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 Islam vs Christianity – Similarities and Differences

by Amber Farzeen
Published: Last Updated on

Islam vs Christianity; have many commonalities (both are monotheistic faiths, for instance), yet they also diverge significantly and cannot be reconciled. We shall cover four main topics in this article:

  • The two faiths’ founders.
  • The divergent conceptions of God.
  • Sacred texts.
  • Ways to be saved.

We’ll examine how each of those four areas is where Islam and Christianity diverge.

There is greater unity in Islam. Except for the division between Sunni and Shiite, Islam is not subject to hundreds of alternative interpretations, unlike the Bible. Islam appears to be more equitable since it absolves children of the crimes of their forebears. According to Christianity, Noah was drunk and was raped by one of his sons. After that, God cursed all of that son’s descendants and turned them into enslaved people for the descendants of the other two brothers—a situation that persisted until Christ’s death. 

Islam is also more scientific since, from what I’ve heard, they think that creation is a careful, methodical process rather than a spontaneous one. The Bible also portrays God as being ruthless because of the killing of men, women, and children as well as domesticated animals who were the indigenous of the land that Israel desired.

Christianity vs Islam: The Origins of the Religions

Around the year 622, Muhammad, an Arab trader, created Islam. Muhammad declared himself the final and most significant of God’s prophets. Yet, at first, he thought his revelation had come from Satan. He claimed to have received a revelation from an angel of God. Muhammad approved of the beating of women and had fifteen wives (Sura 4:34), yet he only allowed other men to have four wives each. 

Muhammad was well-recognized for using coercion to propagate his new faith. He said that the legitimate method of putting an unbeliever to death was by severing his throat (Sura 47:4) and giving the order, “Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them” (Sura 9:5). 

The last Jewish clan in Medina was destroyed by Muhammad, who also broke vows, ordered the execution of anybody who made fun of him, led attacks against caravans to steal their belongings, and sold the women and children into slavery. It’s interesting to note that Muhammad occasionally asked God for forgiveness. (Sura 40:55).

Jesus Christ was beyond reproach in every manner, which stood in sharp contrast to Muhammad’s moral depravity (2 Corinthians 5:21). According to John 8:1–11, Jesus never got married, upheld and respected women, and taught us to “love one another” (John 13:34). That being said, Jesus never committed murder, never mistreated a woman, never sold a kid into slavery, never betrayed a promise, and never pillaged a caravan. Jesus said, “Father, pardon them,” in response to the jeers directed at Him on the cross (Luke 23:34).

Islam Vs Christianity Debate On God-Views

Islam holds that God, also known as Allah, is the all-powerful Creator and Ruler of everything. Muslims place a strong emphasis on God’s will and his perfect oneness, which cannot accept separation. In actuality, God’s will is more fundamental to who He is than either compassion or love. God has the freedom to choose. Thus, mercy and love are not inherent qualities of who He is. Instead, they are decisions that He makes. Respecting God’s will is more essential than loving Or knowing Him. Islam’s name translates to “submission.” Islam holds that God is not a “father” and that He is not a father. Sinners are hated by Allah (Surah 3:140).

Christianity and Islam both hold that God is the all-powerful Creator and Ruler of everything, but that is where their similarities end. Christians have that only one God exists as the Father, Son, and Spirit—three eternal, coequal Persons with the same undivided essence. Christianity holds that God is love, not just because He chooses to love, but because love is in His very essence (1 John 4:8). Since mercy is a quality that God possesses by nature, acts of divine kindness are not just decisions that God does; instead, they are manifestations of who He is.

God in Islam vs God in Christianity is a knower and longs for a loving relationship with us (Mark 12:30). While obeying God is vital, it is meaningless without a loving connection (1 Corinthians 13:3). Christianity holds that God the Son and God the Father are eternally connected. According to Romans 5:8, God does love sinners.

Islam vs Christianity difference in Sacred Literature

Islam maintains that the Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Old Testament, the Psalms, and the Gospels, was inspired by God; nevertheless, because Jews and Christians have tainted God’s Word, it is not possible to believe the Bible. Muslims hold that throughout 23 years, Muhammad miraculously received the Qur’an, which is God’s last Word. The 114 suras, or chapters, comprise the flawless and holy Qur’an. Muslims also have the Hadith, a compilation of accounts by those close to Muhammad of his sayings, beliefs, and deeds, in addition to the Qur’an.

Biblical Christianity maintains that the Old and New Testaments are the only sources of inspiration for faith and behavior and are God’s official word. As the Bible forbids supplementing God’s Word (Revelation 22:18), Christians reject the Qur’an as an attempt to expand upon it and as a book that directly contradicts the Bible on several occasions.

Islam and Christianity: Means of Salvation

Islam is comparable to other artificial faiths in that it emphasizes salvation via actions. The five pillars of Islam are as follows: a Muslim must acknowledge the shahadah, which states that “there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet”; he must kneel towards Mecca five times a day in prayer; he must fast during the day one month of the year (Ramadan); he must give money to the poor; and at some point in his life, he must make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam holds that on the Day of Judgement, an individual’s good and evil deeds will be balanced, making one’s conduct the yardstick for judgment (Surah 7:8-9; 21:47). 

The Qur’an explicitly disputes that Jesus (or Isa) died on the cross (Surah 3:55; 4:157–158) and opposes carrying another person’s sin (Surah 17:15; 35:18). You have to rescue yourself if you’re going to be saved.

Christianity preaches redemption by grace. Through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, one is redeemed by God’s grace—the unmerited favor (Ephesians 2:8–9); Romans 10:9–10). The perfect standard—the righteousness of Christ—is used for judgment. Since no one is perfect (Romans 3:23), God’s kindness and mercy have allowed Him to send His Son in place of our sin, meaning that “when you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ.” The accusation of our legal debt, which stood against and condemned us, was canceled, and he took away our sins by nailing them on the cross (Colossians 1:13–14). 

Islam and Christianity cannot be reconciled because of their divergent views on fundamental concepts like God, Jesus, the Bible, and salvation. The two religions are not compatible. We hold that the biblical account of Jesus Christ is authentic and that He is the human race’s Saviour. According to John 1:17, “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Four Distinctions Between Islam and Christianity

It is the most critical week of the year for Christians since it’s Passion Week when Jesus was betrayed, arrested, killed, and resurrected. While millions will celebrate Easter worldwide, millions more will not. Muslims are one sizable group that refuses to.

According to the Pew Research Centre, Islam and Christianity are the most popular religions worldwide. Our study and a conversation with a local Muslim leader helped me identify four key distinctions between Islam and Christianity.

An Alternative Perspective of Holy Books

Christians regard the Old and New Testaments as the inspired word of God. Muslims consider the Quran to be God’s inspired word.

The definition of “Quran” is “recitation.” Muslims assert that because the Quran was passed down orally by big groups to subsequent big groups without alteration, the Arabic text has been maintained in its exact, original form. Muslims acknowledge that the Torah (law) of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospels of Jesus have inspired works of divine revelation; however, they contend that the multiple translations of these texts have tainted them throughout time. Muslims assert that no variations are found in any Arabic text of the Quran.

Christians hold that the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are inspired by God and are written in their original languages—Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Textual criticism has ensured that our English Bibles remain precious and trustworthy. Visit my blog, “Why Our Bibles Today are Trustworthy,” to discover more about textual criticism.

Muslims hold that the prophet Muhammad received revelations from the angel Gabriel for 23 years starting in 609 AD when the Quran was produced.

The Quran was revealed to one man over 23 years, but the Bible has 66 volumes authored by 40 authors for nearly 1,600 years.

An Alternative Understanding of God

According to Matthew 28:19–20, 2 Corinthians 13:14, and John 10:30, Christians believe in the Trinity—one God existing in three persons: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Islam believes in one God, not a trinity. The following verses from the Quran clarify why the God of Islam is not a father:

Another Viewpoint on Jesus

Christians hold that according to John 10:30, Jesus is God. According to Muslims, He was just a prophet and a man of miracles (Surah 3:49; 5:110; 9:30).

Islam would assert that Jesus ascended to heaven and was born of a virgin (Surah 4:158). According to Surah 4:155–158, they do not think that Jesus died on the cross.

Muslims respect Jesus much, but they do not consider Him to be divine.

A Revisionist Interpretation of Sin

Christians hold that original sin exists in all people from birth (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1). Muslims hold that everyone is born with a “clean slate.” According to Islam, sin arises from human frailty and forgetfulness (Surah 4:28).

Islam holds that Adam and creation are not cursed and that sin is the fault of Satan. According to the Bible, God cursed Adam and Eve when Satan persuaded them to sin (Genesis 3).

Although we inherited Adam’s wicked nature, one of the fundamental tenets of Christianity is that, in Jesus, we were given a new nature (Romans 5:12–21). Adam served as our representation, and Jesus has taken his place. By living a sinless life, taking the punishment for our crimes on the cross, and rising from the dead, Jesus succeeded where Adam failed (I Corinthians 15:21–22).

As Easter Sunday draws near, if you identify as a Christian, embrace your faith based on what God has spoken. Thank God for sending Jesus to the cross to atone for your sins because He loved you so much.

Dialogue Across Religions: A Foundation for Compassion and Respect

We hope that increased mutual respect, tolerance, and understanding will result from the ongoing discussion between Christians and Muslims. To begin achieving such mutual appreciation, we have briefly touched on a few of the most critical topics that require discussion. Together, 50% of the world’s population practices these two global faiths. Together, they can fight many of the current problems plaguing our globe.

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