How can I help someone facing divorce in Islam?

Image: Jad Limcaco, Unsplash

HOW CAN I HELP SOMEONE FACING DIVORCE IN ISLAM?

Emma asked a tricky question about supporting Muslim families in her community:

“How can I help someone facing divorce in Islam? ”

Dear Mahabba,

I know of a lady who has recently experienced what I'm told is an Islamic divorce. It is quite a difficult and complicated situation, but do you know anything about her human rights, in terms of her divorce, and whether she is entitled to anything, or if anyone knows of anyone that might be able to give her some advice.

Thank you!

Our response

This is another question to which it is hard to give a definitive answer, but again individuals from our online community, The City, have had some helpful suggestions.

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Contact the Muslim Women's Network

You can find some information from this solicitor, but my advice is to contact the Muslim Women’s Network. It has challenged traditional Islamic practices with regard to women and also has a helpline that deals with these issues constantly. It has a helpful factsheet on Islamic marriage.

There is an active parliamentary enquiry into Shariah councils and their effect on women. It is collecting evidence and cases such as the one you mentioned are crucial to its investigation. Naz Shah, the MP for Bradford West, is very active on this committee and in her constituency.

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Hope Projects

I know this charity, Hope Projects, that supports asylum seekers and refugees has good solicitors - maybe they know about Islamic divorce.

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Citizens Advice Bureau

It may be the case that the Islamic divorce (talaq) is invalid under British law, depending on where the marriage occurred. She should certainly get legal advice as a first step before accepting or signing anything. 

She should also seek advice from Citizens Advice to check her rights to social housing or Job Seekers Allowance, again, depending on her circumstances. 

Citizens Advice is probably the best place for her to talk to someone in the first instance, as there are many variables here. She should take her documentation (passport, Home Office papers, divorce document etc). One visit will not usually be enough to sort things through.

Many offices will have Urdu/Punjabi/Mirpuri-speakers, if her level of English is an issue.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-we-provide-advice/advice/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/

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Offer Christian love and accommodation

An alternative to referring her to Islamic agency would be to provide her with accommodation from fellow believers and show her the love of Jesus.

This lady needs love and safety, so this is an opportunity to to show Jesus to her. There are many Asian Christians to ask regarding how to relate to her, and love in practice speaks volumes.

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Refer to specialists for help, but pray

This lady needs love from fellow believers, as Emma has already shown through her concern. At the same time, this issue needs specialist help from people who are dealing with this problem daily, such as MWN (see above). The organisation is in contact with government agencies (they brought this problem to the government’s attention initially). 

As we’ve seen with other cases where women and Islamic values are concerned, the government and its agencies are not always confident to deal with what they call ‘cultural issues.’ Working through a Muslim organisation that is against injustice towards women because they can help overcome PC sensitivities.

This does not mean that Christians should absolve themselves. It means that they continue to walk this road with her while they try to get the best help they can. MWN can look after the technical and legal aspects while Christians provide material and spiritual support, together with immense prayer.

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A further note on Islamic divorce (talaq)

The triple talaq is mainstream, and many people suffer a lot of anguish as a result of it.

The thing that’s not mainstream is the halala (marrying another man, sleeping with him, being divorced by that man, and then re-marrying your first husband). Think of the shame (if it gets out, which it probably will) of allowing/encouraging your wife to have sex with another man in order to be reconciled – after your own rash words in a fit of temper. However, according to Shariah, it’s the only way that a man and his ex-wife can get back together. 

A mufti (scholar who gives rulings on specific issues) has shared with me that he often has enquiries from husbands and wives who want to be reconciled after a triple talaq. They often ask that he declare that the talaq is invalid. He usually has to rule that it is valid and halala is the only solution. He does so with a heavy heart…

I understand that this law was actually designed for the protection of wives. Apparently, in Arabia at that time, wives were being divorced with just saying the word “talaq” once. Later on the husbands would take their wives back at their whim. This could happen many times. So Shariah ordains that:

• One talaq is not enough, three are required
• Talaq a serious business, not just reversible at whim

There is disagreement among scholars as to whether all three talaqs can be spoken or written at exactly the same time, or whether three separate occasions are required.

Is it right to allow Muslim prayers or Qur'an readings in church?

Image: Daniel Burka, Unsplash

Is it right to allow Muslim prayers or Qur'an readings in church?

Carl asked the following question off the back of a meeting for better understanding (MBU) with local Muslims:

“Is it right to allow Muslim prayers or Qur’an readings in church?”

Dear Mahabba,

MBUs have built good relationships and sown the Gospel among Muslims. It has also resulted in requests for the use of our places of worship for Muslim events. One of them was for an Eid el Adha event.  This would include the reading of the Qur'an and Muslim prayers. What would your response be to this request?

Our response

This is a tricky one, and has caused quite a bit of debate and controversy recently, as we explored in a blog, 'Islam in church: some questions'. Rather than lay out a definitive answer, here are some responses from individuals on our online community area, The City.

How strongly do you feel?

"I’d be quite happy with the idea, although I know that some Christians strongly feel that such acts are totally unacceptable. Maybe believers from a Muslim background might be more strongly of the latter persuasion."

What is your perspective on the consecration of space?

"We have churches that meet in schools and pubs. We also have church traditions that consecrate space. I think to invite Muslims to confess that Muhammad is God’s messenger in consecrated space violates that consecration.

"Whether we like it or not, we tend to be secular Christians, and so we don’t take the consecration of space very seriously. We don’t do symbolism. But Muslims do, much more so than us anyway.

"I think the question is much more about how we regard our church space. Would you invite a Jehovah’s witness to preach there? How about a militant atheist? Would you allow Hindu gods to be praised in it?

"The question of whether to allow or invite Muslims to pray and confess their creed needs to be set alongside this sort of question to give it context. If space is just space, then you have no problem. If consecration means something, that is another matter."

Provision for personal prayer

"If the space is consecrated: I would not make provision for another deity to be worshipped. I would tend not to give a platform for another religion to be preached and lifted up without a counterpoint or moderation by a Christian.

"But someone who wants to personally pray, I would have no problem with, especially if they are meaning to seek the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, even if their idea of Him is corrupted.

"If their prayers are together in community and include a led confession or declaration about Muhammad, in a Christian consecrated space… that's another question."

A former Muslim's viewpoint - what does God say?

"My response would be: 'what is God asking me to do?' Bearing in mind Scripture such as Peter’s vision that all food was now clean or that circumcision or non-circumcision was not the deeper spiritual issue. Is God trying to lead us to think and react differently to the changing society we now live in?

"Having come from a Muslim background and being able to see both sides, I would drench that church in prayer and plead protection over it through the blood of Christ and then invite another faith to hold their event. If just one heart is changed through that event, if seeds are sown, would it not be worth it? I think the answer to this dilemma lies in prayer and isn’t that what we as the Mahabba Network do? And do so well, might I add!"

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"I agree that we need to pray without ceasing, for discernment and for God to use the relationship to His glory. Here is an example of a church that opened its door to its Muslim neighbours on a more permanent basis."

What does Muslim tradition say?

"According to traditions, the Prophet invited Christians to worship in his mosque.

"As to whether this is a practice that Muslims emulate, Muslims have been known to say this too.

"Some Christians have often prayed quiet individual prayers in a mosque, explaining that they are making their own dua, and had no problems.

"I have known this to happen in a more public or congregational way. 

"In a dialogue meeting, Christians had an impromptu prayer meeting in the mosque, while the Muslims perform their prayers (salaat). The Muslims did not have a problem with that."

Gracious hospitality vs. faithfulness to truth

"I think there are two quite different themes at play here. One is gracious hospitality and the other other is faithfulness to truth.

"If we come across people who are marginalised and excluded, trying to find space to honestly meet their religious obligations, how could we not offer them space? That is an application of loving our neighbour and we do so in the name of Christ.

"However, if we so order things that our actions seem to communicate that obedience to Muhammad is the same thing as faith in Christ, if we seek to join the two, blurring the differences then we are being unfaithful and no longer witnesses to the truth. Nor do we witness to the Muslim guest.

"Our love for the other and our security in Christ should enable us to be hospitable, but it should not lead us to bend over backwards so that we affirm the denial of Christ."

Since you're here...

... we have recently reached a total of 40 local Mahabba prayer groups in the UK - awesome news!

With your help, though, we would like to continue to sow, plant and support Mahabba groups.

Our work involves a small team of regional reps and central hub personnel investing in local coordinators and groups, as well as spreading the word.

To continue this vital mission to Muslims, we need to increase our regular monthly income.

Our initial target is to raise up 100 individual regular donors, giving an average of £10 to £15 per month.

Could you be one of the 100?

Elliot's weekly round-up: Westminster Attack

Image: David Dibert, Unsplash

ELLIOT'S WEEKLY ROUND-UP: WESTMINSTER ATTACK

The news has been dominated by the attack on Westminster this week.

A car driving at speed ran into pedestrians and then a policeman was stabbed.

The person who carried out the attack has been referred to in a number of different ways including: Adrian, Khalid, a bright and sporty pupil, friendly and polite, a middle aged father, a soldier of Islamic State, a Muslim convert radicalised whilst in prison, a body builder, a portly man, violent, shy, friendly and approachable, nomadic, a former English teacher, middle aged murderer, pure evil scum, a good listener, a dad who gave football tips to boys in the neighbourhood, someone who would play football but was not very good, a grandfather, a criminal, a manager.

Who exactly was he?

But as Brendan Cox stated - husband of murdered MP Jo Cox - we should focus on the victims of the crime. Forty people have been injured and four have died: PC Palmer, Spanish teacher Aysha Frade, American tourist Kurt Cochran who was celebrating his silver wedding anniversary, and cricket loving Leslie Rhodes - a retired London window cleaner.

“What the terrorist would like to happen is for us to fall apart and start blaming groups of people, to say that in some way this is Muslim or Islam as a whole.”

https://www.indy100.com/article/westminster-london-terror-attack-parliament-brendan-cox-shooting-updated-7644936

The attack has been condemned by The Muslim Council of Britain. The Mayor of London has thanked the emergency services and warned Muslims to be vigilant against hate preachers. 

“Terrorists want to attack London is because they hate the fact that we don’t just tolerate each other – whether you’re a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, member of an organised faith or not, we respect, embrace and celebrate each other and that’s going to carry on”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-attack-isis-muslim-council-britain-westminster-terror-cowardly-depraved-harun-khan-solidarity-a7646201.html

Muslims from around The UK have condemned the attacks including groups from Lincoln , Blackburn and Muslim leaders from Waltham Forest.

Another group have gone beyond words to do something positive for the victims. It has raised funds for the families of the by setting up a website entitled Muslims United for London. At the time of writing it has raised over £20,000.  

Our response

Let's pray for the victims, let's pray against radicalisation and for those developing anti radicalisation strategies. Let's continue to reach out to our Muslim colleagues and neighbours with the love of Jesus.

“We have to remember that the person who did this is no more representative of British Muslims than the person who killed Jo is representative of people that are from Yorkshire.”

https://www.indy100.com/article/westminster-london-terror-attack-parliament-brendan-cox-shooting-updated-7644936

What are the best websites for Muslims seeking Jesus?

Image: Chen Yichun, Unsplash

What are the best websites for Muslims seeking Jesus?

Chris approached us, wanting to know about the best websites for Muslims who are seeking Jesus.

“What are the best websites for Muslims seeking Jesus?”

Dear Mahabba,

The internet is a great place to share faith with Muslims, wherever they are and with anonymity, which some may need.

Can you suggest where to direct Muslim friends so that they can explore the Christian faith further, view a testimony or an FAQ to address their burning question?

I would be interested in finding the best sites that offer any or all of the following:

• Testimonies
• Most ‘frequently asked questions’ addressed
• A presentation of the Christian faith in a Muslim friendly style
• Resources in different languages such as an online Bible
• Ideally, it would be great to find this all on one site!

Thanks!

Chris

Our response

Hi Chris,

We asked our online community on The City, and had a good response with suggestions for you. Here we go!

Websites

www.bible.com

• A simple, versatile online and smartphone Bible (also known as YouVersion)
• Features more translations – including ones that are easier for Muslims to understand like the Urdu Geo Version and Sharif Arabic Bible
• Worth using its tools to hyperlink every Bible verse you quote in an e-mail, post on social media or a website

www.al-kitab.org

• An online Muslim-friendly English Bible

www.biblegateway.com - CAUTION. SEE NOTE BELOW

• Although Bible Gateway has a wide selection of translations, it is probably best for Christian use alone
• Some of its adverts, which are pro-Israel or Zionist, could be viewed negatively by Muslims and be a distraction
• Use with plenty of caution, or else we recommend other Bible sites
• Thank you to Duncan for the cautionary note in the comments

Presentation of Christian faith to Muslims

info.al-kitab.org

• Al-Kitab Scripture Research Institute offers Muslim-friendly English Bible correspondence studies

www.word.org.uk

• A basic correspondence course for Muslims
• One former Muslims commented on the word.org resource:

“I found it helpful to send to a Muslim friend who quoted from the Qur’an 19:36-37 that refers to God not needing a son. Rather than argue the point it was great to lovingly direct her to a resource where she can find out for herself”

Frequently asked questions

www.answering-islam.org

• 'My favourite site', according to Sam!

www.unchangingword.com

• A very good website with many articles and video clips giving apologetic lectures on the key subjects that Muslims often discuss
• The website has most articles and some of the video clips in English, Bengali, Urdu, Indonesian and Mandarin Chinese

Testimonies

www.muslimjourneytohope.com

• For testimonies this is hard to beat!

haveyouseenthemaninwhite.com

• An interesting approach - 'the man in white'

Other

A comment from Fred (a former Muslim) on the online approach:

A very good approach

It is we who want to thank you

Image: Matt Jones, Unsplash

It is we who want to thank you

One of our regional reps was on the road recently, helping to motivate and mobilise local Christians to love their Muslim neighbours.

We got the following note of thanks!

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Dear Mahabba,

It is we who want to thank you. We want to tell you how grateful we are for your contribution to our event.

“the Christian way is to make friends with Muslims, respect them as people, show understanding and reach out with the grace the Lord Jesus offers”

You communicated the message so well: that the Christian way is to make friends with Muslims, respect them as people, show understanding and reach out with the grace the Lord Jesus offers.

Personally, I was twice blessed by you, having been a teacher and wanting to share that grace with Muslims which identifies us as Christians.

Your message would have been a window for people to see a fresh understanding of the Word. Your impact was so powerful.

“Our discussions about Islam and Muslim people will never be the same again!

”

Our discussions about Islam and Muslim people will never be the same again!

Time together was brief, but it was such a pleasure to meet you both.

Thank you for your introduction to Islam which was all too brief. May the Lord richly bless your ministry. "The field is ripe.."

James & Charlotte

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You can read the story of the event with James and Charlotte below.

Elliot's weekly round-up: Immigration, Integration & Islam

ELLIOT'S WEEKLY ROUND-UP: IMMIGRATION, INTEGRATION & ISLAM

The election  held in The Netherlands this week  was dominated by the theme  of immigration, integration and Islam.

Geet Wilders party which wanted to ban the Qur'an and mosques has only gained a few additional seats and so will be ruled out of talks about forming a coalition. 

The European Union has ruled that employers can ban visible religious symbols in the workplace. This has potentially huge implications for hijab wearing Muslim women all over Europe. Some have welcomed the ruling others have feel it discriminates against Muslims.

“For Muslim women a headscarf is not an accessory; rather, it is a part of their belief. So, just like one’s ethnicity, it can’t be changed or replaced. The headscarf ban will keep Muslim women out of jobs and business”

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/03/eu-hijab-ruling-affect-muslim-women-170316073040916.html

The final episode of Extremely British Muslims was shown this week on Channel 4. It was about how Muslims live by the rules from the Qur'an and Hadith.

It featured brothers Shaun and Lee, who couldn't be more different. Shaun has become a Muslim and is now known as Abdul. His wife is Pakistani. His brother, Lee, is/was a member of the English Defence League.

On their visits to each other, with their families, having frank chats in the back garden, they reminisce about the good old days.

““We liked going out and getting wrecked, didn’t we?” says Lee. Abdul, you didn’t! Oh, but he did. “The party was always at our house,” he smiles – is that nostalgia or regret?”

They laugh together about Abdul’s ginger beard, while Lee admits he used to think Muslims were baddies and that, by attending EDL rallies, he was “sticking up for his country”. Asked if he would ever go to the mosque with his brother, Lee gives an honest no, prompting Abdul to say:

“If any of his friends saw him in a mosque, that would look bad”

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/17/extremely-british-muslims-review-the-only-extreme-thing-round-here-is-the-size-of-the-rats

How can we respond to en election, a European ruling, a TV documentary set in Birmingham. I have been reading a book this week - it has a suggestion.

Is Islam taking over the country?

Image: Neil Moralee, Flickr

Is Islam taking over the country?

North of Birmingham, one of the most diverse cities in the UK, are small towns and places where very few Muslims live.

Two of us had the privilege of spending a great evening with about 50 people wanting to hear about relating to our Muslim neighbours.

They were a really friendly bunch, with great hospitality, and good humour flowed.

However, as they themselves admit, the type of some of the questions that play out in their area are:

• Is Islam taking over the country?
   
• What about Al Qaeda? Terrorism?
   
• What does the future hold?

The lack of opportunity to engage with Muslim neighbours, and seeing large Muslim communities that seem to be a block of people that are hard to get to know, are two key elements in this.

In this setting, facts like the percentage of Muslims in the country and the Muslim responses against terrorism are important, but not all that’s needed.

To go further we need to point to opportunities for actually getting to know Muslim neighbours. 

Or, where that is not practical, to show positivity about our own relationships.

One of Mahabba’s sayings is 'face the facts, don't fuel the fear'.

We need to feed that back to those people in areas of the church who don’t have opportunity to get to know Muslims and help set the tone of love and grace.

YOUR TURN

Do you want to find out more about Islam and Muslims? Request someone from Mahabba to come and speak at your church.

Mahabba on Cross Rhythms' Breakthrough! Nights

Image: Joanthan Velasquez, Unsplash

Mahabba on Cross Rhythms' Breakthrough! Nights

Gordon, National Director for Mahabba Network, was on Cross Rhythms' Breakthrough! Nights radio show last night, speaking about the work of Mahabba.

Breakthrough! Nights focusses on the people, issues and initiatives of the Stoke on Trent area and occasionally national and global topics.

It offers a chance for people, Christian or not, to engage spiritually through contemporary worship, prayer, the prophetic and sharing amazing life changing stories.

Gordon answered a series of questions, including:

• What response is the Network getting from the Muslim community?
   
• If Islam is in the news, like most things, it's usually for bad news and in Islam's case it's usually terrorism. You don't often hear of people talking about loving Muslims in the media. So please tell me about your love for Muslims
   
• What do Muslims experience from their families and faith community when they want to change their faith and become Christians?
   
• How understanding is our Government and services, of the issues Muslim converts face?
   
• The Government has recently ended the scheme bringing child refugees to Britain, having taken just 350 of the promised 3,000. What is your opinion of this?

The full interview will be available shortly as a Q&A article, so stay tuned, but you can listen again to the show here.

Gordon was speaking to Heather Bellamy, and if you want to tune into Cross Rhythms, Breakthrough! Nights is on every Tuesday evening, and available on FM or online.

Jesus & Muhammad

Image: Adam Przewoski, Unsplash

Jesus & Muhammad

Local Mahabba members were involved with another Meeting for Better Understanding (MBU) between Muslims and Christians the other night.

The discussion was to do with Jesus and Muhammad.

Individuals had been praying hard for the Holy Spirit to move in this particular mosque, which practises a strict form of Islam.

There have been a number of previous MBU’s, but little outward signs of warming to the Gospel.

On the night, about 80 people, mainly Muslims, heard a clear Gospel presentation and took evangelistic literature.

Questions and discussion about Muhammad and Jesus clearly gave Muslims present much food for thought, some of them a little troubling, as they challenged their current beliefs about Jesus.

Christians continue to meet up with their Muslim friends, so please pray for them as they build relationships and share Jesus, particularly as the Gospel stirs people's hearts and minds with questions and promptings.

Your turn

Have you been inspired?

Why not get in touch with your local Mahabba prayer group, get praying and see where God leads you?

How to answer key questions from Muslims

Image: Emily Morter, Unsplash

How to answer key questions from Muslims

Denise has been building relationships with Muslims, and sent in the following question, wanting to know how she can bring her faith into conversations with grace and truth.

“How can I get equipped to ask - and answer - the right questions when talking to Muslims?”

Dear Mahabba,

I have a good Muslim friend, and we have been talking about faith and building friendship for several years. I was recently invited to the mosque open day, and spoke to the imam and my friends for two hours.

However, although I came away feeling much more informed, I felt ill-equipped to ask the right questions - especially to do with the fundamental differences between Islam and Christianity.

These included, the sonship and divinity of Jesus;  the Trinity; reliability of the Qur'an and Bible; and more besides!

Can you help or point me in the right direction? I would really appreciate it!

Many thanks,

Denise

Our response

Hi Denise,

Thanks again for your message, and great to hear that you are building relationships and have been able to visit your local mosque successfully.

In terms of your questions, there are a handful of suggestions:

1. Connect with someone at your local Mahabba group
    
2. Browse the helpful articles on Christianity Explained website
    
3. Join The City and enquire of others there
    
4. Connect with Applied Biblical Christianity (ABC)

Local Mahabba group

There are individuals in local Mahabba groups who are doing exactly the same things as you and working through the same challenges. A local group is an excellent place to get support from others with more experience.

Christianity Explained website

There are many websites available with articles and resources on how to answer common questions and points raised by Muslims. Check out the articles on explaining Christianity to Muslims and various hot topics.

Join The City

You can also apply to join The City, the Mahabba online community area, where you can pick the brains of lots of other Christians who are engaged in the same issues as you. This is good if there is no local group near you, and there is a wider pool of people to ask.

Connect with ABC

Acts of kindness definitely help to build new relationships, but what do you do when the Qur'an says:

Jesus did not die on the cross, neither was he the Son of God, the third person of the Trinity, or God

'How to share the Gospel with Muslims' is a useful document from ABC which can help lead to opportunities to share the Gospel, as well as answering the usual questions.

Also available from ABC as a PowerPoint for teaching in small groups or churches. [N.B. scroll to bottom of downloads page.]

I hope that helps!

Let me know if you need any further help,

Simon

Elliot's Weekly Round-up: Hijabs, frustration, Birmingham & asylum

“female Muslim athletes are delighted”

— http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/brands/nikes-first-high-performance-hijab-coming-female-muslim-athletes/

This is the big news that Nike are set to launch a sports hijab in 2018. The material it is made from has lots of little holes to ensure breathability.  It will be available in three colours. This demonstrates haw big business is becoming more aware of the Muslim pound. We too, as the church, need to become more aware of those around us.

“#DearSister
You must be married by age______
What about my goals and aspirations?
Sister, your goal should be to serve your husband
(UGH)”

— http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39179674

A recent report states how Muslim women are frustrated about being told how to dress and behave. Women's comments in the article are very different to the often assumed repressed role.  

The second episode of Extremely British Muslims is on Channel 4 this Thursday.  The last episode was about the struggle to find a spouse using family connections, mosque matchmaking services, and Muslim dating sites.  This episode homes in on what it is like for young men growing up as Muslims in Birmingham. It highlights their difficulties when travelling internationally, their aid work with refugees in Greece, along with discussion of why some people become radicalised.

““You have people who are ex-bad boys who still have that gang mentality. And if you want to be in a gang, what’s the biggest gang in the world right now?

“ISIS is the biggest, baddest gang in the world. You can get an AK and get forgiven by God at the same time.”

— http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/terrorists-why-extremely-british-muslims--12641261

Perhaps their conclusion is the most noticeable- and is a challenge.

““I know we have got to do more too, we have to work harder to mix. My community needs to be more outward looking.

“It’s up to all of us.””

— http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/terrorists-why-extremely-british-muslims--12641261

Finally a video that informs and may challenge preconceptions of asylum seekers.  Life as an asylum seeker here is tough.  Let's respond with Jesus love.

Where does god gain more honour?

Image: Jacob Meyer, Unsplash

Individuals from a local Mahabba prayer group have been involved in running a meeting for better understanding (MBU). 30 Muslims attended the event with Christians and heard the Gospel very clearly.

A Muslim speaker made a very startling statement, quoting from Deuteronomy 21:23.

“Whoever hangs on the wood is cursed by God”

He went on to say:

“For this reason, it is impossible for us to believe that Jesus died on the cross. God would never allow such a terrible thing to be said about one of the greatest prophets”

The Christian speaker succeeded very well in building the Gospel precisely on this truth:

“Jesus took the curse that had been caused by our sin and paid the punishment of death on our behalf”

It was clear that from a Muslim perspective, the death of Jesus is a great sign of God’s weakness.

Therefore, it is very important to emphasise that:

“The Gospel does not finish with the curse and death of Jesus, but continues with the lifting of the curse by his resurrection!”

A great question to ask Muslims regarding this central issue is:

“Where does God gain more honour, by preventing the death of Jesus, as it is described in the Q uran, or by raising him from the dead, as described in the Bible?”

The answer is self evident.

For more helpful answers and resources on how to speak with grace and truth to Muslims, check out the Christianity Explained website.

New Testaments & Gospels in other languages suitable for refugees and asylum seekers

Image: Raul Petri, Unsplash

Info on new testaments & gospels in other languages suitable for refugees and asylum seekers

“Do you have any info on New Testaments & Gospels in other languages suitable for refugees and asylum seekers?”

Mahabba Gloucester has created a helpful sheet!

N.B. prices are subject to change and are correct as of the time of publication of this blog.

1. Amazon www.amazon.co.uk

• Arabic/English New Testament, £2.80 (£3.27 plus postage)

• Biblica are holders of the NIV copyright

• NIV Luke’s Gospel £0.50 (and free shipping for orders of over £10.00)

2. Operation Mobilisation (OM) www.uk.om.org

• Store in Halesowen

• Telephone 0121-5855662 - Cecil Benjamin knows about Asian languages best

• Large stock with English/Urdu Luke's Gospels in packs of 100

3. The Bible Society biblesociety.org.uk

• Based in Swindon, telephone 01793 418100

• Urdu New Testament £1.25

• Bengali New Testament £8.40

• Punjabi New Testament £8.05

• English/Russian £19.00

• English/Arabic £5.00

• English/Chinese £5.00

• English/Spanish £7.00

4. Kitab www.kitab.org.uk

• Andrew Howell, telephone 01908 552714

• New Testaments or Gospels in other languages

• Luke in Arabic £0.85

• Diglot New Testament in Arabic £6.50

• Luke in Gujarati

5. The Bible Society www.bsni.co.uk

• Northern Ireland, 028 9032 6577

• Bi-lingual New Testaments: English/Arabic, English /Chinese, English/Hungarian, English/Polish and English/Spanish

6. Gospel Publishing Mission www.gospelpublishingmission.org

• Is God really my Father? English/Arabic and pictures for use in teaching, £4.50

• N.B. check pictures for suitability

7. Bible websites with foreign languages

• Biblegateway www.biblegateway.com/app/

• YouVersion Bible app

Entertaining angels

Image: Samantha Sophia, Unsplash

Entertaining angels

I remember whilst travelling in Israel/Palestine many years back arriving in a town at night.

We were travelling by car, two of us, looking for somewhere to stay.

We asked a local for directions and ended up being invited to his home, where we were welcomed and given food and somewhere to sleep.

We also got to meet his family the next morning over breakfast.

This incident had a profound effect on me, as I was on the receiving end of what has been called the ‘kindness of strangers’.

This is something I, like many others, have experienced frequently as I travel.

This is also the chosen title of journalist Kate Adie's autobiography.

Maybe you can also think of incidents where you have been on the receiving end of hospitality...

In ‘Cool Britannia’ we can be somewhat slower in offering hospitality.

And it seems that, post-Brexit, incidents of Hate Crime are increasing, as reported in the Independent recently.

Xenophobia is on the rise in Britain (literally the fear of the stranger/foreigner).

The Bible encourages us to ‘practice hospitality’ thereby ‘entertaining angels unawares’ (Hebrews 13:2 ESV). An intriguing phrase…

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”

— Hebrews 13:2 ESV

The answer to xenophobia is to respond in the opposite spirit – ‘philoxenia’ which is the Biblical (Greek) term for generosity or hospitality.

It literally means love of strangers and foreigners.

Go on try it. Practice generosity or hospitality with a stranger.  And maybe just maybe you will encounter an ‘angel’...

Phil - an Anglican minister, who is also a Street Angel, and a part of Mahabba

My new passport

My New Passport

My new passport just arrived in the post. Time for a trip. Perhaps a long haul destination, maybe a sunny beach to top up my tan, I guess would even consider a cultural/historical tour. Probably not a cruise though!

I didn’t need the shiny new passport for the train ride to my friend’s house. After eating, a game of Monopoly, and a couple of hours in bed I was ready for the off by 5:30am. A few hours down the road and we joined another friend and continued together.

What destination was worthy of the new passport and early start? Here’s a clue… it’s a place that many of my friends have been through, somewhere that has often been in the media,  a well-known location although no one wants to stay. It’s a place that over 10,000 called home until a few months ago. Now a home to none, although police still patrol the area. 

Welcome to the Calais Jungle! Running next to the road we could see the fence that cost millions to build.

We visited a warehouse that sprung up in 2015 as a response to a Facebook appeal. From then on volunteers have provided clothing, sleeping bags, wood for cooking as well as meals for those in The Jungle.

Since the dismantling of The Jungle the size of their work has downscaled, but they are still helping those in a nearby camp of Dunkirk. The energy, enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers was inspiring. They continue to grapple with difficult questions such as how to assist unaccompanied minors returning to the region yet not to be seen to be encouraging others to return.

Later we arrived at the site that was once home to 10,000. As soon as we alighted from the car a van full of police descended to ask if we were journalists.

Hardly anything remains at the site. Empty cardboard boxes, spent tear gas used to disperse residents, first aid points, and white shipping containers used to house the most vulnerable. where asylum seekers could be carried before being met by the emergency services who were afraid to enter.

It was strange to see some of the graffiti that I was so familiar with from the media. Other graffiti spoke of people’s desperation and challenged inactivity.

After surveying the ghostly site we met up with a local Catholic group who welcome asylum seekers.

One of the group whom had been making a documentary tracking different individuals progress, another was a long term volunteer who had spent many years cooking for hundreds of people. A couple of refugees acted as our interpreters as our school French was rather rusty.

A trip through the Channel Tunnel, Tube across London, train ride, and half an hour walk and I was home. Travelling with that new passport was easy. How much easier was my onward travel than many of those who have had prolonged stays in the Calais Jungle.

I’ll leave you with thought I read in a magazine last summer…

“It is our calling as Church to practise hospitality. Fear is the greatest enemy of hospitality.”

Key finds on Muslims and Islam from Pew Research Center

Image: José Martín, Unsplash

The Pew Research Center has been compiling a number of recent reports, answering key questions about Muslims.

• There were 1.6 billion Muslims in the world as of 2010 – roughly 23% of the global population
   
• Although many countries in the Middle East-North Africa region are heavily Muslim, the region is home to only about 20% of the world’s Muslims
   
• In 2015, there were 3.3 million Muslims of all ages in the U.S., or about 1% of the U.S. population
   
• Our Pew's demographic projections estimate that Muslims will make up 2.1% of the U.S. population by the year 2050
   
• The two major factors behind the rapid projected growth of Islam are:
   
  • Muslims have more children than members of other religious groups. Around the world, each Muslim woman has an average of 3.1 children, compared with 2.3 for all other groups combined
     
  • Muslims are the youngest (median age of 23 years old in 2010) of all major religious groups, seven years younger than the median age of non-Muslims. As a result, a larger share of Muslims already are, or will soon be, at the point in their lives when they begin having children
     
• Perceptions of Muslims varied across European nations:
   
  • Majorities in Hungary, Italy, Poland and Greece say they view Muslims unfavorably
     
  • Negative attitudes toward Muslims are much less common in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Northern and Western Europe
     
  • People who place themselves on the right side of the ideological scale are much more likely than those on the left to see Muslims negatively

The full report can be found on the Pew Research Center website.

Elliot's Weekly Roundup: statistics, something to pray about & is love in the air?

Image: Laura Ockel, Unsplash

In the media this week: statistics, something to pray about and is love in the air?

“Islam is the only religion growing faster than the world’s population and it will be the largest in the world by 2070, researchers have found.”

— telegraph.co.uk

The article also includes information about European attitudes towards Muslims. Reading this could be seen as overwhelming.  But let's make a choice not be overwhelmed by numbers and statics. Instead lets take the increasing opportunities that present themselves to share Jesus to those around us.  Even though the report states that attitudes to Muslims are not so negative in the UK there is still much room for us to model good relations and to help to shape attitudes positively.

“Majorities in Hungary, Italy, Poland,and Greece say they view Muslims unfavourably, while negative attitudes towards Muslims are much less common in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Northern and Western Europe.”

— telegraph.co.uk

Meanwhile a new project has been started by four newspapers in Europe documenting conditions experienced by refugees and asylum seekers.  It states that Britain is one of the worst destinations for people seeking asylum in Western Europe. The following video clip shows the desperate reality of asylum seekers- many of whom are Muslim.  The question that it left me thinking about is how can I respond as an individual/ as a family/as part of a church/ as a British citizen.  Come on let's help make this place more welcoming!

The UN is warning that thousands of Rohingya children are suffering as "indirect victims" of the crackdown against suspected militants in Burma. Let's continue to pray for a change in this situation.

There is going to be a new TV programme on Channel 4 starting on Thursday. The first programme follows young men and women as they attempt to find spouses with the help of family, dating sited and the mosque marriage bureau.  It is set in Birmingham where:

“...a baby boy is more likely to be called Mohammed than any other name...”

— bradfordzone.co.uk

The second programme deals with growing up as a young Muslim in the shadow of the news.  The third programme is about the rules of Islam and how they are interpreted.

In an insightful article, the creator of the show explained how the programme was made as a response to her daughter asking: "Mummy, what's a terrorist?"  She states the challenge of growing up as a Muslim in a post 9/11 world. " We grew up with Rosie and Jim, they are growing up with Jihadi John." 

“...we did want to put ourselves in a Muslim community and explore and record the day to day lives and experiences of ordinary Muslims in the UK. ”

 I think I'll watch it. Pray.  Then use the insight gained from the programme in my interactions with my Muslim friends. Why don't you do the same. Let me know how you get on!

News from Harrow - Prayer on the Streets

Image: Herry Lawford, Flickr

Thanks to the Mahabba Peterborough for passing on this story of God moving among Muslims in Harrow!

News from Harrow - Prayer on the Streets

By Clare Lambert, Stanmore Baptist Church

Taking the Gospel out onto the streets can be an uncomfortable prospect but, for eight years, a small team from our church in Harrow has been praying for healing and sharing the gospel with our neighbours.

“We set up Healing on the Streets out of a sense of urgency - if they would never come in, we needed to get out!”

We set up Healing on the Streets out of a sense of urgency as we realised that what we did in the building would not touch the majority of people walking past. If they would never come in, we needed to get out! It was the supernatural element of our faith that we were convicted to take onto the streets and Healing on the Streets, who pioneered this ministry, were able to provide the training that we needed.

Our method is simple. We meet outside Sainsbury’s, on the High Street, where we set up a banner, some chairs and refreshments and hand out flyers. Our approach is gentle and respectful. The simple phrase "we’re here to offer prayer", for example, can stop a person in their tracks. We’re always mindful of working in partnership with God and it’s a privilege to do so.

Harrow is the most religiously diverse local authority in the UK and this is a wonderful way of connecting with our neighbours since our consistent weekly presence has created community. Most people come specifically for prayer, either as a one-off or on a regular basis. Others come for coffee and a chat and this often leads to prayer too. We have many testimonies of healings and answers to prayer and some people have come to the Lord.

“A Muslim woman comes regularly after her husband’s cancer was healed through prayer elsewhere. She is being drawn to Jesus”

One woman, from a Hindu background, was feeling isolated. She experienced healing and found community with us. She has subsequently given her life to Jesus. A couple, also Hindus, came to us when the husband was diagnosed with a large tumour. This man encountered Jesus as we prayed and the subsequent operation revealed an unexpectedly small and benign growth which was easily removed. The couple praised Jesus for that intervention. A Muslim woman comes regularly after her husband’s cancer was healed through prayer elsewhere. She is being drawn to Jesus.

We are very aware that the Holy Spirit is already at work and that He brings people to us. This enables us to minister from a place of peace and with an understanding of the delegated authority we have in Jesus’ name to move in the gifts of the Spirit. All followers of Jesus can do this!

YOUR TURN

Have you been inspired?

Why not get in touch with your local Mahabba prayer group, get praying and see where God leads you?

Thank you - BMS event

Image: Simon Ingram, Flickr

Mahabba was part of the recent equipping and encourage 'Helping Christians engage with Muslims' event and received the following feedback:

“Dear Mahabba,

My husband and I attended the excellent Mahabba West event at BMS Birmingham on Saturday.

We would like to express our thanks for putting on this event and enabling us to hear about some of the ways God is using folk to love Muslims for his sake.

I especially enjoyed the session on Ethics by Louise Brown and was glad to hear from Roxy and obtain a copy of the DVD course, Joining the Family.

The lunch was excellent too, although the dining room was very noisy!

Your sincerely,

Barbara”

Thanks, Barbara!

If you want to find out about other upcoming events, do visit our events page.

Bibles for refugees

Image: Colin Carey, Unsplash

“Hi Mahabba,

A quick question - do you have any good contacts from which we could obtain Amharic and Tigrinya bibles for refugees we are working with?

Have a Great Day,

Andy”

The Bible Society stocks common language Bibles in Amharic and Tigrinya, as a first start.

Amharic is the main language of Ethiopia and Tigrinya (ትግርኛ) is spoken in Eritrea and northern Ethiopia.

The Amharic common language edition was published by the Bible Society of Ethiopia in 1980. The Tigrinya Bible is published in a Common Language edition.