A Review of Answering Islam: The Crescent in Light of the Cross

Islam continues to be in the news. So often it is presented in a very positive manner. What does Islam teach? How can these teachings be answered scripturally?

In these updated and revised edition of their 1993 work the authors provide an explanation of and answers for Islamic teaching. This volume is divided into three parts "The Basic Doctrines of Orthodox Islam", "A Christian Response to Basic Muslim Beliefs" and "A Positive Defense of the Christian Perspective".

The authors are very qualified to cover this material. Saleeb (a pseudonym) is a former Muslim. He brings the knowledge gained from this background as a qualification for co-authoring this work. Dr. Geisler is a prolific author and president of Southern Evangelical Seminary.

The authors approach their subject of Islamic beliefs by examining Islam as most Muslims believe it. They base their understanding on what the Qur'an teaches and supplement this with references to various commentators' insights on this teaching. Topics covered include "Monotheism", "Creation and Man", "Mohammed" and "End-times and Salvation".

A subsequent section then evaluates Islamic monotheism, Muhammed and the Qur'an. In their final section the authors provide a defense of basic Christian doctrines that Muslims call into question including the inspiration and infallibility of scripture, Christ's deity, the Trinity and salvation through Christ's finished work alone.

Their writing is easy to understand while also providing the necessary depth readers need to better understand Islamic beliefs and how such beliefs can be biblically answered. Numerous quotations are integrated into the text. They enhance the writers' explanations and point they are making. Chapters conclude with a summary of the material covered in the chapter. This allows the reader the opportunity to quickly review the material contained in that chapter and reflect upon it.

A number of appendices provide additional help in a number of areas. Topics covered include "Muslim Sects and Movements" "Islam and Violence" and "Black Islam". These sections are written with clarity and insight that mark the rest of the book. The authors have also included a very helpful glossary and bibliography. Additionally an index of Qur'anic suras allow the reader to reference the suras wherever they are quoted in the text. An index of persons and subjects add value to this important tool.

Currently Islam is the second largest religion in the world. Our society currently evidences a decline in interest in and the influence of Christianity. Being by nature a religious people, humans are turning their attention to other religions. Christianity continues to be challenged by the Islamic faith. It is of utmost importance that we know the wide gulf that separates the two religious and also how to intelligently defend Christianity, the only true religion, from the false teaching of Islam. This volume is a great aid. It needs to be available in libraries and homes and utilized in discussions to answer Islam.