Islam

CONTRAST OF MUSLIM & JUDEO-CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

Mohammud was born in AD 570 in Mecca, Arabia. People around him worshipped idols. He became familiar with both the Jewish religion and the Christian religion and liked them both. However, they would not be accepted overall by his people. He wanted to pull them together both religiously and politically since the two entities in probably all nations at that time were nearly interchangeable. So he declared that he was the next great prophet after Jesus, and was convinced that the angel Gabriel brought him direct messages from heaven. Doubters in Mohammud said he should be more like an angel and not eat food like humans, or live in a paradise. Others said he should be an angel or the Lord himself. (Surah XXV, “Criterion of Right and Wrong” vs. 7-9, 21). But he said on several occasions that he was the Comforter predicted by Jesus to come after him (The Bible, New Testament, John 14).

 SUBJECT  MUSLIM  JUDEO-CHRISTIAN
VIEW OF

JEWISH BELIEFS

Believe in Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Ishmal, Elisha, Jonah (Surah VI, “Cattle” vs. 85, 87). Story of Moses in detail (Surah VII, “The Heights” vs.103-155). Story of Joseph in detail (Surah XII, “Joseph” all). Created world in six days (Surah X, “Jonah” vs. 4). Considered Mecca the “Inviolable Place of Worship” and Jerusalem the “Far Distant Place of worship” (Surah XVII “The Children of Israel [Jews]” vs. 1). Mentions fallen Satan many times.

 

Mohammud understood that his people, the Arabs, were direct descendants of Abraham through his son, Ishmael. Abraham’s other son, Ishamel’s half-brother, became the ancestor of the Jews. He referred to Arabia when he said God answered Abraham’s prayer for sons Isaac and Ishmael, and gave an “uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House [Mecca] unto some of my posterity” (Surah XIV “Abraham” vs. 35-39).

VIEW OF

CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

Angels appeared to Mary and told her she would, as a virgin, bear Jesus, the Messiah (Surah III, “The Family of Imran,” verses 42-48, 59) She would be of the Tribe of Aaron (Surah XIX, “Mary,” vs. 22-30]. Eye of needle spoken of by Jesus (Surah VII, “The Heights” vs. 40). Rich man and Lazarus in heaven and hell spoken of by Jesus (Surah VII, “The Heights” vs. 44-50). Jesus died then was raised alive (Surah XIX, “Mary,” vs. 33). There will be a day of Resurrection for all (Surah XVI, “The Bee” v. 27). On the Day of Resurrection a book will be opened showing people’s actions (Surah XVII, “The Children of Israel” v. 13-14; Surah XLV “Crouching” v. 29). On the Day of Resurrection, the heavens will roll up like a scroll (Surah XXI, “The Prophets” vs. 104).
ONE GOD Anyone who says Allah has partners [sons, daughters, wives] of any kind sins exceedingly (Surah IV, “Women”, vs. 48 and Surah V, “The Table Spread”, vs. 72-75 and Surah VI, “Cattle” vs. 101). Jesus was only a messenger of Allah. “Say not Three. Cease….Allah is only One God. Far be it removed from His transcendant majesty that he should have a son” (Surah IV, “Women,” vs. 171). “And the Jews say Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say The Messiah is the son of Allah….How perverse they are” (Surah IX, “Repentence” vs. 30, 33). (Many, many references to one God and no son.) “The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a day whereof the span is fifty thousand years” (Surah LXX, “The Ascending Stairways” vs. 4). Jesus is called not only the Son of God, but also the Word of God (John 1:1, 14).  Words are thoughts in hearable and readable form.  Our thoughts have existed as long as we have, yet we create them.  Jesus, in a sense, was the “brain child” of God. 

            Just as God the Son was the Word of God, so too was God the Spirit the Word of God (John 14:17 and 17:17).  The Son was the Word we could watch, and the Spirit is the Word we can read and hear.

            God the Spirit came down to Jesus at his baptism  in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16).  Yet we do not always think of the Holy Spirit as forever having the body of a dove.

            In the same way, God the Son came down in the form of a human.  We should not always think of God the Son as forever having the form of a human. 

            Humans have a body, soul, spirit, mind, and heart ~ 5 in one.  But we are still one.

SCRIPTURES The Quaran [Koran] is Truth from Allah that could never be invented, that which is decreed for mankind. He did not invent it, for no other so-called scripture can live up to its Truths. (Surah X, “Jonah” vs. 37-39; Surah XVII “The Children of Israel [Jews]” vs. 88~89). Of old, Allah named his followers Muslims (Surah XXII, “The Pilgrimage” vs. 78). “Have ye seen your partner ~ gods to whom ye pray beside Allah?….Have We given them a Scripture so that they act on clear proof therefrom?  Nay” (Surah XXXV, “The Angels” vs. 40). Muslims believe that the Quaran is divinity in word form. God the Son (Jesus) was the Word of God we could watch (John 1:1, 14).  God the Spirit is the World of God we can read & hear.  Therefore, the Bible is divine.
WORKS “Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty” (Surah XVII “The Children of Israel” vs. 11). Successful believers are humble in their prayers, shun vain conversation, pay alms to poor, guard their modesty, and take care of their wives and slaves (Surah XXIII, “The Believers” vs. 1-10). “Blessed be He Who hath placed in the heaven mansion of the stars, and hath placed therein a great lamp and a moon giving light” (Surah XXV, “The Criterion”, vs. 61). “And as for those who believe and do good works, We verily shall make them enter in among the righteous” (Surah XXIX “The Spider”, vs. 9). Evil is the consequence of those who do evil (Surah XXX, “The Romans” vs. 9-10). “Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his death brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)!” (Surah XLIX, “The Private Apartments”, vs. 12). ” Would ye teach Allah your religion, when Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and Allah is Aware of all things?” (Surah XLIX, “The Private Apartments”, vs. 16). “It may be that Allah will ordain love between you and those of them with whom ye are at enmity. Allah is Mighty, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (Surah LX, “She That Is To Be Examined” vs. 7). “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  God cannot dwell with sin.  Therefore, God’s Son entered a human body and became perfect for us (Hebrews 4:15).  Then God told the world that if we will follow his Son, he will consider us perfect also (Acts 2:38) and let us enter heaven.  

 

RELIGION/WORSHIP People of different nations have been given different religious rituals by Allah, and he will judge between them, so don’t wrangle over them. (Surah XXII, “The Pilgrimage”, vs. 67-70). When the time of prayer arrives, stop what you’re doing and pray (Surah LXII, “The Congregation” vs. 9).

            The “house” at Mecca was built as a sanctuary for mankind, a place of worship ~ prayer and meditation (Surah II, “The Cow” vs. 125). Those not in Mecca are to pray in the direction of the city (Surah II, “The Cow” vs. 149~150).

            Worshippers are not to participate drunk or dirty. An exception is that if they are dirty while on a trip at the time of prayer, they should mimic washing themselves (Surah IV, “Women” vs. 43). If they are traveling among unbelievers they fear physically if they pray in front of them, they may forego it (Surah IV, “Women” vs. 101).

            Prayers are to be at the beginning and end of the day and during watches of the night (Surah XI, “Hud” vs. 114). Reciting the scriptures is worship also. Muslims are called “People of the Scriptures” (Surah XXIX, “The Spider” vs. 45-46) often also called “People of the Book”.

            “O ye who believe! when the call is heard for the prayer of the day of congregation, haste unto remembrance of Allah and leave your trading….And when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah’s bounty, and remember Allah much, that ye may be successful” (Surah LXII “The Congregation” vs. 9~10).

Scriptures are e read and preached on in public assemblies (I Timothy 4:13) as well as privately.  Christians assemble to encourage each other toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:25).  Christians teach and admonish each other with sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16).  Congregations met on the first day of the week to break bread (the communion) in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins (Acts 20:6) and take up a collection for the needy, etc. (I Corinthians 161-2).

 

Christians are to offer their bodies daily as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1) with their good works.

HEAVEN Heaven is Gardens with rivers running under it ~ rivers of milk, wine, honey, and every kind of fruit….with pardon from their Lord” ~ all this in contract to those given boiling water to drink “so that it teareth their bowels” (Surah XLVII “Muhammad” vs. 12, 15).� Believers will “recline on ranged couches. And We wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes….and We deprive them of naught of their (life’s) work. Every man is a pledge for that which he hath earned. And We provide them with fruit and meat such as they desire….And there go round, waiting on them menservants of their own” (Surah LXX, “The Mount” vs. 20-24). There is no marriage in heaven (Matthew 22:30).  If it were according to the Muslim system, men would obtain many wives, but what of the women?

 

No one deserves heaven because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  No one can earn heaven.  We gain heavy by following Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:16).

 

Some of the saved are not required to wait on the rest of the saved.