In terms of origin, identity, meaning, morality, and destiny, Christianity and Islam will differ. This paper will compare the two worldview perspectives on how they differ in these concepts.
When it comes to the question of origin, Islam and Christianity share the story of Adam and Eve, with some differences. As stated in the second chapter of the Quran, named Baqara, “man came into being after Allah (God) consulted with his angels although the angels and Iblis (Satan) warned Him about man’s possible future violence and mischief,” (Nyang 2015). According to the Quran, Man came from out of the water. This could relate to the concept of evolution without actually addressing the science. Christianity on the other hand is very clear about the creation of life. It strictly says “Man was created on Earth, in the Garden of Eden,” (Genesis 2.8). This says clearly that God has the ability to create something out of nothing, in the passing of the seven days that it took to create the world.
For identity, or whether humans have a higher place in life than animals, Islam is not very clear on whether or not humans are more important or holy than animals. It does cite that animals were created for the benefit of humans. The Quran also goes into detail on the creation of man: “We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators,” (Al-Mu’minun 23.14). Calling Allah the best of creators seems to say that man is a sacred creation. In the Bible, God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,” (Genesis 1.26). The idea of ruling over the other animals seem to suggest that from the Christian worldview, humans are superior to animals.
Islam and Christianity also address the question of meaning of existence in this world. In Islam, Allah has created the world so that His people can take care of it. But Allah also expects to be treated as the supreme ruler on everything that a person does. He says, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority,” (Al-Baqarah 2.30). He also says that He knows what people do not know, which suggests that he is in every part of life. The Quran suggests, with how much it is repeated that people should worship Allah, that that is the reason they exist. In the Christian worldview, God placed human beings on this earth, or more specifically, “into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it,” (Genesis 2.15). This statement here establishes that human beings exist to live, work, and take care of God’s creation. God has also created “wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts,” (Psalm, 104.15). In other words, we are meant to enjoy God’s creation as well.
Islam has certain rules as to what makes a person moral. It states that it is righteous “to believe in Allah to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made and to be firm and patient,” (Al-Baqarah, 2.177). This means that Islam places a high importance on generosity and charity in order to be moral. This suggests a service to others, and goes back to the theme of being a service to Allah. In Christianity, knowing right from wrong has guidelines in the Bible. It states, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything,” (1 Corinthians 6.12). Christians would know how to decide right from wrong by asking themselves three questions: is it helpful to me or others? Is it a burden on me or others? And would God be glorified through these actions?
When it comes to life after death, Islam bases people in the arrival of Heaven (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam) on whether a soul has accepted the truth. This truth is the knowledge that Allah is the one true God and Mohammad is His prophet. Failure to do acknowledge Mohammad as God’s prophet does not give people access to Heaven (Solomon 310). In Christianity, purgatory is actually not cited in the Bible, which is one of the reasons why Protestant Christians to reject that Catholic interpretation (Solomon 300). Souls are sent to either Heaven or Hell depending on the sins they have committed and whether or not they have repented for those sins. Accepting Jesus as the Savior and Son of God is also necessary in entering Heaven.
While Islam and Christianity share several similarities, like the existence of Heaven and Hell, the existence of Adam and Eve, and the existence of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus – as shown in this essay, there are several fundamental differences. A key theme throughout Islam is the necessity of worshipping Allah. Christianity, on the other hand, seems to resemble a much more individualistic take on life.
Works Cited
Nyang, Sulayman. “The Origins of Life: A Muslim View.” NPR. NPR, 5 August 2005. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
Solomon, Norman. Abraham’s Children: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conversation. London, New York: T&T Clark, 2005. Print.
The Holy Bible: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, 2016. Holybible.com. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
The Noble Quran: n.p., 2016. Quran.com. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
