Seven Resources from Africa to help you talk to Muslims in Africa
Islam and Muslims are spreading, especially in certain parts of Durban and in certain parts of Africa, where Islam has long been dominant.
Do you know what Muslims believe?
Do you know what Muslims believe about Christian beliefs?
Do you feel equipped to have a conversation with a Muslim?
In some ways, we don’t need to know much about Islam to talk to Muslims about the Jesus we know and trust. But in another way, knowing what they believe can help sharpen how we communicate the news of Jesus to them.
To better equip you in talking and relating with Muslims, I would like to recommend some works by African Christians that can help you along the way.
BOOKS
Three come to mind here:
My Neighbour’s Faith: Islam explained for Christians by John Azumah.
This is a good introduction to the faith of Muslims. Azumah writes as a Christian for Christians and yet does so as someone with healthy relationships to Muslims. You can read a review of this book by a ‘The Bible Talks’ Alumni (who was also later on the TBT team), via The Gospel Coalition (TGC) Africa.
Dying in Islam, Rising in Christ: Encountering Jesus Beyond the Grave by Cedric Kanana.
This is a delightful true story of a Muslim man coming to faith in Jesus. A particularly helpful read in exploring folk Islam in Africa and the links with African Traditional Religion. Not always easy to buy locally, so you may need to hunt around for it.
Summoned from the Margin: Homecoming of an African by Lamin Sanneh
Sanneh is one of my favourite African theologians, particularly in terms of understanding Global Christianity. Part of his insight comes as someone who converted from Islam to following Jesus as Lord. This book is more academic in tone than the other two and less explicitly about Islam, and yet it is a deeply moving testimony to a man, under God, working out what he believes.
ARTICLES
If you can’t get the books above, then fear not. Here are some readily available articles written by people on the Continent:
Dr. David Fugoyo Baime has a helpful introductory article to Islam via TGC-Africa here, where he covers 6 core beliefs of Islam.
A common sentiment from Muslims is that Jesus never directly said ‘I am God’. How would you answer that? These two articles pick up the challenge here (part 1) and here (part 2).
Muslims do think Jesus is great… a great prophet. And because they think of him so highly, they sometimes ask Christians: why can’t you show a similar respect for Muhammad? This article, again via TGC-Africa, explores how Christians can and should respond.
TALKS
Muslims often claim that Deuteronomy 18 speaks about the coming of Muhammad. This talk via TBT’s YouTube Channel looks at that passage and weighs up the claims of Muslims, and how they haven’t understood who Moses was pointing to.
My hope is that at least one of these resources would build you up in Jesus and then help you to prayerfully start a conversation with someone who holds to the beliefs of Islam. And pro-tip: simply start your conversation by asking them to tell you what they believe.
Hamba Vangeli!
