Christianity and Islam
share much common ground. Both the Christians and the Muslims trace their roots
to Abraham. Both believe in Jesus as the Messiah and His second coming.
Both believe in prophecy, God's messengers (apostles), revelation,
scripture, and the resurrection of dead. But both agreed not to agree on the
doctrine of salvation. Actually there are different teachings on salvation even
within the Christians and the Muslims. Some Christians believe in salvation by
faith alone, the others believe in salvation by faith plus works; the teachings
of salvation are different from church to church. The Scripture clearly teach
that we are saved (justified) by faith in Christ and what He has done on the
cross. This faith alone saves us. Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace you have
been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God. Not by works …" However, James says in James
2:24, "You see that a man is justified by works, and not
by faith alone."
Let us examine this topic
from the Scripture and the Qur’an; please remember that there are several
passages in the Qur’an which commands Muslims to affirm and to testify their
belief in the Scripture:
Qur’an 29:46 “… and say: We believe in
that which hath been revealed unto us andrevealed unto you; our God and
your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.”
Qur’an 4:136 O believers, believe in God
and His Messenger and the Book He has sent down on His Messenger and
the Book which He sent down before. Whoso disbelieves in God and His angels and
His Books, and His Messengers, and the Last Day, has surely gone astray
into far error.
Qur’an 2:285 … and the believers; each one believes in
God and His angels, and in His Books and His Messengers; we
make no division between any one of His Messengers. …”
Muslim exegetes had no
problem identifying the Scriptures as the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel
etc., which these Books are still extant and available for examination.
God’s Words can never be
changed:
Qur’an 6:114-115 “What, shall I seek after any judge but God?
For it is He who sent down to you the Book well-distinguished;
and those whom We have given the Book know it is sent down from thy Lord with
the truth; so be not thou of the doubters. Perfect are the words of
thy Lord in truthfulness and justice; no man can change His words; He
is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.”
Qur’an 10:64 For them are glad tidings, in the life of the
present and in the Hereafter; no change can there be in the words of
Allah. This is indeed the supreme felicity.
Did the Qur'an accept the
Book of the Jews and the Christians as the word of God? Did it say that none
can alter His words and it is a supreme success?
Accepted:
They include: The Law of
Moses, The Psalms, The Prophets and The Gospel 28:43; 4:163;
They are Enlightenment
for mankind, guidance and mercy 28:433. There are no distinction of Messengers
and Books 2:87; 2:285; 3:48 None can alter/change the words of God. 10:64,
6:35, 18:27
The Qur’an confirms those
very Scriptures which were in the hands of the Jews and Christians.
Qur’an 3:3 He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the
Scripture with truth,confirming that which was (revealed) before it,
even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.
Qur’an 5:48 To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, CONFIRMING
the scripture that came before it, and GUARDING it in safety: …
Qur’an 46:12 When before it there was the Scripture
of Moses, an example and a mercy; and this is a CONFIRMING
Scripture in the Arabic language, that it may warn those who do wrong and
bring good tidings for the righteous.
Qur’an 12:111 In their history verily there is a lesson
for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a CONFIRMATION of
the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and
a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.
The question one should
immediately ask in light of these texts is what was in this Scriptures which
the Qur’an confirms and the Muslims were commanded to believe in? What is the
one red thread runs throughout the Torah and Gospel? The answer is the
SALVATION. Thus, when God command us to believe and when we
say we believe in the Scripture it means we believe in the
salvation which is recorded in the Scripture.
The Qur'an teaches that
Islam is the continued faithful religion in the same line as the Prophets who
were before Muhammad.
Qur’an 42:13 “The same religion has He established for
you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration
to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely,
that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein:
…”
Qur’an 3:84 Say: We believe in Allah and
that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham and
Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was
vouchsafed unto Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We
make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.
Qur’an 29:46 “… and say: We believe in
that which hath been revealed unto us andrevealed unto you; our God and
your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.”
Everyone who believes in
Qur’an must believe in the salvation which is recorded in the
Scripture and the Qur’an commends us to believe in.
What is the salvation
that is written in the Bible? Are we saved by faith alone, or do we need works,
too? Some might see the salvation issue little too complicated but, is it
really so? Paul speaks of faith as a life-long process, never as a one-time
experience (Philippians 2:12). He never assumes he has nothing to worry about.
If he did, his words in (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) would be nonsensical. He
reiterates the same point again in his second letter to Corinth (2 Corinthians
13:5). He takes nothing for granted. Paul tells us our faith can go through
many stages.
Do our works mean
anything? According to Jesus they do (Matthew 25:31-46). The people rewarded
and punished are done so by their actions. And our thoughts (Matthew 15:18-20)
and words (James 3:6-12) are accountable as well.
Many verses from Qur’an
and Bible tells us that we have to believe (have faith) and work righteousness
for salvation.
Psalm 62:12 For you render to each one according to his works.
Qur’an 5:9 “To those who believe and do
deeds of righteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great
reward.”
Mat 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds
that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Qur’an 7:42 “But those who believe and work
righteousness,- no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it
can bear, they will be Companions of the Garden, therein to dwell (forever).”
Proverbs 10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to
life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Qur’an 2:257 “Allah is the Protector of those who
have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth
into light. …”
Joh 5:29 and shall come forth; they that have
done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.
Qur’an 5:69 Those who believe, those who follow the
Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who
believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall
be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Qur’an 3:116 “Those
who reject Faith,- neither
their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against
Allah: …”
Qur’an 18:30 “As to those who believe and work
righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who
do a (single) righteous deed.”
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone..
Qu’ran 2.39 “But those who reject Faith and
belie Our Signs, they shall be companions of the Fire; ...”
Revelation 2:23 I will give unto every one of you according
to your works.
Qur’an 3:131 And fear the Fire, which is prepared for
those who reject Faith.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.
Jas 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it does
not have any works, is dead.
Jas 2:20-26 Do you want proof, you foolish person, that
faith without works is worthless? Our ancestor Abraham was justified by works
when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, wasn't he? You see that his faith
was active with his works, and by his works faith was made complete. And so the
Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness." And so he was called God's friend. You
see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise,
Rahab the prostitute was justified by works when she welcomed the messengers
and sent them away on a different road, wasn't she? For just as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works isalso dead.
Qur'an 17:57 “…even those who are nearest: they hope for
His Mercy…”
The Prophet of Islam
said:
“Do good deeds properly,
sincerely and moderately, and receive good news because one’s
good deeds will NOT make him enter Paradise.” They asked, “Even you, O Allah’s
Apostle?” He said, “Even I, unless and until Allah bestows His pardon and Mercy
on me.” (Sahih al Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Number 474)
"No one of you will
enter Paradise by his deeds alone." They asked, "Not even you, O
Messenger of Allâh?" He said, "Not even me, unless Allâh covers me with
His Grace and Mercy" (Sahîh Muslim, 4/2170, no. 2816)
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not
of works, lest anyone should boast.
Up to here we read verses
from Qur’an teach we have to believe and work
righteousness, Prophet of Islam says it’s not by one’s good deeds that one
will enter paradise but by Allah’s Mercy. The Bible says faith by
itself, if it does not have any works, is dead, the same Bible says “have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the
gift of God, not of works”
Actually the Scripture
teaches that a person is saved by faith alone, not by faith and works combined.
Being saved by faith alone means simply if you confess that Jesus is Lord, and
believe in your heart that He died for you and God raised him from the dead; he
will give you eternal life. We do not have to do any specific thing to gain
eternal life.
Rom. 5:1, "therefore having been justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Rom. 3:28, "For we maintain that a man is
justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Gal. 3:24 "Therefore the Law has become
our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith."
Faith alone, without
doing any specific work saved Mary in Luke 7:48-50, the blind man in Luke
18:12,42, the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, and the paralyzed man in
Matthew 9:2 They all did different things that showed their faith.
The scriptures clearly
teach that we are saved (justified) by faith in Christ and what He has done on
the cross. This faith alone saves us. However, we cannot stop here
without addressing what James says in James 2:24, "You see that a man is
justified by works, and not by faith alone."
There is no
contradiction. All we need to do is look at the context. James
chapter 2 Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works.
James begins this section
by using the example of someone who says he has faith but has no works,
"What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no
works? Can that faith save him?" (James 2:14). In other words, James
is addressing the issue of a dead faith, a faith that is nothing more than a
verbal pronouncement, a public confession of the mind, and is not
heart-felt. It is empty of life and action. He begins with the
negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17, words without
actions). Then he shows that type of faith isn't any different from the faith
of demons (verse 19). Finally, he gives examples of living faith that has words
followed by actions. Works follow true faith and demonstrate that faith to
our fellow man, but not to God. James writes of Abraham and Rahab as
examples of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds.
In brief, James is
examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does
not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence,
"Faith without works is dead," (James 2:20). But, he is not
contradicting the verses above that say salvation/justification is by faith
alone.
We read in many verses in
Qur’an the following phrases: -who believe and do
deeds of righteousness, -who believe and work
righteousness, -who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work
righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. We must
believe, we must have that faith (which is that faith will lead us to the godly
works) to be saved. And this is exactly what James 2:20 says: "Faith
without works is dead."
The Qur’an clearly
teaches that nothing can save those who reject faith:
Qur’an 3:116 “Those
who reject Faith,- neither their
possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against Allah:
…”
Qu’ran 2.39 “But those who reject Faith and
belie Our Signs, they shall be companions of the Fire; ...”
Those who have Faith will
be saved, but the big question is, have faith in what? Believing that there is
one God? The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear (Jas
2:19). But this dose not saves them. Demons will go to hell with “those
who reject Faith”.
God gave the Gospel to
the People of the Book so that they could make it known to the whole world and
preach the gospel to every nation:
Qur’an 3:187 And remember Allah took a covenant
from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to
hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it
some miserable gain! And vile was the bargain they made!
We read and confirm this
from the Bible:
Mar 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
What is “the Book” that “Allah took a covenant from the People of the Book,
to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it”? If someone
has to squeeze the Bible and summarize it with one verse we will and up with John
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It’s all about God’s Love
and Jesus.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him.
The whole Bible is about
Jesus and the whole foundation of the Christians faith is rested on death of
Jesus. The historical reality of Jesus death is an essential of the Christians
faith. Without Jesus death his resurrection becomes irrelevant, and without the
resurrection Christianity itself is rendered meaningless.
1 Corinthians 15:14 "and if Christ has not been raised, then our
preaching is vain, your faith also is vain."
Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved.
God took a covenant from
the People of the Book, to make the Gospel known and clear to
mankind, and not to hide it (Qur’an 3:187 Mar 16:15). What is the
gospel? Knowing the answer to this question is vital if one is to receive
salvation and have a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. 1
Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a good summary of what the gospel is:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 "Now I make known to you, brethren, the
gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you
stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached
to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first
importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day
according to the Scriptures."
The gospel is the good
news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that provides full
and free deliverance from the power and penalty of sin according to the grace
of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
God took a covenant from
the People of the Book, to make the Gospel known and clear to
mankind, and not to hide it (Qur’an 3:187 Mar 16:15). But the
church threw the gospel away, forbid God Words and start to preach pagan
doctrines. The church hides the truth about The Father and His Son and preached
the trinity. According to the trinity there is no Father and no Son but they
are role playing Gods. According to the trinity Jesus is not the Son but he is
another immortal God who can not die. And According to the trinity Jesus did
not really died but he was sitting and watching his death!
God revealed the Qur’an
to lead the Muslims and the entire world back to the Bible, back to the gospel
to the salvation which is recorded in the Scripture and was hidden by the
church. Having faith in Jesus Christ is our salvation. “whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (Joh 3:15).
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus
is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Qur’an 5:48 To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, CONFIRMING
the scripture that came before it, and GUARDING it in safety …
