Christianity And Islam Don’t Share A God

For a few months I’ve been investigating denominations that seemingly everyone accepts as Christian and attempting to determine if they, in fact, uphold biblical Christian beliefs. Previous posts have covered Catholicism, Lutheranism, Mormons , and Jehovah’s Witnesses. There is another argument, though, about various faiths that I believe is important to consider. “All religions are the same.” Some might instead say, “All religions are talking about the same God.” This is a dangerous assertion to make, and Christians need to know just how false that statement is. I want to start with a religion that is controversial to discuss and widely accepted as legitimate by many Christians. So, let me start by saying Christianity and Islam don’t both worship God.

Disclaimers

1. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and it represents nearly 25% of the Earth’s population. No matter what I say about Islam there will be someone who doesn’t practice their faith exactly that way. I understand that. This post is meant to look at the basic teachings of Islam, not to discuss the nuances of every individual Muslim’s faith.

2. As always, I want to give some history of the religion in question, but this is not a history class. I highly recommend reading more about Islam on your own if you would like a more in-depth understanding. For our purposes, I’m going to breeze through some lengthy and fascinating history in order to stay on track. For further reading I suggest The Religion of Islam website or Muslim Unity Center. Both are a great place to start.

History Of Islam

Islam began in the 7th century and was founded by Muhammad. He was a religious man who went on retreats into the mountains to pray. The angel Gabriel, according to Muhammad, visited him on one of these retreats and gave him direct revelation from Allah (Arabic for God). The revelation included beliefs in stark contrast to Christianity.

1. “God is one.” To Muslims this also means there is no Trinity.

2. Because Jesus cannot be God according to Islam, he is only a prophet.

3. Complete surrender is the only way to please Allah. The word Islam means surrender. Though the idea of surrendering to God is something Christians support, they believe Jesus is a part of that picture.

Muhammad Grows Islam

Muhammad traveled to Medina after being rejected and persecuted in Mecca. In Medina, he gathered converts until he had 10,000 followers. Muhammad and his 10,000 marched upon Mecca, taking the city easily. Once victorious, he went throughout the city destroying pagan idols.

Muhammad was not satisfied, therefore, he continued growing Islam through military force. Sometimes, he bribed communities to convert to Islam. More often, though, he approached a city by offering peace if the people of the city would accept Islam as the one true religion. If the city refused, Muhammad and his military destroyed it in the name of Allah.

Christianity And Islam: Doctrinal Incongruency

Islam has six major doctrinal beliefs. In deciding whether or not we both worship God, we ought to compare and contrast these doctrines with those of Christianity.

1. The belief in One Allah

Muslims believe that Allah is the creator, is eternal, and is sovereign (that is, has authority and power over everything).

The Muslim belief here sounds very similar to the Christian understanding of God. We know that God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1), is eternal (Revelation 22:13), and is sovereign (Psalm 135:6; Job 42:2).

This belief alone does not raise any red flags. The context is key. Allah cannot be the true God if his teachings differ from God’s Word.

2. The belief in angels

Islam teaches that angels are messengers from Allah who worship him. Muslims believe that angels carry out commandments from Allah, working in nature and the universe.

Angels have an important position in Islam. Muslims are taught that angels have a hand in creation, death, resurrection, and nature. For example, some even believe there is an angel who makes thunder. Thor, perhaps?

Angels are messengers from God, and we have recorded accounts of their actions on Earth. For instance, angels announced the birth of Christ (Luke 2:8-14), rescued Lot from Sodom’s destruction (Genesis 19:1-22), and helped the apostle Peter escape prison (Acts 12:6-11).

Christians definitely believe in angels, and the Bible has plenty to say about them. However, Islam appears to put more emphasis on them than Christians. In fact, Islam entirely relies on angels’ existence because without the revelation they believe Gabriel gave Muhammad, there would be no Islam at all.

3. The belief in prophets

Christianity and Islam believe in prophets, but a couple of significant differences exist between the two religions.

First, Islam rejects Jesus as the Messiah and teaches He is one among many prophets. We know Jesus is the Messiah because it is stated clearly in Matthew 1:16. Signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah are all throughout the Bible. Among the more notable example is the Suffering Servant described in Isaiah 53. Some descriptions in the passage identify Him as despised and rejected, oppressed and afflicted, and buried in a rich man’s tomb after dying with criminals. It is such an obvious depiction of Jesus that Isaiah 53 is commonly used to witness to Jews about the true nature of Jesus Christ.

Second, Muslims believe Muhammad was the final prophet. Christians do not recognize Muhammad as a prophet. Also, the Bible teaches that the last prophets will be the Two Witnesses during the tribulation.

4. The belief in revelations

Christianity and Islam agree that God revealed Himself to man, but they differ in which sources they turn to for authority.

Muslims believe that God revealed Himself through prophets, including those we find in the Old Testament and Jesus in the gospels. On the other hand, Islam teaches that the Old and New Testaments have been corrupted since the original texts. Meanwhile, Islam’s holy book, the Qur’an, stands as the perfect word of Allah.

The Qur’an is Islam’s authoritative book, and Muslims turn to it as a guide for one’s own life and how society should best function.

Christians do not believe the Qur’an is the inspired Word of God. One big reason the Qur’an cannot be God’s Word is because God said it can’t be. The Bible was completed in the 4th century. At that point, the canon was closed, and God instructed us in His Word that no one my add to it or take away from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Galatians 1:6-12; Revelation 22:18). Islam beginning three centuries after the Bible was completed means new revelation cannot be added. God’s Word is final.

The teaching in the Qur’an is the other reason Christians reject it. The Qur’an teaches things that are in complete opposition to the Bible, and the Bible is authoritative in the Christian faith and a guide through life (Psalm 119:105; John 1:1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 17:17; Proverbs 30:5).

5. The belief in the last day of Judgment and the hereafter

Muslims believe that everyone will be resurrected for judgment into paradise or hell.

Christians believe that one day everyone who has passed away will be bodily resurrected and judged (Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29). All of us will spend eternity with the Lord in glory or eternity in the lake of fire.

Have Christianity and Islam finally found some common ground?

This is an example of two religions saying what sounds like the thing but meaning very different things.

Hell

The Islamic version of Hell, Jahannam, is filled with scorching fire pits, boiling water, and suffering. Jahannam is eternal; therefore, no one can be saved out of it eventually.

Biblical Hell is also an eternal destination. Those who have not received salvation through Jesus Christ, along with Satan and his demons, will be ultimately sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10; 20:14; 20:15; 21:8).

The Bible also teaches that the lake of fire was not created for mankind, rather God made it for Satan and the other fallen angels (Matthew 25:41). God sends people there, though, because we are all stained with sin from Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:12), and we cannot enter the presence of God as sinners because He is perfect, without darkness (1 John 1:5).

Without salvation through Christ, God must send us to Hell. So, we know what our eternal destination will be. Muslims, on the other hand, cannot be certain if they will go to Jahannam or not.

Paradise

Muslim Heaven is called Jannah, or paradise. Islam describes paradise as a beautiful garden with rivers of milk, water, honey, and wine. Jannah is filled with delicious foods to eat and comfortable beds to recline in for relaxation. Paradise has seven levels with a different prophet on each level.

Also, Muslims might believe men can marry and have sexual intercourse with 70+ virgins a day. I say Muslims might believe this because many Muslims deny this is an Islamic teaching. Nevertheless, some sources continue to propagate this detail as an expectation of paradise. My best guess is that some Muslims absolutely believe this is true while others reject it outright.

Whether or not the virgin portion of paradise is true, Islamic paradise is not described in spiritual terms. It is presented as a reward for good behavior. It seems to feed fleshly desires and focuses less on the Allah these men and women believe they served in life.

 Heaven

Heaven is where true Christians will go after death. When a Christian dies, she is “away form the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). One day, believers will have a bodily resurrection, and their souls will be reunited with their glorified bodies. Ultimately, the Lord will create the new heavens and earth in which Christians will spend eternity (Revelation 21:1).  

Heaven will have no more tears, pain, or sorrow (Revelation 21:4). The best part is that we will be with the Lord, in His presence, serving and worshiping (Revelation 22:3). The hereafter or eternity in Christianity is all about God. It’s not a self-interested vacation to fulfill one’s lusts. It is defined by being face-to-face with the Lord.

6. The belief in predestination

Islam teaches that Allah has decided everything that will happen in one’s life. Generally, Muslims believe they are not able to choose anything that Allah has not already predestined. A common expression among some Muslims is insha’Allah which means “if God wills.”

It is important to note that not all Muslims believe that life is predestined. There are some who believe they have free will, but Allah knows what they will do.

Christians, like Muslims, do not all agree on the idea of predestination. Some think God has decided every little thing in one’s life. Others think He stands back and watches. But most Christians understand that God will accomplish His plans (Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 19:21; Genesis 50:20). God’s sovereignty and free will can be a tricky balancing act, but Christians know there must be some amount of both involved.

The Islamic teaching of predestination is problematic when it comes to sin and obedience. If Allah has decided what everyone will do, how can anyone be held responsible for her sin? The Islamic version of predestination leaves us no choice but to blame Allah for the sins in the world.

Christianity And Islam: Grace Vs. Works

As with all other religions, we come to the biggest question. Are we saved by works or grace? As I always say, we can’t work our way to Heaven. We are never, ever, ever going to be good enough. Not one of us.

Nope, not even you…

Let’s look at what Muslims believe they must do to be saved. And remember, don’t look on the people in this works-based system with disdain. They are trapped in a never-ending cycle of work that will cannot lead them where they are trying to go. So, read on with compassion.

5 Pillars Of Islam

1. Testimony of faith (shahada)

To convert to Islam all you have to do is say the creed.

“There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”

Saying and believing the above acknowledges Allah and denounces all other gods. It also holds Muhammad up in his elevated position as prophet.

2. Prayer (salat)

Muslims are expected to perform five ritual prayers every day while facing Mecca. These prayers are conducted at appointed times of the day.

3. Almsgiving (zakat)

Muslims must give a certain percentage of their earnings once a year. Most sources say that 2.5% of one’s surplus earnings is the minimum someone should give.

4. Fasting (sawm)

During Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat or drink from dawn until sunset.

5. Pilgrimage (hajj)

Muslims are supposed to take a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once if they are financially and physically able. Muslims complete hajj in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.

Work, Work, Work

Each one of the pillars is just a task to complete. Most people would look at this list and see nothing wrong with it, but the problem lies in the meaning behind these activities. Entrance to paradise is dependent on one’s obedience to these pillars.

Muslims are running on a hamster wheel trying to have a nice afterlife. But they don’t know where they’ll go. Islam offers no security in their salvation. Even Muhammad did not know if he would enter paradise.

Works make sense to Muslims based on the teachings of Islam, though. Islam teaches that everyone is born sinless. According to the Qur’an, we are not stained with sin upon entering the world. Instead, we just need to work off the sins we are committing and choose not to sin.

“…Surely, good deeds wipe out evil deeds.”

11:114 Qur’an

Grace, Grace, God’s Grace

Christianity and Islam differ in many aspects, but the great works-grace debate is the biggest area of contention. The Bible is crystal clear on this subject. We can’t earn salvation.

We are all sinners and cannot meet God’s expectations, but by God’s grace we can be saved by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:5-6

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:6

Final Thought

As of today, estimates claim that there are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. Of those individuals, approximately 10 million reside in the United States of America. What can we do with this information?

First, we can plainly acknowledge that Christianity and Islam are not worshiping the same God. So, put that coexist bumper sticker away and own the facts. Contradictory truths cannot both be true.

Second, pray. It’s hard to reach Muslims with the gospel. Sadly, a lot of people feel intimidated by Muslims because of the attacks on 9/11. Those terrorists did a terrible thing, but they do not represent every Muslim person you meet. So, pray for people to bravely share the gospel with their Muslim neighbors and co-workers and that those Muslims will be receptive.

Third, have patience and trust in the Lord’s will. Don’t forget that we don’t save anyone. God does. We can show Christ’s love, share the gospel, pray, and know that He will call to Himself those He chooses.

Have you ever witnessed to a Muslim? How did it go?

Image courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy via Unsplash.