Christianity & Islam
Question:-
I understand that Islam accepts Jesus as Messenger of God. What then are the differences between Christianity and Islam.
Answer:-
God sends Messengers to guide man and set them on the spiritual path. This brings man to a higher stage. But the spiritual impulse in it "gets used up" to do this. The religion they bring becomes corrupted owing to adulteration with worldly affairs, misinterpretations and malpractice. God, therefore, sends another Prophet to rectify matters and to lead man to a higher stage. All these Messengers and their teachings (the Message that makes then Messengers) are Islam.
Christianity as taught and practices by the Churches have departed from the teachings of Jesus. Islam is a rectification of Christianity and a higher, more complete stage of religion than Christianity, as the teachings of Jesus were higher than Hebrewism as brought by Moses. Jesus did say:-
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." John 16:12-14
This forecasts the coming of Muhammad. Christians think that it refers to the Holy Spirit not to another Prophet. But Muhammad did receive his revelation through the Holy Spirit and the verse does refer to a person who speaks as he hears. John 14:16 tells us that he will be another comforter like Jesus, and John 16:7 tells us that he will come after Jesus goes away. This could not refer to the spirit because according to Luke 3:22, the Holy Spirit was with Jesus all the time. Jesus also predicted (Matthew 24:2-32) that after his departure the Temple at Jerusalem would be destroyed and there would be a corruption of religion and wars and troubles and then the "Son of Man", a phrase that refers to a Prophet, would come. The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and the Jews were scattered and Religion was distorted. The Book of Revelations also mentions this in Chapter 12.
Jesus also forecasts the coming of Islam in the following parable:-
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said unto them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them." Matthew 21:30-45
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:11-12 Also Luke 13:24-30
If the "son" refers symbolically to Jesus, then the coming of the "father" refers to the Quran where Allah Himself is speaking. If the "kingdom of God" refers to the religious order that was given to the Israelites, the spiritual descendants of Isaac, then its transfer to others refers Islam and the spiritual descendants of Ishmael.
The main differences between Islam and Christianity are the same as exist between the teachings of Jesus and Christianity. Christianity is based on the ideas that (1) Jesus is God, the Son of God (2) God is a Trinity (3) Salvation is gained through the belief that the crucifixion of Jesus pays for sins, a doctrine known as Vicarious Atonement.
None of these ideas can be found in the teachings of Jesus.
(1) Jesus taught that he was sent by God.
"..I do nothing of myself; but as the Father has taught me, I speak these things." John 8:28
He did as God instructed:- Gospel of John 6:38, 57, 7:16, 8:28, 10:37-38, 12:49
He kept his followers in the name of God:-
"While I was with them in the world I kept them in THY NAME..." John 17:12
While Jesus was in the flesh seen by people, God is invisible:-
"No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him." John 1:18
The only begotten refers to the Word of God. To say that "the Word was made flesh" (John 1:14) is like saying a policeman is the embodiment of the Law. We read that "we beheld his glory, the glory AS of the only begotten" not "the glory of the only begotten".
"And this is Eternal Life that they might know THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent." John 17:3
"But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him." John 4:23
"And he said unto him: Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17
"(Jesus said) I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" John 20:17
"God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth." John 4:24
Thus John 1:1 should read "...the Word was God's" [Theos = God, Theou = God's]
The phrase "Son of God" is symbolic and refers to one led by the Spirit or Word of God:- John 1:12, John 10:35 and Romans 8:12)
The Islamic attitude to Jesus is that he was "a Messenger of God and a Word and Spirit from Him." 4:171. His creation was like that of Adam, or man except that he was born of a virgin (or pure woman).
"Verily the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from earth, then He said to him: BE! And he was." 3:59
(2) The only mention by Jesus of the three - Father, Son and Holy Ghost - is found in Matthew 28:19. But this makes a distinction between the three and does not say that the three form one God.
The Quran does not really condemn the idea of Trinity (which implies a unity of three) but the idea that there are three gods forming a god-head, a kind of committee, in which Jesus and the Holy Spirit are also gods. According to the Quran Allah has many mutually distinguishable attributes and He can be called by any of these. This does not contradict His Unity. They are points of view.
"O you people of the Book! Do not commit excesses in your religion, nor say against Allah anything save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but the messenger of Allah and His Word, which He cast into Mary and a Spirit from Him; believe then in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three." Desist! it is better for you. Allah is only one Allah, Glory be to Him, too Exalted is He that He should beget a Son! To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and that is in the earth, and Allah suffices as Defender." 4:171
The Quran condemns the literal interpretation of "Son of God":-
"The Originator of the heavens and the earth! How can He have a son, when He has no female companion, and when He has created everything, and He is Aware of all things?" 6:102
According to the Quran:-
"They will ask thee about the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is (or comes) by the command (or Word) of my Lord, and ye are given but a little knowledge (or control) thereof." 17:85
Here Allah, His Word and Spirit are certainly related, but the Word and Spirit are not separately gods. The Quran also tells us:-
"Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and desire to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers....these are the disbelievers, and We have prepared for disbelievers shameful woe!" 4:150-151
The Messengers are not to be separated from God because they carry His word and He works through them. They have surrendered themselves and act only as representatives of God. The word "Emanuel" which has the same meaning was applied to Jesus.
If Trinity means that Religion, not God, is presented to us by God, His Messenger and the Holy Spirit (which informs both the Messenger and his followers) then Muslims cannot have any objection.
If by Trinity is meant God, His Word and His Spirit this would also be acceptable in Islam provided the other two are not regarded as separate gods. The Trinity could also be understood as implying that God is transcendental, imminent and personal.
Even Paul, whom many Christians follow rather than Jesus, did not believe in the Trinity:-
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 2:5
"There is actually to us one God the Father,...and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 8:6
"One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" Ephesians 4:6
"And ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's" 1 Corinthians 3:23
(3) Jesus taught that salvation was obtained by obedience to God.
"Not every one that says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but He THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. Many will say to me in that Day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY." Matthew 7:21-23
"He that hears my word and believes on Him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come unto condemnation, but is passed from death into life." John 5:24
It is thought that the Quran denies the crucifixion of Jesus altogether. But this is not quite true.
"And because of their boastful saying: Verily, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah, - but they killed him not, nor did they crucify him, but it was obscured for them (or it appeared so to them). And verily, those who differ about him are in doubt concerning him; they have no knowledge thereof, but only follow a conjecture. Certainly, they slew him not! Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; for Allah is ever Mighty and Wise!" 4:157-158
The verse states that the Jews did not kill Jesus and that there was confusion or obscurity surrounding the events around his death. The implication is that the death of Jesus has no significance for Islam.
The story in the New Testament tells us that the disciples of Jesus had all fled when he was captured by the Romans and crucified. The Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 24, tells us that the disciples assumed that Jesus had died, so when he appeared among them later they thought that he was a spirit. But Jesus assured them that was still flesh and bones and asked them to verify this by touching him.
The death and resurrection of Christ could be regarded as a symbolic way of saying that Faith died when the disciples fled and revived when he appeared among them. This also became a symbol for the Fall of man from Paradise to earth and the return from the earth to Paradise and for spiritual revival after spiritual death through sin. One has to sacrifice the worldly life, to die to it, in order to attain spiritual resurrection and eternal life. The motivation for this transformation was to be reinforced by the ritual or sacrament of the bread and wine by which Christians symbolically take in Christ. Muslims, on the other hand are required to follow the example of Muhammad as one who has surrendered himself to God.
However, the Messengers, including Jesus, certainly sacrifice their worldly life and were willing to undergo suffering in the service of God and mankind. A person could acknowledge this sacrifice and accept the Messenger as coming with a Message from God for his benefit. If he did this then he would obtain salvation, (be saved from Hell) not because of the sacrifice of the Prophet but because of his obedience to God. But the love of the Messenger, because he is sent by God, is required in both Christianity and Islam.
It has to be remembered that as Jesus said:-
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40.
This is also valid for Jews in the Old Testament and is incorporated in the name "Islam" (Surrender to Allah).
The difference between the religion brought by Jesus (saw) and that brought by Muhammad (saw) is that in the former the man Jesus is the Word of God whereas in the later the Quran, the book or teaching is the Word of God. However, even that is exemplified and demonstrated by the Messenger. There is a movement from a visible but finite person to an abstract and Eternal Truth, and from emphasis on law and doctrine as in Hebrewism, via, emphasis on motives in Christianity, to understanding and awareness, in Islam.
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