Promises of the Prophets
God loves mankind and He cares about us. He sent many prophets throughout history and promised to guide human beings. Sharing the stories of the prophets from the Bible with Muslims can be a great experience, as many Muslims love and honour prophets.
Telling the big story of Scripture
The Quran, written in the seventh century, presents the books of the Bible – Torah, Prophets, Psalms and Gospels – as revelations sent down by God (Allah). It makes honourable reference to many biblical patriarchs and prophets, including Jesus ('Isa) among them. However, many Muslims have yet to read the Bible for themselves, and they often see the Bible's 'big story' very differently, especially when consulting Islamic authorities.
Making sense of the Messiah
Studying the Bible together is a wonderful way for Christians and Muslims to make sense of Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus' relationship to the prophets and promises of the Old Testament is explained in great detail. The Quran tells us less about the Messiah (al Masih), the biblical prophets and the Books they trusted. But by reviewing the sources side by side, we can get a much clearer picture of Jesus, informed by the testimony of biblical prophets themselves.
These studies can help you to explore the mission of Jesus in light of the whole Bible. They invite friends of different faiths to examine and contrast what the Bible and Islamic writings say about God's prophets.
Comparing notes
Each study includes two simple 'outlines', describing mainstream Christian and Muslim views on a given prophet. Each outline includes a brief reflection and discussion questions to draw out important themes. Sections include links to a full reference page where you can dig deeper into the original sources such as the Bible, Quran and other 'authentic' (sahih) Islamic writings.
How to use these studies
These studies are intended to be flexible for various ways you might use them. For example, you might use the cards as visual or memory aids in a brief conversation, or perhaps you'd use them as the basis of studies over several weekly meetings with a friend. Here are some tips to guide you:
- Be prayerful. Whether using this resource alone or with a friend, pray that God will give you insights as you go, to know and love Him more.
- Be respectful. You may be surprised by some of what you encounter in other writings about the prophets. On points of disagreement, try not to rush to disrespectful commentary, and try not to drift from the topic at hand.
- Make connections. Don't look at these studies in isolation. Think about common themes and storyline running through them. How does each one connect to the next, and what do they look forward to?
- Search for the Messiah. Like John the Baptiser and Jesus himself, think about how each of the prophets tells us of God's promised Messiah (Masih).