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Muslim dreams of a cross

By Zeenat, Morocco

In 2011, I wanted to learn Russian so I went to a website to register for online learning. On that website, I found an advertisement that was a link to click on to know God’s plan for your life. I clicked the button, filled out the form and received a downloadable version of Matthew’s Gospel. At that time, I became distracted with other things and forgot about it.

A month later, my internet service stopped working. In that moment, I remembered what I had downloaded and began reading Matthew. When I came to the section about the sermon on the mountain, I began to have lots of questions.

My beliefs about Christianity were entirely based on what I had been taught as a Muslim. I thought that Christians believed everything (drinking, sex, etc) was permissible at all times. I did not realize that Christians believe that Jesus was God in human form, truly the Messiah. Continue reading Muslim dreams of a cross

The Jesus movement spreads through persecution

It is not through planning and strategy, but through persecution that the Jesus movement spreads through the book of Acts.

Many think that persecution destroys the Church, but in both the past and the present God has used persecution and disasters to spread hope and salvation through the Church. Many people of different background come to the Christian faith because they experience love, forgiveness, and mercy.

The first church found new courage in view of God’s greatness. Through Psalm 2 they realized: headwinds are normal. Therefore, they do not ask for the headwind to stop, but rather that they do not allow themselves to be frightened and continue to tell without hesitation about the fact that Jesus overcame death. God’s answer to their request is to give them a new fullness of the Holy Spirit.

God of Abraham

Abraham is often seen as the father of the monotheistic religions. His way of believing is a model for all people.

Only when we understand how Abraham experienced God, can we evaluate whether we believe in Abraham’s God or we are following our own image of God.

Abraham is described as the first Muslim in sura 2:132. In John 8:39 the Jews say: “Our father is Abraham.” Jews, Christians and Muslims all see Abraham as a model of faith. But Abraham did not start three religions.

When we say we believe in the God of Abraham, we must first see what kind of God Abraham believed in and what are the characteristics of his belief.

Jesus says in John 8:39: “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did.”

Desire for the temple

A member of the Knesset suggests that not only Jews should be able to freely visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and express their faith, but that the Third Temple should be built.

Nissim Vaturi visited the Temple Mount in December. Vaturi openly recited the traditional Jewish prayer. Vaturi is the second member of the Likud Knesset who not only enters the Temple Mount, but also calls for the construction of the third temple. In early December Likud MP Amit HaLevi was also on the Temple Mount.

More and more Muslim Arabs are demanding that Israel should remove control from the Palestinian Waqf.

Jerusalem’s Sheikh, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, has banned UAE and Bahraini nationals entering via Israel to the Temple Mount.

The Saudi journalist Abdel Rahman Al-Lahim tweeted: “It is very important for the Emiratis and Bahrainis to discuss with Israel ways of liberating the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Palestinian thugs in order to protect visitors from Palestinian thuggery.

Rotenberg: “The time has come to replace the Supreme Muslim Council with an international council with representatives from Muslim nations that formally recognize Israel, as well as representatives from Israel, both Jewish and Muslim and the Palestinian Authority (if it is willing).”

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahum visited the UAE. He estimated that 100,000-250,000 Muslim tourists from the region will come to Jerusalem in the future. “Just as we developed Christian tourism, we plan to work to develop Muslim tourism.” more information

New marriages from the age of 18 in Saudi Arabia

As the Saudi Gazette reported, the Saudi Justice Ministry has set 18 years as the minimum age for marriage. The Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Sheikh Walid Al-Samaani, enacted the new policy in a circular on December 22, 20 that was sent to all courts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

So far, child marriages have been usual in Saudi Arabia: every seventh girl marries before the age of 18.

According to the regulations of orthodox Islamic law, girls are allowed to marry from the age of nine. These Islamic law is based on the marriage of the Prophet Muhammad with his third wife Aisha, who, according to Islamic tradition (Hadith), was six years old at the time of the marriage contract and nine years old at the wedding.

According to UNICEF, Continue reading New marriages from the age of 18 in Saudi Arabia

Normalization with Israel

Saudi companies want to invest in Israel with the help of intermediaries from Bahrain. The potential investors are primarily interested in the high-tech offer in Israel.

After rumors about a possible normalization of relations between Indonesia and Oman with Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that soon we will see many more Muslim states normalizing their relations with Israel.

In addition to Oman and Indonesia, the “Jerusalem Post” also names states such as Mauritania, Niger and Saudi Arabia, but also Pakistan as possible states that could establish relations with Israel.

The Israeli Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli officials as saying that Saudi Arabia would announce normalization with Israel within 12 months.

Jesus as a bridge between Islam and Christianity

The Islamic theologian Mouhanad Khorchide told domradio:

Jesus serves as a bridge between Islam and Christianity.

In the Koran, Jesus is valued much more strongly, is much more central, than Mohammed himself. Very few people know that.

Jesus is referred to in the Koran as the Word of God, Spirit of God. The miracles of Jesus are also described in the Koran.

So I think: Muslims should also honor this day. When I say that one congratulates one another or even celebrates Christmas, it doesn’t mean that Muslims become Christians, but they remind us of this appreciation.

In contrast to Khorchide, it should also be noted: In the Koran, Jesus is referred as “the son of Mary”, as the Arabic name ʿĪsā ibn Maryam shows. To difference oneself from the term “Son of God”.Isa is a prophet in the Koran and Jesus the Son of God in the New Testament.

Mt 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Mt 27.43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’

Lk 22.70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”

Jn 10:36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

 

Saudi Arabia needs to diversify

The low oil prices and the corona pandemic are exacerbating the financial crisis in Saudi Arabia. Due to the slowdown in the global economy, the relevant oil price fell from around $ 60 to less than $ 20 per barrel and has not recovered completely since then. The annual average price is around $ 40. For a balanced national budget, however, Saudi Arabia needed an oil price almost twice as high.

In addition to oil exports, pilgrimage tourism to the holy sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina also brings a lot of money into the conservative kingdom every year. The income of more than $ 20 billion corresponds to almost 3% of the annual national income. But because of the Corona crisis, Riyadh closed the borders to foreign pilgrims for seven months. Since November, travel to Mecca has been possible again with restrictions. Continue reading Saudi Arabia needs to diversify

Praying with Zacharias (Part 7)

Luke 1,78-79: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, a wonderful picture. In your love you visit us as the light of the world to show us the way out of darkness and to guide us on the path of peace.

Isaiah said in chapter 9.2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9: 2). This is Christmas Divine light comes into our world.

Jesus says in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Thank you, Jesus, for leaving the glory to show us the way to Heavenly Father. Thank you that we can celebrate Christmas, the great beginning of your search for the people who have lost touch with you. We want to accept your saving offer and ask you to come into our life and it will be light in us. Amen.

Mary Christmas to you all.

A turning point in Islam

Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Clergy Community, declared on Saturday December 19 in Pakistan:

Muslim scholars should read the Koran, in which Mohammed writes: Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺ (Sure 5:21). Muslims need to read the Koran and understand the text what the Koran says. The Koran and history prove to us that Israel belongs to the Jews. King David built the house of God in Jerusalem for the Israelis and not for the Palestinians.  Continue reading A turning point in Islam