This has been troubling me, as I am not sure which religion is closer to Islam. What do you all think and explain why:
Which religion do you believe is closest to Islam?
Christianity
Believes that Jesus Christ is God, as the "son" part of the Trinity of the "father, son and ghost". They state that they believe in the one God, Allah that Islam and Judaism do, and that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and that he will finish the Messianic requirements in a "second coming". They believe that the laws of the "Old Testament" or "Hebrew Tanakh" are no longer commanded, because acceptance of Jesus is the way to heaven and Jesus died for everyones sins on the cross.
Judaism
Judaism believes in pure monotheism, and have just about the same laws that the Quran teaches. Pork, Male-Female interaction is not allowed by Traditional Jews who follow their scriptures. Jews must pray 3 times a day, and from Friday night sundown, until Saturday night sundown, they may not turn on or off a light (example: a light on must stay on) and use other machines that they believe "violates the sabbath" because of the prohibition of working and kindling fire found in the Torah along with other restrictions. Judaism however rejects Jesus and believes he was a false prophet. They still are waiting for the Messiah to come.
You know if you keep saying things like that you just might be convicted. Now, how are we going to get you to say the Shahadah?
LOL.
Well, to start with, you will have to tell me what the Shahadah is; this is a new term for me.
If I were to make a guess, though, I think there are several stumbling blocks, a few of them pretty big.
First, though you might get me to say that Muhammad (pbuh) was a prophet of God, I can't say that he was THE prophet of God. I think you would agree that is a pretty big one as far as Islam is concerned.
The second is even bigger for me, as I believe in the incarnation, atoning death, and resurrection of Jesus and this is categorically denied by the Qu'ran, it would be an outright denial of my faith to accept its teachings as true.
Now, I might be able to believe in the five things you list if we used your understanding of the word "belief", and my understanding of the word "prophets", but not if it is the other way around.
[Pickthal 2:285] The messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
Well, to start with, you will have to tell me what the Shahadah is; this is a new term for me.
That is our statement of faith.
"There is no God, except for Allah(swt) and Muhammad was his Messinger.
If I were to make a guess, though, I think there are several stumbling blocks, a few of them pretty big.
I will agree with that. I really only see a few differences. But, as you said they are big enough to keep us seperate.
First, though you might get me to say that Muhammad (pbuh) was a prophet of God, I can't say that he was THE prophet of God. I think you would agree that is a pretty big one as far as Islam is concerned.
I doubt if that is as big as you suspect. All of the Prophets are equal. Tjhink in terms of the line of Prohets(PBUT) as being a train. Each of the cars being a seperate Prophet(PBUT) and Muhammad is the caboose. Looking down the track we can see that a long line of Prophets(PBUT) have passed by. But Muhammad is the only one we can still see clearly.
The second is even bigger for me, as I believe in the incarnation, atoning death, and resurrection of Jesus and this is categorically denied by the Qu'ran, it would be an outright denial of my faith to accept its teachings as true.
That is the only real stumbling block. However, that is a totally different debate and it has been debated many times on this forum. No need in hijacking this thread. We both know where there are existing threads that discuss that issue.
Now, I might be able to believe in the five things you list if we used your understanding of the word "belief", and my understanding of the word "prophets", but not if it is the other way around.
I believe we agree on those five things and see them the same.
Now, I might be able to believe in the five things you list if we used your understanding of the word "belief", and my understanding of the word "prophets", but not if it is the other way around.
I believe we agree on those five things and see them the same.
Well to hijack the thread a little bit -- though it sort of relates to what I think keeps Christianity from being as close to Islam as perhaps other religions might be.
The way it seems to me that most Muslims on this board use the term "belief" it has to do with accepting certain things as true. It has to do with knowledge and understanding of sets of concepts regarding God. That is NOT what I mean by belief in the Christian context.
For me, as a Christian, belief is a synonym for trust. I don't believe in Jesus because I accept the doctrine of the incarnation or hold the sacrificial atonement to be true. I do do those things, but that is not what belief is. For me belief is trusting that Jesus can actually make a difference in my life by advocating for me with God the Father so that I might be accepted by God, not in my own futile and failed attempts at righteousness. (No matter how much I do in the way of good works vs sin I still fall short of God's glory.) But rather that God the Father will accept me by virture of the relationship I have with him through Jesus. I believe (i.e. trust) that Jesus righteousness will be imputed to me and thus I will find favor with God the Father because of that relationship and for no other reason. If I have falsely put my trust in Jesus to accomplish this for me, then I am both doomed and ****ed.
And for this same reason I cannot believe (i.e. trust) in the work of any man, be it Abraham, Moses, or any of the other great personages that were on your list (including the angels or any prophet, even Muhammad). Nor can I believe (trust) in works of charity or any doctrine. I believe (trust) only in Christ and his work.
What evidence would a non-Muslim prosecuter be able to find to present to a non-Muslim jury to convict Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the early Christians of being followers of Islam?
We have no actual 'proof' that most of these people even existed, other than what our religion teaches us, I guess expect for Jesus and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) because they are relatively more modern... Belief in the other prophets is based on trust in the authority who told us about them, i.e. Muhammad pbuh... and we can only know of them based on what Muhammad confirmed about them (and what is in the Quran, of course, but this goes back to the authority of Muhammad anyway).
All the evidence from the first century to the first half of the second, indicates that the first Christians did not hold to Islamic beliefs about Jesus. This would include the various writtings in the New Testament, writings by the earliest church fathers, some of which were disciples of the Apostles, statements by Roman historians of what the Christians believed and inscriptions found on coffins from the Holy Land dating to the first half of the first century.
"During the fall of 1945, Dr. Eleazar Sukenik of Hebrew University investigated another first century Jewish catacomb at the southem end of the Kidron Valley on the road to Bethlehem. He found several ossuaries with the sign of the cross, Greek inscriptions, a coin minted in A.D. 41 for King Herod Agrippa 1, proving the tomb was sealed by A.D. 42. Professor Sukenik concluded that the ossuaries "contain almost the whole dictionary of names in the New Testament.
One coffin had a surprising dedication in Greek to "Jesus" followed by the exclamation "Y'ho," meaning "Jehovah" or "the Lord." The inscription reads: "[To] Jesus, the Lord." In light of the A.D. 42 date for the sealing of this tomb, the presence of this dedication to "Jesus, the Lord" attests to the acceptance by Christians of Jesus Christ as God within ten years of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Christian theologian Professor Alexander Hopkins commented on this significant inscription as follows: "The inscription which was hidden for almost 2,000 years and inscribed at least two decades before any part of the New Testament was written. . . bears a personal testimony of faith ... a message from the past with a very modem meaning for the present."
Several years ago they found another Jewish Christian ossuary in Jerusalem that contained the inscription "Alexander, son of Simon of Cyrene." The Gospel of Mark refers to this person as follows, "Now they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear his cross" (Mark 15:21)."
On the face of it seems that the Jewish religion is closer to Islam - regarding purer Monotheism and the various religous requirements. However, when one looks deeper, the mercy and humility expressed by true Christians along with their striving for the hereafter is more similar to Islam. Christianity is similar to Islam in the sense of witnessing to others and to show them the Truth as they believe it to be. My understanding of Judaism is that they view themselves as "God's chosen people" and that there is no need to convert the "Gentiles".
I would have to agree with the posts by Brs. Woodrow and Talha777 that Christianity is closer to Islam. Another thing to remember is the Abyssinian king who protected the Muslim immigrants who came to his country during the early persecutions in Mecca. The Meccans who came to forcibly take the Muslims back to Mecca cited the Muslim belief regarding Prophet Jesus (pbuh) not being the Son of God as the reason that the king should side with them. When the Muslims recited the Quran (Surah 19 - Mary) regarding beliefs about Mary and Jesus, the king was moved to tears and protected the Muslims. Contrast this to the machinations by the Jewish tribes (Banu Quraizah) in siding with the Quaraysh during the Battle of the Trench and their attempts on the Prophet's (pbuh) life.
For me, as a Christian, belief is a synonym for trust. ... For me belief is trusting that Jesus can actually make a difference in my life by advocating for me with God the Father so that I might be accepted by God, not in my own futile and failed attempts at righteousness. ... I believe (i.e. trust) that Jesus righteousness will be imputed to me and thus I will find favor with God the Father because of that relationship and for no other reason.
It seems to me what you are defining here is "Faith". See Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen." Romans 3:28 "We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.' and Galatians 2:16 "...yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
According to Webster's dictionary, faith is:
1. Confident belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing.
2. Belief not based on logical proof or material evidence.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing.
Christians put their faith in Jesus and rely upon his righteousness and sacrifice on the cross for their salvation. However, Muslims believe that Jesus (pbuh) will disassociate from those who worship him instead of Allah.
Quran 5:116-118 After reminding him of these favors, Allah will say: "O Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Marry), Did you ever say to the people, "worship me and my mother as gods beside Allah?" He will answer: "Glory to You! How could I say what I had no right to say? If I had ever said so, you would have certainly known it. You know what is in my heart, but I know not what is in Yours; for You have full knowledge of all the unseen. I never said anything other than what You commanded me to say, that is to worship Allah, Who is my Rabb and your Rabb. I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them; but when You called me off, You were the Watcher over them and You are a Witness to everything. If You punish them, they surely are Your servants; and if You forgive them, You are Mighty, Wise."
In stark contrast Muslims put their faith directly in the Mercy of Allah for their forgiveness and salvation from the fire. We have the hope of forgiveness, but unlike Christians I don't have the assurance of salvation because Judgment Day may show that my testimony was hollow and that my life was hypocritical.
You may find it odd that, if you were to ask me, "If you were to die tonight, where would you go - heaven or hell?" or "Are you saved?" I would have to say, "I don't know, but I have the hope of salvation." The Quran repeatedly promises salvation for those who believe and do good works, but who on earth can judge his own faith as sincere and his good deeds as being done with the right intentions - much less anyone else? Only Allah knows where we will end up according to His Divine Preordainment, or Qadar - a fundamental Islamic Article of Faith.
I truly believe that Christianity (specifically Arianism) is the closest to Islam.
I'm not sure I buy the claim that all prophets from Adam to Mohammad were Muslims, though. To put it bluntly, only after Mohammad could one actually become a Muslim by recitation of the Shahada (?): "There is no god but God, and Mohammad is His Prophet..." If I'm correct, one must recite this to become a Muslim, for it states what is believed, and Mohammad was unknown to the prophets before him...
I truly believe that Christianity (specifically Arianism) is the closest to Islam.
I'm not sure I buy the claim that all prophets from Adam to Mohammad were Muslims, though. To put it bluntly, only after Mohammad could one actually become a Muslim by recitation of the Shahada (?): "There is no god but God, and Mohammad is His Prophet..." If I'm correct, one must recite this to become a Muslim, for it states what is believed, and Mohammad was unknown to the prophets before him...
Prayers and petitions,
Alexius
Peace Alexius,
That is the Shahadah in it's present form. Actually that is not the only form of the Shahadah that is acceptable. Although it is the simplest and most common form.
In the past there would have been other acceptable means of acknowledging the oneness of Allah(swt) and the acceptance of Prophets(PBUT)
The Shahadah as we now know it, would have been unneeded. Since most of the original truth that was revealed in the Tauret and Injil has been lost, we have no way of knowing in what manner the Shahadah existed prior to Muhammad.
we have no way of knowing in what manner the Shahadah existed prior to Muhammad.
When I heard the story of the Ashabul kahfi (Seven Sleepers), it's being said that when they woke up from the sleep hundreds of years later and went to the city, they were shocked to see "There is no God but Allah, and Jesus is the Messenger of Allah" inscriptions... but I dont know how truth is those inscriptions were... Allah Alem..
I've read from Indonesian Wikipedia that many Acehnese kids were named as Maksalmina (after one of the sleepers... Maximilian?)
I think that Christianity is the closest religion to Islam.
" Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.
And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses.
"What cause can we have not to believe in Allah and the truth which has come to us, seeing that we long for our Lord to admit us to the company of the righteous?"
And for this their prayer hath Allah rewarded them with Gardens, with rivers flowing underneath,- their eternal home. Such is the recompense of those who do good.
But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs,- they shall be companions of Hell-fire. " (5:82-86)
There is no such thing as Christianity, there is no such thing as Judaism!
the ONLY RELIGION toward Allah is ISLAM.
In a sense you are correct cz faith of all the prophets was the same, it was only the methodology, which might have experienced changes, which we may call as shariah. To the best of our knowledge, only two shariah are existing, one with the Jews and the other is with the Muslims. The Bible given to the Jesus( Peace on him) didn't contain shariah, since Jesus was sent to revive the same shariah of the Moses (peace on him).
Talking purely from the shariah point of view, Judaism happens to be closer to Islam than Christianity.
There is no such thing as Christianity, there is no such thing as Judaism!
the ONLY RELIGION toward Allah is ISLAM.
Might those be two different statements?
It is one thing to believe, as you apparently do, that Islam is the only true religion. It is quite another to say that there are no other religions except Islam.
There are indeed people who worship rocks and trees; these people are called animists. There are people who worship Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. these people are called Christians. You don't have to believe that Jesus should be worshipped any more than you believe that rocks and trees should be worshipped, but I do think (unless you just wish to deny reality) you have to admit that such religions do actually exist.
In a sense you are correct cz faith of all the prophets was the same, it was only the methodology, which might have experienced changes, which we may call as shariah. To the best of our knowledge, only two shariah are existing, one with the Jews and the other is with the Muslims. The Bible given to the Jesus( Peace on him) didn't contain shariah, since Jesus was sent to revive the same shariah of the Moses (peace on him).
Talking purely from the shariah point of view, Judaism happens to be closer to Islam than Christianity.
brother, great commentary!! thank you.
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
format_quote Originally Posted by guyabano
Try to convince christians, which still respresent the biggest religion on this planet.
Hm, don't you think this what have you said is Exaggerating?
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is the caboose. Looking down the track we can see that a long line of Prophets(PBUT) have passed by. But Muhammad
Re: Which religion is closest to Islam?
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