Muslims of Bangalore, a major city of India
India
Bangalore, the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka, is a fast-growing, ethnically diverse, cosmopolitan city with a population of about 6.5 million (making it the fourth largest city in India). Muslim inhabitants number 889,000. In the city, various Muslim communities intermingle with each other and intermarry. Most Muslims there speak Urdu as their mother tongue, though not all can read and write Urdu.
Bangalore Industry
There are multinational companies and numerous universities and colleges in Bangalore. The city is a major centre for Indian Information Technology (IT) companies. Muslims working for these companies and studying in the educational institutions mix with people of other religions and communities, exposing them to new ways of thinking. Many Muslims also send their children to Christian schools that teach the Bible. Some Christian teachers even give Bibles to their Muslim students and discuss the book with them.
The economic status of Bangalore's Muslims ranges from very wealthy to very poor. Some Muslims are chairmen and directors of multinational companies, while others are beggars trying to scrape together a meager living. Many Muslims are involved in commerce; whole districts are dominated by Muslim-run businesses.
Survey in Bangalore
Recently, a survey was conducted in a Muslim-dominated area. Most of the Muslims who were interviewed had never heard the gospel. One question the survey asked was "What do you know about Jesus (Isa)?" The majority said that they knew nothing about Him; others gave the following views of Jesus:
"He is a prophet. His mother is Mary."
"Jesus is a good person. His teaching is helpful and right."
"They are all one. Jesus is related to Allah."
"He is the same as Allah to the Muslims."
"Only Christians can understand that Jesus died for them."
"No idea about Christ. Only seen Christ on TV."
"Holy man."
"Jesus is not the Son of God."
Another survey indicated that less than 10 per cent of Bangalore's Muslims have a significant knowledge of the Qur'an and practise religious activities regularly. Almost half considered themselves to be 'liberal thinkers' and were not strict about prayer or fasting.
Bangalore is home to many churches and to the headquarters of more than 200 missionary organisations. Nevertheless, the Muslims in the city remain unreached with the gospel. Some initiatives to reach Bangalore's Muslims exist, but not nearly enough to impact the whole Muslim community. Christians in the city often hesitate to reach out to their Muslim neighbours because of fear. Indian law allows freedom of religion, making it possible to proclaim the gospel openly and sensitively to the Muslim community.
Prayer for India:
* Pray that Bangalore's cosmopolitan atmosphere will create opportunities for proclaiming the gospel.
* Pray that God will reveal Himself to Muslims in ways that they will not be able to deny that Jesus is their King and Saviour (John 20:26-29).
* Pray for God to give Christians clear, loving, and compassionate strategies that will have an impact on the whole Muslim community.
* Pray for Bangalore's Christians to know God's attitudes toward Muslims as they reach out to neighbours, colleagues and fellow students.
* Pray that God will raise up visionary leaders to lead the way in reaching the Muslims of Bangalore.
Background information, map, video and statistics on India can be found here.
Praise the Lord! I have a heart for muslims. I will be returning to India and will be staying in Bangalore. I have been praying and preparing myself to reach them with the gospel.
Wow, that is a remarkable sacrifice you are making. But remember, it is a worthy one and He will uphold you. It may not always be easy, but it can always be blessed as you hold to the true and narrow road and remind those around you what it takes. Well done! Our prayers are with you.
Muslims believe that Jesus peace be upon him according to the Holy Quran is a wonderful, humble, generous messenger of God who came down and revealed God's words to his people, the people of Israel. Muslims do not believe that Jesus is God, nor they believe that God ever chose to come down to earth in a form of a man to die for our sins to purify us and forgive us.
According to Islam, Jesus never died on the cross, nor ever wanted to die on the cross, nor ever was born to die on the cross. Muslims believe that Jesus was sentenced to death, and people thought that he got executed on the cross. The Holy Quran rejects this idea, and claims that it is a false one. Jesus never died on the cross, nor he ever died for anyone's sins. Let us look at what the Holy Quran (The Muslims Holy Scripture) says about this issue:
Let's look at verse 4:156-159 "That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary A grave false charge; That they said (in boast): 'We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of Allah.' But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjunction to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up Unto Himself; and Allah Is Exalted in Power, Wise. And there is none of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (Jesus) Before his death; And on the Day of Judgment He (Jesus) will be a witness Against them."
Let me tell you some thing about Great Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) you might have never heard before.
I'm born, live & do business in bangalore.
The Qur’an tells us a lot of wonderful things about Jesus. As a result, believers in the Qur’an love Jesus, honour him, and believe in him. In fact, no Muslim can be a Muslim unless he or she believes in Jesus, on whom be peace.
The Qur’an says that Jesus was born of a virgin, that he spoke while he was still only a baby, that he healed the blind and the leper by God’s leave, and that he raised the dead by God’s leave.
What then is the significance of these miracles? First, the virgin birth. God demonstrates his power to create in every way. God created everyone we know from a man and a woman. But how about Adam, on whom be peace? God created him from neither a man nor a woman. And Eve from only a man, but not a woman. And, finally, to complete the picture, God created Jesus from a woman, but not a man.
What about the other miracles? These were to show that Jesus was not acting on his own behalf, but that he was backed by God. The Qur’an specifies that these miracles were performed by God’s leave. This may be compared to the Book of Acts in the Bible, chapter 2, verse 22, where it says that the miracles were done by God to show that he approved of Jesus. Also, note that Jesus himself is recorded in the Gospel of John to have said, “I can do nothing of my own authority” (5:30). The miracles, therefore, were done not by his own authority, but by God’s authority.
What did Jesus teach? The Qur’an tells us that Jesus came to teach the same basic message which was taught by previous prophets from God—that we must shun every false god and worship only the one true God. Jesus taught that he is the servant and messenger of that one true God, the God of Abraham. These Quranic teachings can be compared with the Bible ( Mark 10:18; Matthew 26:39; John 14:28, 17:3, and 20:17) where Jesus teaches that the one he worshipped is the only true God. See also Matthew 12:18; Acts 3:13, and 4:27 where we find that his disciples knew him as Servant of God.
The Qur’an tells us that some of the Israelites rejected Jesus, and conspired to kill him, but Allah (God) rescued Jesus and raised him to Himself. Allah will cause Jesus to descend again, at which time Jesus will confirm his true teachings and everyone will believe in him as he is and as the Qur’an teaches about him.
Jesus is the Messiah. He is a word from Allah, and a spirit from Him. He is honoured in this world and in the hereafter, and he is one of those brought nearest to Allah.
Jesus was a man who spoke the truth which he heard from God. This can be compared with the Gospel According to John where Jesus says to the Israelites: “You are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God” (John 8:40).
Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix.
You guys are very much particular about Muslims knowing about Lord Jesus. Christians have to understand one thing that it is not mandatory for other faith followers to know about Christianity. Hindus have their own religion to understand and follow similarly Muslims have their own so called religion to follow. Christians please follow understand and follow your religion. Please don't distribute booklets which may hurt other faith followers. Christians that their religion is great and it is the true religion then you guys need to follow and not force Hindus & Muslims to know about your religion
First try to be loyal to your own country. Country comes first and then comes religion. When a Christian talks ill about other religion then it is not to be considered serious. When a church father preaches about Christianity by comparing other religion Gods and talks ill then Its alright for Christians . Christians are requested to first understand your own religion well first and then try to preach. You guys are very much concerned about converting people and distributing booklets which has contents that would hurt the sentiments of other faith followers.
You guys feel that your religion is great, in the same way Hindus feel that their religion is as great as yours same with Muslims. Non has the right to criticize any religion.
Just by preaching about religion won't help you guys. First you guys need to understand and follow the instructions given in your religion.
THIS SURVEY WHICH TALKS ABOUT ..MUSLIMS IN BANGALORE KNOWING ABOUT JESUS(ISA) PEACE BE UPON HIM ..DOES NOT SATISFY ME.. B'COS MASHA ALLAH IN MY LOCALITY EVERY MUSLIM KNOWS EVERY THING ABOUT JESUS(ISA) PEACE BE UPON HIM... AND IN OUR LOCALITY THEY ARE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS.... AND WHEN I ASK THEM ABOUT JESUS IN BIBLE THEY DON'T KNOW MOST OF THE THINGS THAT JESUS(ISA) PEACE BE UPON HIM REALLY PREACHED... OR THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTIANITY.....IF U REALLY BELIEVE IN THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF JESUS(ISA) PEACE BE UPON HIM ..THEN READ QUR'AN AND KNOW ..THAT JESUS NEVER TOLD THAT HE IS GOD...BUT TOLD THAT HE IS A SERVANT OF GOD/ALLAH...WHICH EVEN BIBLE TELLS..
HE(Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed" Mathew 26:39... WHOM DID HE PRAY TO?Y SHOULD GOD PRAY TO HIM SELF.... DON'T BE CONFUSED HE PRAYED TO ALLAH AND THOUGHT THAT HIS FOLLOWERS SHOULD ONLY PRAY TO ALLAH...