Islam s12 folk islam

Islam - Folk Islam

MI 396Dr. Robert Patton

Folk Islam Virtually all rel igions have a folk

religion – Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism

Criteria Not highly educated “clergy” Deal with spirits and demonism Often a “shaman” from among the people

© 2005 All Rights Reserved. Encountering the World of Islam is a trademark of Caleb Project. 3

Popular Islam Popular Expression of 70-85% of

Muslims Remember that Allah is transcendent

but not immanent. He is HiGH and lifted up. He does NOT have a Father-Son relationship as in Christianity

The same intimate relationship we have with God the Father is lacking


Pre-Islamic Beliefs

Syncretism may exist between the pre-Islamic animism and Islam, especially in more remote areas

Underlying power and allegiance is a form of folk Islam, which may be a form of animism

Popular Islam Two basic groups – impersonal

forces, and persons grouped by different levels of power

We see impersonal divided further into forces and dreams and visions


Worldview Reported for Folk Islam

Beings or PersonsGodAngels

Satan, DevilsJinnProphets, Dead SaintsSpiritsAncestorsSouls of Recently dead

Holy menHumansAnimalsPlants

PhysicalTemporary

SpiritualEternal

OtherlyEternalPowers or Forces

FateMagic, SorceryAstrology, DivinationBaraka (Blessing)Evil EyeOmensVows, CursesDreams – Visions – SleepHerbs, DrugsNatural Forces

Levels of beingsPower groups reportedAllah is the most powerful of allAngelsSatan, DevilsJinnProphets, Dead SaintsSpiritsAncestorsSouls of Recently deadHoly menHumans (currently l iving)Animals

Impersonal powersFatePowers or Forces

Magic, SorceryAstrology, DivinationBaraka (Blessing)Evil EyeOmensVows, CursesDreams – Visions – SleepHerbs, DrugsNatural Forces


Dream and Visions

Many conversions have some element of the supernatural, often through dreams, visions, deliverance from evil spir its and divine healing.

I have personally spoken with a devout Muslim who accepted Jesus Christ after seeing him repeatedly in visions


Dream and Visions

God uses dreams to reach many Visions are common – in some

situations, > 50% of converts Healings have been common


Kingdo Biblical Worldview

Satan is defeated – We do not fear him! Elijah and the prophets of Baal – a pure power

encounter with Jehovah victorious over Baal Paul at Ephesus – “known in hell” Evil spirits

said: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” See Ephesians 19


Biblical Worldview “Heavenly Places”

We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places – Eph 1:3

We are seated with Christ at the right-hand of God in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion - Eph 1:20-21 & Eph 2:6

God’s wisdom is made know in the heavenly places – Eph 3:10

Spiritual warfare for which we have been armed with spiritual weapons takes place in the heavenly places – Eph 6


Found in folk Islam Diviners Enchanters Wizards

Necromancers Sorcerers Astrologers Prognosticators Magicians

Omens High places Sacred trees Amulets and charms Ferti l i ty Magic arts and

bewitching Possession & casting

out spirits and demons

Images


Protective Objects Nazar as protection from the evil

eye (Talisman) Potions from herbs to holy water

Productive (prosperity, fert i l i ty) Protective (overcome fear) Destructive (black magic, forcing,

hex, curses and spells) Anointing with Oil


Magic Words Amulets with Qur’anic verses

(Tawiz) Invocation

Oaths Bismallah – the first verse of the

Qur’an used by some for protection Mashallah – what Allah wil ls, also

used by some for protection


Powerful Places

Shrines & tombs of saints Relics and Veneration Association of Divine

Power, Worship and Respect

Mediation

Water, trees, hot springs reported to be used


Anointed Times Festivals

Nights of power (before Eid)

Muhammad’s Birthday Friday prayers &

Thursday nights


Anointed Times Life Cycle Rituals -

Astrology Birth, Naming,

Circumcision, Marriage, Pregnancy, Death

Calendar – Harvest, Drought


Divination Astrology Communication with the

recently departed Omens Numerology Hearing Voices


Supernatural PeopleMarabout or Dukun (shaman) Contrast this with recognition by the true Christian of Spirit ’s indwelling but make certain God gets the glory


Supernatural Beings

Jinn, demons, spirits House Cleansings


Fate and Taboo “Controll ing Superstit ions”

I have seen pictures, and know of blood being used.

The law of contagion used Kismet – Causali ty/Equil ibrium “Qur’an as fetish (placement) – I have

never seen the Qur’an used, but I have seen the Bible used by Bush Negroes in Suriname as a fetish for protection (under pil low, etc)


Blessing - Baraka Blessings are important As Christians, we can pray for the

Muslim; When we pray, we must make certain

that the glory goes to God for His power – and it is His decision; it does not rest on the power of faith of the individual Christian


Transcendence & Imminence

Transcendence Who is God? Allah is

otherly, distant, ult imately unknowable

Islam is doctrinally transcendent .

Imminence Can I touch God? Is he close? Normal l i fe is l ived at

the imminent level. Popular Islam – Can

God help me against Evil Spir its? This is usually the realm of folk rel igon


Sufism – an approach directly to Allah through…

Knowledge, music, dance, exercise, breathing

Ascetic practices Whirling Dervish


A Sufi’s Path to God“One I seek, One I know, One I see, One I call”

Rumi Serve God Love God Seek Seclusion with God Seek a perfected Knowledge of God Seek an ecstatic relationship with God Seek a “true” revelation of the nature

of God Seek union with God

Response to Folk Islam Power Encounter

Offensive attack is possible – direct confrontation with evil spir its

Defensive resistance Mental – Thought l i fe – not focusing on sinful

thoughts – repenting from bitterness, anger,etc Moral – Repent and confess al l known sin Physical – Burn the books and charms Rejection of witchcraft


Response to Folk Islam Truth Encounter – using Biblical

Satan is a Defeated foe defeated at the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ

Liberating Lord


Response to Folk Islam Deliverance ministry

Confession of known sin Repentance – turning from sin to the

Lord Renunciation – rejecting further sin



Bridge to Life God is the King of the Universe. Men and women were created and

blessed as God’s representatives. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God and

were expelled from the Kingdom of God. Because of sin, Satan now rules the

Earth. Consequently, we have become

enslaved by Satan and are under the Wrath of God.


Bridge to Life

Our sin separates us from God and His Kingdom.

But God sti l l loves us and sent Jesus Christ to defeat Satan and delivers us from the Kingdom of Darkness and save us from the Wrath of God.

If men and women want to enter into to Kingdom of God, they must repent and believe in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, and totally trust in His salvation.