Home > Comparative Studies > Christianity in the light of Islam |
Similarities between Islam and
Christianity
by
James Abdul Rahim Gaudet, Rabia Mills and
Syed Mumtaz Ali
Subject |
Islam | Christianity |
Concept of God
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Monotheistic | God (Allah) is recognized as the Creator. | Monotheistic -- God
is recognized as the Creator.
"Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourself moulded gods: I am the Lord your God " (Leviticus 19:4) . Please refer (Exodus 20:2-5 & 23:24-25) |
omnipotent | God is omnipotent, omniscient, immanent within His creation yet transcendent. | God is omnipotent, omniscient, immanent within His creation yet transcendent. |
Relationship | God has a unique relationship with humans (master and servant). | God has a unique relationship with humans. (master and servant). |
agreements or Covenants | God makes agreements or Covenants with humans. | God makes agreements or Covenants with humans. |
eschatology | Have similar eschatology (pertaining to the last days or the end of the world) -- this world will come to an end someday and no-one knows when. | Have similar eschatology (pertaining to the last days or the end of the world) -- this world will come to an end someday and no-one knows when. |
Satan | A figure referred to as Satan or Antichrist (dajjal) (a figure of evil) will be defeated at the end of the world. | A figure referred to as Antichrist or Satan (a figure of evil) will be defeated at the end of the world. |
After the world has ended | After the world has ended, God will judge humans, based on their actions in compliance with a moral code, specified in the Covenant which God makes with us. | At the end of the world, God will judge humans based on their actions in compliance with a moral code, specified in the Covenant which God makes with us. |
Judgement | This judgement will determine one's eternal abode, heaven or hell (bliss or punishment). | This judgement will determine one's eternal abode, heaven or hell (bliss or punishment). |
Spirit & Soul | Human beings have a spirit (ruh) which is eternal, continuing its existence after our physical death. As to its origin, the Qur'an says, "When I [God] have fashioned him [Adam] (in due proportions) and breathed into him of My spirit . . ." [Qur'an 15:29] | Human beings have a soul which is eternal, continuing its existence after our physical death |
Human's free will | Humans have the ability (free will) to choose between good and evil (obeying or disobeying God, complying with the moral code of the Covenant or transgressing). | Humans have the ability (free will) to choose between good and evil (obeying or disobeying God, complying with the moral code of the Covenant or transgressing) |
Angels | Angels exist who are the servants, and sometimes messengers of God. | Angels exist who are the servants, and sometimes messengers of God |
Satan | Satan (shaitan) exists, as well as evil spirits who follow him; they are the enemies of humanity. | Satan exists, as well as evil spirits who follow him; they are the enemies of humanity. |
Divinely revealed scriptures | Divinely revealed scriptures exist which are the primary source of religious knowledge. The Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad and it is the final scripture given to man. | Divine scriptures exist which are the primary source of religious knowledge; revelation in this department is finished (there are no more biblical books yet to be revealed) |
Miracles | Miracles occur on occasion. | Miracles occur on occasion. |
Transgression | If a person errs or transgresses, God may forgive them, if they sincerely repent. | If a person errs or transgresses, God may forgive them, if they sincerely repent. |
Prophets | Prophets brought spiritual instruction. | Prophets brought spiritual instruction. |
Qur'an & Bible | There are similarities between the Quranic and biblical version of many stories, such as Adam and Eve, Moses and the children of Israel, etc. | There are similarities between the Quranic and biblical version of many stories, such as Adam and Eve, Moses and the children of Israel, etc. |
Jesus re-entry | At the time of the end of the world, Jesus Christ will come again. | At the time of the end of the world, Jesus Christ will come again. |
Jesus Birth | Jesus Christ was born to the virgin Mary. | Jesus Christ was born to the virgin Mary. (Immaculate Conception |
Greetings | When a Muslim meets another Muslim ,he greets him with saying Assalamu Alaikum. (May peace be upon you) | Luke 24:36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." |
Belief in God | Muhammad (pbuh) called God help in every single work he did. | Jesus called God's
help during his time Mathew 27:46 Elo, Eloi , Lama sabachthani, which means God, God, why thou has forsaken me. |
Jesus
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Status of Jesus | Believe in Jesus as a Mighty prophet is a must. if fail then he or she cannot be a Muslim | Jesus says that he was sent to the lost sheep of
Israel. Mathew 10:5-6 / Mathew 15:24 |
Jesus as a Messenger of God | Islam considers Jesus as a Mighty prophet | Bible also considers Jesus as a Prophet John 14:28 My Father is great than I John 5:30 I can do nothing of my self, As I hear I judge.... John 10:29 / Mathew 12:28 / Luke 11:20 There is not a single verse in the bible which says that Jesus is God. |
Gospel of Jesus | And in their footsteps We
sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming Torah that had come before him; we
sent him The Gospel....... Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, They are those who rebel. ( 5:46-47) |
John 12:49For
I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. Mathew 4:23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogue, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom .. . Mark 1:14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of kingdom of God. Mark 1:15And saying, the time is fulfilled , and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye, and believe the gospel . |
Glorifying Jesus | Holy Qur'an6:85 .Zechariah ....Jesus everyone of the good | John 16:34 When God send a Comforter he shall glorify me. |
Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
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Muhammad (pbuh) | Holy Qur'an 33:40
Mohammed
is the seal of Prophethood. Holy Qur'an 21:107 Muhammad is a mercy to the world |
John 14:16
I shall ask my father to send you another comforter (Paraklete). Jesus prophesied about the advent of Muhammad (pbuh) and called him a Paraklete |
Common Basic Beliefs
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Revelations | Islam Accepts Torah, Psalm, and the Gospel as Devine Revelations. But it considers those revelations were interpolated or corrupted | Bible accepts and includes the Torah, Psalm and Gospels. |
Every one born sinless | Islam says that every baby born sinless. | Bible also accepts the sinless birth |
Belief in God's Prophets | Islam accepts all the Messenger (Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Aaron , Zechariah, John the Baptist, Jesus and so on) | Bible also accepts all earlier Prophets . |
Prayer
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prayers | Certain standard prayers exist. | Certain standard prayers exist. |
Prayer | Prayer is a ma is a means of communicating with God; God hears prayers and sometimes grants requests. | Prayer is a means of communicating with God; God hears prayers and sometimes grants requests. |
Prayer | Holy Qur'an 20:11-12 God asks Moses to remove the shoes | Exodus 3:5 God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. Acts 7:33 But the Lord said to him, 'Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. |
Ablution | Holy Qur'an 5:6 orders to wash face, hand and leg before prayer | Exodus 40 :31-32 Moses
and Aaron washed before they get into pray Acts 21:26 Paul along with other men washed before prayer |
Prostration | Muslims always fell in the ground to pray. | Genesis 17:3 Abraham
fell in the ground Numbers 20:6 Moses and Aaron fell in the ground to pray Joshua 5:14 Joshua fell in the ground to pray Mathew 26:39 Jesus fell in the ground and prayed But today's Christians fell in the ground and prays on Pope |
Muslim Prayer | Christian Prayer | |
The Opening | The Qur'an 1:1-7 |
Matthew 6:9-13 |
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful. King of the Day of Reckoning. | Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. |
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Thee only do we worship and of Thee only do we ask aid. | Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. |
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Guide us unto the right
path - the path of those to whom Thou hast been gracious, not the path of those who are the objects of Thy wrath, nor of those who have gone astray. Amen |
Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors [Other translations say: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."] And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, The Power and the Glory. For ever and ever. Amen |
If we carefully compare the parts of each prayer which are written above as separate paragraphs (a) (b) and (c), we will observe that there are differences only in language, yet there are no differences whatsoever in meaning. There is in both prayers absolutely the same spirit of (a) Adoration (b) Submission and (c) Supplication. | ||
Charity
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charity | Charity and relieving the suffering of others carries spiritual rewards. | Charity and relieving the suffering of others carries spiritual rewards. |
Charity | Holy Qur'an 59:7 Holy Qur'an 9:34 Islam orders to give 2.5 percent every year |
I Peter 4:8 Give charity. it reduces sin |
Pilgrimage | Pilgrimage (hajj) is obligatory. | Pilgrimage still exists, but is not obligatory |
Fasting | Fasting and similar ascetic practises for religious purposes carries spiritual rewards. | Fasting or depriving oneself for religious purposes carries spiritual rewards. |
Fasting | Every able Muslims should fast one month every year. | Mathew 17:21 People commanded to Fast Mark 9:29 People commanded to Fast |
Prohibitions
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Wine | Holy Qur'an 5:90 intoxication, gambling ....are an abomination of Satan, Eschew such , that ye may prosper | Proverbs 20:1 wine
is mockery Ephesians 5:18 Be not drink wine |
Dead Meat | Holy Qur'an2:173 he only forbidden you what dies of itself ..... | Leviticus 17:15 / Deuteronomy
14:21 these verses tells that the believers should not eat that died of itself |
Blood | Holy Qur'an2:173..he only forbidden you ....blood | Leviticus 17:14 / Duet
12:16 / Genesis 9:4 / I Samuel 14:33 / Act 15:29 All these verses prohibits consuming of blood. |
Flesh of Swine | Holy Qur'an2:173 he only forbidden you | Leviticus 11: 7-8 / Deuteronomy
14:8 / Isaiah 65:2-5 All these verses prohibits the flesh of swine |
Cut with Allah's Name | Holy Qur'an2:173 he (Allah) only forbidden you...and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked | Acts 15:29 / revelation
2:14 these verses tells that believers should not eat those foods are been cut without Allah's name |
Gender Modesty
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Man Modesty | Holy Qur'an 24:30 asks men to bow their head when a girl passes | Mathew 5:28-29 I say to you, who see a woman with lust is committed adultery in heart. |
Female Modesty | Islam orders the Muslims to | Duet 22:5 woman cannot wear cloth pertain.. like a man |
Head Covering | You can see the Muslim ladies always cover their head and whole body. | I Corinthians 11:6 women
didn't cover her head should be shaved I Timothy 2:19 / I Corinthians 11:5-8 |
Circumcision | Muslims without any questions follows this ritual as a duty, whereas the Christians forsook it | John 7:22
Moses gave you the concern of circumcision Act 7:8 circumcision is given to you Luke 2:21 Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day. Unfortunately today's Christians throw this duty. |
Congregation | Special congregational service of worship (salat) once per week on Friday, in a mosque, is an obligation (in addition to five times a day obligatory service of worship (salat) - also preferably in congregation.) | Congregational worship at church once per week on Sunday is an obligation. |
10 Commandments: |
And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (between right and wrong): There was a chance for you to be guided aright. Qur'an 7:145 And We ordained laws for him [Moses] in the tablets in all matters, both commanding and explaining all things, (and said): "Take and hold these with firmness, and enjoin thy people to hold fast by the best in the precepts . . . |
Exodus 24:12 The
Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, and
I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have
written for their instruction." |
Command 1 | Qur'an 17:23 Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him . . . Qur'an 2:163; 2:255; 3:2; 3:6; 3:18; 3:62; 4:87; 5:73; 6:102; 6:106; 7:59; 7:65; 7:73; 7:85; 7:158; 9:31; 9:129; 10;90; 11:14; 11:40; 11:61; 11:84; 13:30; 16:02; 18:110; 20:8: 20:14; 20:98; 21:25; 21:87; 23:23; 23:32; 23:116; 27:26; 28:38; 28:70; 28:88; 35:3; 37:035; 38:65; 39:6; 40:3; 40:62; 40:65; 44:8; 47:19; 64:13; 73:9 La illa ha illa Allah [there is none worthy of worship but God] |
Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me |
Command 2 | Qur'an 22:12 They call on such deities, besides Allah, as can neither hurt nor profit them: that is straying far indeed (from the Way)! Qur'an 22 [Athar Husain translation condensed version ] Avoid filthy rites associated with idols and also false invocations, remaining firm in faith towards God, without associating anyone with Him. And whosoever associates aught with God, it is as if he has fallen from on high and the birds snatch him away or the wind blows him to a distant place. |
Exodus 20:4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. |
Command 3 | Qur'an 7:180 And Allah's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be requited for what they did. |
Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, [i.e. in an irreverent or disrespectful manner] for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. |
Command 4 | Qur'an
16:124 The Sabbath was only made (strict) for those who disagreed (as to its observance); But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgement, as to their differences. Qur'an 4:154 And for their covenant we raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath." And We took from them a solemn covenant. |
Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. |
Command 5 | Qur'an 17:23 Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. |
Exodus 20:12 Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gave you. |
Command 6 | Qur'an 17:33 Nor take life which Allah has made sacred . . . |
Exodus 20:13 You shall not kill |
Command 7 | Qur'an 17:32 Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils). |
Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit Adultery |
Command 8 | Qur'an 60:12 O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter; then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Note: This applies to men as well as women. The Qur'an ordains severe punishment for theft 5:41,42] Qur'an 2:188 And do not eat up unjustly the property of each other among yourselves nor convey their cases to the authorities for devouring unlawfully some portion of the property of the people knowingly. [Commentary by Mufti Shah Ahmad Raza Khan -- this prohibition covers the acquisition of property by all unlawful means, such as theft, robbery, gambling, bribery, backbiting, giving false evidence, and all such other means as bringing a false claim against another or wrongfully influencing authorities to obtain unlawful benefits as a consequence] |
Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal. |
Command 9 | Qur'an 2:42 And cover not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is). |
Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. |
Command 10 | Qur'an 4:32 And in no wise covet those things in which Allah Hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others . . . |
Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbour. |
Belief
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Faith | Faith without works is useless (it is not enough to simply say "I believe). | Faith without works is useless (it is not enough to simply say "I believe). |
other deity | God severely punishes the worship of any deity other than God Himself as well as disrespect toward Him. | God severely punishes the worship of any deity other than God Himself, as well as disrespect toward Him. |
Human have rights | Humans have rights (hence the prohibitions on murder, theft, lying, violence). | Humans have rights (hence the prohibitions on murder, theft, lying, violence). |
Parents right | Parents have special rights (to be honoured), as do spouses (hence adultery is forbidden). | Parents have special rights (to be honoured), as do spouses (hence adultery is forbidden). |
Fornication | Fornication and lewd behaviour are forbidden. | Fornication and lewd behaviour are forbidden. |
Transgression | Transgressions similar to the Christian "seven deadly sins" (avarice, pride, greed, gluttony; envy, lust, sloth) are all spiritual illnesses. | Transgressions similar to the Catholic "seven deadly sins" (avarice, pride, greed, gluttony; envy, lust, sloth) are all spiritual illnesses.. |
Society law | Society's laws must be obeyed. | Society's laws must be obeyed. |
Intoxication | Intoxication is forbidden. | Intoxication is forbidden. |
Suicide | Suicide is forbidden. | Suicide is forbidden. |
Homo-sex | Homosexuality is forbidden. | Homosexuality is forbidden (as stated in the book of Deuteronomy, as well as in the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorra). |
(ICRA)