Nabeel T. Jabbour's Blog, page 2

Mateen Elass

For many years, I have taught an intensive course on Islam and the geopolitics of the Middle East at several seminaries in the United States and Canada. I continue to teach that course at Columbia International University, in Columbia, SC and at Denver Seminary. Since June 2016, I started teaching this course, free of charge, to non-seminarians who are eager to make more sense of Islam and the Middle East. Those who take the course do some required readings and attend 44 hours of class time, which we cover in five days and a half. In this course we cover most of these topics:

Sharia in practice

There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the Sharia or the Islamic law. Christians in the West are usually fearful, suspicious and confused. What if Muslims in various parts of the world begin to demand the application of the Sharia. In my blog of October 26, 2017, I presented the argument of a Muslim scholar on the subject. Today I would like to consider a Christian perspective on the subject coming from Nigeria. Why Nigeria? 

Computers and the YouTube

In addition to spending time with our sons and their families during Christmas 2017, my wife and I enjoyed watching videos of flash Mobs (where people sing songs in a shopping mall or in an airport) on YouTube. Our favorite by far was the Hallelujah Chorus. Then I discovered that YouTube has a great deal to offer in terms of documentaries and favorite songs in Broadway musicals. 

Is Sex Slavery Legal in Islam?

In 2008, Jayson Casper took my course on Islam and the geopolitics of the Middle East at one of the seminaries where I teach on regular basis. At that time, it did not cross my mind that Jayson and his family will end up living in Cairo, Egypt, a city where my family and I lived for fifteen years. Over the years I have appreciated Jayson’s perspective and writings. 

Sharia

There are some frequently asked questions about the Sharia. The article below by the Muslim scholar, Mustafa Akyol, addresses some very important questions about the Sharia.



1 What does “Sharia” mean?



2. What are examples of the Sharia in personal piety (Ibadat) vs. in public law (Muamalat) including the penal code?



3. What percentage of Muslim majority countries enforce the public law and the penal code of the Sharia?



4. Are there parts of the public law of the sharia that can be enforced in the West without violating the law of the land? What parts?



5. What are the similarities between the Islamic Sharia and the Jewish law (Halakha)?



6. According to this Muslim author what would bring about a reformation in Islam?   

The Israelites in Egypt

In the first week of August 2017, I taught my course on Islam and the geopolitics of the Middle East to a group of 9 people in Seattle, WA. I taught the course in five days, eight hours a day. At one point on the fourth day in the course, there was some confusion in our discussion about the length of time that the Israelites were enslaved and in bondage in Egypt before the Exodus. 

Fairuz: A Lebanese Legend

If someone had asked me the question, “Who is the most successful movie star in the world?” I might have said Angelina Jolie, Hollywood’s highest paid actress. Or I might have said Tom Cruise, an actor and producer. It would never have crossed my mind that the most successful movie star in the world is not an American or a Brit. In reality, the most successful movie star in the world is Indian: Shah Rukh Khan. Mr. Khan is an Indian film actor, producer and television personality. In India, they call him the “King of Bollywood” or “King Khan.” He has made more than 80 Bollywood films and has a following in Asia and in the Indian diaspora around the world. If this reveals anything about me, it reveals my lack of international exposure and my ethnocentric perspective of movie stars.

Barnabas... Servant Leadership

Before we moved as a family to Cairo, Egypt, in 1975, we were living in Beirut, Lebanon. One of the cherished memories of our time in Lebanon was studying Bible characters with our team. We studied Old Testament characters such as Abraham, Samson and David, and we studied New Testament characters such as Peter, Paul and Barnabas. My love for the Scriptures went to a deeper level at that time.  

Costly Discipleship

As many of you know, this past Palm Sunday, two suicide bombings took place at two Coptic Orthodox churches in Egypt, killing more than 45 people. The word “Coptic” means “Egyptian” in the Greek language.

Barghouti and Mandela

Recently I read a long excerpt from one of Philip Yancey’s books, and it touched me deeply. With his permission, I have included it below. He did express the following caveat: “You’re welcome to use this excerpt in a blog. I have since heard from some people who question the details, since they do not appear in the records of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. I first read of the story in a Mennonite publication, and they are usually very trustworthy. You should know, though, that its veracity has been questioned.” In spite of this caveat, I think this long excerpt is worth reading, and I like to imagine what would happen if radical grace were practiced today. Would it make a difference in the conflicts in our broken world? Jesus practiced radical grace, and what a difference that made to our human history! Recently I read a long excerpt from one of Philip Yancey’s books, and it touched me deeply. With his permission, I have included it below. He did express the following caveat: “You’re welcome to use this excerpt in a blog. I have since heard from some people who question the details, since they do not appear in the records of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. I first read of the story in a Mennonite publication, and they are usually very trustworthy. You should know, though, that its veracity has been questioned.” In spite of this caveat, I think this long excerpt is worth reading, and like to imagine what would happen if radical grace were practiced today. Would it make a difference in the conflicts in our broken world? Jesus practiced radical grace, and what a difference that made to our human history!