about Jesus’ identity and should anyone show real interest you might suggest that they study these with you - showing how Jesus fulfils the Old T prophecies.

Muslim women have thanked me for explaining the meaning of the Christmas celebration. For years they had attended their children’s nativity scenes at primary school but never before had heard the story explained. Could you help to bring understanding this year?

Miriam Williams Dec 2021

Click here for more about Christmas with Muslim friends

What Surprised the Arab Guest at the Carol Service?

What Surprised the Arab Guest at the Carol Service?

Some years ago I began working with Friends International. This organisation works in Universities in the UK seeking to make contact with overseas students with a view to sharing the good news of Jesus. My wife and I had the great delight of welcoming into our home students from many different countries – we are still in touch with some many years later but today I want to write about just one from a country in the Middle East.

He had come to the UK to study for his Ph.D. with a view to returning home to lecture at a local university. We held weekly Bible studies for men and, although a Muslim, he joined the group. He was keen to learn about what Christians really believed. I found that we had much in common and he was a frequent visitor to our home. Around Christmas time we felt that we should invite him to a carol service. It was a creative evening with a clear gospel presentation. I was interested to get his reaction afterwards but what he said greatly surprised me:-

“I expected that you would talk about killing Muslims but instead you talked about, love peace and justice.” This spoke volumes to us both regarding what he had been taught and his deepening understanding.

He is back home now but we are still in touch. We are thankful that he went home with a Bible and even invited us to his recent wedding even though Covid and distance prevented us from going. We still pray for him and believe that the Christmas invitation was far from wasted.

Ken

Click here for more about Christmas with Muslim friends