One hundred years ago a new era dawned as to the attitude of Christian mission among Muslims. The different atmosphere was sensed at the Cairo Conference (1906) but it came to fruition four years later at the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh (1910). Capitalizing on the movement to reach the Muslim world for Christ, Samuel Zwemer launched The Moslem World (1911), and opened the journal with these words:

by Samuel Zwemer

The Moslem World had its first issue in January of 1911. Its founder and editor-and-chief, Samuel Marinus Zwemer, envisioned a journal that explored Islamic lore at an academic level but also served as a forum of evangelistic strategy among Muslims. Understanding Muslims: The Journal of the Zwemer Center seeks to carry on the legacy of The Moslem World, using academic research and practitioner experience to create a forum that promotes informed Muslim ministry This original editorial (condensed) from Samuel Zwemer reflects the purpose of both The Moslem World and Understanding Muslims: The Journal of the Zwemer Center.

by Roger Greenway

Samuel Marinus Zwemer—prolific author and speaker, and best known as missionary to the Muslim world—is the namesake of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies, the publishing organization of this journal. Zwemer dedicated his entire adult life to the evangelization of the entire Muslim world. Through his apostolic ministry in foreign lands and his sermons, books, and other writing back home, he has inspired probably thousands of people to pray for and serve the Muslim world. Greenway briefly tells the life story of the man known as the “Apostle to Islam”

by Samuel Zwemer

In this article, originally given as an address at the 2^nd General Missionary Conference of the Scandinavian Churches at Helsingfors (now called Helsinki) on September 10-16, 1928, Zwemer gives an explanation of the motives widely held throughout the last two thousand years of mission history and addresses the strengths and weaknesses of each, calling the hearers (and readers) to evaluate their motivations in light of Christ’s. Further, he states clearly that if the highest motive in mission is not a passion for God’s glory, then our impetus is not enough. His admonition to the missionaries of his time stands as a challenge for us today.

by Samuel Zwemer

This tract, written by Zwemer and published in 1897 by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church of America, seeks to refute the common misconception of his day that despite all the mission efforts going to the Muslim world, the work was ineffective. Samuel Zwemer gives examples of the spread of the gospel to several predominantly Muslim nations to prove false the idea that the mission effort in those lands was in vain. 

by Samuel Zwemer

This message, originally given in 1898 at the Third International Convention of the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions (Cleveland, OH), deals with the importance of dealing with Muslims individually and in love. Zwemer asserts that in Muslim ministry, personal evangelism is a must, over mass evangelism, and must be done full of faith, hope, and love. The manuscript may be found in The Student Missionary Appeal, NY: Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1898.

by Samuel Zwemer

In this message, Zwemer discusses the love that Muslims have for Muhammad, while Christ is deserving of such devotion and more. He appeals to the "highest motive" in mission: the glory of Christ on earth, and the fact that as Muslims across the globe hold dear Muhammad's teaching in their hearts and keep his name on their lips, they do not give rightful glory to the Son of Mary. This devotion to the Prophet is the great Mohammedan missionary problem, and remains a challenge for those ministering to Muslims everywhere. Zwemer's words are just as poignant today as when he first uttered them in 1898 at the Third International Convention of the Student Volunteer Movement.

by Samuel Zwemer

Addressing the social factors of the colonization, globalization, westernization at the beginning of the 20th century, Zwemer asserts that the Muslim world was ripe for the gospel. In this speech, one of Zwemer's most famous, he makes a passionate appeal for workers to go into the harvest field. He delivered this message several times, and it had a profound affect on its hearers, many of whom went to Muslim lands for ministry. It was after hearing this sermon at the Keswick Conference that some British Christians started a group dedicated to prayer for Muslims, the Fellowship of Faith for Muslims (FFM) which is still in existence today in several sites around the world.

by Thomas Patrick Hughes

This report, featured in The Andover Review in 1888, is a summary of the state of Islam and Christian mission to Muslims during Zwemer's time. May this article cause us to rejoice in all that has been accomplished and realize what still remains undone today.

by Ida Glaser

The Moslem World and Understanding Muslims were founded upon the premise that those who desire to minister to Muslims must first understand Islam and the Muslim mindset. This article gives biblical support for such an assertation and encourages Christian scholars and practitioners alike to be informed and prepared in order to faithfully preach Christ where He is not followed in the Muslim world.

By Nik Ripken

Since Muslims equate believer’s baptism with salvation, they often begin to step up persecution when that occurs. And rightly so, for at that point, the follower of Christ breaks with his or her old community of faith and enters the emerging Body of Christ, the church. Investigating the relationships between missionaries, Muslim Background Believers, and baptism the article suggests a baptism tied deeply to local believers and a local MBB church. Further, the article suggests that when western missionaries baptize, premature persecution may be the result.