Are you thinking about converting to Islam? Do you need reasons to convert to Christianity?
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Why convert to Islam?
Before you convert/revert to Islam and recite the Shahada (Testimony of Faith), do yourself an eternal favor and answer the following questions:
1. Why convert to Islam when Islam does not affirm Jesus’ death on the cross?
Jesus’ death on the cross is an historical event Islam denies. This isn’t only a difference in history but eternity (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
The fact of Jesus’ death on the cross for sin and His resurrection from the dead is the reason why you should be a Christian.
Before his conversion from Islam to Christianity, Lamin Sanneh [1942 – 2019] thought about the cross,
“But suppose Jesus did die on the cross, and suppose God intended it to be so; how would that change our knowledge of God? I reflected on the suffering and the heartbreak which are part of life, hopes that are often dashed to pieces…It seemed to be that deep down at the center and core of life, the cross and its anonymous burden was declaring something about the inner integrity and mystery of life which rang true to all authentic experience…
[Supposing Jesus did on the cross], it would follow that God actually did demonstrate his solidarity with humanity by visibly entering our world and defeating death itself, allowing us to understand life in a wholly new way, with redemptive love able to overcome human wickedness and reveal the true face of God. Seen in the light of the cross of Jesus Christ, all of human nature, indeed all of history, appears to gather at one sharp poignant place. It all began to make sense to me. The need for the cross seemed so compelling and true to the way life is.”
“As might be expected, it was difficult to find a Christian community, and Muslim friends who felt scandalized by my conversion abused me harshly. In these situations God showed me that the cross of Calvary is a constant, unchangeable fact which can transform our lives at every moment, whatever the situation.”1
2. Why convert to Islam when the Quran contradicts previous revelation?
Some Muslims argue that the New Testament is corrupted because they believe Jesus was given a book from heaven called the Injeel,
Quran 5:46-47 (Muhsin Khan)
And in their footsteps, We sent ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), confirming the Taurat (Torah) that had come before him, and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel), in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Taurat (Torah) that had come before it, a guidance and an admonition for Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V. 2:2).
Let the people of the Injeel (Gospel) judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed (then) such (people) are the Fasiqun (the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a lesser degree) to Allah.
The four gospels should not be confused with the non-existent Qur’anic Injeel. The Qur’anic Injeel is a forgery that has only ever existed in Islamic imagination.2
The Injeel is not the message sent from heaven to Jesus. Jesus is the good news sent from heaven. That is what the gospels and rest of the New Testament are about.
3. Why convert to Islam since it cannot be demonstrated that the angel Gabriel revealed the Quran to Muhammad?
4. Why convert to Islam when Muhammad admitted he was a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness?
Muhammad reportedly said he was a sinner in need of forgiveness:
Book 035, Number 6523:
Al-Agharr al-Muzani who was from amongst the Companions of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) reported that Ibn ‘Umar stated to him that Allah’s Messenger (may peace ‘be upon him) said: O people, seek repentance from Allah. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day.
Volume 8, Book 75, Number 319:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
I heard Allah’s Apostle saying.” By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.”
Jesus never sinned and has authority to forgive sin (Mark 2:1-13).
2 Corinthians 5:20–21
20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 2:22
22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
1 John 3:5
5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Hebrews 7:26–28
26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
If you convert to Islam, how will you be forgiven of your sin?3 How will you be forgiven for not doing God’s will by believing in Jesus? Jesus taught,
John 6:29
“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:40
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
5. Why convert to Islam, since Muhammad’s immoral lust undoubtedly violated Jesus’ interpretation of God’s law, “Do not commit adultery”?
After watching this video, wouldn’t you agree that Quran 33:37-38 gives the appearance of a man driven by selfish ambition in the guise of divine command?
6. Why convert to Islam when Jesus perfectly exemplified love, and Muhammad did not?
- Jesus commanded His disciples to love their enemies,
Matthew 5:43–48
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- Jesus not only taught about love, He demonstrated love. He willingly laid down His life for His enemies,
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Romans 5:8,10
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
7. You should convert to Christianity because Christians have a living hope.
The Christian hope is unlike other types of hope, because other types of hope end in death. Christian hope is living, because Jesus’ tomb is empty. Jesus has overcome death.
Jesus chose disciples (Apostles) to witness and testify to what He did and taught. One of Jesus’ foremost disciples was Peter. Peter was an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and His ascension into heaven. Peter wrote,
1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The Bible says, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
You may also be interested in:
Was Muhammad a true prophet? If so, can you answer these questions?
Jesus’ Death on the Cross and the Qur’an
Trinity, Tawheed, and Monotheism
The Islamic view of sin is different from Moses, the prophets, and Jesus.
Footnotes
- Lamin Sanneh, “Jesus, more than a Prophet,” in Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians, ed. Kelly Monroe Kullberb (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997), 192.
- You may have heard some Muslims say the Bible is corrupted because of textual variants. This is a self-defeating argument because the Qur’an also has textual variants. The real issue is that Muslims believe in a non-existent book the Qu’ran calls the Injeel.
- The Muslim view of sin is different from the teaching of true prophets of God and is rooted in a fictitious covenant mentioned in Quran 7:172.
