MAKING MUSLIM FRIENDS
From Ghuraba’ to Aishab (From strangers to friends)
As a young adult, you could be in one of the most strategic times and places in the world. There are people coming to the United States for education, jobs, and opportunities. This is why there are over one million international students studying in the U.S. each year and over half of them are from the 10/40 Window [1]. God loves the nations so much that he is bringing the nations to us and they could be sitting across from you in class. Now, not every one of them will be a nonbeliever or from the 10/40 Window, but your chances of being someone’s access to the gospel for the very first time are pretty high. What a privilege this is! What a gift it is to live in a place where we can freely practice and share the good news of Jesus with those who may have had no access to the gospel before. This means that you are in one of the most strategic times and places to share the glorious gift of the gospel!
Making an international friend is just like making friends with anyone else; it’s as simple as that. Befriend them, invite them into your life, and share the gospel with them because that is what you do with your friends and others that you care about. No matter where they are from or their religious background, just become friends with them! For this article, I want to speak specifically to anyone who desires to do ministry with Muslim international students. I want to give you five starting points when it comes to cultivating a relationship with people of a Muslim background and how to navigate spiritual conversations with them. Remember, there is no magic equation or process to developing a relationship with a Muslim international student. Each person is unique and individualistic; therefore, your relationship with them will be unique. They are people that are also created in the image of God and who he cares deeply for. Be sincere, humble, patient, and honest.
1. Go to God before you go to Man.
Before we jump in, our hearts need to be in the right place, so we need to start with prayer. Our goals and intentions should be to show Christ’s love for them and to share the saving grace of the gospel. We have the Lord’s ear and we can pray and ask him to do inconceivable things (1 Peter 3:12). Pray that God would give you eyes to see Muslim students on your campus or in your town; that you would see them how he sees them. Pray that God would give you opportunities to befriend them. Pray that you would have the opportunity to have spiritual conversations with them and that you would be able to share the gospel with them. Pray that they would trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. We pray for things that we care about and we care about things that we pray for. Allow God to shape your heart for Muslims through prayer. We cannot do anything apart from Christ, so ask him to go before you and to use you powerfully through the work of the Holy Spirit.
2. Be in it for the long haul.
Often, discipleship is not quick with Muslims. With most Muslims, it is a long process of introducing them to Jesus and Christianity. Most have deeply rooted beliefs, so expect that it will take more than just a few gospel conversations for them to put their trust in Jesus. This is not a matter of a head problem, but a heart one. It can be a long process from knowing something to believing something, so be patient and persistent as they are in the process. It is not light decision to turn away from Islam to Christianity. There is much freedom that comes with the gospel, but it also comes with many ramifications for our lives. In Islamic culture, they are ruled by honor and shame. They strive to bring honor to their family and avoid shame at all cost. Turning away from Islam means that they are bringing great shame on their family and risk losing relationships with family members. It is no small task for them to uproot their lives, beliefs, family, and culture. Although what they are uprooting it for is worthy and is life itself, it is difficult nonetheless. Remember, no matter how eloquently we speak or how many times that we present the gospel, it is ultimately a work of the Spirit and of God softening and shaping their hearts. We need to be committed to loving them to the extent that they need it.
3. Be hospitable.
Follow the example of welcoming that a lot of Muslims in the Arab culture have mastered. Arab culture is known for their impeccable hospitality. It is the kind of hospitality where they drop everything to welcome you into their home. The guest always comes first. This is an aspect of Arab culture and the Islamic faith that are deeply intertwined. Not only is their hospitality and generosity admirable, but they consider it a part of their sacred duty as a Muslim. When you are seeking to befriend someone from this culture, return the hospitality. Welcome them into your home and life with open arms. Create the atmosphere of inclusion through embracing their culture. You can cook a warm halal meal (food that is acceptable according to Islamic law) with them, have them teach you to make a traditional meal, invite them over for holidays, and make your home a comfortable place for them. As you are inviting your Muslim friends into your life, bring your Christian friends along with you. There are countless stories of how many Muslim’s eyes have been opened to see how the love of Christ is different than Allah simply through interacting with believers and watching them interact with others. Just as it says in Romans 15:7, “therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Welcome without hesitation and out of abundance!
4. Be a learner and good listener.
Seek to learn about their life, spiritual upbringing, what they believe, and what they put their hope in. Asking a Muslim questions is one of the best ways to start a spiritual conversation. The more you ask, the more you learn, and the wider the door is for introducing them to Jesus and showing them the beauty of the gospel. As you are asking questions, it is important to do so in a way that is gracious, loving, and gentle when challenging them, rather than in an aggressive and prideful manner. Walk with confidence and with the hope that the Spirit will move in their heart and open their eyes to truth. In the midst of asking them questions, share what you believe. Many Muslims will have a deep devotion to their Islamic faith and Allah, so it is important to show your deep devotion to Jesus and the Christian faith and how it is different. Be bold, yet humble in learning and sharing. Being a good listener is a way to honor them as friends and fellow image-bearers. It will show that you are invested in your friendship with them and that you care about them even when their beliefs do not align with yours.
To learn more about what Muslims believe, read Understanding Islam by Todd Ahrend.
5. Read Scripture with them.
The Bible is one of the strongest and sharpest tools in our belt (Hebrews 4:12). Scripture is God-breathed and it holds the ultimate authority, is without error, and is unchanged over time (2 Timothy 3:16). It details a whole and clear picture of who Jesus is, what he has done, what he is doing, and what he will do. There is so much power in reading, sharing and reciting Scripture because God promises that his word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Just as Christians place a high value on reading and knowing the Bible, Muslims place a high value on knowing and reading their holy text: the Qur’an. Interestingly enough, many Muslims are encouraged to read the Bible alongside the Qur’an. Although they believe that the Qur’an is more important and accurate, the Qur’an shows a great deal of respect to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus (Surah 32:23). You might be surprised at how little resistance there will be for you to read the Bible with them and compare it with what the Qur’an says. Use Scripture to communicate the truth about the depravity of man and why we need to believe in Jesus. Let Scripture speak for itself and allow the Holy Spirit to work through it and them in understanding and believing the gospel.
My hope is that these five tips will give you a good starting point when it comes to engaging and reaching Muslim international students. My final piece of advice is to be sensitive and interruptible to the Spirit. Lean on and ask him to guide you, empower you, and speak through you (Acts 1:8). Let your life and the way you live be a testament to what God has done in you; showcase the gospel and Jesus’ character (Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 2:8). We can approach each conversation with confidence and boldness because God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love (2 Timothy 1:7). We can look forward with assurance to the day when we can look to our right and our left—worshipping before the throne of God—and see former devout Muslims who have been brought from death to life in Jesus (Revelation 7:9)!
By Molly J
Molly has served The Traveling Team as one of our travelers since Fall 2020. She studied at the University of Arkansas where she gained a vision for the world and a heart for the unreached peoples of the world.
[1] “Internationals in the USA.” Mission Statistics, The Traveling Team, http://www.thetravelingteam.org/stats.
