Islam verse Christianity
It is difficult for Americans to understand Islam because in
The American concept of freedom to choose does not exist in Islam countries because they function as a political religion. The concept is what is good for the Islam religion is good for the country and its people. In an Islam country all of the society, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, must submit to the Islamic religious law (the Shariah) or suffer the consequences. The Shariah includes economics, politics, customs and dress codes. The religious leaders interpretation of the Shariah governs the Muslims entire lifestyle of church, work and government; because, they all revolve around the Islamic religion.
If a Muslim were to convert to a different religious belief , they would be rejecting their ethic background, their culture, their religion, and their family and friends believes. If one were to convert to a different faith, they could be disowned by their family or become “dead” to their family and friends. Their conversion could mean a major life style change to them.
What are some of the difference between the Christian and Islam religions?
Regarding their origin:
1. Islam was established by Muhammad in 622 AD.
2. Christianity was established by Christ (the one and only Son of God/Allah) in 0/1 AD.
Regarding God:
1. The Islamic Creed is “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”.
2. Christians
believe they are to LOVE God/Allah with all their heart, soul and mind (Matt
Regarding one God:
1. The Islamic Creed is “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”.
2. Christians
believe there is one God and that one God is revealed as three persons in their
bible and they are the Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. All three are
one because the son Jesus does not say or do anything unless His Father
(God/Allah) tells Him first (John
Regarding the character of God:
1. Muslims are taught that Allah has determined what He pleases and no one can change what He has decreed. This doctrine of fate causes the common Islamic phrase “If it is Allah’s will”. Surah 2:190 states “For Allah loves not transgressors”.
2. The Christian’s God is a loving, never changing, just and fair God. God the Father loved mankind so much that He allowed His one and only son Jesus Christ to come to earth and pay the price for all mankind’s the sins with His blood. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, mankind regained the opportunity to have a personal relationship with their God. To help maintain this relationship between mankind and God the Father, God the Father sent His Holy Spirit to be in and with everyone who wants to maintain this relationship. The only way mankind will get to Heaven/Paradise is to accept Jesus as their personal savior.
Regarding Muhammad and Jesus’ deity:
1. Muhammad claimed to be a prophet and not a deity.
2. God
the Father called Jesus His son (Matt
Regarding Jesus Christ:
1. Muslims
are taught that Jesus was a man, was born of a virgin (Surah
2. Christians’
believe that Jesus was the one and only son of God the Father. Jesus came to
earth to live and was tempted to sin in everyway as all of mankind is, but he
did not allow sin to enter His life (Heb 4:15). Jesus lived a sinless life and
therefore He was qualified to be killed (crucified) for all of the sins of
mankind. God the Father raised Jesus form the dead on the third day after he
was crucified (Luke 24:1-8; I Peter
Regarding mankind’s salvation (allowed into Paradise/Heaven):
1. Muslims
are taught that each person must earn (faith and action) their own salvation
(Surah 4:111; 10:109). They do this by following the Five Pillars of Faith. The
Five Pillars of Faith are 1) give to the poor; 2) prayers; 3) making a
pilgrimage to Mecca; 4) partaking of Ramadan (a month long religious observance)
each year; 5) by stating their Creed “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is
the messenger of Allah”. Another way of going straight to heaven is being
killed in a Jihad. (A Jihad (a holy war) can be declared by a religious leader.
This is a war to help spread Islam or to defend against infidels. (An infidel
is anyone not of their sect.) If a person is killed in a Jihad, they are
guaranteed eternal life in
2. Christians’ believe that everyone rebels (sins) against God’s standards. This rebellion/sin causes a personal separation between mankind and God. (Every since Adam and Eve, God has required a blood sacrifice for sin.) God desires a personal relationship with everyone; therefore, God the Father allowed His one and only son (Jesus) to come to earth and pay this “sin” price for everyone. Jesus did this when He was crucified; because, His blood/death paid the price for everyone’s sin. Christians believe they will enter Paradise/Heaven not based upon what they physically do on earth, but what Jesus did on earth.
Regarding life in general:
1. Muslims are taught that Allah has determined what He pleases and no one can change what He has decreed. This doctrine of fate causes the common Islamic phrase “If it is Allah’s will”.
2. Christians are taught that God has a definite plan for everyone’s life, but because He loves them He also gives them the freedom of choice. This is shown in the Torah (Genesis) starting with Adam and Eve. They choose to disobey God/Allah and they suffered for it.
Regarding their Holy Scripture:
1. Muslim’s have 5 books they deem as inspired. The Torah, Injil, Koran, Hadith, and the Sunnah.
2. Christianity has 2 books they deem as inspired. The Old and New Testament (the bible).
Regarding the recording of their Holy Scripture:
1. Muhammad did not write down any of his sayings he was given by the archangel Gabriel. (It should be understood that Gabriel was created by God.) Muhammad gave all his sayings orally. After his death his successors collected and compiled Muhammad’s different sayings. These sayings were collected from “the palm-leaves, tablets of white stone and the breast of men” where his followers had written them. About 10 years after Muhammad’s death in 635 AD, there existed several different collections of these holy sayings/scriptures and they did not completely agree. Because of these differences, serious disputes occurred. A man named Zayd was commissioned to collect all the different collections. He decided which sayings were to become part of the one inspired master copy and he was to burn all other collections. (But alas some were not burned and they are still causing controversy today.)
2. The Christians’ believe that their bible has one author which is God/Allah. God inspired over 40 different people (men and woman) to write down His sayings. One of God’s sayings/instruction was “not to add to or take away from His words”. This statement is found in both the Old Testament (Deut. 4:2) and in the New Testament (Rev. 22:19). These original writings were completed by 100 AD.
Regarding women:
1. Islam teaches that women are inferior to men and a man can have up to 4 wives:
a. “The witness of a woman is equal to half that of a man?” Hadith 3:826
b. “Women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree over them” Surah 2:228
c. Muhammad said to a group of women “I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you” Hadith 2:541
d.
“As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish
them, refuse to share their beds, beat them” Surah
2. Christianity teaches equality between women and men. Eph 5:22-33