Right off I have to say I have encountered a different people group — not Muslims, but Hindus (mostly, with a number of Christians, and probably a few Muslims, among them). It is in the context of a contract I have been working alongside of a lot of H1B Indians.
They are easier than Muslims to deal with, because they are so spiritual they will consider worshiping anything. Introducing Christ is very easy in such a context. I just tell them that’s whom I worship and then talk about Him. I stress the blessings of Christ and always wish them blessings. That is generally a winning formula. Sometimes it amuses me that these people get a better idea of Christ than some churchgoers.
I’ve had discussions with missionaries who do evangelize Muslims, so I am talking about second hand experience. The classic way is to spend quite a long time making social acquaintance. Then discussions about theological matters begin. The bible advice is to give a reason for the hope that is within us, but with meekness (i.e. self-control: don’t go over the top right away) and respect.
Special crisis situations could hasten this by providing a platform for witness. Say an Islamic family finds itself in trouble — an accident, a robbery, an illness. A Christian offers prayer and there is an answer of miraculous dimensions. The Christian then explains why the prayer was granted. This could work very quickly.
When this is looked at from the standpoint that the Christian is there to sell blessings... the logic becomes almost absurdly easy. It is the patience and work involved in carrying that out, which is not so easy.
Thank you for your reply which I find reasonable and helpful. It is a very complex subject which could take up book length discussion. Your response is concise but to the point.
My own experience in a mission context has led me to what might be more nuanced conclusions. I have done a fair amount of friendship evangelism among Muslims, many visits, invitations to my home, long discussions and even hours and hours of Bible studies. I also have been a member of a church where one time Muslims have come to faith and been baptized, scores of them over the last ten years or so.
At the same time I realize that Islam is in reality a totalitarian social and political system masquerading as a religion. Here is where Hinduism is not really an appropriate equivalent. From my limited experience with Hinduism I would say that it is a social and religious system that has political consequences. That is a far different situation. It is also true that Hindus do not come into a foreign country hoping to convert others to Hinduism. That would almost be absurd. Hinduism in a western country could never hope to be totalitarian and political.
From my own experience, over about twenty years, I would have to say that Christians should do whatever possible to bring the good news of Christ to Muslims, but at the same time we must resist Islam’s totalitarian ways even more vigorously than we did those of communism. Marxism is a type of religion, but it put forth first and foremost the political and social consequences. Islam is treacherously deceptive in pretending to be a religion while violently propagating totalitarian social and political control.