Question Re: Islam & Christianity

[*LJ*]

But that cannot deny that in our heart of hearts we believe the other to be wrong. Most Christians and Muslims believe the other group to be doomed to God's punishment.

This is very true I think. I wouldn't call it a 'competition'. It is more trying to let people know of our faith and inshaAllah (God wiling) showing them that it is the truth. As Muslims, by doing, this we are pleasing Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) and doing something beneficial for other people.

It begs the question, whether we are friends despite thinking that, or because of it (i.e. feeling pity for the other).
It also begs the question, whether we are friends just for the sake of being friends, or whether deep down we are still hoping to convert the other?

On this matter, I don't think you can make friends with people from other faiths JUST to convert them. The fact is that we enjoy being with them and get along, otherwise we would not be friends at all and would just be arguing all the time.
We care about our friends and want what is best for them which is why I think that deep down we would love for them to convert but we wouldn't force our religion on them so as to break that friendship because what would be the point in that? That would deter them away from the religion as we would be showing an awful view of the religion and causing rifts between religions which is stupid and would not be pleasing Allah (swt).

As Allah(swt) says in the Qur'an:

There is no compulsion in religion [2:256]

Obviously this is my opinion. What do other people think?

 

[glo]

On this matter, I don't think you can make friends with people from other faiths JUST to convert them. The fact is that we enjoy being with them and get along, otherwise we would not be friends at all and would just be arguing all the time.
We care about our friends and want what is best for them which is why I think that deep down we would love for them to convert but we wouldn't force our religion on them so as to break that friendship because what would be the point in that? That would deter them away from the religion as we would be showing an awful view of the religion and causing rifts between religions which is stupid and would not be pleasing Allah (swt).
Obviously this is my opinion. What do other people think?

I agree!
What do others think?

 

[IceQueen~]

I agree!
What do others think?

yeah-i agree too masha allah.

 

[...]

I agree!
What do others think?

I definitely agree!:thumbs_up

 

[glo]

Exactly Glo... only God can make us born again...no man could possible do that.

Hi Nicola!

I know somebody who is always highly suspicious of Christians. In his words ' they are so *** nice, they must be after something!'
What he fails to understand is just that - we are not trying to convert people, only God can do that!

Blessings.

 

[- Qatada -]

not really sure if i can explain this. i just like the idea of oneness - it makes sense to me but i'm not sure why. i don't think god would need siblings or children or assistance of any kind. that doesn't make any sense to me.

Hey.


That's really surprising, because we as muslims believe that it is in the fitrah of man to believe in One God (monotheism) and even if you were to ask an innocent child, does God have children, the child would most likely say no.


Since Almighty God made all human beings swear to His Unique Divinity and Lordship when He created Adam (see Holy Qur'an 7:172), this oath is printed on the human soul even before it enters the mother's fetus. So when a child is born, it has with it a natural belief in God. This natural belief is called in Arabic the "fitrah". If a child were left alone, it would grow up aware of Almighty God in His Unity, but all children are affected by the pressures of their environment. The Prophet Muhammad - the Final Messenger of God, may God bless him and give him peace, reported that God the Exalted said: "I created My servants in the right religion, but the devils made them go astray." (Reported in Sahih Muslim.) The Messenger of God, may God bless him and give him peace, also said: "Each child is born in a state of fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian." (Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).


Continued...



Peace.

 

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

We can have differences without having to clash. Islam teaches us to be respectful of others and gentle in calling them to Islam. The Prophet Muhammad pbuh said, "Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good" (Sahîh Muslim, Sunan Abî Dawûd)

As for those who have the misconcepton that the Prophet Muhammad pbuh promoted intolerance and violence, please see the following links which debunk such myths:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...sh-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE
http://www.islamtoday.net/english/showme.cfm?cat_id=35&sub_cat_id=643
http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=29&sub_cat_id=497
http://www.load-islam.com/c/rebuttals/Misquoted

 

[kilobravo]

not really sure if i can explain this. i just like the idea of oneness - it makes sense to me but i'm not sure why. i don't think god would need siblings or children or assistance of any kind. that doesn't make any sense to me.

The thing is that God doesn't need siblings, children, or assistance. He accepts us into His family because of His love for mankind. You know this one: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not persish but have everlasing life."

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

a little background. i have never belonged to any religion. i know a little about islam, less about christianity. i find islam more comfortable (not sure what word to use) than christianity.
islam and christianity are both proselytizing religions, so in this sense they are competitors.
question is, can the 2 religions co-exist or is a clash inevitable?

eace:

We can live peacefully with each other without biting each others heads off if thats what you mean but we can never accept to follow each others ways .

eace:

 

[- Qatada -]

God loves His creation, and the ones who truely believe that their is none worthy of worship except God and die on that belief - they are promised paradise.

That's all God expects of us, we as humans should do our best to enjoin this belief, and this is the reason why God sends messengers to mankind.

 

[kilobravo]

eace:

Location: Where i live doesnt matter, where i will go when i die is the worrying thing *gulp*

eace:

In Islam, are there no assurances of where you will go after you die (except in the case of dying for Allah)? Just curious.

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

In Islam, are there no assurances of where you will go after you die (except in the case of dying for Allah)? Just curious.

eace:
nope, u can only do good and hope 4 the best, Allah knows what will happen and no1 else
eace:​

 

[kilobravo]

eace:
nope, u can only do good and hope 4 the best, Allah knows what will happen and no1 else
eace:​

So, while you're on earth, if you're working to do everything you can for Allah by obeying his words (and even if you could do everything "good" possible) you still could be eternally separated from God? Does it seem like your life's work is pointless sometimes? What daily motivates you to live as a Muslim?

 

[- Qatada -]

So, while you're on earth, if you're working to do everything you can for Allah by obeying his words (and even if you could do everything "good" possible) you still could be eternally separated from God? Does it seem like your life's work is pointless sometimes? What daily motivates you to live as a Muslim?

Thats the point of our life as muslims. Unlike the jews and christians who believe they will go to paradise without a doubt, we as muslims have to keep striving and working hard in this life to please our Lord Allaah Almighty. this constant struggle (which is called jihad al nafs - struggle of the desires) is part of our test in this life, and the more stronger you build up in faith, the more likely you will die as a muslim.


We do know that the muslims who believe that no-one is worthy of worship except God will end up in paradise, but how do we know we going to actually die in that state? What if we die as a person who rejects faith? This is the reason we have to keep firm with the submission of God, by following His commandments in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and if we stick to this, we will be successful, whereas if we drift away from it - we could end up as disbelievers, due to the fact that we disobeyed the commandments of God.


Hope you understand what i mean, and if you got any questions - please don't be afraid to ask.


Peace.

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

So, while you're on earth, if you're working to do everything you can for Allah by obeying his words (and even if you could do everything "good" possible) you still could be eternally separated from God? Does it seem like your life's work is pointless sometimes? What daily motivates you to live as a Muslim?

eace:

If we were guaranteed jannah we wud be too lazy to obey Allah n jus hav fun, if we were guaranteed hell we wud b too depressed to obey Allah n jus try enjoy wats left of the dunya. To not kno keeps us goin, the hope of one day achieving that which is impossible. Can you climb the top of a mountain wivout struggling and training and going all out? no u hav to have sheer commitment, our mountain is jannah and we'll strive 4 that all the way!!!!

eace:
​

 

[snakelegs]

thanks for all your comments.
when your religions say they are The Truth, doesn't that automatically mean that other beliefs are untrue?
another thing i've often wondered about is why do you need to belong to a religion to believe in god and have a relationship with him? what is the purpose of a religion?

 

[snakelegs]

The thing is that God doesn't need siblings, children, or assistance. He accepts us into His family because of His love for mankind. You know this one: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not persish but have everlasing life."

i've heard this but it makes no sense to me.

 

[Paul Williams]

I agree too. I have friends who are practicing Christians and practicing Muslims, and I admire the devotion and piety of each. Which makes my spiritual indiscision a little confusing!

Pax

 

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

another thing i've often wondered about is why do you need to belong to a religion to believe in god and have a relationship with him? what is the purpose of a religion?

The logical consequence of belief in God is submission to Him. This is what Islam means. Islam is not just 'another religion' it is a complete way of life containing a message that has been preached by every Prophet - worship One God and do good deeds so as to come near to Him. So it is not just a matter of 'belonging to a religion' the issue is accepting the way of life and the moral conduct which God has ordained for us. Once we recognize (in accordance with our natural human disposition) the One Creator and Sustainer of our universe, then we submit to His way and accept the message that He has revealed to us because it tells us how we can come closer to Him. How can you have a relationship with God if you know nothing of Him nor of what He wants from you? The purpose of God's revelation is to instruct human beings on how to live their life and come closer to God, worshipping Him in the most perfect manner that is most pleasing to Him.

Regards

 

[Paul Williams]

Thats the point of our life as muslims. Unlike the jews and christians who believe they will go to paradise without a doubt, we as muslims have to keep striving and working hard in this life to please our Lord Allaah Almighty. this constant struggle (which is called jihad al nafs - struggle of the desires) is part of our test in this life, and the more stronger you build up in faith, the more likely you will die as a muslim.


We do know that the muslims who believe that no-one is worthy of worship except God will end up in paradise, but how do we know we going to actually die in that state? What if we die as a person who rejects faith? This is the reason we have to keep firm with the submission of God, by following His commandments in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and if we stick to this, we will be successful, whereas if we drift away from it - we could end up as disbelievers, due to the fact that we disobeyed the commandments of God.


Hope you understand what i mean, and if you got any questions - please don't be afraid to ask.


Peace.

re Unlike the jews and christians who believe they will go to paradise without a doubt

May I disagree here? To my knowledge Catholic Christians (the world's largest grouping) do not believe in guarenteed salvation. They think they are saved by faith and good works. Evangelicals on the other hand mostly do believe that "once saved, always saved" relying on various verses in the bible to back up their claim. But I don't believe Jesus taught that!