Islam/Christian differences--Debate thread

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses relays what God told him, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put My words in his mouth; and will speak unto them all that I shall command him

First of all, Moses was regarded as a Prophet and Muhammad was also regarded as a Prophet while Jesus (at least by Christians) was regarded as the Son of God. This point, alone, precludes Jesus. Because the prophecy is about a prophet like unto Moses. When Jesus is regarded as God incarnate, or the Son of God then that precludes him; at least this specific prophecy doesn’t apply to him. Like I mentioned last time, there are other prophecies that apply to Jesus but not this one.

Secondly, in terms of parents, Moses had a normal mother and father and so did Muhammad. Jesus, however, was born only from a mother. In terms of birth, the birth of Moses was normal so was Muhammad’s where as Jesus’ birth was a virgin birth according to both the Muslim and Christian faiths.

Regarding family life: Moses married and had children so did Muhammad but it’s quite unlikely with Jesus. As far as we know, there are no records of him marrying or having any children.

In terms of death, Moses and Muhammad both had natural deaths from natural causes; the death of Jesus (according to the Christian faith) was a violent death- nailed to the cross.

In terms of the emphasis on his mission, we find that Moses’ mission was both spiritual and legal; he brought about a law. So did Muhammad. Jesus’ mission, on the other hand, was spiritual. Actually, he said ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill’ (Mathew 5:17).

Regarding acceptance of leadership: Moses’ leadership was, for the most part, accepted by his people. They may have given him a hard time but his leadership was accepted during his lifetime. The same is true for Muhammad. Whereas Jesus himself complained that his leadership was not accepted, but was resisted, by the very people he was sent to- the Israelites. He mentions this often.

In terms of career, we find that Moses had a career both as a prophet and as a governor/ ruler to implement the divine law. Such is the same for Muhammad. In the case of Jesus, his career did not include that authority.

In terms of battles and encounters with enemies: We find that Moses did encounter his enemies, the Egyptians and they were drowned- he had victory over them. Muhammad did encounter the pagans that tried to destroy him and his followers and he had victory over them in the battlefield. No such event occurs, in terms of physical combat, in the case of Prophet Jesus may peace and blessings be upon him.

In terms of the mission: We find that the mission of Prophet Moses was completed in a sense that he not only succeeded in his preaching, but also established a new order following those commandments. The same thing is applicable to Muhammad. Before his death, there was already an Islamic community that was victorious over its enemies. In the case of Jesus, we find the opposite is true. The persecution of Christians persisted for many years to come and not until the year 325, when Constantine was said to have embraced Christianity, did the pressures on Christians begin to lighten.

These points are not the only ones. Another striking similarity is that Moses left Egypt, his birthplace at a time when there was a conspiracy to kill him and he went to Median, to Prophet Jethro. Muhammad, also, left his birthplace, Mecca, on the same night he was to be assassinated and fled to Medina.

Kindness without a limit is the attribute of Allah and that attribute is manifested in the purest of form possible in the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He has not only preached the virtues of kindness but he has also practically demonstrated the virtues of kindness not only to Muslims or friends but also to non-Muslims and the people he did not know. There is a beautiful hadith that
“God is kind and likes kindness in all things” (Bukhari, 6601).

Our beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH was a pure manifestation of kindness and compassion. He was a torch of light not only for the Muslims but for the entire world. He would not differentiate between Muslims and non Muslims and would treat all of them with the utmost kindness and compassion. There was an old woman in Mecca who used to throw garbage in the holy prophet every day when he passed through there to go to the mosque. One day when he passed and the woman did not throw the garbage the holy prophet became concerned and asked the neighbors about the woman. He was told that the woman was sick. Upon hearing that went to see that woman. When the woman saw the prophet she said out of contempt that
“Have you now come to see the dreadful state that I am in?”
The Holy prophet kindly replied
“I have merely come to inquire about your health”
Upon hearing such kind words from the women embraced Islam immediately.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the best example of kindness and compassion. His acts of compassion not only encompassed those he knew but he was kind and compassionate to animate and inanimate as well. There are no boundaries to the limit of kindness of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). The Holy prophet was especially kind and compassionate to the children and considered them to be a gift from God. He would offer the first date of the season to the youngest child and would say that this would bring barkat to the dates. The Holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to carry Hassan and Husain on his shoulders. While he was offering prayer and taking a bow Hazrat Husain would come and climb up on his back and sit there. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) would stay in that position till Hazrat Husain would not get off.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) particularly emphasized to be king and compassionate to relatives. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was strictly against vows of silence among relatives and said
“He who remains sour of his relative for a period longer than three nights and three days will not enter heaven”
This tells us the importance of kindness and compassion in the religion. As the followers of Islam and the lovers of the Holy Prophet PBUH it is our first and foremost duty to follow the teachings of our Prophet and to adopt his way of life so that we may be successful in this life and the life here after.
- See more at: muslim-academy.com/kindness-and-compassion-in-islam/#sthash.Y812xSy3.dpuf

Yet in the torrent of words from commentators, there was a resounding silence about the elephant in the room: relations between Christianity and Islam. Despite John Paul II's historic gestures of penitence for the church's long-standing demonization of Islam, one heard virtually nothing about this outstanding hallmark of his pontificate. While there are many possible explanations for this disturbing absence of interest and understanding about Islam on the part of Western media, one clear cause is a general psychological revulsion against Islam after 9/11. The resulting aversion has discouraged an examination of the complex relationship between Christians and Muslims, rooted in a thousand years of history.

Islam simply doesn't offer a Christian anything. There is no healing of original sin, no reconciliation to God, no personal relationship with God, and no mercy; there is only stern "justice".

Islam simply doesn't offer a Christian anything. There is no healing of original sin,

no reconciliation to God, no personal relationship with God, and no mercy; there is only stern "justice".

But a complete reconciliation is not possible, until Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.