Statistics tell us that there are now up to 5 million Muslims in the U.S. today and over 1,100 mosques (Muslim places of worship).

In this series of articles entitled, “The Truth About Islam,” we’re going to answer some critical questions regarded the Muslim faith in light of God's Word.

What is “Islam?” Islam is a non-Christian religion.

The teachings of Islam are not only incompatible with the teachings of Christianity, but they also contradict the teachings of Christ. These two faiths are mutually exclusive.

Islam is a “religion” not a relationship with God. It's a man-made system of faith and worship; a man-centered attempt to live in harmony with the God of the universe.

A relationship with God, on the other hand, is a Christ-centered revelation of faith and worship that not only attempts, but actually achieves a life of harmony and peace with the God of the universe through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

“This is eternal life," Jesus prays, "that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

It's impossible to claim a personal relationship with "the only true God" apart from faith in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ: "Whoever denies the Son," John warns, "does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:23).

The argument, "I believe in God, I just don't believe in Jesus" is a direct contradiction to Scripture. The only way to rightly believe in the only true God is through Jesus Christ, for He has come to reveal the Father to us: "No one has ever seen God. But the unique One [Jesus], who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us" (John 1:18 NLT). "He who has seen Me," declares Christ, "has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

While Islam teaches that Jesus is one of the great prophets, they do not believe that He is the Son of God, or that He is God the Son: "For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NLT).

"I am the way, the truth, and the life," says Jesus, "No one can come to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6 NLT).