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Somali Bible Society (SBS)Newsletter
September 2024 |
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| | Our Mission……is to enable and facilitate opportunities for the holistic development of the illiterate masses, impoverished families, and fatherless children. We aim to evangelize the lost and disciple the believers in Somalia and beyond. We will achieve this mission by producing, distributing, and teaching biblical and contextualized resources in partnership with local churches. |
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| THIS MONTH’S FEATURED THEME: “THE JESUS OF THE QUR’AN” |
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Hi << Test First Name >>
This month we are taking a look at the Qur’an and seeing what this book teaches about Jesus.
I will be referring to various passages (surahs) in the Qur’an which speak of Jesus as the most unique of all prophets, including the Prophet Muhammad.
Before approaching this very sensitive subject for Christians and Muslims alike, I want to put forth three disclaimers:
Disclaimer #1 - I am in no way giving the Qur’an the status of the Inspired Word of God. I am using this book because it is the book of all Muslims and I am addressing Muslims in this newsletter. I am convinced that the Bible is the only inspired Word of God.
Disclaimer #2 - I am using references from the Qur’an in this newsletter to indicate what the Qur’an teaches Muslims, not what I believe.
Disclaimer #3 - I am not a Qur’anic scholar, although I did study the Qur’an in a doctoral level program. I recommend that Muslims who read this newsletter investigate for themselves each of my Qur’anic references and conclusions drawn. Listen to the Qur’an and think for yourselves. |
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|  | The Qur’an Believed to be the Word of God by Muslims |
| My purpose for this newsletter is not to aggravate, anger, or hurt in anyway my Somali Muslim friends. I call them friends because I truly love and appreciate those that I have met and in some cases have developed close relationships. I have been in many of your homes. Your hospitality is amazing and I have so enjoyed getting to know you.
My purpose is to draw attention to what your holy book, the Qur’an, says about Jesus as being the most unique one and to encourage you to go to the Injil (the Gospel) and discover who this Jesus really is.
I encourage Christians reading this newsletter to think through the material presented and to discover ways that you can more effectively share Jesus with Muslims that you encounter. |
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| If you are a Muslim, you love the Qur’an and treat it with great reverence. You never write on it. You keep it on a high shelf in your homes out of respect for the Qur’an, and you go to great extremes to prevent it from getting soiled or damaged in any way. Many Muslims are unable to read it because they do not know Arabic, the language in which it was written, but you can read the translation in a language that you know. And with some effort you can find ways to check your translation against the orginal and verify that the meaning has not changed.
Though Christians believe that the Bible is God’s Holy Book, we respect those who hold the Qur’an in great reverence. Many Christians have read the Qur’an too in order to see what the Quran says about Isa Al-Masih.
First, let us look to the Qur’an and study its teaching about Isa al-Masih (Jesus, the Messiah).
(All quotes from the Qur’an in this newsletter are from the Muhammad Sarwar translation) |
| JESUS THE MESSIAH (ISA AL-MASIH) |
| Jesus is referred as a Messiah 11 times in the Qur’an. Let’s look at just one of these references as Jesus, the Messiah. Surah 3:45 declares: "Behold," the angels told Mary, "God has given you the glad news of the coming birth of a son whom He calls His Word, whose name will be Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be a man of honor in this life and the life to come, and who will be one of the ones nearest to God.
The Qur’an states that Jesus shall be called “Messiah.”
In the Qur’an, this term (Messiah) means annointed one and is uniquely used to describe Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
| | The Qur’an refers to the virgin birth of Jesus in several places, including Surah 3:47 which speaks of the annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel: (Mary) said, "How can there be a son for me when no mortal has touched me?" The angel replied, "That is how God creates whatever He wants. When He decides to do something He just orders it to exist and it comes into existence." Again in Surah 66:12 the virgin birth is confirmed: He has also told, as a parable, the story of Mary, daughter of Imran who preserved her virginity and (into whose womb) We breathed Our spirit. She made the words of her Lord and the predictions in His Books come true. She was an obedient woman.
In the Qur’an, a virgin birth is uniquely used to describe the birth of Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
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Surah 3:49: He will be a Messenger of God to the Israelites to whom he will say, "I have brought you a miracle from your Lord. I can create for you something from clay in the form of a bird. When I blow into it, it will become a real bird, by the permission of God…
Although Jesus is never said to create a bird out of clay in the Bible, the Qur’an testifies in this surah that Jesus can create life.
The point here is that the Qur’an gives testimony that Jesus has the power to create.
In the Qur’an, the power to create is uniquely assigned to Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
| | Surah 3:49 continues: …I can heal the blind and the lepers and bring the dead back to life, by the permission of God…
In this Qur’anic reference Jesus is speaking. The Qur’an here is proclaiming that Jesus cannot only do miracles, but can also raise the dead to life.
In the Qur’an, the power to raise the dead is uniquely given to Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
| | Surah 3:46 - He will speak to the people while in his cradle and preach to them when he will be a man. He will be one of the righteous ones.
Surah 19:19 - He said, "I am the Messengers of your Lord. I have come to give you a purified son".
Surah 2:87 - We gave the Book to Moses and made the Messengers follow in his path. To Jesus, the son of Mary, We gave the miracles and supported him by the Holy Spirit. Why do you arrogantly belie some Messengers and murder others whenever they have brought you messages that you dislike?
Surah 2:253: We gave some of Our Messengers preference over others. To some of them God spoke and He raised the rank of some others. We gave authoritative proofs to Jesus, son of Mary, and supported him by the Holy Spirit…
Surah 5:110: When God said, "Jesus, son of Mary, recall My favors to you and your mother. (Recall) how I supported you by the holy spirit, made you speak to people from your cradle and when you grew up, taught you the Book, gave you wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel…
As you read through these surahs, you can’t miss that Jesus was pure at birth and is called righteous and holy throughout His life.
The Qur’an mentions no where that Jesus ever sinned. The Hadith and Muslim tradition also speak of Jesus as sinless. (The Hadith is a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad which, with accounts of his daily practice, constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Qur’an).
The Quran confirms that Muhammad committed sins in the past and was destined to commit sins in the future and that God has forgiven him for these transgressions.
In Surah 48:1-2 the Qur’an states of Muhammed: We have granted to you, (Muhammad), a manifest victory, so that God will redeem the sins (which the pagans think you have committed against them) in the past or (you will commit) in the future. He will complete His favors to you, guide you to the right path,
In the Qur’an, it is Jesus that is proclaimed to be sinless. This attribute of holiness is uniquely assigned to Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
| | Surah 4:157 - and their statement that they murdered Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of God, when, in fact, they could not have murdered him or crucified him. They, in fact, murdered someone else by mistake. Even those who disputed (the question of whether or not Jesus was murdered) did not have a shred of evidence. All that they knew about it was mere conjecture. They certainly could not have murdered Jesus.
Surah 4:158 - God raised him up to Himself. God is Majestic and All-wise.
Although Christians believe that Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried, and then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, the Qur’an teaches that Jesus never died, that God raised him alive into the heavens, and that He still lives today.
Christians do not believe the Qur’an’s account of this, but it still remains that the Qur’an teaches that Jesus never died and that He still lives.
In the Qur’an, it is Jesus who never died and still lives. This is uniquely the case of Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
| JESUS WILL RETURN AND JUDGE THE WORLD |
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Muslims not only believe in Judgement Day but most believe that it is Isa Masih (Arabic for Jesus Messiah) who returns to judge the world.
Surah 43:61 - (Muhammad), tell them, "Jesus is a sign of the Hour of Doom. Have no doubt about it and follow me; this is the straight path.
The Hadith of Abu Hurariah confirms the Qur’an’s teaching when it says, “… surely (Jesus), the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind…”
The Qur’an teaches that God appointed Jesus to Judge the World!
In the Qur’an, it is Jesus who will return and judge the world. This is uniquely the role of Jesus, not Muhammed, not any other prophet, not anyone but Jesus. |
| The Qur’an clearly teaches that Jesus is the most unique prophet in all of history. No one is like Him. He deserves to be investigated further by every person who seeks truth and the knowledge of God.
I invite my Somali Muslim brothers and sisters to go to the Gospel of Jesus (Injil), which is included in the New Testament (NT) and the Entire Bible, and further investigate Jesus, this most unique prophet. And before you dismiss the Gospel of Jesus as corrupted, read below what the Qur’an teaches about the Gospel of Jesus (Injil) and then click the link to the Somali NT and begin a journey of knowing this Jesus. You may also want to read the entire Bible and see how the uncorrupted Word of God points to this Jesus. |
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THE GOSPEL (INJIL) The Uncorrupted Word of God
Many Muslims believe that the Gospel that was given to Jesus has been corrupted and cannot be trusted. This belief, however, flies in the face of what the Qur’an teaches.
Surah 5:46 - We made Jesus, son of Mary, follow in the footsteps (of the earlier Prophets) and confirm what existed in the Torah in his time. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, as a confirmation of the Torah and instruction and advice for the pious ones.
And again in, Surah 3:3-4 - He has sent the Book (Quran) to you (Muhammad) in all Truth. It confirms the original Bible. He revealed the Torah and the Gospel before as a guide for the people and now He has revealed the criteria of discerning right from wrong. Those who reject the revelations of God will face the most severe torment. God is Majestic and capable to revenge.
The Qur’an proclaims that the Gospel (Injil) is the Word of God.
Surah 18:27 - Read whatever is revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. No one can change His words and you can never find any refuge other than Him.
The Qur’an verifies that the Word of God cannot be corrupted.
If you choose to discredit the testimony of Christians when they affirm that the Gospel (and the Bible) is the trustworthy Word of God, then you must also discredit the teachings of the Qur’an, because the Qur’an teaches that the Injil (Gospel) is the Word of God and that it cannot be corrupted.
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| IS GOD CALLING YOU TO SERVE? |
| | Is God Calling You? << Test First Name >>, the Somali Bible Society is currently recruiting missionaries to serve in various countries around the globe. We need missionaries in the major cities of the USA and in most world regions outside of the USA. If you, or someone you know, would like to discuss the possibility of involvement in a mission to the Somali people in some region of the world, or even somewhere in the USA, email me:
howie@somalibiblesociety.org |
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| IS GOD CALLING YOU TO GIVE? |
| Changing Lives by Giving to Somali Bible Society (SBS) Projects:
<< Test First Name >>, all Somali Bible Society projects are listed on the Somali Bible Society Network web page. This page can be accessed by clicking the “SBS PROJECTS” (RED) button (below). |
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| | My Fathers Work, DBA Somali Bible Society Network is a 501c3 non-profit organization that partners with the Somali Bible Society (SBS), and is actively raising funds for SBS Projects and routing those funds to the SBS Project of your choice. My Fathers Work will send you a tax deductible receipt for your gift to the Somali Bible Society. Gifts of any size are welcomed and appreciated. |
| | | ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISER
You may wish to support one of the SBS Projects but do not have sufficient funds to donate as much as you would like. Consider hosting a fundraiser in your community or online to raise funds for one of our projects. Especially consider raising funds for the Good Samaritan Center which will become the artery through which all SBS ministries will flow. Whether it is a church mission project, bake sale, charity run, or virtual event, your fundraiser can make a significant difference in leading Somali Muslims to Jesus Christ!
Email howie@somalibiblesociety.org and let us know about any fundraiser that you are considering. We will be praying for you in this endeavor. |
| | PRAYER REQUESTS
Currently our #1 priority: Pray for funds for the Good Samaritan Center (Project # 102852). This ministry center will become the artery through which all SBS ministries will flow. Pray for our SBS leaders who are working hard at following up on the extremely large number of Somalis who are contacting our info line. There is a significant backlog of people waiting for our response. Pray for the security and safety of our leaders. Our open platform is reaping a harvest of souls but is also increasing the risk of persecution for our leaders. Pray for the protection and safety of our translators and other volunteers involved in the work of the Somali Bible Society. Anyone involved in ministry to Somali Muslims is at risk of severe persecution. Pray for the encouragement and strengthening of Somali Christians who face persecution and opposition for their faith. Many Somali Christians are suffering because of their faith in Jesus. Pray for healing from the trauma they are experiencing. Pray for the hearts of the Somali people to be open to receiving and understanding the message of the Bible. We are working hard at reaching the Somali people, but it is God’s intervention in this extremely Gospel-resistant country that will make the difference. Pray for favor and opportunities for the Somali Bible Society to engage with government and community leaders to advocate for religious freedom. We are using an open platform so that we can engage in meaningful dialogue with the Somali people and their leaders. Pray for the provision of resources and funding for the translation and distribution of the Bible in the Somali language. We are now actively working on the translation of the Old Testament. This is a huge project needing resources. Pray for the effective distribution of the translated Bibles to reach individuals and communities in Somalia and among the Somali diaspora. We want to have the Bible available to every Somali throughout the world in a secure manner. Pray for the establishment of more local Somali-speaking congregations and fellowships that can support and guide new believers. Many are coming to Christ but we need to connect every believer with a local house church. Pray for the training and equipping of pastors and church leaders in Somalia to effectively teach and preach from the Bible. Every house church needs a trained and well-equipped pastor. Pray for the Somali Bible Society leadership to have wisdom, discernment, and unity as they carry out their mission. Satan wants to destroy the SBS ministry and the movement of God among the Somali people. Pray for the overall impact of the Somali Bible Society's work to bring about spiritual transformation and renewal in Somali communities. Our vision is to see the Somali people become Christ-like disciples through the Word of God.
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PRAISE REPORTS
Many Somali Muslims and seekers are contacting SBS to know more about Jesus. The Church is on the move in Somalia. The ministry of the SBS is being expanded to Somalis in the diaspora. We are reaching Somalis around the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The impact of the Somali Bible Society on Church growth in Somalia and its diaspora is being noticed by Somali sheikhs and other Muslim leaders. Although this increases the possibility of persecution of our leaders, it is also a testimony to our effectiveness. SBS continues to grow its leadership and staffing in critical operations of the organization. Did you know that all of our leaders and staff serve as volunteers? The SBS ministry throughout the Somali Peninsula is growing rapidly. We are reaching Muslims in the Somali heartland. The second edition of the Somali NT is in its final stage. The SBS is involved in so many ministries, yet we remain faithful to making the Word of God available in the native and contemporary language of the Somali people. The SBS is distributing the Word of God not only in book format, but also in soft formats that are available for smart phones, ipods, computers, and other audio options. This is extremely important in an Islamic society where people can own and use a Bible that is password protected for security reasons.
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See detail immediately below to schedule Dr. Howie for a speaking engagement. |
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| | | | | | AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS |
| Dr. Howie Shute is available to speak in Mission Conventions, Faith Promise Services, Local Church Missionary Meetings, Sunday Services, and Breakfast/Lunch Meetings to raise awareness of the exciting possibilities in the mission to Somalia.
If you would like to schedule Howie for a speaking engagement in your church or district assembly, email him at howie@somalibiblesociety.org or scan QR Code for Howie’s Contact Info. |
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