Question Compare and contrast : Christianity, Islam - Essay Example

Islam vs Christianity Islam and Christianity are two of the largest followed religions in the world. Both religions have many common elements, and a major point of conflict. The conflict between Islam and Christianity is the status of Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.), whom Islam declares a Prophet whereas Christians believe Him to be the son of God. A common element between Islam and Christianity is Holy Books. Both religions’ followers have Holy Books pertaining to the teachings of their respective religions.

While Muslims have Quran, Christians have Bible. While the teachings of the two books have certain common and certain contrasting points, both books are believed by their respective followers to be authored by God. Bible came before Quran, just like Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) came before the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). Both Islam and Christianity have resembling teachings over edible and nonedible foods, marriage and procreation, and lifestyle in general.Islam manifests Quran as a continuation of the teachings of God that were earlier revealed in the Holy Bible.

Muslims believe that both Bible and Quran were revealed to mankind by the same God. While it is obligatory upon a Muslim to believe in Bible along with other Holy Books, Islam has established Quran as the book whose teachings are ever-applicable and ever-lasting. Muslims believe that one of the reasons for this is the fact that Quran has remained as such as it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to date whereas Bible has undergone changes as a result of customization and varied interpretation by the Christians over the passage of time.

On the other hand, Christians hold the opinion that Bible has to be followed rather than Quran because Christianity precedes Islam in order of revelation. Islam declares Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) as a prophet of God. To Muslims, Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) is just as respectable and honorable as any other prophet including Prophet Joseph (P.B.U.H.) and Prophet Moses (P.B.U.H.). Muslims even consider the true practicing Christians of the original Bible as Muslims until Islam succeeded Christianity since they followed the book of the same God who later revealed Quran.

Declaring Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) as God’s son is one of the biggest sins in the Quranic perspective as Islam declares God as a single entity with no parent, equivalent, or offspring. Islam also declares that Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) was born without a father as God is able to make a man without a father. On the contrary, Christians believe that Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) was the son of God. Many Christians actually believe that Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) was God. Mary (P.B.U.H.) is commonly believed to be the mother of Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.) both in Islam and Christianity.

To conclude, Islam and Christianity have a major point of conflict i.e. the status of Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.). Other than the status of Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H.), both religions share many common elements including historic accounts of perished nations, religious customs, and an overall sense of submission to God. Islam succeeded Christianity and is not to be succeeded by any other religion in the line of Abrahamic religions.