Comparison of the Articles of Faith in Islam and Christianity

JESUS LOVES MUSLIMS TOO – UNDERSTANDING ISLAM FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE 005- THE ARTICLES OF FAITH COMPARED IN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH COMPARED IN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

LESSONS OBJECTIVE
To correct negative stereotypes about Muslims
To better understand Islam and its origins
To appreciate positive aspects of the Islamic religion and culture
To Foster meaningful harmonious relationships between Muslims and Christians
To challenge Christians to break religious and cultural barriers and reach out to their Muslim neighbors with the love of Christ.
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH COMPARED IN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY
The Islamic word for faith is iman. For orthodox Muslims, faith is primarily a cognitive issue – that is , an intellectual process – a matter of acknowledging as true the teaching of the Quran and Muhammad the prophet of Allah. This knowledge in itself becomes a fulfillment of one of the requirements of Salvation.
In contrast, in Christianity faith a heart issue. Lu 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
(KJV) : Ac 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
(KJV)
For the Muslim, then faith relates directly to works and thus differs from the Christian view of faith. Heb 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
(ASV)
For the Christian simply knowing what the Bible says is not enough to earn favor with God. The true seeker of God’s truth as revealed in the Bible must apply this knowledge and allow it to lead him to Christ and his atoning death to obtain salvation. So it is the atoning death of Christ that leads the true seeker to a spiritual relationship produces a spiritual change in the life. Then, from this change in life, good works result. According to the Bible , good works are a result of salvation , not the basis of it. However according to the Quran and Muhammad they are the basis of salvation.
The Orthodox Muslim believes following tenents to be a good Muslim
BELIEVE IN ONE GOD
Believe that there is only one God whom they call Allah. (Arabic for God). The word ALLAH is derieved from two words AL(THE) AND ILAH(GOD). So Allah means “The God”. In other words He is the one and only Unique God whom the Muslims believe in. He rules from heaven and shares his deity with none other.
Christians believe in one God manifesting himself in the trinity as God the Father , God the Son and , God the Holy Spirit – A single God revealing Himself in the above personalities. Ge 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ; Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(ASV)………. Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. ; Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
The Quran declares Him as “The Merciful One, The Compassionate One.” He is Lord of Heaven and Earth and He is the Master of the Day of Judgement.
Christianity has similar names for God. De 4:31 for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. : De 13:17 And there shall cleave nought of the devoted thing to thy hand; that Jehovah may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
He begets not and neither is He begotten; He is The Creator of all things.
Christians believe the contrary ; that God Supernaturally begot Jesus Christ through his virgin birth. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(ASV)
He Called Abraham out of idolatry to worship Him as the one true God.
Judeo – Christian teachings are in total agreement with Islamic teachings on this. Ge 12:1 Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee:

Muslims use ninety-nine names for Allah that describes His nature. Muslims treat the word Allah with great reverence. They never mention or write His name without an honorific expression. E.g Allah Ta’ala. (God the exalted) ; Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala ( God , glorified is He and exalted).

Christians also have different names that describe his attributes , Jehovah Jireh – God our provider , Jehovah Nissi – God our Banner , Jehovah Rohi – God our shepherd and others.
At first glance, it appears that the Muslim God is the same creator God, the God of Abraham. However the Christian view of God is very different from the Muslim view of God.
Islam teaches about angels who serve God and are spirits created from light.
Jibril – The Angel who delieved God’s message to Humankind through Prophet Muhammad.This vital work marks him as a very holy angel – also referred to as a holy spirit. Equivalent of the Angel Gabriel.
Mikail – is an angel wielding great power. Christians refer to him as Michael.
Azrail – is the angel of death who separates the soul from the body.
Israfil is the angel who blows the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection.
Malik is the doorkeeper of Hell
Munkar and Nakir are the interrogating angels who question every person’s faith after death. Muslims teaching also indicate that these two angels beat the bodies of unbelievers in the grave until the resurrection.
Harut and Marut are angels who shared the knowledge of magic with people.
In addition there two angels who sit on the shoulder of every person. One on the right recording all the good deeds and another on the left recording the evil deeds. Then on the day of judgement . God will examine these records.
Angels Play a very important role in orthodox Islam.
They are the mediators between God and People.
In Orthdox Islam , God is remote and beyond reach and has no direct links with the human race.
However , the angels provide an indirect link between God and the human race.
They bring God;s blessings down from heaven, intercede for people and deliver God’s messages.
This is in complete contrast to Christianity , which teaches Jesus Christ is the only qualified mediator between man and God because of His divine nature. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ac 4:10 be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.
12 And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.
(ASV).
Compiled By Pst Willy Ochieng
Based on Muslim Ministry in the African Context
By Harry Morin.