Similarities between Islam and Christianity

​

We believe that Islam is the final message of God and that it is the most complete, comprehensive, broad, clear, and authentic message. However, we do not reject what has been proved to be valid from the other divine messages.

There are many unifying commonalities between these two religions, a handful will be presented here as a starting point to quench your thirst and tempt you to search more and dig deeper in the ocean of knowledge provided in the divine revelations.

​

The source of all prophets’ messages is one, their sender is one, and the divine religion is one in its essence of beliefs, commands, goals, and purpose to guide humans and provide happiness for them in this life and the Afterlife. However, the revelation of those messages was gradual and based on the advancement of humanity, its growth, and the expansion of its intellectual and legislative needs. Therefore, every subsequent message was more thorough than the preceding one, correcting the misunderstandings, alterations, or breaches that emerged.

We believe that Islam is the final message of God and that it is the most complete, comprehensive, broad, clear, and authentic message. However, we do not reject what has been proved to be valid from the other divine messages.

There are many unifying commonalities between these two religions, a handful will be presented here as a starting point to quench your thirst and tempt you to search more and dig deeper in the ocean of knowledge provided in the divine revelations.

​

MONOTHEISM

Holy Quran

“And your Allah is one Allah! there is no God but He; He is the Beneficent, the Merciful.” [2:163]

 

And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things. [5:116]

 

I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: That serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord, and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things.” [5:117]

Holy Bible

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

 

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” Mark 12:28-30

 

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  John 17:3

                                                                                                                  

GOD THE UNSEEN

Holy Quran

Vision comprehends Him not, and He comprehends (all) vision; and He is the Knower of subtleties, the Aware. [6:1-3]

Holy Bible

And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.  John 5:37

 

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18

 

GOD’S LOVE FOR HIS WORSHIPPERS

Holy Quran

Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [3:31]

Holy Bible

You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.  John 14:28

 

GOD’S BENEVOLENCE TO THE SINNERS

Holy Quran

Say: O my servants! who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving the Merciful.” [39:53]

Holy Bible

But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:36

 

BELIEF IN PROPHETHOOD

Holy Quran

Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which had been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Musa and Isa, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.” [2:136]

Holy Bible

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he hath sent.”  John 6:28-29

 

INFALLIBILITY OF THE PROPHETS

Holy Quran

God Almighty stated about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family):

Nor does he speak out of desire. [53:3]

 

They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act.” [21:27]

Holy Bible

Jesus said:

… I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”  John 8:28

 

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  John 12:49

 

CALL OF THE PROPHETS

Holy Quran

God the Almighty:  Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”  [3:31]

Holy Bible

Jesus said to his students:

 

Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

 

FALSE PROPHETS

Holy Quran

Islam has warned from the lying imposter who shows people his goodness and knowledge, while he is the farthest from it; whether, in claiming prophethood, Imamate [leadership], or knowledge. Allah Almighty said:  “And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says: It has been revealed to me; while nothing has been revealed to him.” [6:93]

Holy Bible

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  John 7:15

 

PROPHET MOSES

Holy Quran

And (We sent) messengers We have mentioned to you before and messengers we have not mentioned to you; and to Musa, Allah addressed His Word, speaking (to him):” [4:164]

Holy Bible

And as touching the dead, that they rise: have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?  Mark 12:26

 

BIRTH OF PROPHET JESUS

Holy Quran

And mention Marium in the Book when she drew aside from her family to an eastern place;
So she took a veil (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man. [19:17]
She said: Surely I fly for refuge from you to the Beneficent Allah, if you are one guarding (against evil). [19:18]
He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy. [19:19]
She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yout touched me, nor have I been unchaste? [19:20]
He said: Even so; your Lord says: It is easy to Me: and that We may make him a sign to men and a mercy from Us, and it is a matter which has been decreed. [19:21]
So she conceived him; then withdrew herself with him to a remote place. [19:22]
And the throes (of childbirth) compelled her to betake herself to the trunk of a palm tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten! [19:23]
Then (the child) called out to her from beneath her: Grieve not, surely your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you.  [19:24]
And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates.  [19:25]
So eat and drink and refresh yourself. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent Allah, so I shall not speak to any man today. [19:26]
And she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said: O Marium! surely you have done a strange thing. [19:27]
O sister of Haroun! your father was not a bad man, nor, was your mother an unchaste woman. [19:28]
But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who was a child in the cradle? [19:29]
He said: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. [19:30]
And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayour and poor-rate so long as I live. [19:31]
And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed.  [19:32]
And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life. [19:33]
Such is Isa, son of Marium; (this is) the saying of truth about which they dispute.” [19:34]

Holy Bible

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”  Luke 1:57-63

​

THE MESSAGE OF JESUS

Holy Quran

Almighty God has said:

The Messiah, son of Marium is but a messenger; messengers before him have indeed passed away;…” [5:75]

Holy Bible

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.  John 8:42

 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  John 5:17

 

HIS GLAD TIDINGS ABOUT PROPHET MUHAMMED

Holy Quran

And when Isa son of Marium said: O children of Israel! surely I am the messenger of Allah to you, verifying that which is before me of the Taurat and giving the good news of an Messenger who will come after me, his name being Ahmad, but when he came to them with clear arguments they said: This is clear magic. [61:6]

Holy Bible

Jesus bearing glad-tidings of the Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w.) is mentioned in the gospel of John, which is one of the four chosen gospels of law that is accepted by the Church. He is mentioned as the term “the supporter” from the Greek word “Parakletos”, which is a Greek term that has several meanings. The Jesus monastic states in its commentary:

 

“In Greek the origin of the word “Parakletos” is a term that comes from the language of the law and it is used to signifies one who defends a plaintiff. Therefore, the first meaning is the lawyer, the helper, and the defender. Based on this meaning, other meanings appeared such as the one who gives condolences and the intercessor. [Jesuit Monastic p. 337]

 

Jesus said to his students as he was bidding them farewell and advising them:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. John 14:16 (This person is equal to Jesus and synonymous with him because he is “another” supporter or intercessor, meaning that he is not the only one. Therefore, just as Jesus was a prophet and messenger, he too shall be a prophet and messenger, he is not the Holy Spirit like some believed because the term “another” would not apply to him.)

 

 

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:25-26

 

“And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you might believe.

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” John 14:29-30

 

HIS ASCENSION TO THE HEAVENS

Holy Quran

And when Allah said: O Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me… [3:55]

 

Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. [4:158]

Holy Bible

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16:19

 

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Luke 24:50-51

 

Jesus said to his students:

Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither you cannot come. John 7:33-34

 

HIS RETURN TO EARTH

Saying of Prophet Muhammad

“The Mahdi is from my progeny, if he appears then Jesus will descend to support him… {Behar al Anwaar vol 14, p. 349}

Holy Bible

Jesus said to his students close to the time of his departure:

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

 

You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. Luke 14:28

 

12 DISCIPLES OF PROPHET Muhammad

Holy Quran

"Surely Allah aforetime took a covenant from the Children of Israel and We appointed twelve leaders among them” [5:12]

Who are those twelve leaders among the Children of Muhammad?

 

And when Moses prayed for water for his (thirsty) people; We said: ‘Strike the rock with your staff.’ Then from there surged forth twelve springs so that each group knew its own place to drink.” [2:60]

Who are those twelve springs (streams) of knowledge who quench the thirst of Muslims to the end of the world so that each generation is utilized with one of them? 

Holy Bible

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. Revelations 12:1

 

12 DISCIPLES OF PROPHET JESUS

Holy Quran

O you who believe! be helpers (in the cause) of Allah, as Isa son of Marium said to (his) disciples: Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We are helpers (in the cause) of Allah. So a party of the children of Israel believed and another party disbelieved; then We aided those who believed against their enemy, and they became uppermost. [61:14]

Holy Bible

Jesus spoke with crowds that had gathered who wanted to be taught by him, with long and harsh words,

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil.  John 6:66-70

 

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.  Luke 6:12-13

 

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  Matthew 10:1

​