A Review of Understanding Muslim Teachings and Traditions: A Guide For Christians
The Hadith is the collection of Mohammed's sayings and deeds. It is very influential in shaping the thinking and actions of the Muslims.
- Byron Snapp,
The Hadith is the collection of Mohammed's sayings and deeds. It is very influential in shaping the thinking and actions of the Muslims. Published in English it is a multi-volume work containing almost 5,000 pages.
The author, a missionary to Muslim nations for forty years, has read the Hadith twice. In this volume, re-released in 2002, he has chosen twenty-one topics of the many covered in the Hadith. He devotes a chapter to each. Topics include "Hell," "Paradise," "Jesus," "Women," and "Jihad and Violence." In each chapter the reader will find numerous quotations from the Hadith. Each quotation is carefully referenced so the reader can go to the Hadith and find it. Additionally, the author provides helpful commentary in each chapter.
Realizing this volume will be read by many Muslims, Parshall often points out open doors for evangelism that Muslim belief presents. He also reminds the reader that few Muslims are serious about obeying all aspects of Muslim teaching. At times he tellingly comments that many members of churches are not as serious as they should be regarding Biblical teaching. For example, in the chapter on prayer, he points out that Muslims, in praying several times daily, take prayer far more seriously than many Christians do.
This volume concludes with a very helpful glossary, bibliography, and index.
This book is very valuable to all who want to better understand Muslim teaching as presented in the Hadith. It is well written and very readable. Knowledge contained in this volume will enable the Christian in praying for Islam nations and in their evangelistic endeavors toward those who adhere to the religion of Islam.
- Byron Snapp
Byron Snapp is a graduate of King College (B.A.) and Reformed Theological Seminary (M.Div.). He was Associate Pastor at Calvary Reformed Presbyterian Church, Hampton, Virginia, from 1994 until his retirement in December 2014. He is a native of Marion, Virginia. He has had pastorates in Leakesville, Mississippi, and Gaffney, South Carolina. He served as Assistant Pastor in Cedar Bluff, Virginia prior to his ministry at Calvary Reformed. He has served as editor of the Presbyterian Witness and was a contributor to A Comprehensive Faith and Election Day Sermons. He is currently a member of Westminster Presbytery in the PCA. He and his wife Janey have 3 children and several grandchildren.