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.
Grace Seeker, Jesus NEVER HEARD the word Christianity, he NEVER CALLED anyone CHRISTIAN, he never heard the word CHRIST, he also never heard the world JESUS!!!
If you see JEsus now, walking on this earth and ask him: "o Jesus, what is your religion?" WHAT HE WILL ANSWER YOU? Will he say : "christianity?"
NO, he will say: "my religion is totally submission to Allah will", with other words, he will say: "my religion is ISLAM (totally submission to Allah will)".
Neither JEsus preached christianity, neather Moses preached Judaism, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHRISTIANITY, and there is NO SUCH THING AS JUDAISM.
Grace Seeker, Jesus NEVER HEARD the word Christianity, he NEVER CALLED anyone CHRISTIAN, he never heard the word CHRIST, he also never heard the world JESUS!!!
If you see JEsus now, walking on this earth and ask him: "o Jesus, what is your religion?" WHAT HE WILL ANSWER YOU? Will he say : "christianity?"
NO, he will say: "my religion is totally submission to Allah will", with other words, he will say: "my religion is ISLAM (totally submission to Allah will)".
Neither JEsus preached christianity, neather Moses preached Judaism, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHRISTIANITY, and there is NO SUCH THING AS JUDAISM.
You miss my point completely.
You are stating that there is no such religion called Christianity. You are stating that there is no religion accept Islam.
I am saying that there is a big difference between saying that Islam is the only religion that is true. (If you believe that, I'm not interested in this forum in challenging you on that point. I'm willing to live by the forum's rules on that. Besides you are certainly entitled to your opion.) However, to say that other religions do not exist is to simply close your eyes to reality.
There are other religions in the world besides Islam. You may be of the opinion that these other religions are wrong, worship things other than the truth, etc. But that doesn't mean that they cease to exist just because they are (in your eyes) wrong.
Buddhism (IMO) is wrong, but I still recognize it as a religion. The same of Janism, Confucianism, Animism, Zorastrianism, and many others.
And you may think that Christianity is wrong. You may think that Jesus himself would not recognize it. You certainly are correct in saying that Jesus wouldn't even recognize the term "Christianity". You might even be correct that if one were to ask Jesus what is the religion that he followed he might say Islam (though I highly doubt it) -- here's the thing that you seem to miss, all of that is completely irrelevant to whether or not a religion commonly known as Christianity exists or not. It does. And I know that it does because I for one am a practicioner of it. That you don't think it is true, or that you don't think that it is something that Jesus would approve of, has nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not it is actually practiced. That it is practiced is what makes it existent, to say otherwise is to speak utter nonsense.
Oh, and even if Moses would reject what we call Judaism today, that doesn't mean that Judaism doesn't exist either. That you are wanting to speak against it means that either there is something that does exist that you are wanting to speak against. Or you are a madman attacking something that doesn't even exist.
the number of muslims by faith (and not name) or the number christians by faith (and not name)
what do you think?
It would be interesting, assuming that there are so many muslims who follow islam, because they have no chance to leave it, because it is forbidden in muslim countries. :rolleyes:
the number of muslims by faith (and not name) or the number christians by faith (and not name)
what do you think?
Well, I'm not so sure neither. A lot of people call themselves muslims, but they aren't. Same for Christians. I really would like to see some numbers of young muslims (specially those who learn to live in the west) following really Islam, pray 5 times a day, refrain to drink alcohol, etc....
Im Always Right,Its Like,When Im Right,Im Right,And When Im Wrong,I Could've Been Right,So Im Still Right,'Cause I Could've Been Wrong!
Judaism may appear closer to islam on the surface, but I think there are some fundamental differences between the two that make it an apple and an orange.
That said, I think Gnostics were the closest to Islam. They had similar (if not identical) mythology, share in the dualism, were a lot more strict about what they did and had all sorts of laws and rituals etc.
I think this is so because Judaism and Islam are both religions where the essence of practicing the faith is in the behaviors and rituals that one keeps. While the key facets of Christianity have to do with living in a certain type of relationship. All three have elements of both, but the way Muslims are under obligation with respect to the 5 pillars seems to me to be more similar to how Jews understand the keeping of the Torah than to the Christian's concept of placing one's faith in Jesus work, not one's own practices.
I agree with Grace Seeker.
There are many similarities and differences between the three Abrahamic faiths, but this particular one seems to be at the core of them and it separates Christianity from Islam and Judaism:
Jews and Muslims believe that they can only gain God's favour and reward by obeying his laws.
Christians believe that they can never be 'good enough' to be worthy of God's favours based on their behaviour alone, and that they require God's grace and mercy to do so.
On a very personal level, of course it is my wish to please God by living as a 'good' person and by obeying him.
But I find that on my own I can only ever be as 'good' a person as is humanly possible.
Even being 'good' has its own traps and pitfalls - for example the risk of starting to feel proud about one's achievements and 'goodness', feeling self-righteous, and ... often following on from that ... feeling judgmental of others and their behaviours.
I feel that I am closest to God and most able to do his will when I realise in my own heart my own failings and faults, and cry out to him for help. It's when I realise that I cannot do it in my own strength and that I need God's spirit to work in me, that I find myself acting in ways beyond my own human nature and desire.
In some strange way, the less I try to be 'good' and the more I seek God instead, the more I let him work good through me. (If that makes sense to anybody)
Peace
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
It would be interesting, assuming that there are so many muslims who follow islam, because they have no chance to leave it, because it is forbidden in muslim countries. :rolleyes:
Or assuming that practising christians may be lesser in number cz of the growing secularism in their communities
Can we refrain from using this thread to attack each others faiths, please?
I find these 'My-religion-is-better-than-yours-posts' very unhelpful ...
We may not agree with each others beliefs, but perhaps we can all practice a little tolerance - please????
(Especially, perhaps, with Ramadan about to start)
Thanks, guys.
Peace
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
None. Islam is unique and different from all religions. You can say it has similarities but i wouldn't like to compare it with other religions because, Islam is unique and complete.
“Whoever puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is Allah for him.”
Grace Seeker, Jesus NEVER HEARD the word Christianity, he NEVER CALLED anyone CHRISTIAN, he never heard the word CHRIST, he also never heard the world JESUS!!!
If you see JEsus now, walking on this earth and ask him: "o Jesus, what is your religion?" WHAT HE WILL ANSWER YOU? Will he say : "christianity?"
NO, he will say: "my religion is totally submission to Allah will", with other words, he will say: "my religion is ISLAM (totally submission to Allah will)".
Neither JEsus preached christianity, neather Moses preached Judaism, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHRISTIANITY, and there is NO SUCH THING AS JUDAISM.
I agree with Grace Seeker that there are other religions besides Islam. Just remember the ending of Surah Al-Kafirun - "lakoon deen ukum wa liyah deen" - "For you, your religion and for me, my religion." We may believe that Islam is the only religion acceptable to Allah because it says as much in the Quran, but the Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God and it says, "No one comes to the Father except through the Son." I assure you that there are a lot of Christians, Jews and others who sincerely believe they have the true religion and that they are on the straight path.
Let us remember as Ramadan starts, as Glo has stated to the effect, "Tolerance is a good thing to be encouraged."
Erm, if you had to pick on (being between Christianity vs Judaism) it would be Judaism on the monotheistic reasons (I would say Christianity, to nonchristians atleast, isn't very monotheistic). Meh
Fight in the way of God, against those who fight against you, drive them out of the places they have drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. Fight them, until persecution is no more, and Religion is for God. But if they stop, let there be no war.
Erm, if you had to pick on (being between Christianity vs Judaism) it would be Judaism on the monotheistic reasons (I would say Christianity, to nonchristians atleast, isn't very monotheistic). Meh
I agree with you on this point regarding the religions in and of themselves; however, the Quran reminds us that the true Christians are closer to us in humility and in piety. (Sorry, but I am traveling and can't look up the exact wording.)
Except for my wife, all members of our near and distant families are Christians. I feel a kindred spirit with the most sincere among them as I do some Christians on this forum.
I am not denying that - Quran however did not state Christianity as a religion - today - is more like Islam then Judaism, that verse is talking about characteristics/manners of Christians.
Fight in the way of God, against those who fight against you, drive them out of the places they have drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. Fight them, until persecution is no more, and Religion is for God. But if they stop, let there be no war.
I am not denying that - Quran however did not state Christianity as a religion - today - is more like Islam then Judaism, that verse is talking about characteristics/manners of Christians.
Christians believe that they can never be 'good enough' to be worthy of God's favours based on their behaviour alone, and that they require God's grace and mercy to do so.
Peace Glo ,
interesting you mention this because there is a very well known islamic teaching (i forget if its in the hadith or quran but it is 150% authentic i assure you !) that there was once a man who worshipped Allah for 500 years at a mountain obeying his laws and sticking to his commands. However when his time for death came he asked that Allah take him to Heaven for his good deeds, so Allah braught the scale, put all of his good deeds on one side, and then put only the favour of eye sight on the other, and the favour of eyesight outweighed his good deeds greatly! So then the man got extremely scared and begged Allah to take him to jannah due to Allahs mercy, so Allah embraced the worshipper in his mercy and allowed him into heaven. You see the worshipper was ignorant of the fact that Allah sent him food for 500 years, caused a stream to flow in the mountain to feed him water for 500 years, gave him a beautiful serene place of worship for 500 years...
This teaches the muslims that islam certainly understands that without the mercy of God, we can never achieve any good in the hereafter, but at the same time we should be grateful slaves of Allah, and obeying his every command to the best of our abilities is a part of that gratitude .
On a very personal level, of course it is my wish to please God by living as a 'good' person and by obeying him.
But I find that on my own I can only ever be as 'good' a person as is humanly possible.
Even being 'good' has its own traps and pitfalls - for example the risk of starting to feel proud about one's achievements and 'goodness', feeling self-righteous, and ... often following on from that ... feeling judgmental of others and their behaviours.
lol Glo, If the muslims didnt understand such feelings and werent prepared for it then the society of the muslims today would have been in utter decay (lol no rhyme intended). You see islam also has the same worries for all these issues, and we prepare for it via teachings of islam. Islam not only brings us awareness of the problems but also teaches us the cures and preventions Alhamdulillah .
In some strange way, the less I try to be 'good' and the more I seek God instead, the more I let him work good through me. (If that makes sense to anybody)
Peace
thats why we constantly pray to God, without praying to him how can we expect to have the tawfeeq (good fortune) to do good? But islam teaches us to ALWAYS STRIVE to do good, we must never stop. The moment we stop we allow an opening for shaytaan, a well known saying of our prophet sallallahi alaihi wasallaam is that "the shaytaan makes work for idle hands". so we must both pray and strive
Last edited by IbnAbdulHakim; 09-13-2007 at 09:56 AM.
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My tears testify that i have a heart
yet i feel me and shaytan never part
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but it is 150% authentic i assure you !) that there was once a man who worshipped Allah for 500 years at a mountain obeying his laws and sticking to his commands. However when his time for death came he asked that Allah take him to Heaven for his good deeds, so Allah braught the scale, put all of his good deeds on one side, and then put only the favour of eye sight on the other, and the favour of eyesight outweighed his good deeds greatly! So then the man got extremely scared and begged Allah to take him to jannah due to Allahs mercy, so Allah embraced the worshipper in his mercy and allowed him into heaven. You see the worshipper was ignorant of the fact that Allah sent him food for 500 years, caused a stream to flow in the mountain to feed him water for 500 years, gave him a beautiful serene place of worship for 500 years...
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