islam and christianity similarities essay

Comparison of Christianity and Islam Essay

Different religions in the united states: when they were established, how the religious movements were spread throughout the world, religious believe system of these religions, how the two religions coexist in a globalized world, reference list.

Religion is a complex cultural phenomenon and an important aspect of life that involves devotional exercises. Additionally, religion governs people as it has a moral code that determines people’s conduct. Humanity’s awareness of religion started during the upper Paleolithic revolution about 30,000 years ago and since then it has been a common trait among people across the world (Armstrong, 1993).

Being a belief system, religion relies on symbols and narratives to explain how people came to existence and how they believe in an unseen supernatural power alleged to have created the universe.

However, despite the fact that religion acts as a light to guide people, different religions have emerged in different ways over the years, which is attributed to the different cultures across the world. Different religions have emerged in the United States and this paper seeks to compare and contrast Christianity and Islam from an anthropological perspective.

The United States, as one of the most developed and populous countries in the world, has a broad spectrum of religious diversity. The country advocates for religious freedom and allows citizens to practice any kind of religion that they may choose to follow. The US has the largest number of religious groupings in the world due to religious freedom. Some of these religious groups in the US include Christianity and Islam.

Christianity is one of the many religious groups in the history of humanity and many believers in the US are affiliated to Christianity. It is the world’s biggest and organized religion and up to date, it has around 2.1 billion followers worldwide. This religion originated from the life and teachings of the savior of humanity known as Jesus Christ.

When Christ, who was a Jew, came to earth around 2013 years ago, his teachings revived the teachings of Judaism and this aspect established the foundation of Christianity due to the transformation of Judaism to Christianity. Originally, the major branches of Christianity were eastern orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism with each branch having sub-branches.

However, over the years, the divide between different Christian communities has continued to widen, which explains why in the 21st century there has been a creation of many branches of Christianity. For instance, Armstrong (1993) notes that in “North America alone, there are 1,500 different groups of Christianity, which have different conflicting Christian beliefs” (p.62).

On the other hand, the Islamic religion was formed in the Middle East based on the teachings of Prophet Mohamed in the 7th century A.D. and it is the world’s second largest religion after Christianity with a following of about a billion Muslims (Armstrong, 1993). Prophet Mohamed was the last messenger of a supreme being who was the only creator and sustainer of the world.

Before Mohamed started preaching his ideas to the people of Mecca at around 610 A.D., Islam was nonexistent and people were worshiping different kinds of gods (Becker, 2010). The teachings of Mohamed are written in a Holy book known as the Quran and Muslims are expected to adhere to these teachings.

Just like Christianity, this religion also has branches, which include the Sunni and Shi’a each maintaining different means of interpreting the teachings of the prophet with Sunni denomination having more followers than the Shi’a. Over the years, the United States, which has been dominated by Christianity, has experienced a rise in the number of Muslims with 4.2% of the total population being Islamic, and this growth has outpaced that of the other religious groups.

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ started his mission on earth at the age of 30 years and later he was crucified to save humanity from sin and bring sinners closer to God. After Jesus’ death, missionaries took over the spreading of the gospel though this exercise was difficult as many doctrinal debates emerged within the church coupled with persecution targeting those who were spreading Christianity during the Roman Empire.

The spreading of Christianity by missionaries based on the teachings of Christ gained momentum around the 1st century, which led to the rapid growth of this religion (Armstrong, 1993). Paul, who was a Jew and had previously persecuted Christians, is one of the known instrumental missionaries who aided in the growth and spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. A remarkable development towards the spread of Christianity took place in 4th A.D. when the Roman Emperor, Constantine, converted to Christianity.

This move compelled many pagans to follow the footsteps of their leader by converting to Christianity. Since then, many missionaries have traveled to different parts of the world to spread the good news and by 1900; Christianity had spread to every continent, which contributed greatly to Christianity is the most dominant religion not only in the United States but also across the world.

Islam religion on the other hand also spread rapidly after the death of Prophet Mohamed since he had successfully established the new religion among his people. After his demise, other like-minded people emerged with the interest of abolishing paganism in society and promoting the worship of Allah.

One of these people was the 1st caliph, Abu Bakr, who during his reign saw the rapid growth of Islam. Mostly, the spread of Islamic religion was mainly influenced by wars as the political and military control of the Muslim leader led to many people liking and converting to this new religion (Kennedy, 2007). Since then, many people have converted to Islam after reading the teachings of Prophet Mohamed, which has led to the expansion of the Islamic community worldwide.

Christianity holds that only one God should be worshiped and people are not supposed to worship any manmade gods. Christians also believe that after Adam and Eve sinned, every man fell out of God’s glory, which explains why God, through His unconditional love, sent His only son to come and save man from eternal punishment in hell.

Christians believe that Christ was the last sacrifice and the converts of Christianity are not supposed to offer any kind of sacrifice to God. According to the Christian religion, the main reason for man’s existence on earth is to glorify God and they have to live a godly life on earth if they want to have eternal life and see the kingdom of heaven after they die.

On the other hand, Islam, just like Christianity, holds that there is only one Supreme Being, Allah, to be worshiped and the man was created with a free will of serving and obeying Allah.

A person is accepted as a Muslim if s/he adheres to the teachings of Allah and prophet Mohamed. According to the Islamic faith, no one is responsible for any other person’s sin and if one has sinned, there is a need to ask for forgiveness from Allah directly without any intermediary through prayer, and thus any prayer directed to any other being is idolatry.

In both religious groups, leaders, as well as devotees, play a very critical role in forming a morally upright society and in indoctrinating faith on many non-believers across the world. In addition to this aspect, they have tried to bridge the gap that exists between the rich and the poor by advocating for equality since they believe that all human beings are equal and God did not create anyone to suffer.

However, in terms of some cultural issues, these religions differ and an example of this assertion lies in marriage. The Islamic religion does not allow a person to marry a non-Islamic faithful, which is different from the Christian religion that does not dictate the religion of one’s marriage partner. Additionally, in dissimilarity to Christianity, Islam does not allow its followers to eat pork, as they believe that pigs are unholy.

These two religious denominations have realized the need to coexist with one another for the advancement of the society and to cut the animosity between the two faiths that have been in existence since their creation.

Efforts to encourage and foster mutual understanding have been put in place, which is a crucial move, as it will lead to more peace and harmony amongst believers in the future (Solomon & AL Maqdisi 2009). The two religions have also worked together by being instrumental in the control of population growth especially in developing third world countries.

As the two most favorite religious faiths across the world, both Christianity and Islam converge largely in the Old Testament, but they differ largely on the New Testament of the Bible. However, uniting these two faiths is very important especially in fighting social evils, poverty, and climate changes and in ensuring that people are taught effectively on how to be morally upright from a tender age.

Armstrong, K. (1993). A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.

Becker, C. (2010). Christianity and Islam. Charleston, SC: Bibliolife, LLC .

Kennedy, H. (2007 ). The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In . Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.

Solomon, S., & AL Maqdisi, E. (2009). A Common Word: The Undermining of the Church . Afton, VA: Advancing Native Missions Pub.

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Bibliography

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The Similarities and Differences between Islam and Christianity (part 1 of 2): The Same but Different

Description: islam and christianity  are thought of as two monolithic religions.  this is an explanation of what islam and christianity believe about the scriptures, the prophets and the trinity..

• By Aisha Stacey (© 2017 IslamReligion.com)
• Published on 15 May 2017
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Both Islam and Christianity encourage their followers to dress and behave modestly, and both believe that being charitable and showing compassion are desirable qualities in a human being.  They both place emphasis on prayer and communication with God, both call on people to be kind and generous, and both counsel treating others the way you would expect to be treated.  The two religions expect their followers to be truthful, stay away from major sins and ask for forgiveness.  And both religions respect and love Jesus and expect him to return to earth as part of their end of days narratives. 

Members of both religions would have us believe that they are poles of apart but their histories begin in exactly the same place, in the Garden with Adam and Eve.  It is in the life of Prophet Abraham that their paths begin to diverge and as if to add emphasis to their mutual beginning Islam and Christianity along with Judaism are known collectively as the Abrahamic faiths.

The Prophets

According to the Quran, Abraham was known as the beloved servant of God; because of his deep devotion, God made many of his descendants Prophets to their own people.  The story of Prophet Abraham being commanded to sacrifice his son is known in both Christianity and Islam.  In Islam, that son is Ishmael [2] and it was through his lineage that Islam was established through Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.  In Christianity, the son in the sacrifice narrative is Isaac [3] .  Through the line of Isaac come many Prophets including Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus. 

One of Islam’s six pillars of faith requires that a Muslim believes in all of the Prophets.  To reject one is to reject them all.  Muslims believe that God sent many Prophets, one to every nation.  Some we know by name and others we do not.  Prophet Muhammad is known to have said that all the Prophets are brothers to one another. [4] Thus you will find that all the Prophets mentioned in the Bible are respected and acknowledged by Islam.   Many of them are mentioned by name in the Quran with detailed life stories.  Islam treats all Prophet with respect and rejects the stories in the Bible that ridicule and tarnish some of the Prophets.   

Christianity acknowledges that Prophet Muhammad existed but does not endow him with Prophethood.  Throughout Christian history he has been called a liar and a lunatic; some people even associated him with the devil.  On the other hand, Islam considers Prophet Muhammad to be a mercy from God to humankind.  As far as Jesus is concerned Christians and Muslims have many similar beliefs.  Both believe that his mother Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to him.  Both religions believe that Jesus was the Messiah sent to the people of Israel and both believe that he performed miracles.  Islam however says that such miracles were performed by the will and permission of God.   Islam calls Prophet Jesus the slave and messenger of God and he is held in great esteem as one man in a long line of Prophets and Messengers all calling the people to worship One God.  Islam rejects completely the notion that Jesus is God or is part of the Trinity.

The Trinity

The Trinity is the core belief of Christianity that says that there is One God who has three manifestations, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  God has a son called Jesus who is also God and it is through Jesus that a person can reach the Father.  The Holy Spirit, also God, is the divine force, that mysterious force responsible for faith.  The Trinity is sometimes depicted as the wings of a dove or tongues of fire.   It is a controversial doctrine that came about as an attempt to reconcile the teaching of the Bible and the early Christian church.  Disputes over the nature of Jesus lead to the Roman emperor Constantine convening the Council of Nicaea in CE 325.  And it was the doctrine of the Trinity that caused the split between the eastern and western churches.  Even today many people are unable to understand or explain the doctrine that they profess. 

Believing themselves to be monotheistic is something common to both Islam and Christianity.  Monotheism is a word derived from the Greek words ‘monos’ meaning only and ‘theos’ meaning god.   It is used to define a Supreme Being who is all-powerful, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the One responsible for life and death.  Muslims however believe that they practice pure monotheism unadulterated by concepts such as the Trinity.  The core belief of Islam is that there is no god worthy of worship but God; it is a simple concept in which worship is directed to God Alone. 

The Scriptures

Muslims derive their understanding of the nature of God from the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad.  The Quran explains that all the divine books of Christianity, the Old Testament, including the book of Psalms, and the New Testament containing the Gospels of Jesus were revealed by God.  Therefore, Muslims believe in the Bible when it does not differ from the Quran.  Muslims believe only what has been confirmed in the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad because Islam says that much of the original text of both the Old and New testaments has been lost, altered, distorted or forgotten.

Muslims believe the Quran to be the last revealed text and the exact words of God brought down to Prophet Muhammad through the agency of Angel Gabriel.  Christianity however believes that the Bible was inspired by God and written by a number of different authors.   

[1] http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/27/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/

[2] Quran 37:101 - 103

[3] Genesis 22

[4] Saheeh Al-Bukhari

The Similarities and Differences between Islam and Christianity (part 2 of 2): Similar but very different

Description: islam and christianity have very different things to say about original sin, salvation and the last days of jesus..

• Published on 22 May 2017
• Last modified on 22 May 2017
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Original Sin

The story of Adam and Eve exists in both Christianity and Islam.  On the surface the stories seem to be the same.  Adam is the first human being, Eve is created from his rib, and they lived tranquilly in Paradise.  Satan is with them in Paradise; he misguides or tempts them into eating fruit from the forbidden tree.   But apart from the bare outlines, the stories differ greatly.   The Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, tell us that Satan did not come to Adam and Eve in the form of a serpent, nor did he trick them into eating the forbidden fruit.  Satan misguided and deceived them, and they made a grave error of judgment.  This was not the fault of Eve alone rather Adam and Eve share the burden of the mistake equally.

At no point in the Quranic story are we told that Eve was the weaker of the two or that she was responsible for the temptation of Adam.  They made the decision together, and sometime later they realized their grave mistake, felt remorseful and begged for God’s forgiveness.  God forgave both of them.  In light of this, we can see that Islam has no concept called original sin.  The descendants of Adam are not punished for their ancestor’s actions.   God says in the Quran that no one is responsible for another person’s decisions.  "… no bearer of burdens shall bear another’s burden..." (Quran 35:18) Islam has no concept that a human being could be born sinful.  Rather, people are born in a state of purity and naturally inclined to worship God.  Their slates are clean; there is nothing for them to be forgiven for or to repent for. 

One the other hand, the Christian doctrine of original sin teaches that humankind is born already tainted by the sins of Adam and Eve.  Jesus, they say, was born and did die in order to atone for the sins of humankind.  If you believe that Jesus’ death expiated your sins, then the door to salvation is opened to you.  Islam rejects this completely.  Islam teaches that Prophet Jesus was sent to the Israelites to affirm the message of all the Prophets before him; that God is One, with no partners, associates, or offspring, therefore, there is nothing worthy of worship except Him. 

Because Islam believes that every human being is born free from sin, to remain in this state a person needs only to follow God’s commandments, and try to live a virtuous life.  If one falls into sin but then feels repentant, he or she should seek God’s forgiveness.  Forgiveness should be sought directly from God; there are no intermediaries.   Quran and Prophet Muhammad tell us that God’s forgiveness is easily attainable.  In the authentic traditions we find that Prophet Muhammad said, "God spreads out His hand at night to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the day, and He spreads out His hand by day to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the night, (and that will continue) until the sun rises from the west.  " [1]

Say, ‘O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)!  Despair not of the Mercy of God, indeed God forgives all sins.   Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (Quran 39:53)

Sincere repentance assures forgiveness, and salvation is attained through submission to the will of God.  The human being will only find true contentment and security when he is able to have hope in God’s mercy and forgiveness whilst fearing the consequences that come from displeasing Him.  In Islam staying connected to God is the key to salvation, and Quran tells us that sincere belief combined with good deeds and behavior will result in eternal life in Paradise.

In Christianity however, salvation is another thing altogether.  It is the death of Jesus Christ that results in salvation.  Particularly in Roman Catholic theology, it is the death of the innocent Jesus, the perfect blood sacrifice, which results in salvation.  His death takes away the sins of all people who accept Jesus as the son of God and believe in his resurrection.  Some Christian denominations add that good works and the development of good moral characteristics aids in a person’s salvation.  Still others require that a person is baptized.

The Crucifixion and Jesus’ Return

Whilst Islam and Christianity agree that a crucifixion did take place, they disagree on whether or not Jesus himself was crucified and died.  The idea of Jesus dying on the cross is central to the Christian belief, but it is rejected by Islam.  The Islamic belief about Jesus’ crucifixion and death is clear.   Islam teaches us that Jesus did not die to atone for humankind’s sins.   There was a plot to crucify him, but it did not succeed. God in his infinite mercy saved Jesus from this humiliation by putting his resemblance on somebody else and elevating him alive, body and soul, to heaven.   The Quran is silent about the exact details of just who this person was, but we know and believe with certainty that it was not Prophet Jesus.

Christianity and Islam also agree that Jesus will return to earth.  Islam explains that in the days before the Day of Judgement, Jesus will return to this world and teach others to believe in the Oneness of God.  He will be a just ruler, break the crosses, slay the antichrist, then all the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) will enter into Islam.

In Christianity Jesus’ return is most often referred to as the Second Coming.  There are many differences amongst the Christian denominations, however, most teach that Jesus will return to judge between the living and the dead, (hold the final judgment) and set up the Kingdom of God.  Many believe that he will reign on earth for a thousand years, some saying that Jesus’ reign will begin after he defeats the antichrist. 

[1] Saheeh Muslim

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Christianity vs. Islam

Christianity and Islam have more in common than most people know — they are both monotheistic Abrahamic religions , and Jesus Christ is an important, revered figure in both religions.

Followers of Christianity — called Christians — believe in the Holy Trinity , and that Christ, the son of God, walked the earth as the incarnate form of God ("the Father"). Most Christians also believe Christ will return at the end of the world.

Muslims (followers of Islam) consider Jesus Christ to be a [Messenger-vs-Prophet-in-Islam|prophet, a messenger of God]] and a messiah. However, they believe that Muhammad was the last prophet and he recorded the word of God verbatim in the Quran.

Comparison chart

Early history.

In many ways, Christianity and Islam were radical for their times, often preaching tolerance, respect, and equality between different races and classes, despite rigid monotheism. This initial progressive nature resulted in considerable persecution but ultimately did not stop the development, evolution, or expansion of either religion. Ultimately, early Christianity and Islam were spread by exploration, trade, missions, warfare, and colonization.

According to the New Testament , Jesus Christ had a number of followers prior to his execution in Golgotha , but the concept of Christianity as a religion did not truly exist until after his crucifixion, when his most ardent followers, such as the Roman Apostle Paul , began writing and speaking of Christ's reported miracles.

Christianity acquired many of its terms and beliefs from the Hellenistic Judaism and Greco-Roman paganism that were dominant at the times and places of Christianity's earliest development. The Roman Empire, with its common language—Latin—crossing great swaths of land, helped spread Christianity, especially after Emperor Constantine (around 300 CE) converted to the religion, ordered the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , and adopted the cross for his army's banners. To learn more about early Christianity, its development, and the spread of the religion, watch the Crash Course video below.

By the time Islam was formed in 622 CE, Roman Catholicism, the most widespread form of Christianity, already had its 69th Pope— Pope Boniface V . In Mecca, in the Arabian Peninsula where Islam began, there was a melting pot of faith that included Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and those who worshipped Mesopotamian gods. It was in this place and time that Muslims believe Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel and told to begin writing down the word of the one true god, Allah.

Many in the region saw monotheism as a threat, eventually forcing Muhammad to migrate with his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE in what is known as the Hijra . Most consider this the beginning of Islam as a religion, as the migration brought many new followers to the fledgling faith. In 630 CE, Muhammad and his followers were able to return to Mecca in a near-bloodless conflict.

Murji'ah , an early Islamic philosophy that promoted tolerance of a wide variety of beliefs within Islam (leaving the judgment of Muslims to Allah), likely smoothed the way for early conversions. Within 100 years, Islam had spread rapidly east and west of the Arabian Peninsula. A Crash Course video that covers Islam's development, expansion, and how it split into two main branches can be watched below.

Short Timeline of Christianity and Islam

Note: Dates are historical estimates.

• 5 BCE: Jesus is born in the Roman province of Judea. Christians generally believe he was "born of a virgin," Mary.
• 26 CE: John the Baptist begins ministry.
• 28 CE: Jesus begins his ministry.
• 33 CE: Jesus is arrested and executed by way of crucifixion. Christians believe he rose from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven. Christianity begins.
• 44 CE: James, Jesus' older brother, becomes a primary leader in Jerusalem's Christian community.
• 57 CE: Paul the Apostle is arrested in Jerusalem after failing to help Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians reach a compromise regarding the depiction of Jesus.
• 62 CE: James is stoned to death.
• 63 CE: The Temple of Jerusalem, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is built.
• 64 CE: Roman Emperor Nero blames Christians for the burning of Rome .
• 66 CE: Mark begins writing his version of Jesus' life.
• 70 CE: Rome takes over Jerusalem and destroys its temple, more or less ending the more Jewish branch of Christianity.
• 73 CE: Matthew and Luke write their versions of Jesus' life, partly based on Mark's version.
• 75-90 CE: John writes his version of Jesus' life.
• 90 CE: The Romano-Jewish historian Josephus writes of the life and death of Jesus . Scholars often believe his words have been tampered with over the years.
• 125 CE: The earliest surviving New Testament writing, written by John, is roughly dated as being from this year.
• 380 CE: Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire.
• 397 CE: The Councils of Carthage decide which gospels and other written works will be considered canon books of the Bible versus which will be considered apocryphal.
• 570 CE: Muhammad is born in Mecca.
• 610 CE: Muslims believe this is the year Muhammad is first visited by the angel Gabriel.
• 610-622 CE: Muhammad begins his ministry. Islam begins.
• 622 CE: Muhammad and his followers migrate from Mecca to Medina in what is known as the Hijra. The Islamic calendar begins and the Prophet's Mosque is built. The first Islamic state begins when a constitution is drafted that combines Medina's government with Islam..
• 623 CE: Muhammad marries Aisha . Muslims generally view this marriage favorably, but Aisha's age—nine, to Muhammad's 53—causes great controversy outside of the Islamic faith today.
• 628 CE: The Treaty of Hudaybiyah is created, allowing Muslims in Medina to make pilgrimages to Medina.
• 630 CE: Muslims peacefully overtake Mecca after the Treaty of Hudaybiyah is dissolved. Other faiths' idols are destroyed and Mecca becomes an Islamic state.
• 632 CE: Muhammad dies from an illness. Abu Bakr, Muhammad's father-in-law (Aisha's father), becomes caliph (spiritual leader).
• 633-655 CE: Islam is spread through warfare. Muslim armies take over Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Syria, the North African coast, and portions of the Byzantine and Persian empires.
• 650 CE: Caliph Uthman forms a committee to standardize and reproduce the Qur'an. Muhammad's dialect of the Quraysh tribe is chosen as the standard dialect.
• 656-661 CE: Islam's first civil war; the Shia and Sunni sects form.
• 675 CE: Sufism forms.
• 1096 CE: The First Crusade , a three-year battle between Christians and Muslims, begins.

Jesus Christ in Islam and Christianity

Jesus Christ, son of Mary is, of course, the most important figure and namesake in Christianity. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God, and that along with God and the Holy Spirit, Jesus is part of the Godhead, or Holy Trinity. Christian belief is that Jesus' mother Mary was a virgin, that Jesus died when he was crucified, and that he was resurrected on the third day after his death.

Several of these beliefs about Jesus are shared in Islam . Muslims also believe in

• virgin birth
• that Jesus Christ could (and did) perform miracles
• the second coming of Jesus during the apocalypse

Where Islamic beliefs about Jesus differ is that Muslims believe that Jesus, although he was crucified, never actually died but ascended to heaven. God raised Jesus to Himself. Because Jesus never died, Muslims do not believe in the resurrection .

Position of Mary

As the virgin mother of Jesus Christ, Mary is an important figure in both Christianity and Islam. Mary plays a larger role in practices of some sects of Christianity, particularly Catholicism , where statues of Mary abound. In Islam, Mary is considered the best woman God ever created, and free of sin.

Beliefs and Practices

Beliefs and practices among Christians and Muslims vary greatly across the world and among certain demographics. Within Christianity, Catholics and Protestants often have very different beliefs, and Protestantism itself holds denominations as varied as evangelical fundamentalism and Unitarianism. In Islam, similarly large differences exist between Sunni, Shia, and Sufi Muslims and their beliefs. These differences have run so deep that Catholics and Protestants, Sunnis and Shiites, and Christians and Muslims have sometimes warred against each other over their beliefs.

A few major similarities exist between Christians and Muslims. Both belief systems are monotheistic, encourage or require the practice of daily prayer, and believe in the importance of many of the same figures, though their interpretation of them is often very different. Likewise, certain basic principles are generally supported within both faiths: the Ten Commandments for Christians and the The Five or Seven Pillars of Islam for Muslims. Heaven and Hell, angels, demons, and spirits, are generally accepted by both religions, as is an apocalypse.

Similar to Judaism, Islam tends to have stricter guidelines or rules than Christianity does. In modern Christianity, most hardline rules are found in the Old Testament and more related to Judaism, and many of the rules found in the New Testament are downplayed. For example, Christians may or may not "keep the Sabbath holy" by resting, even though doing so is a commandment, and most freely eat whatever they want, including pork and foods not blessed by religious leaders, something that Muslims and Jews do not do under halal and kosher dietary restrictions.

Two of the biggest differences found among Christian sects/denominations when it comes to scripture have to do with how literally the Bible is interpreted, whether it is considered the inerrant word of God as passed down through various writers or seen as being "inspired" and metaphorical, and whether "good works" or "faith alone" is most important for entry into heaven. Some Christians believe the Bible should be at the foundation of all matters: politics, education, charity, etc. Others believe their faith is personal and private and that Christian scripture really only applies to Christians.

Muslims believe there have been many prophets and messengers sent by Allah throughout time, but that their messages have been corrupted by man. They believe Muhammad was the latest and final prophet and that the Qur'an is the only uncorrupted holy message in the world. The vast majority of Muslims believe the Qur'an is the inerrant word of Allah, as passed down through the Prophet Muhammad, and can and should be part of every aspect in life, even when it comes to matters such as banking, warfare, and politics. The governmental enforcement of Islamic beliefs and practices is known as Sharia law. In a 2012 Pew Research study on Muslim political beliefs , a majority of people in Pakistan, Jordan, and Egypt felt laws should strictly follow the Qur'an, while people in Tunisia, Turkey, and Lebanon were less inclined to want their governments to follow the Qur'an.

Christians and Muslims' sociopolitical views often go hand-in-hand with how literally they interpret the Bible or Qur'an, with the most traditional and fundamentalist of both religions rejecting certain matters of gender equality, same-sex marriage, the theory of evolution, etc.

Belief in an imminent apocalypse that is soon to transpire varies by region among Christians and Muslims, but in many cases both groups do believe it will occur at some point in the future. There are many similarities between their versions of the apocalypse as well, having developed from similar or even the same texts.

Some Muslims believe as Christians do, that Jesus will be the one to return at the end of the world; the difference is that Muslims believe Jesus' return is a sign, not the actual end, and that his purpose is to destroy Christian symbols and convert Christians to the true religion of Islam. Other Muslims, such as the Shia Twelvers , believe Jesus is a minor figure in the apocalypse, if even present, and that a figure known as the Mahdi —Islam's 12th imam who has been hiding since the 9th century—will be the one who returns and helps cleanse the world of evil.

Demographics

With over 2.1 billion followers, over half of which are Catholic, Christianity is the world's largest religion. Islam, with over 1.5 billion followers, is the world's second largest religion; Sunnis make up 80-90% of Islam's adherents. Because the two religions are the largest in the world, one or the other is generally the dominant faith in nearly every country, with a few exceptions in Asia where Buddhism or no religion is dominant.

• Christianity's Influences - Patheos Library
• Christianity's Missions and Expansion - Patheos Library
• Christianity's Origins, History, and Beliefs - Patheos Library
• History of Islam - ReligionFacts
• How Muslims View the Qur'an - ApologeticsIndex
• Islam Timeline - Faithology
• Islamic History - University of Georgia
• Islam's Missions and Expansion - Patheos Library
• Mapping the Global Muslim Population - Pew Research
• Most Muslims Want Democracy, Personal Freedoms, and Islam in Political Life - Pew Research
• Muslim Beliefs in Angels, Fate, the Afterlife, and the End Times - Pew Research
• Muslim Views of the Apocalypse - Huffington Post
• Overview of Christian History - ReligionFacts
• Timeline of Islam - PBS Frontline
• Timeline of Islam - ReligionFacts
• The Trial of Jesus: A Chronology - University of Missouri-Kansas City
• Wikipedia: Christian
• Wikipedia: Muslim
• Wikipedia: History of Christianity
• Wikipedia: History of Islam
• Wikipedia: Islamic schools and branches
• Wikipedia: List of Christian denominations by number of members
• Wikipedia: Origins of Christianity
• Wikipedia: Quran
• Wikipedia: Timeline of Christianity
• Wikipedia: Christianity
• Wikipedia: Islam

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Comments: Christianity vs Islam

Anonymous comments (5).

October 10, 2013, 3:42am whoever wrote this is wrong, self harming is not permissible in Islam. Repenting yes, self harm no. — 76.✗.✗.82

May 6, 2014, 7:38pm I am grateful. this has shown me the differences between us — 86.✗.✗.181

February 25, 2014, 6:08pm Thanks, this really helped me! And to everyone trying to push their beliefs on others, and being rude to other faiths, please, can't we learn to love and tolerate? I'm Catholic, but I have no problem if you don't believe the same thing as me. — 81.✗.✗.177

June 3, 2014, 6:37pm I'm a Christian and i am tired of the ignorance shown by many people towards both Islam and Christianity. No, Muslims are not terrorists. I have a lot of respect for Islam and its followers, and i don't follow the media garbage often said about the religion. People should also know that Christians worship only one God, not three as is often claimed. Just because God appeared in three different forms does not mean there are three Gods, it means that God can appear in different forms, after all he is God isn't he. He is able to do literally anything. Just because there are different names for God doesn't mean he changes, he is always the same God, and always will be. — 86.✗.✗.210

May 28, 2014, 11:04am Enes you completely took scripture out of context and left out important parts of the verses. In fact that is how satan deceived man from the beginning. He twisted the word of God to deceive eve. This is what your doing now enes. — 108.✗.✗.194

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Global Analysis

What is islam’s relationship to christianity.

The theological analysis of the Bible and the Quran

The Quran is a book of the utmost importance and influence in the world today. It is the foundational text of Islam, and through the Islamic sharia it shapes legal systems, politics, ethics, cultures, and worship for a quarter of the world’s population.

The intriguing Quran

There are many things about the Quran that are hard to understand and can seem puzzling. It is not an easy read. However, for Christians perhaps the most intriguing thing about the Quran is its many allusions to biblical stories and characters. Although Islam has offered a most effective challenge to Christianity during the past 1,400 years, conquering and then Islamizing four of the five patriarchates in the Pentarchy of late antiquity—Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Constantinople—the text of the Quran draws heavily upon the Bible. The two most frequently named figures in the Quran are Moses (136 times) and Abraham (69 times). Jesus is mentioned by name six times as frequently as Muhammad.

One of the striking things about the Bible-in-the-Quran is the puzzling combination of knowledge and the lack of it.

One of the striking things about the Bible-in-the-Quran is the puzzling combination of knowledge and the lack of it. For example, although it contains hundreds of references to biblical figures and events, the Quran seems to consider Mary the mother of Jesus (Miriam in Hebrew) to be the same person as Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron. In a surah (chapter) of the Quran called ‘The Family of Imran’ (Biblical Amram of Exod 6:20) there is an account of the birth of Mary to the ‘wife of Amram’, after which she is brought up by Zakariah, the father of John the Baptist (Surah 3:35–37). Then again, in Surah 19:28, Mary is called the ‘sister of Aaron’. [1] These observations give rise to the question: ‘How can the Quran know so much about the Bible, while at the same time, not know that a thousand years separated the family of Amram from the family of Jesus of Nazareth?’

This is by no means the only inconsistency between the Bible and the Quran. Some others are the appearance of a Haman, a name familiar from the book of Esther, in the court of Pharoah at the time of Moses (Surah 28:6); the participation of a ‘Samaritan’ in the golden calf episode from Exodus 32 (Surah 20:85, 87, 95); and a reference to Saul choosing his warriors based on whether they scooped water with their hands or drank by lapping with their mouths (Sura 2:249), which surely goes back to the story of Gideon in Judges 7.

I do not mention these mismatches between the Quran and the Bible for apologetic or polemical purposes, but simply to underscore this important question: ‘What is so much of the Bible doing in the Quran?’

A ‘Christian heresy’?

John of Damascus Greek icon (14th century)

Down the centuries, a repeated Christian response to the rich and peculiar vein of biblical materials which runs through the Quran has been to conclude that Islam arose from what was originally some kind of sectarian Christianity. Thus John of Damascus, writing a century after Muhammad, claimed that Muhammad, ‘after conversing with an Arian monk concerning the Old and New Testament, fabricated his own heresy.’ [2] Other luminaries who have held a similar view have included Thomas Aquinas, Nicholas of Cusa, and Martin Luther, some claiming Arian influence, others Nestorian. Until modern times this perspective has been so prevalent that it could be considered the conventional Christian explanation for the biblical materials found in the Quran.

This framing of Islam as a Christian heresy has stimulated two opposite impulses. One is to correct what are taken to be ‘errors’. This was the approach of John of Damascus. A contrasting response has been what Bishop Kenneth Cragg has called a process of retrieval. [3] Cragg’s idea of retrieval was that Christians ought to undo or reverse the divergence from the gospel, by removing the veil which obscures the true Christ within Islam. This approach seeks to affirm what is true in the Quran by unveiling it. Some authors—and Cragg is an example—have argued that the veil is only in place because of Christian failure, because ‘Islam developed in an environment of imperfect Christianity.’ [4] Thus, for Cragg, the retrieval is also a ‘restitution.’ [5]

An alternative thesis

But what if both ‘correction’ and ‘retrieval’ are misguided? What if the whole idea of Islam arising from Christian roots is a derogatory error? Is it possible that neither the correction approach nor the retrieval approach is valid?

The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes: Investigations into the Genesis of a Religion by Mark Durie

In my book, The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes, [6] I explored an alternative thesis, that there is a deep theological disconnect between the Bible and the Quran, too deep to sustain the view that Islam arose out of Christianity or Judaism in any meaningful sense. Yes, the Quran incorporates biblical (and extra-biblical) Christian and Jewish materials, but it repurposes them to serve a radically different theological agenda: the Quran marches to the beat of its own theological drum. I concluded that the sheer volume of biblical reflexes in the Quran is not actually evidence of a deeper ‘family-tree’ affinity between Islam and Christianity.

In one example, the Quran refers repeatedly to Jesus (Isa), and even calls him the Messiah ( al-Masih ), but this is a Christ without a Christology, for there is no explanation of what a Messiah might be. The sound shape of the messianic title has been carried over into the Quran, but nothing of its meaning.

The theological difference between the Bible and the Quran runs deeper than superficial similarities might first suggest. For example, the Quran lacks a covenantal theology to frame a saving relationship between human beings and Allah. A careful linguistic analysis of the quranic Arabic words mithaq and ahd , sometimes translated as ‘covenant,’ reveals that in the Quran God does not enter into reciprocal binding obligations with people; such relationships only exist between human beings. Putative quranic ‘covenants’ between God and people in the Quran are actually obligations imposed by God upon his human slaves.

The sheer volume of biblical reflexes in the Quran is not actually evidence of a deeper ‘family-tree’ affinity between Islam and Christianity.

To be sure, the Quran borrows materials prodigiously from Christian and Jewish sources, but not for forming its theology. For example, the idea of warring in the name of God was current among Christians at the time of the Quran, which picked up and incorporated ideas and practices from contemporary Christianity, [7] but the Quran does this without drawing upon biblical theologies of warfare. Instead, it creatively develops its own war theology, fitting what is taken from contemporary Christian practices into a framework of pre-Islamic Arab raiding culture. [8]

At first sight monotheism is a theological idea the Bible and the Quran have in common, but first appearances can be deceptive. In the Torah the call to monotheism is about exclusive covenantal loyalty to Yahweh: ‘You shall have no other gods before me’ (Deut 5:7). However, the Quran’s idea of God’s oneness is grounded in Arabic ideas of client-protégé relationships and, negatively, in the assertion that no idea of propriety partnership ( shirk ) can be applied to God. These metaphors owe little if anything to the Bible, but are grounded in the values of Arab culture, for example the insight that it is disastrous for a slave to be owned by two masters (Sura 39:29).

The list of key biblical theological concepts, which were not taken up into quranic theology, includes the idea of the presence of God, the concept of holiness, and the idea that sin is a breach of relationship that can be repaired through atonement.

If not a family tree, then what?

Many Christians assume that Islam developed out of Judaism and Christianity. This is itself a manifestation of the conventional ‘Christian heresy’ view of Islam. Behind this, a ‘family tree’ model assumed, in which the root is Judaism. This branches out into Christianity, and then later Islam branches off. My research suggests that this way of thinking is a false lead, which pays too much attention to superficial similarities and not enough to theology.

I wrote in The Qur’an and its Biblical Reflexes that ‘a challenge of modeling the relationship of Islam to Judaism and Christianity is to be able to refer to a conceptual framework for the genesis of a faith that can accommodate a pattern of extensive influences combined with evidences of significant disconnections, which is what we know to be the case with the Quran.’ [9] If Islam and Christianity are not in some kind of kinship relationship, how then are we to conceptualize a connection which resulted in a very large volume of biblical content being absorbed into the Quran? If not a family tree, then what?

In The Qur’an and its Biblical Reflexes I drew on two metaphors. One is a building metaphor. Islam’s relationship to Christianity is not like that of a church which has been transformed into mosque, like the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Rather it is more like a church has been demolished, and its materials have been repurposed for the construction of a mosque, rather like the pillars in the mosque at Qairawan in Tunisia, which were repurposed from earlier churches, long since demolished. [10]

I proposed that the Quran was produced by a process of hybridization, in which Christian and Jewish influences provided the superstrate.

The other metaphor I drew on was linguistic hybridization. Some languages are formed by combining materials from a superstrate language and a substrate language (or languages). An example is Haitian Creole, for which the superstrate was French, and the substrate West African languages. The result is that Haitian Creole’s words are largely French, but its grammar, morphology, and phonology—its heart—is pure West African.

I proposed that the Quran was produced by a process of hybridization, in which Christian and Jewish influences provided the superstrate, while pre-Islamic Arab language and culture provided the substrate, including much of the theology.

Concluding reflections

The observation that the Quran does not have a ‘family tree’ relationship with Judaism and Christianity should not in any way be considered pejorative. If the Quran ‘is neither a text subsidiary to the Bible, nor is it to be attached to a genetic family tree alongside it,’ [11] then Christians can be liberated from thinking of Islam as some kind of Christian heresy, and begin to understand it for what it actually is, and not what at first sight it might appear to be to Christians.

The perspective offered here, if valid, could have profound implications for coexistence between the two faiths, including for interfaith dialogue.  [12] It also has implications for mission. It means that both missionaries and dialogue partners can set aside the tasks of ‘correction’ or ‘retrieval’, for these two opposite approaches are really but two sides of the ‘heresy’ coin.

My findings offer an invitation to Christians to ponder the similarities and (deep) differences between Islam and the two biblical faiths, Judaism and Christianity, with fresh eyes.

• Muslim scholars were of course aware that this identification conflicts with the biblical accounts, and some Muslims would reject the suggestion that the Quran identifies Mary of the gospels with Miriam of Exodus. Instead, they suggest that these quranic passages are to be interpreted typologically, eg ‘sister of Aaron’ means she was of the same tribe as Aaron.
• Daniel John Janosik, John of Damascus, First Apologist to the Muslims: The Trinity and Christian Apologetics in the Early Islamic Period (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2016), 261.
• Kenneth Cragg, The Call of the Minaret 2nd edn (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1985), 218-42.
• Cragg, The Call of the Minaret , 219.
• Cragg, The Call of the Minaret , 220.
• Mark Durie, The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes: Investigations into the Genesis of a Religion (Maryland: Lexington Books, 2018).
• Thomas Sizgorich, Violence and Belief in Late Antiquity: Militant Devotion in Christianity and Islam (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press), 275
• Durie, The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes , 229–39.
• Durie, The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes , 254.
• I owe these helpful metaphors to Dudley Woodberry’s ‘Contextualization among Muslims Reusing Common Pillars,’ International Journal of Frontier Missions 13:4 (1996), 171–86.
• Durie, The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes , 256.
• Editor’s note : see ‘Islam: An Infographic,’ in Lausanne Content Library , 3 June 2018, https://lausannestg.wpengine.com/content/islam-an-infographic . Also, ‘10 Priorities for Christian Engagement with Muslims (an except),’ in Lausanne Content Library , 12 May 2016, https://lausannestg.wpengine.com/content/10-priorities-christian-engagement-muslims-excerpt

Photo Credits

John of Damascus. Icon from Athos, dated to the beginning of 14th century (Source: Wikipedia , Public Domain , PD-old-70 )

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Essay on Christianity And Islam Similarities

Christianity and Islam share both, a historical and theological connection, however they also have some stark differences. Some similarities are quiet obvious such as how many deities they believe in, there are also some quiet obvious differences like the kind of practices they perform, and the scripture they study. Christianity, the religion created in 1st century C. E, developed out of Judaism and speaks of the foundation on the life, death, teachings and resurrection of Jesus Christ .

Over one-fourth of the earth’s population are Christ followers, just under onefourth of the earth’s population are Muslim, believers in Allah, and the prophet Muhammad . The Islam religion was established in the 7th century C. E and was believed to be founded by the prophet Muhammad, following the Islam religion basically means ‘surrendering’ or ‘submitting to Allah, which is was what Islam actually stands for. Muslims believe that Allah is the one and only true god which no one can equal or compare to his greatness.

Similarities between the religions are quiet blatant, such as both Christianity and the religion Islam are monotheistic, meaning that they believe in only god. For Christianity its Jesus. For Islam its Muhammad. Although Islam believes the Allah is the one true god, they do not doubt that Jesus was a decedent of the father, Christians too believe Jesus was the decedent of god but also that Jesus is the messiah. Other similarities are a little vague however still follow the same concept, such as the set of rules they must follow to be known as a true saint of that particular religion .

For example, to be a saint of Christianity you must follow the 10 commandments: Believing in no other god, not making idols, do not take the lords name in vain, remember the day of the Sabbath, honor your father and your mother, do not commit a murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bare false witness against your neighbor, and do not covet . To be a saint of the religion Islam you must follow the 5 pillars of Islam: declaration of faith, pray 5 times a day, charity, fasting in the month of Ramadan, and pilgrimage to mecca.

Although the 10 commandments and the 5 pillars of Islam seem different they are constructed in a similar way, you must believe in the god of that religion (esus/ Muhammad), you must pray, and you must give to others . Although the similarities are scarce they most defiantly are there. Not only does the Christian and Islamic faith have a similar set of guidelines and are both monotheistic, both religions have a similar origin. Both Christianity and Islam originated in the Middle East, Mecca located in Saudi Arabia, and Jerusalem is in Israel .

As for differences, it ranges to as easy as the scripture they read to their beliefs concerning the good lives and so on. Christians read the Holy Scripture the bible, containing the new and Old Testament, as for the Quran however its scripture is part in English then translated to Arabic, there is no portions of the newer age however . Christians all believe that after death we will be sent to heaven, or hell if you have not repent for your sins. Muslims believe in paradise however and that after you die it is ‘judgement day’ and that will determine if you’re good enough to make into paradise with the enlightened one.

Another difference is the deity they choose to believe in, Christians believe in the deity Jesus, they believe he was the incarnate form of god, a descendent to save once again. Muslims do believe that Jesus was sent by god however they believe the deity Allah or ‘the enlightened one’, they believed that Mohammed was the last and final prophet. Christians believe in the ‘original sin’ meaning that human beings are born sinners, bearing the burden of the ‘Original Sin’ from Adam and Eve.

Muslims however do not believe in the original sin for in the Qur’an Muhammad forgave Adam for his mistake and Muslims believe (according to the Qur’an) no one should be forced to carry the burden of someone else’s sin or mistake because it’s unfair. The Quran says Jesus did not die on the cross, but God made it appear that way to people. Furthermore, the Quran also says that Jesus was ascended to Heaven by God. Most Christians today insist Jesus was crucified and died on the cross, but two days later was resurrected.

Muslims believe that each human being can be called son/daughter of God because he/she was created by God. So there is nothing special or divine about Jesus being called son of God and therefore Jesus should not be worshiped. Trinity is totally rejected. Jesus is neither God, nor Son of God (in the literal sense). Jesus was a human prophet and not divine. In conclusion, Christians and Muslims maybe followers of different prophets (Jesus and Mohammad), believes in different ‘rights and wrongs’, however the connection between the two religions is unmistakable.

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Similarities and Dissimilarities between Islam and Christianity

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We do not have to conjecture about what the early Israelite religion consisted of, and we need not depend upon the tendentious descriptions of the bible. It is described in documents (A E Cowley, Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century BC) from the Jewish colony at Elephantine, an island in the Nile below the First Cataract—now submerged by the Aswan Dam—dated towards the end of the fifth century BC, just at the time the Persians were setting up their temple state in Yehud. What was Jesus's Judaism?

Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

Shabbir Akhtar

Jesus and the god of Isalm

Jeff L Lemire, Jr.

The frequent claim that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, but by different religions and rituals is common. The deep and unreconcilable differences between Islam and Christianity make these claims deeply problematic.

Osemwenkhae Osemwengie

Ibrahim Korkmaz

Dominic St Pierre

The purpose of this research endeavor is to ask questions from our Western religious perspective that aim to illuminate commonalities we may share with Muhammad. Casual readers of the Qur’an will quickly see that there are common themes, narratives and characters that originate in the scriptures of the Jewish and Christian world. So what is Muhammad’s relation to these? To what Jewish or Christian sources was he introduced, and were any of these details adopted into the Qur’an? I propose to demonstrate that Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was introduced and learned in the Jewish Talmud and the Christian Apocrypha and gradually adopted from these oral beliefs into his recitation, the Qur’an.

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Christianity, Islam and Judaism Similarities

Introduction.

Christianity, Islam and Judaism are all religions. Religion can be defined as a set of beliefs and a way of life. Though, there are different religions with different practices and beliefs in the world, there exists some clear similarities. Christianity is defined as the religion that is based on life, death and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth who is also called Christ or Messiah. The followers of Christianity are called Christians. World religions (2009, para. 2) indicates that, Christianity is the largest religion in the world with estimated 33 percent of the world population being its followers. Islam may be defined as submission to Allah, the God. In other words Islam may refer to having been revealed to Prophet Muhammad by God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. World religions (2009, para. 2) estimates that the Islam religion is the second largest after Christianity with 21 percent of earth’s population being Islam. On the other hand Judaism is the religion mostly associated with the Jewish people (Religion and ethics , 2009, Para 1). The religion of Judaism is based on the covenant that was made between Abraham and God. The covenant was made when God asked Abraham to leave his land and travel to Cannan the Promised Land. Judaism (2009, para. 2) estimates that the population of the people observing Judaism as a religion is 14 million in the world.

Similarities between the three Religions

While the differences in each religion are well defined, there exist some similarities that make the three religions somehow related in terms of their beliefs and historical backgrounds. However, most of the similarities and common practices are found in the religious believes observed in each religion.

One major similarity found in Christianity, Islam and Judaism is the belief in one God who is a supreme being, all powerful and ever living. The term oneness of God defines the indivisibility of the unseen God in all the three religions. The fact is that, all the three religions there is belief in one God, therefore they are referred to as Monotheistic religions. Christianity believes in the God as being made up of a Holy Trinity: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The second being in the trinity became human who was known as Jesus Christ, regarded as the Messiah. The theology in Christianity teaches of the one God in the Holy Trinity. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are captured in the Bible (Christian’s holy book) in the Gospel. On the other hand the Islam religion also believes in one God (the true God), the ever living supreme deity who is the controller of every thing and who neither equal to anyone. Qu’ran chapter 112 in Allah (n.d, cited in The Institute of Islamic Information and Education, 2009, Para. 2) indicates, “In the name of God, the Merciful, and the Compassionate; Say (O Muhammad); He is God the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone.” Similarly, Judaism believes in one God, ever living, just, and who reveals Himself to people. This deity in Hebrew is referred to as JHWH or Yahweh, the true God of Judaism.

Common Abraham

How does Abraham unite Christianity, Islam and Judaism? Abraham is regarded as a unifying factor in the three religions. While Islam regard to Abraham as a prophet and the father of prophets Ishmael and Isaac, and an ancestor to prophet Muhammad, Christians regard him as the father of the current generation. In all the three religions, Abraham takes a special, place to represent faith in God and a true believer. According to Place of Prophet Abraham (2009), Islamic religion has a deep connection with Abraham in that, any one who rejects Abraham is regarded as being not a true believer in Islam. In addition, a sacrifice is done by Muslims all over the world every year during Eid-ul-Adha in commemoration of the sacrifice offered by Prophet Abraham in lieu of Ishmael. This aspect has a great connection with Judaism. According to Cohn-Sherbok (1998, cited in Place of Prophet Abraham, 2009, para. 22), Prophet Abraham is regarded as the father of Jewish people. In Christianity, Jesus is linked to the generation whose father is Abraham. Abraham is also considered as a great spiritual father to Abrahamic Religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Existence of Creed

The existence of a Creed regarded as the holy book is a common phenomena among Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The holy doctrine acts as the guide in the religion. It is believed that the Holy book in the three religions is the words of the God that however follows the faith according to the religion should abide by the practices as depicted in the creed. The Holy Bible is the creed of the Christians. The Bible is said to have been written by people inspired by the spirit of the God. Thus the Bible scripture is regarded as God’s own words. The Islam also adheres to the teachings of the Quran. To be a devoted Muslim, one should adhere to the teachings of Quran. Also, a true Muslim should make a habit of making Quran recitations, do good deeds, and be a good human for one to be a recipient of Allah’s kindness and forgiveness. In Judaism, a collection of thirteen articles are regarded as those that contain the Judaism faith. Torah (first six books in the old testament that were revealed to Moses) and Talmud are Holy books that are generally accepted to provide the essentials of Judaism.

Morality is specifically emphasized as the preferred code of conduct in the three religions. Showing concern for the well being and dignity of other people are areas of emphasis in the three religions. The moral behavior includes both morally in the relationship between man and God and also that between man and other people. In Christianity, the Ten Commandments as outlined in the Holy bible shows the generally accepted conduct expected for people that involve worship to God and concern for other people. Adultery, murder, theft, robbery, falsehood, dishonesty, injustice and other immoral and unethical practices are universally condemned in the three religions. Although morality is a topic that produces varying views, the human race has some inner conscience that distinguishes what is good and what is evil. According to Morality and ethics in Islam, (2009: Para 11), the Quran in the Islam religion defines Al’ A mal Assalih as the guiding principles that a follower of Islam should follow. Also, it indicates that among the expected behaviors of a Muslim are great humility and accountability to Allah. The observance of moral conduct in Judaism cannot be overemphasized. The teachings in this religion also affirms morality e.g. dignity and sanctity of human life, and kindness to all God’s creatures. Judaism Principles of Moral Thoughts and Actions (2009, para. 3), indicates that Torah, which is looked to as the book containing the will of God should be obeyed. Accordingly, some morals including kindness to stagers, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, loving God are praised while killing, murder, adultery, interfering with natures course and so on are highly condemned.

Life after Death

Christianity, Islam and Judaism believe in life after death. This aspect of faith gains intense emphasis in all the three religions and plays an important role. In Christianity, the existence of life after death is emphasized and demonstrated during the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The apostle’s creed which is observed by most Christian groups also outlines the aspect of believe in life after death upon judgment. In Islam religion, life after death is also featured as an important aspect of faith. Nawaz (2009, para. 2) indicates that, all human beings will never diminish after death. Also, life is viewed as a process in life which is a means to transfer the human from one phase to the other. Islam believe that, when one dies, the body is separated from the soul and that the soul either goes to “Elliyeen” the place of moral souls or to the “Sijjeen” where sinful souls go. This aspect is also emphasized in Judaism. Jews are taught to view death not as a tragedy but as a natural process. According to Sachs (2007, para. 4), Jews generally believe in life after death where a process of purification is done after death before life can continue with the rest of the journey. Also, it is indicated that the period of purification depends on the way the soul conducted itself in life which is an aspect that shows judgment. The teachings in the three religions indicate that the conduct of people is subject to judgment by the deity on the Day of Judgment. In Christianity view, the life after death indicates that, upon death, the body decomposes while the soul leaves the body and is evaluated to a particular judgment upon which the soul goes to heaven(where the body is glorified), or to hell, (condemnation to eternal punishment).

Origin of the World

The origin of the world and the universe is viewed from a common perspective in Christianity, Islam and Judaism as having been created by God. Also the three religions agree that the first man to be put on earth was Adam. The creation of the universe and the human race has great similarity as indicated in the Christians bible, Islam’s Quran and the Jews’ Torah. Although small differences do occur in the details of creation, a general agreement will be seen in the sequences of creation as believed in the three religions. For example, while Islam refers to Adam as a prophet, Christianity and Judaism only regard him as the first human being to be created.

Believe in Prophets and Angels

Prophets, angles and divine beings are all regarded in Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In some cases common beings are regarded similarly in the three religions. Prophets are regarded as God’s messengers to the people. Unlike angles who are spiritual beings, prophets are physical beings who live with people in the society while leading normal lives but are devoted to God. Muslims believe that Muhammad was the Gods’ prophet who started and taught Islam. Similarly both Jews and Christians have common prophets who are believed to have been used to deliver God’s message to His people. Unlike Christians who adore Jesus as the son of God and their Savior, Islam regard to Jesus as just one of the God’s prophets. However, the Christians and Jews do not recognize Muhammad as one of the God’s prophets. The existence of divine beings in service of God shows that, God has a special way of interacting with his creation a phenomenon that is common among the three denominations. Role of prophets in Islam (2009, para. 2) indicates that, Abraham, Noah, Jesus, Moses and Muhammad are all prophets of God. Apart from Muhammad, all the other indicated prophets are recognized in Christianity and Judaism. However, Christianity refers to Jesus as the Son of God who is the God’s sent savior.

Rituals and festivals

Religious rituals give a common similarity among Christians, Muslim and Jews. While different religious rituals and festivities are held for different reasons and at different occasions, some rituals and festivities are common especially among the Christians and the Jews. Most of the Muslim rituals are held in remembrance of deeds that were done by the Holy prophet Muhammad. Example of such rituals among the Islam is the Ramadhan which is a one months festival conducted to remember the revelations that were done to Muhammad which appear in form of the Holy book Qu’ran. According to Holy days festivals and rituals (2009), other Islamic holy days are Id ul – Adha (celebration of faithfulness of Abraham), Maulid al-Nabi, (celebrating the birth of Muhammad) , Shadada, (initiation of a young Muslim to Islam) among others. In Judaism, rituals are also conducted in accordance with the original covenant of Abraham and God. The commonest ritual in Judaism is the Pass-Over, (Pesach) festival which is held to celebrate the deliverance of Israelites from the slavery of Egypt. Also in Christianity, some rituals e.g. Christmas held in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ are a common feature.

Existence of more similarities between Islam, Christianity and Judaism cannot be overlooked. The most unifying factor in the three religions is that they are all Abrahamic religions. I.e. they identify with the same spiritual father called Abraham who is the father to Isaac and Ishmael.

“Islam-Holy Days Festivals and Rituals”. Islam-Holy Days Festivals and Rituals . Diversiton: Leading the World Diversity. 2009. Web.

“Judaism Principles of Moral Thoughts and Actions”. Judaism Principles of Moral Thoughts and Actions . Patheos: Seek, Understand. 2009. Web.

“Morality and ethics in Islam”. Morality and ethics in Islam. Why-Islam project. 2009. Web.

Nawaz, Faisal. Concept of Life after Death in Islam . 2009. Web.

Religion and ethics. Christianity – General . 2009. Web.

Religious facts. Role of Prophets in Islam. 2009. Web.

Sachs, A. Jewish Afterlife Beliefs . 2007. Web.

The Institute of Islamic Information and Education (III&E) Allah (God): “To God (Allah) Belongs 99 names”. III&E Brochure Series; No. 2 .

“The place of Abraham in Islam, Christianity and Judaism”. The place of Abraham in Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Soundvision.com. Web.

World Religions. “Islam: The second largest world religion…and growing”. World religions. Religious Tolerance. 2009. Web.

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — History of Islam — Key Differences between Islam and Christianity

Key Differences Between Islam and Christianity

• Categories: Christology History of Islam

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Words: 704 |

Published: Jan 31, 2024

Words: 704 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, historical development, controversies and divisions.

• John L. Esposito and Natana J. DeLong-Bas, Islam: The Straight Path (Oxford University Press, 2017).
• Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan, eds., The Oxford Companion to the Bible (Oxford University Press, 1993).
• John W. Bowker, World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained (DK Publishing, 2016).
• David Waines, An Introduction to Islam (Cambridge University Press, 2011).
• Karen Armstrong, A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Ballantine Books, 1994).

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Comparison of Christianity, Islam and Judaism

Updated 24 November 2023

Subject Islam

Downloads 27

Category Religion

Christianity, Judaism and Islam are three most powerful and prevalent world religions, which are often amenable to comparative characteristics. Their comparison helps understand the differences between Christianity, Judaism and Islam, but also find some similarities and define which of the religions is more powerful and influential and what periods in history have shaped these views. Initially, the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, as well as Christianity and Islam was tense, which was determined historically. However, nowadays relations between the representatives of these religions are not loyal and tolerant, although each of them teaches tolerance for the neighbor. Therefore, one often hears the call of priests not to look for the difference between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but to remember their religion and tolerate the beliefs of other people. The attitude of people to these religions has been shaped historically and now there are many fundamental differences between them, although many still consider that Christianity is a unique faith.

Formation of beliefs and differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Since the birth of the Prophet Muhammad in 570 in Arabia, this territory was deeply involved in political, religious, economic strife and rivalry between the Byzantine and Persian-Sassanian Empires (Waardenburg 14). Arabia was an important trading route for caravans arriving from the countries of the Far East and Africa. It had strategic importance for the defense of the empire. In action to the people, representing religion of Islam, there were numerous Christian settlements throughout the southern and eastern part of Arabia, except Hejaz, the birthplace of Muhammad (Waardenburg 14). Hejaz was a large Jewish settlement, most of who lived there since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70. According to some scholars, Jews were present in the Hejaz since the time of Nabonidus (Waardenburg 15). Jews in these settlements were merchants, peasants, winemakers, smiths, so they had consideravle influence on formation and creation of religious views in the territory. This period in history is connected with the beginning of formation of these three major religions, marked with certain differences.

Differences between Christianity, Islam and Judaism

The holy book of Islam, the Quran, contains many references to biblical characters - Noah, Joseph, Abraham, and Jesus Himself. The Bible also calls Abraham the progenitor of all Arabs, most of whom are representatives of Islam today (Waardenburg 20). In the Quran, Jesus is referred to as a simple man, so his divine origin and miraculous acts are completely denied. Quran opposes Jesus and Muhammad, who was the warrior, born to save his people from salvation (Waardenburg 20). It should be noted that Islam also does not claim divine origin of its prophet Muhammad as well. As far as Judaism is concerned, the leader and major prophet of this religion is Abraham, First Patriarch, who was born in 1800 B.C (AANM Educational Series 3).

Judaism arose on the basis of the Old Testament, which has long been considered almost universal religion, but over time it turned into a national religion, thereby losing the opportunity to become a world religion (Peters 8). Christianity, which has emerged on the same ground, became a world religion. The focus of Judaism is a material religion, describing the kingdom that the Messiah will give to the Jews over the whole world (Peters 9). Christianity believes in a kingdom of Heavenly. The basic visions of Christianity are the spiritual world and victory over passions, which will eventually lead the person to the Kingdom of Heaven (Peters 10). In addition, the teaching of Judaism is based on the books of the Old Testament and the oral Torah (Cragg 7). In Christianity, absolute authority is the Holy Scripture (Old and New Testaments) and Holy Tradition. As far as Islam is concerned, Allah is the leading spiritual power, the God, who is able to punish everyone, who refuses to follow his orders and directions (Cragg 9). In Islam, Allah is deprived of the concept of spirituality, which is only an attribute of the human soul, but not applicable to God. God in the vision of Muslims, is endowed with human qualities (AANM Educational Series 3). The leading difference between Christianity and Islam is that the representatives of the former believe in paradise in heavens through good actions on the earth, while Islam insists on creating the paradise on the earth through devotion to Allah (Compare Christianity, Islam and Judaism para 4).

Although all religions teach humanity, love and devotion, there are other considerable differences in religious holidays, rules and dogmas, which people are forced to follow. The main difference between Islam and Christianity, which entails intolerance and clashes between representatives of religions, is that Islam does not share the worldly life and God (Compare Christianity, Islam and Judaism para 5). In other words, Islam assumes one power, while Christianity provides a clear distinction between secular and spiritual power (Smith para 7). This approach to understanding power allows Muslims to make their own wrong conclusions that their faith and power need to be spread through (Smith para 7). Hence, there are multiple armed conflicts between the representatives of Islam and Christianity, which it is not possible to overcome (El and Abu 16). The main tenet of Christianity is love, so Christians believe that God is love. Every word of the Gospel is imbued with it, so all people are equal before God. Judaism, in its turn, has a negative attitude to those who are not Jews (Campbell 55).

Based on the analysis of the three major monotheistic religions, it is possible to conclude that Christianity is a world religion, while Islam and Judaism are national faiths. Christianity underlines the equality of all people before God; meanwhile Islam and Judaism underline the superiority of these religions and propose their spread by means of violence.

Works cited

AANM Educational Series. Monotheistic Religions. Arab American national museum. 2009. Print

El Fadl and Khalid Abu. The Place of Tolerance in Islam. Boston: Boston Review, 2002.

Cragg, Kenneth, The Privilege of Man: a theme in Judaism, Islam and Christianity,

London, Athlone Press, 1968. Print

Campbell, William. “Christianity and Judaism: Continuity and Discontinuity”. International Bulletin of Missionary Research. 2004. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 54–58

“Compare Christianity, Islam and Judaism.” ReligionFacts.com. 10 Apr. 2017. Web. Accessed 6 May. 2018. www.religionfacts.com/charts/christianity-islam-judaism

Smith, Jane. “Muslim-Christian Relations: Historical and Contemporary Realities”. Religion. Apr. 2015. Web. Accessed 6 May. 2018 http://religion.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.001.0001/acrefore-9780199340378-e-11

Peters, F. E., Children of Abraham: Judaism/Christianity/Islam. Princeton NJ, Princeton University Press,1982. Print

Waardenburg, Jacques. “Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Their Religions”. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 2004. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 13–33,

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