The Christian vs. Muslim debate has existed for a long time now. The two religions are incredibly different faiths with different methods of praying and calling out the Lord, and the rulebook differs too. What is also known is that the two religions are similar in terms of the Being they look up to, so let’s look at the Christian vs. Muslim conversation.
Christian vs Muslim Religions Compared
Let’s understand the two faiths separately to understand what they stand for, and then we can move forward to how they are similar and what separates them.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion. This means Christians believe in the oneness of God and His greatness. Christians believe that God created this world; the heavens and the Earth. For Christians, God exists in three entities:
- God the Father
- God the Son
- God the Holy Spirit
According to Christian belief, Christ was sent to Earth to save the world. Also known as the Messiah, Jesus Christ was crucified on what is known as the Cross to forgive his sins, but he was resurrected just three days later.
The Cross is a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice for Christians, the crucifixion, is what allows them to enter the heavens. This was not initially possible because of Adam and Eve’s original sin.
Islam
Muslims believe in the oneness of God. According to Muslims, there is only God who, over the period, sent messengers to deliver the message:
- God is one
- There is life after death
Muslims believe in the Quran to be their guiding light. For them, The Quran is God’s book and His word. They also believe in five pillars that will help them stay on the straight path. These are:
- Shahada
- Prayer
- Alms
- Fasting
- Pilgrimage
Prayer
Christianity
Christians are not obligated to pray a certain number of prayers every day. They do, however, observe the Sabbath, which is a concept that emerged from the Jews. This is why Sunday is regarded as a Holy day, just as Friday is for Muslims.
Today, the concept of the Sabbath has evolved quite a lot for Christians because of the way Christ has taught in the New Testament.
For Christians, Sunday services take place at many different times. A similar service is offered at many other times of the day in multiple Churches.
In most Churches, a 6 AM and 6 PM mass takes place on weekdays as well. People have free will to go or not to go. They either pray at home or go to the church. There are no defined times for conversing with God; it is personalized for everyone.
Islam
In Islam, Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day. Their daily prayers include:
- Fajr – At the time of Sunrise
- Dhuhr – At Noon
- Asr – In the Afternoon
- Maghrib – At Sunset
- Isha – At Night
Each prayer has a specified time.
In Islam, prayer is considered to be an act of worship. By doing so, Muslims thank God for His blessings and express gratitude. They acknowledge God’s greatness and His power by bowing down to Him.
Christians vs Muslims
- Christians and Muslims both believe in the existence of Jesus Christ.
- Christians believe Christ to be the son of God. However, Muslims think differently.
- For Christians, Jesus exists as an entity of God, but for Muslims, Jesus Christ is known as Prophet Isa, the messenger of Allah.
- Christians and Muslims both believe Mary was a virgin and that Christ – Prophet Isa, was born a miracle.
- Both faiths believe in Jesus’s return back to this world.
- Restriction on food existed before the existence of Christ. Then Christ evolved that concept by saying that nothing that goes into your mouth is bad but what comes out of your mouth is harmful if it affects another human being. So he said, not the food, but your words need to be monitored. And so there aren’t restrictions on Alcohol in Christianity, but if alcohol brings out an individual’s behavior that can prove to be harmful, then its use must be avoided.
Islam restricts the use of alcohol. Religion does not support intoxication because it has the ability that makes an individual lose their senses.
- Both faiths believe in the importance of family. They feel a supportive family is the foundation of healthy living, and it can act as an incredible support system.
The Afterlife
Muslims believe in the afterlife. They think this life is temporary and a test that will determine their stay in the next world. Their good deeds will reward them, and the bad ones will cost them. If the good outweighs the bad, then they’ll enter Heaven. If not, then they shall enter Hell.
Muslims view this world as a test that they need to make sure they pass. They can do so by becoming a firm believer in God and following the path He has set for us. This path promotes:
- Honesty
- Loyalty
- Kindness
- Faith, among other factors
The following is a saying of the Prophet:
“Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and indeed righteousness leads to Jannah.”
Christians believe in eternal life after death based on Christ’s resurrection. They believe their acts will either send them to Heaven or Hades. Hades is a term used to define where sinners are sent. But the core belief resonates with Islam’s beliefs.
The path Christians need to follow resides within the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ. Nevertheless, they all lie within the circle of inherently being moralistic human beings.
“But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise, let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy, your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”
Isaiah 26:19
Our Final Thoughts
All in all, we understand that Christianity and Islam work differently, but there are a few similarities, some of which include the birth of Christ. However, Christians believe Christ to be the son of God, while Muslims understand that Christ, known to be Prophet Isa, was God’s messenger, not His son.
The Christian vs. Muslim conversation is a lengthy topic but quite an interesting one. It’s interesting to see how both religions function and how they take their paths forward. Nonetheless, both religions are incredibly merciful, which makes them beautiful. We may sin, but we have our protectors to forgive us, given that we repent honestly. Isn’t that comforting to know?
