A missiological study of Islamic strategies for converting Christians to Islam and their implications for Christian discipleship: a study of converts in Kawangware and Embul-bul areas of Nairobi-Kenya

Abstract

Islam has been acclaimed to be the fastest growing religion in the world today attracting converts from different cultures and religions across the world. Several studies have been conducted by several researchers in Africa on the phenomenon of conversion from Islam to Christianity, but not much research has gone into the investigation of why Christians convert to Islam. This study is an attempt to understand the factors that influence Christian conversion to Islam and also an attempt to discover the strategies employed by Muslims to achieve this conversion. This study was conducted among converts from Christianity to Islam in Kawangware and Embul-bul areas of Nairobi-Kenya. The study applied Lofland and Skonovd‟s conversion motifs in an attempt to discover the motifs behind these conversions through interviews with these converts using the qualitative research method. The findings of this study reveal that these Christians converted to Islam as a result of comparative investigation of the two religions and of the practices they see in Islam. Other factors reported are simplicity, clarity and unity of Islam, friendship, the search for the true God and deliverance from evil spirit. In applying the conversion motifs, the intellectual and the affectional motifs where present in the conversion biographies of all the converts, which was in consonance with the reasons given for conversion. However few of the converts reported the experimental and revivalist motifs. The mystical motif was not clear and none reported the coercive motif. The study reveals that conversion is influenced by several factors and validating Lofland and Skonod‟s position that there is the presence of more than one single motif in every conversion biography. The findings of the study also reveal that conversion from Christianity to Islam is not restricted to any Christian denomination or tribal grouping in Kenya and did not reveal material enticement as reasons for conversion. The findings further reveal that Muslims in Nairobi use debates/street preaching/dialogue, friendship and care, media, mosque visits and invitation to ask questions and availability/ability to answer them as strategies to influence conversion to Islam. In view of the findings, conclusions reached are that such conversions were possible because of the absence of effective discipleship and the conduct of Christians, which include denominational pluralism and disunity among churches. The study recommended the recourse to biblical theology for doing Bible study in our churches in Nairobi and Africa as whole, as opposed to systematic theology‟s topical approach in order to provide a holistic understanding of the Christian message and of the Bible. The introduction of Islamic education in the curriculum for the training of our pastors in all theological schools across Africa and church based Islamic education for the laity is recommended, which should include Bible study, seminars and workshops in order for Christians to provide answers to questions and challenges increasingly raised by Muslims in regards to their faith.