Table of Content
1.
The Basics
2.
Compare &Contrast
3. Conclusion
4. Bible And Quran Passages About Muslim Objections
The Basics
Islam and Christianity have a long and complex history. They share many similar beliefs and practices, but they also have some key differences.
Islam is based on the teachings of Muhammad, who lived in the seventh century AD. Muslims believe that Islam is the final revelation from God and that Muhammad is the prophet of God. Muslims believe that God has revealed His word to Muhammad in a series of divinely inspired messages.
Christianity began as a faith in the early days of the Roman Empire. It was founded by Jesus of Nazareth, who lived about 2,000 years ago. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins and rose from the dead to conquer death. Christians believe that Jesus will return to earth one day to judge the living and the dead.
There are various ways in which the practice of
Christianity compares with the practice of Islam. Both religions share common
beliefs about the existence of a Supreme Being. As well, there are sharp
contrasting differences that are evident in the two most populous
religions. Firstly, the word Islam derives its origin from aslama, which means to resign or submit to a Superior
being. It refers to the practice of monotheistic doctrines in which the
followers accept in the existence of one God at the same time accepting
Muhammad as the last prophet from God and their chief.
On the other hand, Christianity refers to a
monotheistic way of life by which the followers respect the doctrines and
teachings of Jesus Christ based on the New Testament. It is divided into
several denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox
Church and the Protestant. Based on the research findings and statistics, the
Christianity movement consists of more than 2.2 billion followers worldwide.
Despite the fact that there are many similarities and
differences between Islam and Christianity, both religions are significant in
today’s society, which is apparent in the grand number of followers each has
amassed. Islam and Christianity are in themselves, complete religions with many
followers. Islam was born of Christianity in that a large part of Islam’s basic
belief structure is based on that of Christianity and some portions of the
Bible. Because of this fact, there are a number of similarities and a
comparative number of differences between the two religions.
The beginnings of Islam are actually deeply rooted in
Christianity, based on the conviction by the prophet of Islam, Mohammed that
Christians had departed from belief in God’s message as revealed in their
scriptures. Approximately 610, the first of many revelations came to him and
these visions were believed to have been delivered from God by the angel
Gabriel. Here we begin to see the similarities between the two religions as
Gabriel is also the angel that brings news of Jesus’ birth (Jesus being the
founder of Christianity) in Luke 1:26-32, of the Bible. The message that
Mohammed received was that there was only one God, not many Gods as the then
present day Arabs believed. This God was the creator of the world. For
Christians the message of a single God was given during the inception of the
Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3 of the Bible, “You shall have no other God
before me.” The creation of the world by this singular God is documented in
Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In the
Islamic faith it is believed that this God would judge mankind, which also
rings true in Christianity in Hebrews 10:30, “The Lord will judge his people.”
For Muslims, followers of the Islamic faith, their single God (known as Allah)
was considered just because he would judge every person according to his deeds.
In both religions, the result of this judgment day was either heaven or hell.
Another similarity between both Islam and Christianity was the idea of
forgiveness. Islam teaches that God is always ready to pardon the individual
and restore him to the sinless state in which he started life. In Christianity,
this same basic concept of forgiveness is accepted.
After the death of Mohammed, certain essential
principles were singled out from his teachings to serve as anchoring points for
the Islamic community. These have come to be called the “five pillars of
Islam”. Comparably for Christians, the Ten Commandments are considered daily,
divine laws. Also, each of these religions is one that has a “book” by which
believers follow. For Christians this is the Bible, which was recorded by
prophets and disciples to Jesus including Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and many
others. The Bible is for the most part, ordered chronologically and Jesus
teaches in parables. Likewise for Muslims their book is the Koran, which was a
collection of the sayings and deeds of Mohammad, who was believed to be
inspired to teach these things by Allah. However, because the Koran was
assembled from remembrances of those who had learned it by heart, the
chronological order is not used. The passages or suras were arranged from
longest to shortest. In the beginning, for both religions, these teachings were
passed along orally, but were later captured via the written word. These books
serve as an additional guide for believers and stress the one idea of one God.
Compare &Contrast
Similarities between Islam and Christianity:
There are many similarities that are apparent in the
teachings and doctrines of Islam and Christianity. Firstly, they both believe
in the existence of one Supreme Being who controls the whole world. Thus, they
believe that God is the provider and creator of all the living and non-living
creatures found on earth. They also believe that God makes it possible for the
sustenance of all things. In addition, both religions share a common ground.
They have a similar background in that they trace their origin and existence to
the days of Abraham. The teachings of the Old Testament are useful in both
religions. For example, they both believe that God sent his prophets and
messengers to warn the people against the consequences of sin in the world.
Some of the biblical prophets that both religions believe in include the
following: Noah, John the Baptist, Moses, David and Joseph among others.
The observance of the Ten Commandments is another
important factor that both religions have in common. The followers of both
religions are educated and trained to lead socially accepted moral lives based
on the teachings of the biblical prophets and the Ten Commandments. For
example, both religions condemn evil practices such as stealing, lying,
worshipping of idols and giving of false testimonials and false witness. They
also deny all the actions of Satan and affirm that he is evil and that all his
ways should be shunned completely.
They both have faith in judgement day which is
believed to take place at the end of the world. Every individual shall be held
accountable for his actions by God during the final day. They believe that the
sinners shall be punished severely while those who led morally accepted lives on
earth shall be redeemed. Evidently, the teachings of the Koran and the Bible
show that there is life after death of the faithful. The Christians believe
that their bodies shall be resurrected on the last day whereas the Muslims have
confidence in faithful followers shall experience a good life in paradise while
those who are not will experience torture and punishment in hell.
The Islam and Christianity teachings also recognize
the existence of hell and heaven. Heaven is considered to be the dwelling place
of God while hell represents the home of Satan. Moreover, they both assume that
non-believers shall be sentenced to eternal judgement in hell while the
faithful believers shall enjoy good life in heaven under the presence of God.
The role of women in Christianity and Islam is another issue that brings the
two religions into agreement. Both of them believe that women have equal
opportunities just like their fellow male counterparts. Though they may have
different roles to pursue in the religious setting, the teachings stress that
women are not inferior in any way.
Difference between Islam and Christianity
Despite these many similarities between Islam and
Christianity many differences exist as well. One of these differences is
prayer. Islam recognizes two forms of prayer, one being the personal and more
informal form of prayer. The other is a ritual prayer which is often
congregational with specific words and postures, to be offered five times a
day: sunrise, midday, mid afternoon, sunset, and before bed. Before Muslims
pray ablutions are performed by washing the hands, feet, and face. A person
called the muezzin calls for prayer and chants from a raised platform or
minaret tower at the mosque. This prayer is started with the imam, the prayer
leader, standing at the front of the mosque facing Mecca, the holy city of
Islam. (This is the holy city because it was the death place of Mohammad). Each
prayer consists of several units, during which the individual is standing,
kneeling, or prostrate. At every change in posture, “God is great” is recited.
The chief day of communal worship is Friday and believers gather at the mosque
to pray, listen to portions of the Koran, and hear a sermon based on the text.
The sermon may have moral, social, or political content. Islam has no ordained
clergy, but there are men trained specifically in religion, tradition, and law.
For Christians prayer is done alone as well as in a congregation like Islam,
but the rigors are far less painstaking. Prayer alone is done at one’s own
discretion, but traditionally is done at night or in the morning.
Congregational prayer is usually headed by the pastor, priest, or another
prominent member of the church. The congregation is usually seated in pews, but
this can be done standing as well. Christians have a clergy that have been
trained in theology and matters of religion and posses a degree from a
seminary. The chief days of gathering is on Sundays, and believers pray, sing,
listen to sermons, and read from the Bible during their communal gathering. As
we can see, this is quite different from the Islamic religion.
Another large difference in the two religions is the
pilgrimage. For Muslims, the pilgrimage, or hajj, is an annual Muslim rite that
every believer is expected to take part in at least once in his lifetime. From
the seventh to the tenth day in Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic
calendar, thousands of Muslims converge on the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to
visit the holy shrine of the Kaaba in the Great Mosque, which tradition says
was built by Abraham. The pilgrimage was intended to reenact the hegira, the
flight of Mohammad from Mecca to Medina in 622. Christians do not have such a
pilgrimage but many do visit the birth place of Jesus, the city of Jerusalem,
and consider it an honor to do so. Fasting and the giving of money are two more
distinct differences between the two religions. Because the Koran was first
revealed to Mohammad in the month of Ramadan, the whole month was set aside as
a period of fasting. During each day, from first light to darkness, all eating,
drinking, and smoking are forbidden. Upon the end of the fasting period, the
second major festival of the Islamic year ensues and lasts several days. In
contrast, Christians have the Lenten period, where Jesus was sent to the desert
for forty days and forty nights, and was tempted by the devil. During this
time, Christians usually give up something of importance, and although some
fasting does happen, it is generally not as long as in the Islamic religion.
The end of this forty day period is known as Ash Wednesday, which begins the
holiest point on the Christian calendar (Good Friday and Easter). Also, the
giving of money is somewhat different. For Muslims, the zakat is an obligatory
tax, which is contributed to the state or community. In the modern period, the
zakat has become a voluntary charitable contribution. For Christians, this is
known as tithe. Believers are expected to contribute ten percent of there
salary to the church for God’s purposes.
Also, some of the differences between Islam and
Christianity are clearly discerned in the holy books of the Bible and the
Koran. One such example is the sacrifice of Abraham. This event is interpreted
very differently in both religions. Both books make the acknowledgement that Abraham
was willing to make a “tremendous sacrifice”. However, the difference between
the interpretations lies in the name of Abraham’s son. For example the bible
says, “By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises was ready to offer up his only son” (Hebrews, 11:17).
With this the Bible affirms that it was indeed Isaac who was offered up as the
sacrifice. In Koran, however, Ishmael is the one who is purportedly offered up
for sacrifice as Abraham’s only son.
Another incident that is disputed between the two
religions is the Virgin Birth and the Nature of Jesus. The Koran does support
the virgin birth of Christ, but does not support the notion that Christ was
resurrected. The Koran suggests instead that the Virgin Mary gave birth to a
prophet, who was free from innate sin because he was virgin born. The Bible
then, supports the notion that the virgin birth existed, and the Virgin Mary
gave birth to the son of God, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him” (1 John 4:9). Islam states that Christ is not divine, it rejects
this ideal and is seen in the Koran, “The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was
no more than Allah’s apostle and His Word which he cast to Mary; a spirit from
Him. So believe in Allah and His apostles and do not say: Three. Allah is but
one God” (Koran 4: 17). Jesus in the Bible, however, is believed to be “God
manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). This leads into the Trinity of the
Christian faith. Islam is monotheistic in nature, stating, “For God hath said,
‘Take not to yourselves two Gods, for He is one God.” (Sura 16:53).
Christianity is also monotheistic, but that God is made up of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit; otherwise known as the “Trinity”. Christianity says, “The
Spirit the Lord Him” (Isaiah 11:2), which refers to the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and
God. Islam does not support this idea and the Koran argues that Christianity
supports the notion of polytheism by stating that the Godhead represents three
different Gods, not one.
Conclusion
When the two religions are compared with Judaism
especially doctrine wise; both Islam and Judaism are based in the Middle East.
Just like the other two religions, Judas believes in Jerusalem as the holy
town. Judaism like Christians both shares the history of the Jews but not
Judaism like Islam designates civilization as a way of life. It is only the
secular nature of Judaism that distinguishes it from Christianity otherwise
they are doctrines which are similar and both are the religions of the tribe of
Abraham.
Because Islam diverged from Christianity’s beliefs,
there are also some notable differences between the two. For example, the way
in which each religion is expected to pray. Muslims pray alone and in
congregation. When congregational prayer is executed, there are many rules and
strict adherences to which they abide. They must pray this way a certain number
of times each day and faces in a certain cardinal direction. For Christians,
the prayer which is done alone is informal and at one’s own discretion, as it
is for the Islamic religion. However, congregational prayer for Christians is
much less rigorous and strict, and can be done in a number of acceptable ways.
Muslims are also expected to take a journey, called a pilgrimage, to their Holy
Land whereas, this is not expected of Christians. Another notable difference is
the way in which money is given to the church. In earlier days, and in some
cases modern days, Muslims giving was in the form of a tax which was mandated.
Christians give in the form of a tithe and are asked to give ten percent of
their income. A very large and widely disputed part of these religions is the
interpretation of the Bible. Some events that are disputed include which son
Abraham sacrificed, the Virgin Birth and nature of Jesus, and the
interpretation of monotheism and the Trinity.
Islam and Christianity are religions based on many
similar and different beliefs based on the fact that one was borne of the
other. For this reason, we can pick up on a number of things that ring true in
each religion and a number of things that are completely different between thetwo of them. Aside from the similarities and differences, each of these
religions is still recognized in today’s society despite the fact that they are
both centuries old.
‘Is Jesus Simply A Man or ‘Immanuel’?
For the Christians, Christmas is the time we remember
and celebrate the birth of Jesus. We celebrate God making Mary conceive by his
Holy Spirit and coming to us as a man, Immanuel. It is a time for thinking
about the incarnation.
Muslims also accept the virgin birth of Jesus through
the Holy Spirit—though the Qur’an says his mother Mary/Mariam is the sister of
Moses and Aaron and the daughter of Amram (Qur’an 3:35-51, 19:16, 66:12).
However, Islam rejects any notion of the incarnation. Jesus was simply a man: a
great man, a prophet, but only a man. Therefore Christmas is a great time for
Christians to think about how we speak the doctrine of the incarnation to the
world.
The objections that Muslims have to the incarnation
are that is it illogical and a compromise of God’s nature, and that it is
against Scripture. To make progress with our Muslim friends we need to discuss:
creation, God’s accommodation, God dwelling with his people, and the image of
God.
–1. Creation
The doctrine of the incarnation states that God
connected personally with creation in what is called the hypostatic union. That
is, there is a union of two natures, one divine and one created, in the person
(hypostasis) of Jesus—and that in this union neither nature is compromised.
Christians are not saying that God changed his nature from divine to created
but that he added a created body to his life. Muslims reject the hypostatic
union as a compromise of God’s transcendence.
The way forward here is to show that the hypostatic
union is not the only union God has with creation, but that whenever God
interacts with creation there is some kind of union between a divine and
created nature, and neither nature is compromised. Consider God’s sustaining
power.
God sustains our existence and will do so even into
the resurrection, which will be everlasting. But this means God’s divine power
must permanently connect in some way with a created nature. If there is no
connection then God is not sustaining us. Does this connection change or
compromise God’s nature? No. Therefore, in God’s act of sustaining we see two
natures permanently connected and neither is compromised. We could explore
similar parallels with regard to God’s omnipresence, his self-revelation etc.
But the point is, God can touch creation. It was the
Greek philosophies that saw God as so transcendent that he could not connect
with creation directly and it was because of their Greek doctrine of creation
that early Christian heretics such as the Docetists (who denied that Jesus was
a real human) and Arians (who denied that he was truly God) rejected the
incarnation.
The doctrine of creation is the basis for the
incarnation and we need to talk with Muslims about this. And we can press this
point, because even the Qur’an acknowledges that Allah creates, sustains, is
omnipresent, and reveals: in fact he gets his hands dirty when he creates Adam
from clay (Qur’an 38:71-75). According to the Qur’an (75:22-23), Allah will be
seen by Muslims on judgment day—apparently without compromising his divine
nature. Muslims have no logical grounds for rejecting the incarnation.
2. God Dwells with His People
Muslim leaders tell us that the incarnation is a
denial of Scripture. But the problem is that their scripture, the Qur’an, has a
very different message from the Law of Moses, the books of the prophets, the
Psalms, and the Gospel: The Qur’an has no temple theology.
By the time of Muhammad the temple in Jerusalem had
been destroyed for over 500 years and Judaism had developed into a religion
that made-do without a temple—we could call it “no-temple Judaism”. The
influence of no-temple theology on Muhammad (and thus the Qur’an) was
profound—producing a theology where God never dwells with his people. In the
Qur’an, Allah does not dwell with Adam in the garden; nor Allah does he dwell
in a tabernacle or temple; nor can he be found in paradise. This is important
because Jesus describes himself as a temple. Temple theology is a basis for the
incarnation.
We need to discuss temple theology with Muslims and
ask why the Qur’an has none while all the other Old Testament prophets (whom
they officially accept) do? Helping them understand the temple and God’s
presence will help them understand the incarnation.
Good Grounds for Confidence
These are just some of the issues that we might raise
when we speak to Muslim’s about the incarnation. We could also discuss how God
always limits and accommodates himself whenever he deals with creation in any
way. Another important topic to consider is the doctrine of the Image of God,
which states that humanity: represents God, can display God’s character, and
will share in God’s glory.
Yet as we celebrate Christmas this year, and face new
challenges to its message, Christians need to be assured that the Gospel is
true, reasonable, and the message of all the prophets. We have good grounds for
what we believe, and this solid ground is the place to start when we explain
the incarnation to Muslims.
Bible And Quran Passages About Muslim Objections
• Allah is not three; (surah 5:75-78)
• Allah
has no son: (surah 113), (surah4:171),
(surah 9:30) / (Luke 3:38), (Exodus 4:22), (Mark 1:11), (Psalm 2:7), (John 1:12-13)
• Bible lacks integrity: (Genesis 11)
• Muslims
should not make friends with Jews and Christians (surah 5:51)
• Doctrine of atonement
• Mohammed told muslim’s he is not
special: (surah 46:9)
• God’s
gift of salvation: (John 3:16-21, 3:14:6, 10:9 Colossians 1:20-23, 1John 4:10,
4:18, 4:13)
• Islam have no assurance of salvation:
(surah 17:13)
• Islam’s version of salvation (surah
101:8-13)
• Christian
God is a personal God and of forgiveness: (Mathew 11:28-30, 6:18) (Chronicles
7:14, 1John 1:8-10) (Hebrews 10:26-27)
• Women
in Islam: (surah 4:1) (surah 9:17) (surah 16:97) (surah 2:228) (surah 2:382)
• And if thou art in doubt(Mohammed)
concerning that which we reveal unto thee, then question these who read the
scriptures before thee. (Surah Yunus (Jonah) 10:94)
• O Fatima bint Muhammed! Ask me anything form
my wealth but I cannot save youfrom Allah’s punishment. (hadith 4:16. Sahih
al bakhari 2753 (16))
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