are they really so different?

A major issue in America today is that of suspicion over the beliefs of the Islamic people. People are focusing on what they hear and not bothering to actually research the Islamic faith. So let's take a look at how different the Christian and Islamic are. This may surprise you. : /

Similarities::

Christianity:
1. The religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
2. The universe was created by God, out of nothing.
3. devided into different sects ex:) Baptist, Methodist, Catholic
4. Has only one God
5. A figure referred to as Antichrist or Satan will be defeated at the end of the world.
6. The Lord's Prayer
7. God has a unique relationship with humans.
8. At the end of the world, God will judge humans based on their actions in compliance with a moral code, specified in the Covenant which God makes with us.
9. This judgement will determine one's eternal abode, heaven or hell
10. Human beings have a soul which is eternal, continuing its existence after our physical death

Islam:
1. The religion based on the life and teachings of Muhammad.
2. The universe was created by God, out of nothing.
3. devided into different sects ex:) Sunni and Shite
4. Has only one God
5. A figure referred to as Antichrist or Satan will be defeated at the end of the world.
6. The Fateha
7. God has a unique relationship with humans.
8. At the end of the world, God will judge humans based on their actions in compliance with a moral code, specified in the Covenant which God makes with us.
9. This judgement will determine one's eternal abode, heaven or hell
10. Human beings have a soul which is eternal, continuing its existence after our physical death



The Ten Commandments:


Bible:
Exodus 24:12 The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction."
Deuteronomy 4:13 He declared to you His covenant, the Ten Commandments, which He commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets.



Quran:
Qur'an 2:53
And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (between right and wrong): There was a
chance for you to be guided aright.
Qur'an 7:145
And We ordained laws for him [Moses] in the tablets in all matters, both commanding and explaining all things, (and said): "Take and hold these with firmness, and enjoin thy people to hold fast by the best in the precepts . . .


Bible:
Exodus 20:3
You shall have no other gods before Me


Quran:
Qur'an 17:23
Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him . . .

Bible:
Exodus 20:4
You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

Quran:
Qur'an 22:12
They call on such deities, besides Allah, as can neither hurt nor profit them: that is straying far indeed (from the Way)!
Qur'an 22
Avoid filthy rites associated with idols and also false invocations, remaining firm in faith towards God, without associating anyone with Him. And whosoever associates aught with God, it is as if he has fallen from on high and the birds snatch him away or the wind blows him to a distant place


Bible:
Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, [i.e. in an irreverent or disrespectful manner] for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.


Quran:
Qur'an 7:180
And Allah's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be requited for what they did.


Bible:
Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.


Quran:
Qur'an 16:124
The Sabbath was only made (strict) for those who disagreed (as to its observance); But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgement, as to their differences.
Qur'an 4:154
And for their covenant we raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath." And We took from them a solemn covenant.

Bible:
Exodus 20:12
Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gave you.

Quran:
Qur'an 17:23
Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.


Bible:
Exodus 20:13
You shall not kill

Quran:
Nor take life which Allah has made sacred . . .

Bible:
You shall not commit Adultery

Quran:
Qur'an 17:32
Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).


Bible:
Exodus 20:15
You shall not steal.


Quran:
Qur'an 60:12
O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter; then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Note: This applies to men as well as women.
The Qur'an ordains severe punishment for theft 5:41,42]
Qur'an 2:188
And do not eat up unjustly the property of each other among yourselves nor convey their cases to the authorities for devouring unlawfully some portion of the property of the people knowingly.
[Commentary by Mufti Shah Ahmad Raza Khan -- this prohibition covers the acquisition of property by all unlawful means, such as theft, robbery, gambling, bribery, backbiting, giving false evidence, and all such other means as bringing a false claim against another or wrongfully influencing authorities to obtain unlawful benefits as a consequence]


Bible:
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour


Quran:
Qur'an 2:42
And cover not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is).


Bible:
Exodus 20:17
You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife or his male servant or
his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbour.


Quran:
Qur'an 4:32
And in no wise covet those things in which Allah Hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others . . .




The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.

The Fateha:
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful. King of the Day of Reckoning.

The Lord's Prayer:
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Fateha:
Thee only do we worship and of Thee only do we ask aid.

The Lord's Prayer:
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors [Other translations say: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."]
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom,
The Power and the Glory.
For ever and ever.
Amen

The Fateha:
Guide us unto the right path -
the path of those to whom Thou hast
been gracious,
not the path of those who are the objects
of Thy wrath,
nor of those who have gone astray.
Amen


Differences::


Christianity:
1. Christians believe in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)

2. Christians currently emphasize the beautiful aspects of God

3. As a member of the Trinity, Jesus is viewed as God Himself.

4. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross. Then rose from the dead.

5. Eschatology - most Christians believe that judgement takes place, immediately upon death (i.e. they will either go to Heaven or Hell, or as in the case of Catholics, they could also go to Purgatory immediately upon death). Christians also believe that the final Judgement Day is only for all those people who have not died yet and will be for those remaining on earth.

6. Christians believe in Original Sin, (all of mankind is held responsible for the sins of Adam and Eve) which only the sacrament of baptism in the name of Christ can expiate.

7. Christians believe in vicarious atonement -- that another person can extinguish the guilt incurred by another person's sins. Jesus is believed to have died so as to atone vicariously for man's sins. He was considered to be the Lamb of God, which means that Jesus was considered to be the perfect sacrifice by which the hold of Original Sin was broken. Christians believe in intercession and intercessors such as priests and monks.

8. Christians believe that divine inspiration (the Latin word is 'afflatus' which means 'divine wind') inspired the writers of the scripture. Hence they believe that the Gospel of St. Mark (obviously written by St. Mark) or the letters of Paul the Apostle are the "Word of God."

9. In the Old Testament (Jewish scriptures which most Christians regard as authoritative), Prophets are not portrayed as being infallible to say the least.

10.Prophets do not have the same stature in Christianity that they have in Islam


Islam:
1. Do not believe in the Trinity

2. God has informed us of only 99 of His beautiful names Many of them depict His beautiful aspects (jamal), and some of them depict His power, authority and grandeur (jalal).

3. Jesus is a Prophet and a servant of God. Muhammad is also a Prophet and a servant of God. He was the last Prophet sent by God to guide and teach mankind.

4. The Quranic teachings in this regard may be summed up as follows: (1) Christ was neither crucified nor killed by the Jews, notwithstanding certain apparent circumstances which produced that illusion in the minds of some of the enemies; and (2) Jesus was taken up to God (i.e.. God raised him up (raf'a) to Himself

5. Eschatology - Judgement will occur on Judgement Day (the end of the world when God will judge all human beings beginning from Adam and Eve). Persons who have been previously deceased, and are in their graves, are given an indication (via 'windows' in the grave) of what his or her future Judgement may be. The punishment of the grave will begin immediately. Rewards begin immediately too. (This intermediate stage of the grave may be regarded as similar to the Catholic Purgatory, and is called barzakh in Islam). The final abode of either Paradise or Hell will be pronounced on the Day of Judgement.

6. All mankind is born pure and he/she is responsible for his or her own sins and not someone else's

7. Muslims do not believe in vicarious atonement. They believe that each person is responsible for his or her own actions and that no-one else can atone for them. However, you can pray to God for His Mercy and Forgiveness on behalf of another person. The Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h. -- and some others (like innocent babies who have passed away) are given the special privilege to intercede on behalf of their parents on the Day of Judgement. This is in accord with the Throne Verse in the Qur'an. So with God's graceful permission, they may have a specially bestowed privilege of pleading on behalf of others and begging for God's forgiveness for them on the Day of Judgement. This is known as intercession (shafa't).

8. The holy Qur'an was revealed ('revelation' [wahi] is the highest form of inspiration with no possibility of error in the message or the conveyance of the message) to the Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h. through the angel Gabriel who was carrying out God's precise instructions. This occurred over a period of 23 years. The holy Qur'an is God's Word -- not the word of the Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h.

9. All the Prophets, from Adam a.s. to Muhammad p.b.u.h. are pure and sinless/infallible.

10.For Muslims, Prophets are spiritually advanced and are very pure and sinless. They have been sent by God to guide and teach mankind. There have been 127,000 of them from Adam, a.s. to Muhammad p.b.u.h. who was the last Prophet sent, meaning that no more Prophets will come after him. Hence Muhammad p.b.u.h. was called the "Seal of the Prophets." The Prophets were sent as Messengers of God to people in different countries at different times.



So there are some real facts about the Islamic and Christian faiths. So as you can see they are pretty similar. : /