Shane Bennett

A member of our tribe died this past week. A leader, actually. 

Nabeel Qureshi grew up in a warm Pakistani family as a faithful, practicing Muslim. After an arduous intellectual and spiritual journey, he began to follow Jesus as a young adult in 2005.

His love for Jesus and for Muslims led him to a career as an apologist, arguing winsomely and relentlessly for the truth of the Gospel. His book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus has seen unprecedented success and has impacted untold numbers of people. 

In August of 2016, Nabeel shared on Facebook, “My family and I have received the news that I have advanced stomach cancer, and the clinical prognosis is quite grim.” In the midst of intense, global prayer, Nabeel died last Saturday, September 16th at age 34. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter. 

He also leaves behind some pretty big shoes to fill. I’m grateful that his books and videos remain, but much work also remains. I pray that Nabeel’s death will inspire us to love Muslims more practically and fiercely, share the hope of Jesus more faithfully with both Muslims and Christians and pray without giving up for the fullness of God’s kingdom. 

If you want to help Nabeel’s wife and daughter, buy his book or give directly here.

To learn more, check out this blurb in the Missions Catalyst ezine, this article by his boss and friend, Ravi Zacharias or this kind overview by Justin Taylor. 

Will you join me in praying for comfort and hope for Nabeel’s family? Let’s also ask God to raise up many to carry forward his work. May his influence for God’s glory in death far exceed what has been seen so far. 

On the one hand, our oldest daughter gets married in two days! There’s not much happier than that. On the other hand, I’m reading about 250,000 Rohingya refugees who’ve fled from Burma to Bangladesh. Their scale of suffering is beyond what I can imagine and it’s making my head spin. 

The Rohingya are Muslims living in a predominantly Buddhist state. They are ethnically related to Bengalis and have been oppressed for decades. The current situation, and the history leading up to it, is murky at best. The Rohingya live in a geographically isolated part of Burma which is further cut off by government forces. I’m suspect of almost everything said about this situation. 

This much does seem clear: multiple tens of thousands of women, children and elderly are fleeing for their lives in the most deplorable conditions. They are driven out because they are Muslim, because they are minorities and because recently a few of their own, armed with primitive weapons have attacked police. 

What can you and I do? We can pray. God sees the situation clearly. He knows each name. And Jesus’s life and death show us that he loves the Rohingya more than we will ever know. 

Here are some prayer points:

1. Pray for safe passage for Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, for strength and stamina, for water, food and shelter along the way. 
2. Pray for proper government response both in Burma and beyond. Pray particularly for Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, who now leads Burma, to courageously respond to this crisis. 
3. Pray for Bangladesh as they struggle to receive these refugees, for resources and hospitality. 
4. Finally, pray for our hearts, that we would not grow cold to people suffering simply because of who they are. 

Please share this with others who might want to know about and pray for the Rohingya situation.

If you notice the plaintive bleating of sheep today, it might be due to Eid Al-Adha, the Islamic feast of sacrifice. It’s a fun celebration, if you’re not a sheep! 

For this the largest annual celebration of the Islamic year, sheep are killed, shared and eaten in commemoration of Abraham’s (Muslims tend to use “Ibrahim.”) obedience to offer his son, a story recounted in both the Bible and the Quran, and God’s provision at the last moment of an alternative sacrifice. 

Eid Al-Adha is a joyful time of family gatherings, gifts and special religious services. (You can read more here and here.) 

It’s also a great time for Christians to connect with Muslim friends and neighbors. 

Start with greetings both personal and on your Facebook page. “Eid Mubarak,” basically “Happy Eid,” is a good start. Depending on your relationships and time (Personally, we’re prepping for our daughter’s wedding at our house in a week, so I barely have time to brush my teeth!), consider some of these ideas as well: 

Take small presents (flowers or chocolates) to your Muslim friends and wish them a happy holiday. If you’re invited to a meal and your schedule allows, go! Seems like Jesus was doing this all the time!  Finally, grab a copy or five of this booklet written by my friend Fouad called “Adha in the Injeel.”  It talks about the foreshadowing found in Abraham’s action and the fullness of the sacrifice of Jesus. It’s designed to be read by both Christians and Muslims and to facilitate discussion about Jesus and his role in God’s great purposes.

We have heavy stuff coming up in Muslim Connect in the weeks ahead, like looking at the Hajj and understanding Sharia. So I thought we’d lighten up this week with a tongue-in-cheek look at what Christians can learn from Muslims. I firmly believe that both Christians and Muslims can learn from each other, but this list is for fun! (And we’ll look at what Muslims can learn from Christians in a later week!)

1. How to pray closer to “without ceasing.”
   Five. Times. A. Day! If you’re doing it for real, you stop what you’re doing and go someplace to pray. Say what you will, but that’s dedication.
2. How to wash up for prayer.
   Oh, and there’s the clean up ahead of prayer. Christians can waltz straight from the potty to the pew!
3. Where to find the best shawarma.
   OK, shawarma is not technically Muslim. But it is part of a suite of food, including baklava and falafel, that makes me sigh, “Alhamdulillah.”

4. How to fast for a whole month!
   Is it easier to fast for a month if you eat a lot at night? Maybe it makes it harder. I don’t know, but I have heard that Ramadan is like Black Friday for Muslim grocers!

5. How to dress modestly!
   Head to head, a salwar chemise beats a denim jumper any day!

6. How to name your kids after your main guy.
   Muhammad may be the most popular name on the planet! At the same time, fewer Hispanics are naming their boys Jesus and American Christians almost never do! Want to join me in pressuring our kids to call any male grandchildren Jesus!

7. How to enjoy life without bacon.
   Is this even possible? The thought makes me wonder two things: Have we underplayed the conversion possibilities of bacon? You know, “Become a Christian and enjoy all the bacon you want!”

8. How to convert music stars to your faith.
   If I had a dollar for every time a Muslim has proudly told me, “Your Cat Stevens. . .he is Muslim now,” I’d buy a ticket on the peace train.

9. Memorizing the holy book.
   Granted the Quran only really counts if its in Arabic and most Muslims don’t speak Arabic, but it sure wouldn’t kill me to edge toward “memorizing scripture like a Muslim!”

10. How to hold big, religious festivals.
    In 2012, more than three million people showed up in Mecca for Hajj! That’s the population of Utah! (Which is home to a lot of people who know a thing or two about religious treks!)

    Next week we’ll take a more sober look at the Hajj, the reasons behind it, the effects Muslims seek and how we might pray for them during this time. 

It’s a tricky role, isn’t it? Guiding a group of disparate, messed up people on the way of Jesus? Prophet, teacher, counselor, referee and sometimes janitor. Pastors hear the worst of the worst, which might be juicy and interesting the first time or two, but not the 400th! They are expected to encourage and help believers navigate the present world while preparing for the future one. It’s no small task and I’m sure I’m not alone in my sense of empathy and respect. 

Islam poses a unique challenge for pastors. “How do I help my people think like God does about Islam? How do I help them love Muslims as Jesus does? What does it mean to be both Christian and American relative to these issues? How do I boldly, yet carefully, walk the prickly path between truth and political correctness, love and wisdom? Remembering that Jesus walked it well and it led him right to the cross.” 

Assuming most pastors aren’t pursuing advanced degrees in Islamic Theology, what might actually help them be the thought leaders in this arena we need them to be?

1. Prayer: They know the Bible; they know Jesus. Ask God to help them wisely and courageously apply that knowledge. 
2. Digestible resources: Get them a copy of Carl Medearis’s book, Muslims, Christians and Jesus. Forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe. Propose hosting a live Bridges Seminar or running the dvd-based study. 
3. Immersion opportunities: I’m thinking “Un-Holy Land tours.” No churches to preach in, but tons of Muslims willing to engage in conversations about real life. I would happily help you facilitate this.

I’d also be happy to hear your ideas. What would help your pastor lead in regard to Islam?

What if this weekend for no cost and a tiny bit of time, you could make a difference? If you could take a small little piece off the wall separating Christians and Muslims; if you could diffuse the slightest little bit of confusion and hostility, would you do it? 

I know what you’re thinking? “Will this make me look dumb?” Well, maybe. Of course everything we do looks dumb to someone. The trick is getting the right people to roll their eyes. Do that and you know you’re on track! 

Ramadan ends this weekend and is immediately followed by a three day celebration called Eid Alfitr. It’s a big deal for Muslims and consists of family gatherings, yummy food and presents for kids. Basically a huge, “Whew, we made it through Ramadan!”

Here’s what I want a gazillion Christians to do this weekend: Wish Muslims a Happy Eid. Simply that. (tweet this)

The cool way to say this is “Eid Mubarak” (Eeed moo-Bar-ehk). You can post something on your Facebook page (Tag me if you do, so I can witness your awesomeness!). Or for the really intrepid, actually say it to a Muslim person! If you have a Muslim friend, all the better if you say this while handing them a present of chocolates or dates. 

Will you do this with me? Even if we all do, world peace will not land with a thump come Monday. But bit by bit, the kingdom of God will be emerging and people like us will be humble conduits of the love of Jesus. And just maybe a few Muslims will be blessed and encouraged.

Can I ask you to share this post? We’ve only got a couple of days to shoot for the “gazillion Christians” doing this. Thank you.   

What if in the space of one night all your prayers could be answered, all your sins forgiven and your destiny for the coming year established? Would you stay up all night and pray? Many Muslims will do just that next Wednesday because they believe on the Night of Power (Layla-tul-Qadr) those very things happen. 

The Quran says:
We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:
Peace!… This until the rise of morn! 

This night, which falls somewhere in the last ten nights of Ramadan, commemorates the first night Muhammad said he began to receive the Quran from the angel Gabriel. This year it happens on Wednesday, June 21st. 

It’s hard to over-estimate the significance of this observance for faithful Muslims. Many will gather in mosques and in homes for both organized and private prayer. There will be special Quran readings, introspection and fervent seeking of God. 

Given the importance ascribed to this night and the intensity of the spiritual situation, can I suggest we pray for Muslims particularly leading up to and during the Night of Power? Ask that as they seek, they would find the abundant life Jesus said he came to bring.

I’ve posted a document online called “Night of Power Prayer Wall.” Can I ask you to go there and quickly jot a prayer or two? Even if you’re not the type of person who usually comments, the rest of us will benefit from seeing your prayer and joining in it together. Click here to post your prayer and read what others are praying.