Christianity Compared with Islam
Join us in an exploration of Christianity and Islam side-by-side to discover the truth.
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One God, Three Persons
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:19 does not say ‘names’ in the plural, but rather ‘the name’ in the singular. So, the three persons have a single essence of identity. This is the meaning of Triunity – one God, eternally existent in three Persons who have the same, single essence of deity.
A beautiful example
Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much.
Quran: Jesus didn't die on the cross
And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.
According to most Muslims, Jesus didn't die on the cross
Pierced for our transgressions
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him. Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace...
This passage is one of the most explicit Old Testament prophecies about the suffering and death of Jesus, describing his sacrificial role and the atonement for sin.
A constant need for forgiveness
Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Messenger saying." By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day."
This tradition from Sahih Bukhari tells us Muhammad asked for forgiveness more than 70 times a day. By contrast, both the Bible and the Sahihs acknowledge Jesus as uniquely sinless.
Sins weighed on Judgment Day
The weighing on that day is the true (weighing). As for those whose scale is heavy, they are the successful.
In Islam, it is believed that the Last Day (Judgment Day) involves a weighing of a person's sins and good deeds. If their good deeds outweigh this bad deeds, they will enter Paradise. Islam therefore puts great importance on gathering up good deeds as a means to our own 'success' at the Last Day. Good deeds are seen to 'cancel out' the bad (Bukhari 526), and punishment in the world reduces punishment after death (Bukhari 17).
Women are 'deficient in intelligence'
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: Once Allah's Messenger went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) of `Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Messenger ?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have...
In this tradition, Muhammad chastises some women, claiming that women (in general) are deficient in religion and intelligence, and that their testimony is worth less than that of a man. This contrasts with the Bible, in which the testimony of women is honoured, and takes precedence in announcing the good news of Jesus' resurrection.
Muhammad married Aisha when she was six years old
Narrated `Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).
CCI Booklets
Jesus: an overview
Have you ever wondered why you believe what you believe? How do you know what you believe is true? Is it just...
Son of God: what do the Qur'an and the Bible say?
The Bible identifies Jesus as the 'Son of God'. But what exactly does it mean to call Jesus by this...
Crucifixion: what do the Qur'an and the Bible say?
Was Jesus really crucified, or did another die in his place? Did Jesus die at all? This booklet explores these...