Compareing Islam and Christainty

[Esther462]

I have to do a discussion for my English key Skill qualification at college and I've decided to discus the basic principles of Christianity and Islam and discus the similarity and differences between the 2 faiths. The reason why I chooses this as I was Christian and now I've converted to Islam.

I know something’s about the faiths and I've been researching it as well. Can any one help me with this?
I need help with finding scripture to back up my points for in Islam. Simple scripture and references so I can look it up myself too. Christians can add to points and biblical references too.
I need to gather some information so that I am prepared for the discussion which is either going to happen before the New Year or after the New Year. I don't know when. :?

 

[Grace Seeker]

So, Esther, reading between the lines, you are not a native English speaker???
Is that correct?


May I ask, what is your native tongue?
Of what nationality are you?
Have you moved permamently to the UK? Or just for university education?
What denomination of Christian were you before you became Islam?



As to your own subject for your discussion, are you just wanting to do a comparison/contrast sort of speech to simply inform the listener with some basic information presented in an objective way, or are you wishing to make some sort of persuasive speech (presumably in favor of Islam)?

 

[Esther462]

So, Esther, reading between the lines, you are not a native English speaker???
Is that correct?


May I ask, what is your native tongue?
Of what nationality are you?
Have you moved permamently to the UK? Or just for university education?
What denomination of Christian were you before you became Islam?



As to your own subject for your discussion, are you just wanting to do a comparison/contrast sort of speech to simply inform the listener with some basic information presented in an objective way, or are you wishing to make some sort of persuasive speech (presumably in favor of Islam)?

I was born in the UK and lived there all my life and English is the only lang I can speack, read and write properly. I know a little French and a little Arabic but I can't read or write the langs.

I was an Evangelicl Christain before I became Muslim.

The discussion I'm doing is to get people views on the basic of the 2 faiths and to help explain the faith of Islam better to my fellow students as it feels I'm the only Muslim in the college. It is going to be intresting on what they know about the 2 faiths. It is going to be a short discussion to complet 1 unit of my English key Skill qualification.

 

[snakelegs]

offhand, i can't give you exact verses and such.
some important differences
islam has no concept of original sin
eve does not take the blame for the apple
and of course, the most obvious - jesus was not god or the son of god but a prophet (though a very beloved one)
jesus did not die on the cross

 

[Afifa]

^^ nd jus to add to that...the belief is that allah raised jesus/isa to the heavans and sent another man that looked like him down ..hu was killed on the cross nd before the day of judgemnet he will come down to the earth and fight the dajjal nd will blow the horn on the day of judgement :smile:

 

['Abd al-Baari]

and blow the horn on the day of Judgment?

Isnt the the job of Israafeel?

 

[Afifa]

and blow the horn on the day of Judgment?

Isnt the the job of Israafeel?

oops yh...sorry got confused :embarrass

 

[Grace Seeker]

^^ nd jus to add to that...the belief is that allah raised jesus/isa to the heavans and sent another man that looked like him down ..hu was killed on the cross nd before the day of judgemnet he will come down to the earth and fight the dajjal nd will blow the horn on the day of judgement :smile:

And those teachings of a subsitute dying on the cross in Jesus' place you can find in the teachings of the Ahmadi and in other books, but not in the Qur'an or the hadeeth of the prophet (pbuh). The Qur'an simply says that they thought they killed Jesus, but they did not. It does not explain what actually happened.

 

[edil]

Islam is based on two things the quran and the sunnah. If something is not talked about in the quran the hadith goes in details about it and vice versa.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Islam is based on two things the quran and the sunnah. If something is not talked about in the quran the hadith goes in details about it and vice versa.

I don't know if this was a general statement directed to the OP. If so, then fine. Disregard this post that follows.


But I also thought that maybe this was a more specifc comment in response to what I had said:

And those teachings of a subsitute dying on the cross in Jesus' place you can find in the teachings of the Ahmadi and in other books, but not in the Qur'an or the hadeeth of the prophet (pbuh). The Qur'an simply says that they thought they killed Jesus, but they did not. It does not explain what actually happened.

This is what I was taught on this very forum, when I was responding to some misinformation presented by other Muslims in this regard just exactly the same information presented above. They quoted me the exact passages that I paraphrased above. Now, if you have more to add to that particular part of the conversation, I would be very happy to see it, but please quote the relevant passages as well. Thank-you.

 

[YusufNoor]

I have to do a discussion for my English key Skill qualification at college and I've decided to discus the basic principles of Christianity and Islam and discus the similarity and differences between the 2 faiths. The reason why I chooses this as I was Christian and now I've converted to Islam.

I know something’s about the faiths and I've been researching it as well. Can any one help me with this?
I need help with finding scripture to back up my points for in Islam. Simple scripture and references so I can look it up myself too. Christians can add to points and biblical references too.
I need to gather some information so that I am prepared for the discussion which is either going to happen before the New Year or after the New Year. I don't know when. :?

May Allah Subnannahu Wa Ta Aala assist you and reward you.

your chosen task is NOT as easy as you may have thought! in terms of Ibadah we are ALOT closer to Judaism than to "Christianity", where we are supposed to parallel the Christians is in terms of how we treat our fellow man.that however seems to come more from the sunnah than the Qur'an although it's not absent from the Qur'an.

one area where we DO agree with "Christianity" is that we are both awaiting the return of Isa ibn Mariam/Jesus(alaihe Salaam); and because of that i would direct you to search out posts by our brother "Easa" Al Habeshi, who studies this more than the rest of us. click on his name and go to his stat area, where it says "find more post by"clik it.

you can also check out this hadeeth site:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/prophet/profbio.html

also, if you continue to look at the life of the Prophet, Sallalahu Alaihe wa Salaam, you will see alot of the teachings of Jesus put into practice especially but not limited to the Makkan phase of his life. here's an audio set of lectures that brother Qatada once posted:

http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh)

you can also check out some lectures by Anwar Al-Awlaki, especially the 2 "Life of the Prophet, Salaalahu Alaihe wa Salaa", sets:

http://islambase.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=33&id=57&Itemid=181

i hope this helps some...

 

[Joe98]

Comparing Islam and Christianity……

FIRSTLY
= = = = = =

According to Islam, their holy book has never changed. It is best understood in it’s original Arabic and Muslim scholars learn Arabic so they can best explain it to their local people. As a result all Muslims should have the same understanding of Islam.

According to Islam, the Christian holy book has changed and been corrupted over time. This would account for the Christians lack of understanding of the correct message from God.


SECONDLY
= = = = = = =

There was a movie named “The last temptation of Christ” which upset Christians. About the same time an author Salman Rushdie upset Muslims.

Christians, of the changed holy book, with the incorrect message from God, held signs in the air which said “Ban the movie”.

Some Muslims, with the unchanged holy book, held signs saying “Kill Salman Rushdie” and some debated whether death is the correct punishment.


THIRDLY
= = = = = =

A few years ago there was an artwork named “Christ in Piss” which upset Christians and recently there was a teddy bear named Mohammad which upset Muslims.

Again we see that Christians do not understand god’s message when a group of united Christians carried signs in an attempt to close the art gallery. Whereas some Muslims wanted the teacher killed and some debated whether it was the correct punishment

Clearly Muslims understand god’s message through their uncorrupted book whereas Christians are in doubt as to the true message.

-

 

[Grace Seeker]

Yusuf is right, this might be a bigger task than you think. It sounds more like a doctral disseration than the relatively short assignment you have, and even then it is certainly too broad. However, if I may, I would like to suggest one approach you could take to the topic.



There are a lot of theological points and subpoints that one could get caught up in within both Christianity and Islam: lenghth of hair, place of music, authority within the family. Really, these are details that don't tell us much about the particular faiths. I don't presuppose how to tell you the best way to approach Islam, but I might with regard to Christianity.

The major issues of the Christian faith, those things on which nearly all Christians can agree (versus those things that Christians argue amongst themselves over) where questions that the church had to face and address in its earliest days: Who is Jesus? What is to be the relationship between the Church and the Jewish faith in which it was born? How does one find salvation? What are to be the scriptures of the Church?

Most of these things were worked out through early ecumenical councils. These councils are still seen as being foundational to the faith of the Church even today. If you are wanting to do some serious study you might take a look at these early councils, their decisions, and the creeds they formulated stating the essentials of the Christian faith and then compare this to the same process in Islam.


If you want to do just a quick look, you might take the approach I do with my confirmation kids. We just take a look at the Apostles' Creed --legitimate not because it was actually written by the apostles, but was a creed used by the church which it felt reflected the overall teaching of the apostles.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

I asterisked (*) the word catholic because many people misunderstand its meaning. It is not referring to the Roman Catholic Church. It is a word that simply means "universal". Those who placed it in the creed did so because they were wanting to say that there was just one Church (think Ummah) even if it appeared scattered around the world and even if there were minor differences in it from one place to another. We still hold that there is just one Church, even as we admit to being fractionalized into thousands of different denominations.

I'll try to reply later with some ideas as to how to dissect the creed if you think it would be of any help to you.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Here is the way Martin Luther commented on the Apostles' Creed. He wrote this for parents to aid them in explaining it to their children at home.

I. The First Article: On Creation
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Q. What does this mean?

A. I believe that God created me, along with all creatures. God gave to me: body and soul, eyes, ears and all the other parts of my body, my mind and all my senses and preserves them as well. God gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and land, spouse and children, fields, animals, and all I own. Every day God abundantly provides everything I need to nourish this body and life. God protects me against all danger, shields and defends me from all evil. God does all this because of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, not because I've earned it or deserved it. For all of this, I must thank, praise, serve,and obey God. Yes, this is true!

II. The Second Article: On Redemption
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Q. What does this mean?

A. I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God, born of the Father in eternity and also truly human, born of the Virgin Mary. Christ is my Lord! Christ redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, bought and won me from all sins, death, and the authority of the Devil. It did not cost him gold or silver, but his holy, precious blood, his innocent body -- his death! Because of this, I am Christ's very own, will live under Christ in his kingdom and serve Christ righteously, innocently and blessedly forever, just as Christ is risen from death, lives and reigns forever. Yes, this is true!

III. The Third Article: On Becoming Holy (Sanctification)
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Q. What does this mean?

A. I believe that I cannot come to my Lord Jesus Christ by my own intellegence or power. But the Holy Spirit called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with her gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as she calls, gathers together, enlightens and makes holy the whole Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus in the one, true faith. In this Church, she generously forgives each day every sin committed by me and by every believer. On the last day, she will raise me and all the dead from the grave. She will give eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ. Yes, this is true!

What I might suggest is that you compare and contrast each of these points with Islamic teaching.

For instance you might begin with the statement that in Islam there is no God but Allah. Be sure to clarify that Allah is just the Arabic term for God, so that your fellow English-speaking classmates understand that all you are saying is that there is no God but God. And then talk about how in Islam you therefore could not break a creed into three parts as if breaking apart the unity of the one God.

After that note that in Islam Allah/God is still the creator of everything, almighty, all knowing. You might then indicate something of the 99 names for God, but indicate that rather than going through them all at this time that you will wait and make mention of some of the relevant ones as they compare with the remained of the Apostles' Creed.

In talking more about Allah as creator you might mention some of the differences and similarities between the Muslim and Christian views with regard to creation. I think if I were you that I would include the openness that Islam has with respect to scientific understandings of creation, and that in Christianity there is a mixed bag with some fundamentalists insisting on a literal 6-day creation model and a young earth. Whereas others take a much less literal approach to the scriptures and are quite comfortable with the Darwinian concepts of evolution. (You might want to do a fact check on this, but I believe that Darwin himself once considered studying for the ministry, and never once considered his theories to be a slap in the face of God.)

In talking about the second article of the Apostles' Creed, note some of the similarities such as the belief in Jesus' virgin birth, the view that Jesus lived a sinless life and was a teacher of God's righteousness. Do not call Jesus a Christian prophet. To Christians that would actually be an insult to lower Jesus' status as such. Whereas to Muslims it is an insult to God to consider Jesus as more than a prophet. Most people who have not discussed this before would get lost in talking about the hypostatic union by which Christians understand Christ to be both fully God and fully man without any loss of either nature in the comingling of the two natures in one person. But if you're game for it, this would be the place to discuss that and set it as diametertically opposed to Islam's understanding that Allah does not have partners.

In talking about the last article there are a number of things you could address. For Islam the Holy Spirit is the angel Jibreel. Christians understand Gabriel to be an angel, but angels are creatures created by God, whereas the Holy Spirit most certainly is not for the Holy is God himself. The concept of the Ummah in Islam and the idealized concept of the Church as the body of Christ are relatively similar. However it appears that Muslims are more capable of actualizing their ideal in the real world than are Christians for Christians have broken into thousands of denominations while the splintering of Islam is not near as extreme. On the other hand, there appears to be more violence between different Islamic groups than between differeing Christians factions. But that might be more linked with the present day, for historically when groups like the anabaptists first emerged other Christian groups would punish them by drowning (a rather sadistic response to the idea that anabaptist literally means another baptism, which they thought should be by immersion as an adult rather than sprinkling as an infant). On the last three points both Islam and Christianity agree with the overall concepts but different in how these things are achieved.

Well, I don't want to write your whole paper for you. But maybe that gives you some ideas as to one way to go about it.

 

[pbhowmik]

And those teachings of a subsitute dying on the cross in Jesus' place you can find in the teachings of the Ahmadi and in other books, but not in the Qur'an or the hadeeth of the prophet (pbuh). The Qur'an simply says that they thought they killed Jesus, but they did not. It does not explain what actually happened.

The Quran says that Jesus will die and rise again. Then again I don't know why we hear it says he didn't die. Is someone contradicting the Quran? I don't know man, something look fishy. Let's see what the Quran says: "He [Jesus] said: 'I am indeed a servant of God. He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; He has made me blessed wheresoever I be; and He has enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I live. He has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable. So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!' Such was Jesus the son of Mary. It is a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is" (19:30-35).

 

[Grace Seeker]

The Quran says that Jesus will die and rise again. Then again I don't know why we hear it says he didn't die. Is someone contradicting the Quran?

You tell me. I was paraphrasing it before. Now here is an interpretation of it in English:

[4.157] And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.

Far be it from me to actually promote Islam, but I will also will not slander it nor intentionally be deceptive about it. I was merely trying to help our sister by correcting misinformation about Muslim beliefs that another Muslim had provided to her:

Originally Posted by x-Afifa-x
^^ nd jus to add to that...the belief is that allah raised jesus/isa to the heavans and sent another man that looked like him down ..hu was killed on the cross nd before the day of judgemnet he will come down to the earth and fight the dajjal nd will blow the horn on the day of judgement

If she is going to try to compare/contrast Islam and Christianity, I want her to have them both right not just my religion.

 

[MustafaMc]

Following are some of my thoughts contrasting Islam in green font and Christianity in blue font. I took the liberty to speak for Protestant Christianity in USA. Those who recognize errors will kindly correct me.

God

Allah - the One and only God. Has no sons, no daughters, no father, no mother, no equal, no partner, none comparable to Him. Known by His 99 names and attributes: the Merciful, the Beneficient, the Creator, the Holy, the Truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, etc

One, but with three manifestations or persons (Trinity): Father - object of worship in the Lord's prayer, the One that Jesus prayed to in the Garden & said this is my Son at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, Son - Jesus, son of Virgin Mary, God with us, 100% human yet 100% God, Holy Spirit indwelling of God in born-again Christians, on Day of Pentecost Jesus' disciples were 1st to be filled with

Jesus

One of the most honored and respected Prophets and Messenders of Allah. Born to the virgin, Mary. Allah said "Be!" and he was createdwithin Mary's womb. No more than a Servant of Allah. Was raised to Heaven without dying.

The only begotten Son of God and yet fully God. Born to the Virgin Mary. God became incarnate within Mary's womb. Lived a perfect life, died on the cross as an eternal sacrifice to redeem humans from their sin and was resurrected from the dead before ascending to Heaven.

Muhammad

The final Prophet and Messenger of Allah. Established Islam as the way of life in accordance with Allah's Will. Over period of 23 years received the Quran as revelation from Allah through the Angel Jibra'il. His life is the pattern for Muslim's life and their worship of Allah.

A false prophet that misleads people away from accepting the Gospel - the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, as the only means for salvation.

Divine focus

Allah - Muslims have no mental image

Predominantly, God in form of Jesus

Human focus

The life example and teachings of Muhammad. His death is of no importance other than the end of revelation.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. His teachings are of secondary importance

Original sin

No, each person is born in a pure state with accountability for sins commited starting at puberty.

Yes, the sin of Adam is passed on to all descendents. Redemption only through the blood of Jesus.

Satan

Shaytan - a jinn who disobeyed Allah's command to prostrate before Adam. Strives to mislead humans to join him in Hell.

A fallen angel. The one, in form of a serpent, who tempted Eve to eat of Forbbidden Tree.

Salvation from Hellfire

Based on belief in Allah and ascribing no partners to Him. Allah judges one's deeds, words, worship, & sins in the balance according to His scale. Some Muslims will spend some time in Hell. Muslims strive to live sinless and worshipful lives, but ultimately rely upon the Mercy of Allah. No Muslim will claim to know he is "saved" from the Hellfire.

Based on acceptance of Jesus as one's personal Lord and Saviour through believing that he was the Son of God and that he died on the cross for their sins. Foregone conclusion they are saved.

Prescribed personal worship

5 daily prayers in Arabic & according to sunnah (tradition) of Muhammad, fasting during day of month of Ramadaan, 2.5% charity tax, pilgrimage to Mecca

None

Congregational worship

Friday for sermon and ritual prayer. Encouraged to meet for 5 daily prayers in masjid.

Sunday before noon for song, prayer, a sermon, tithe and fellowship. Also, Sunday and Wednesday night for more of same.

Dietary restrictions

No pork, carion, blood, alcohol

None

Male circumcision

Yes

No

 

[Grace Seeker]

Following are some of my thoughts contrasting Islam in green font and Christianity in blue font. I took the liberty to speak for Protestant Christianity in USA. Those who recognize errors will kindly correct me.

I see only a few minor changes I would make. Mostly in word choice. I am just going to post my additional comments in red alongside what Mustafa's has already written. Perhaps Jayda may care to give the Catholic view, as mine is mainline protestant.


God

Allah - the One and only God. Has no sons, no daughters, no father, no mother, no equal, no partner, none comparable to Him. Known by His 99 names and attributes: the Merciful, the Beneficient, the Creator, the Holy, the Truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, etc

One, but with three manifestations or persons (Trinity): Father - object of worship in the Lord's prayer, the One that Jesus prayed to in the Garden & said this is my Son at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, Son - Jesus, son of Virgin Mary, God with us, 100% human yet 100% God, Holy Spirit indwelling of God in born-again Christians, on Day of Pentecost Jesus' disciples were 1st to be filled with

One God who exists in three co-eternal persons (not manifestations, that implies modalism -- though I have actually erred and used that word myself at times), yet is only one being. The Father is the source of all being including his own being and that of the Son, but he does not preceed the Son for the Father could not exist as a Father unless he were a Father to the Son. The Spirit proceeds from both the Son and the Father as the Son proceeds from the Father. The Father is the subject (not object) of worship in the Lord's prayer, and Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Father declared of Jesus "This is my son." at Jesus' baptism and again on the Mount of Transfiguration.


Jesus

One of the most honored and respected Prophets and Messenders of Allah. Born to the virgin, Mary. Allah said "Be!" and he was createdwithin Mary's womb. No more than a Servant of Allah. Was raised to Heaven without dying.

The only begotten Son of God and yet fully God. Born to the Virgin Mary. God became incarnate within Mary's womb. Lived a perfect life, died on the cross as an eternal sacrifice to redeem humans from their sin and was resurrected from the dead before ascending to Heaven.

The only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through the Son all things were made that have been made (or will be made). For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary and was made man. He was complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin. He is one and the same Christ (i.e. Messiah), Son and Lord, recognized in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death on the cross and was buried; on the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended to heave. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.


Holy Spirit

An angel created by Allah and named Jibra'il. A messenger who told Mary that she would give birth to Isa and who communicated the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad.

Himself God, no connection to the angel Gabriel at all. The Lord the giver of life who is co-eternal with and proceeds from both the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He convicts people of sin and guides them to righteousness. Through His presence in our lives we have fellowship with God and with one another.



Muhammad

The final Prophet and Messenger of Allah. Established Islam as the way of life in accordance with Allah's Will. Over period of 23 years received the Quran as revelation from Allah through the Angel Jibra'il. His life is the pattern for Muslim's life and their worship of Allah.

A false prophet that misleads people away from accepting the Gospel - the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, as the only means for salvation.

A person that lived in the 7th century AD, who founded a new religion that borrows from certain aspects of both the Christian and Jewish faiths while rejecting those essentials which are most important to our beliefs and practice to produce something that is is entirely unique and not derivative from the other faiths in the Abrahamic tradition.


Divine focus

Allah - Muslims have no mental image

Predominantly, God in form of Jesus

Communion with God through Jesus Christ


Human focus

The life example and teachings of Muhammad. His death is of no importance other than the end of revelation.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. His teachings are of secondary importance

Not sure what is meant by human focus. But I agree with the statement of what is of primary and what is of secondary importance.


Original sin

No, each person is born in a pure state with accountability for sins commited starting at puberty.

Yes, the sin of Adam is passed on to all descendents. Redemption only through the blood of Jesus.

Yes, the disobedience of Adam resulted in a lost of fellowship with God that cannot be restored by any effort on mankind's part, thus all human beings who lived subsequent to Adam inherited the depravity that were the consequences of his sinful actions.


Satan

Shaytan - a jinn who disobeyed Allah's command to prostrate before Adam. Strives to mislead humans to join him in Hell.

A fallen angel. The one, in form of a serpent, who tempted Eve to eat of Forbbidden Tree.

The tempter, deceiver who tries to tempt men to assert their own free will to be sovereign in their lives rather than submit to God's will for them. He is the accuser that tells people they are not good enough for God.


Salvation from Hellfire

Based on belief in Allah and ascribing no partners to Him. Allah judges one's deeds, words, worship, & sins in the balance according to His scale. Some Muslims will spend some time in Hell. Muslims strive to live sinless and worshipful lives, but ultimately rely upon the Mercy of Allah. No Muslim will claim to know he is "saved" from the Hellfire.

Based on acceptance of Jesus as one's personal Lord and Saviour through believing that he was the Son of God and that he died on the cross for their sins. Foregone conclusion they are saved.

Obtainable only as an act of God's grace. Christians believe in the promise of God, that will impute the righteousness of Jesus who had no sin to those who have no righteousness because of their sin. We know of no other way to heaven and fully rely on God to accomplish this for us in the work of Christ Jesus.



Prescribed personal worship

5 daily prayers in Arabic & according to sunnah (tradition) of Muhammad, fasting during day of month of Ramadaan, 2.5% charity tax, pilgrimage to Mecca

None

1. To love God, neighbor, one another and one's enemies as Christ loved.
2. To practice the means of grace: prayer, fasting, repentance, and partaking of the sacraments.
3. And to do good works as an offering of thanksgiving for the gift of new life received from Christ.
(Mustafa, One of the few your really missed.)


Congregational worship

Friday for sermon and ritual prayer. Encouraged to meet for 5 daily prayers in masjid.

Sunday before noon for song, prayer, a sermon, tithe and fellowship. Also, Sunday and Wednesday night for more of same.

No specified time. Simply the injunction not to forsake assembling together. Most general pattern is Sunday morning. But many take advantage of additional offerings that may be virtually any day of the week. For some those are their primary service, for others they are secondary services.


Dietary restrictions

No pork, carion, blood, alcohol

None

None


Male circumcision

Yes

No

No. No actually required for religious reasons. But in practice it remains more common than not, and most think it is for religious reason; but in reality it is a cultural belief, not something taught by the church. (At least that is the phenomena in the USA, whether that is true in the rest of the world, I don't know.)

 

[MustafaMc]

GraceSeeker,

Thank you for your comperhensive and accurate input from a Christian perspective. I am certain there are Muslims who could do the same for what I wrote about Islam.

Regarding "prescribed personal worship", I had in mind ritualized worship that is routinely practiced by most adherents of a faith on a personal one-to-one aspect with God. One issue is that there is such deviation among the denominations of Protestant Christianity that one can't make broad statements. The Church of Christ held communion every Sunday and they assigned a more important role for baptism (forgiveness of sins) than the Baptist church I grew up in. ...but then again these are more congregational.

Regarding "human focus" I was referring to the human being that is the focal point for the religion. A big difference that I see between Islam and Christianity is that the human focus in Islam is on Muhammad's (saaws) life and teachings as the perfect example for our own lives; whereas, in Christianity the focus is on Jesus' (as) being God, living a perfect human life and his death on the cross as the means for salvation.

 

[Grace Seeker]

GraceSeeker,

Thank you for your comperhensive and accurate input from a Christian perspective. I am certain there are Muslims who could do the same for what I wrote about Islam.

Regarding "prescribed personal worship", I had in mind ritualized worship that is routinely practiced by most adherents of a faith on a personal one-to-one aspect with God. One issue is that there is such deviation among the denominations of Protestant Christianity that one can't make broad statements. The Church of Christ held communion every Sunday and they assigned a more important role for baptism (forgiveness of sins) than the Baptist church I grew up in. ...but then again these are more congregational.

Regarding "human focus" I was referring to the human being that is the focal point for the religion. A big difference that I see between Islam and Christianity is that the human focus in Islam is on Muhammad's (saaws) life and teachings as the perfect example for our own lives; whereas, in Christianity the focus is on Jesus' (as) being God, living a perfect human life and his death on the cross as the means for salvation.

Ah, yes, then I'm not sure that I would say that Christianity has a human focus. If anything my comment about having communion with God (between the believer and God that is) through Jesus Christ might fit there. And our divine focus is simply on the greatness of God who is worthy of worship.

And as you said, with so many denominations and even within a denomination there are many different stylizations with regard to the form of worship, both personal and corporate. Probably the most common form of personal worship are prayers at rising from bed, at meals, and on going to bed. Interesting to note that where people are diligent in these things (and regular in eating 3 meals a day) that Christians would typically have 5 prayers a day as well.