The Islam and Christianity pamphlet published by Rose Media offers the following Do’s and Don’ts of Reaching Out to Muslims:
- Do make it clear you are a follower of Christ, by your loving words and righteous lifestyle.
- Don’t assume your Muslim friend understands your meaning of “Christian.”
- Do take time to build a relationship. Practice hospitality.
- Don’t be surprised if you are rejected at first. It is best to offer Muslim friends store-bought sweets and to avoid anything with pork or alcohol.
- Do approach your encounters as a learner. Ask questions.
- Don’t take notes and treat Muslim friends like an academic project.
- Do correct their misunderstandings of your beliefs.
- Don’t argue. If they want to debate with a Christian, refer them to the website: www.debate.org.uk/.
- Do talk about Jesus. Use his title, Isa Al Masih.
- Don’t insult the prophet Muhammad.
- Do pray out loud with your Muslim friends. Ask if you can pray for their practical needs, healing, and worries. Look for opportunities and pray in Jesus’ name.
- Don’t start your prayer with “Our Father…” because Muslims have a misunderstanding about the fatherhood of God (as sexual). Wait until you correct this misunderstanding before using “Father” or “Abba.” At first address your prayer to “Almighty God” or “Lord God.”
- Do use your right hand in giving and receiving gifts.
- Don’t use your left hand for eating food (especially when learning to eat with your hands). The left hand is used for toilet cleaning; the right hand for eating.
- Do treat your Bible with respect. Store it high on a shelf. Some wrap it in a beautiful cloth.
- Don’t put your Bible on the floor or in the bathroom as reading material. Many Muslims are superstitious about the bathroom.
- Do be gender-sensitive: interact man to man, woman to woman.
- Don’t allow any compromising situation, even just to protect from a possible rumor. An Arab proverb says, “A man and woman alone together are three with the devil.”
- Do observe body language. Take your shoes off when entering a home or place of prayer (especially if you see shoes at the threshold).
- Don’t sit so that the sole of your foot or shoe is facing someone. Women, don’t look men directly in the eye, or at least quickly avert your glance.
- Do practice modesty, even among Westernized Muslims. For women this is very important since family honor is tied to their behavior and reputation.
- Don’t assume Muslims think the same as you, even if they dress the same.
What would you add to their list?
, by Paul Copan.
