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Comparative
Religion
Christianity
> Introduction
> Position
of Jesus in Islam
>
Concept of God in Christianity
>
Prophet Muhammad in Bible (OT & NT)
>
Similarities Between Christianity and Islam
Introduction
Christianity is a Semitic
religion, which claims to have nearly 1.2 billion adherents
all over the world. Christianity owes its name to Jesus
Christ (peace be on him). The Holy Bible is the sacred
scripture of the Christians:
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The Bible is divided into
two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The
Old Testament is the Holy Scripture of the Jews and
contains records of all the prophets of the Jews that
came before Jesus (pbuh).
The New Testament contains records of the life of Jesus
(pbuh).
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The complete Bible, i.e. the
Old Testament and the New Testament put together,
contains 73 books. However, the Protestant Bible i.e.
the King James Version, contains only 66 books as they
consider 7 books of the Old Testament to be apocrypha,
i.e. of doubtful authority.
Therefore the Old Testament of the Catholics, contains
46 books and that of the Protestants, 39 books. However
the New Testament of both these sects contains 27 books.
Position of Jesus in
Islam
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Islam is the only non-Christian
faith, which makes it an article of faith to believe in
Jesus (pbuh). No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not
believe in Jesus (pbuh).
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We believe that he was one of the
mightiest Messengers of Allah (swt).
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We believe that he was born
miraculously, without any male intervention, which many
modern day Christians do not believe.
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We believe he was the Messiah
translated Christ (pbuh).
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We believe that he gave life to the
dead with God’s permission.
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We believe that he healed those born
blind, and the lepers with God’s permission.
Concept of God in
Christianity
New Testament
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Jesus Christ Never
Claimed Divinity
One may ask, if both Muslims and Christians love and
respect Jesus (pbuh), where exactly is the parting of
ways? The major difference between Islam and
Christianity is the Christians’ insistence on the
supposed divinity of Christ (pbuh). A study of the
Christian scriptures reveals that Jesus (pbuh) never
claimed divinity. In fact there is not a single
unequivocal statement in the entire Bible where Jesus
(pbuh) himself says, "I am God" or where he says,
"worship me". In fact the Bible contains statements
attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in which he preached quite
the contrary. The following statements in the Bible are
attributed to Jesus Christ:
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"My Father is greater
than I." [The Bible, John 14:28]
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"My Father is greater
than all." [The Bible, John 10:29]
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"…I cast out devils by
the Spirit of God…." [The Bible, Mathew 12:28]
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"…I with the finger of
God cast out devils…." [The Bible, Luke 11:20]
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"I can of mine own self
do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is
just; because I seek not my own will, but the will
of the Father which hath sent me." [The Bible,
John 5:30]
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The Mission of Jesus
Christ (pbuh) – to Fulfill the Law
Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity for himself. He
clearly announced the nature of his mission. Jesus
(pbuh) was sent by God to confirm the previous Judaic
law. This is clearly evident in the following statements
attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of Mathew:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For
verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled.
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall
do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven."
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven." [The Bible, Mathew 5:17-20]
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God Sent Jesus' (pbuh)
The Bible mentions the prophetic nature of Jesus
(pbuh) mission in the following verses:
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"… and the word which ye
hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me."
[The Bible, John 14:24]
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"And this is life
eternal, that they might know thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." [The
Bible, John 17:3]
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Jesus Refuted even the Remotest
Suggestion of his Divinity
Consider the following incident mentioned in the
Bible:
"And behold, one came and said unto him, ‘Good Master,
what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal
life?’
And he said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? There
is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt
enter into life, keep the commandments.’ "
[The Bible, Mathew 19:16-17]
Jesus (pbuh) did not say that to have the eternal life
of paradise, man should believe in him as Almighty God
or worship him as God, or believe that Jesus (pbuh)
would die for his sins. On the contrary he said that the
path to salvation was through keeping the commandments.
It is indeed striking to note the difference between the
words of Jesus Christ (pbuh) and the Christian dogma of
salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus (pbuh).
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Jesus (pbuh) of Nazareth – a Man
Approved of God
The following statement from the Bible supports the
Islamic belief that Jesus (pbuh) was a prophet of God.
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth,
a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders
and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as
ye yourselves also know." [The Bible, Acts 2:22]
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The First Commandment is that God
is One
The Bible does not support the Christian belief in
trinity at all. One of the scribes once asked Jesus
(pbuh) as to which was the first commandment of all, to
which Jesus (pbuh) merely repeated what Moses (pbuh) had
said earlier:
"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."
This is a Hebrew quotation, which means:
"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." [The
Bible, Mark 12:29]
It is striking that the basic teachings of the Church
such as Trinity and vicarious atonement find no mention
in the Bible. In fact, various verses of the Bible point
to Jesus’ (pbuh) actual mission, which was to fulfill
the law revealed to Prophet Moses (pbuh). Indeed Jesus
(pbuh) rejected any suggestions that attributed divinity
to him, and explained his miracles as the power of the
One True God.
Jesus (pbuh) thus reiterated the message of monotheism
that was given by all earlier prophets of Almighty God.
NOTE: All quotations of the Bible are taken from the
King James Version.
Old Testament
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God is One
The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy
contains an exhortation from Moses (pbuh):
"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad".
It is a Hebrew quotation which means:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4]
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Oneness of God in the Book of
Isaiah
The following verses are from the Book of Isaiah:
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"I, even I, am the Lord; and
beside me there is no saviour."
[The Bible, Isaiah 43:11]
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"I am Lord, and there is none
else, there is no God besides me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 45:5]
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"I am God, and there is none
else; I am God, and there is none like me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 46:9]
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Old Testament condemns idol worship
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Old Testament condemns idol worship in the following
verses:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth:"
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Exodus 20:3-5]
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A similar message is repeated in the book of
Deuteronomy:
"Thou shalt have none other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any
likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or
that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
beneath the earth."
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor
serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous
God."
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 5:7-9]
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Prophet
Muhammad in Bible (OT & NT)
>
Old Testament
>
New Testament
Old Testament
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Al-Araf chapter 7
verse 157:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find
mentioned in their own (scriptures) in the law and the Gospel".
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Prophet Muhammad, prophesised in the
Book of Deuteronomy:
Almighty God speaks to Moses in Book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18:
"I will raise them up
a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth;
and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
The Christians say that
this prophecy refers to Jesus (pbuh) because Jesus (pbuh) was like Moses (pbuh). Moses (pbuh) was a Jew, as well as Jesus (pbuh) was a Jew. Moses (pbuh) was a Prophet and
Jesus (pbuh) was also a Prophet.
If these two are the only
criteria for this prophecy to be fulfilled, then all the Prophets of the Bible who came
after
Moses (pbuh) such as Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Malachi, John the
Baptist, etc. (pbut) will
fulfill this prophecy since all were Jews as well as prophets.
However, it is Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) who is like Moses (pbuh):
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Both had a father and a mother, while Jesus (pbuh)
was born miraculously without any male intervention.
[Mathew 1:18 and Luke 1:35 and also Al-Qur'an 3:42-47]
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Both were married and had children. Jesus (pbuh)
according to the Bible did not marry nor had children.
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Both died natural deaths. Jesus (pbuh) has been
raised up alive. (4:157-158)
Muhammad (pbuh) is from among the brethren of Moses (pbuh). Arabs are brethren of Jews.
Abraham (pbuh) had two sons: Ishmail and Isaac (pbut). The Arabs are the descendants of
Ishmail (pbuh) and the Jews are the descendants of Isaac (pbuh).
Words in the mouth:
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was
unlettered and whatever revelations he received from Almighty God he repeated them
verbatim.
"I will raise them up
a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth;
and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." [Deuteronomy 18:18]
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Both besides being Prophets were also kings i.e.
they could inflict capital punishment. Jesus (pbuh) said, "My
kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36).
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Both were accepted as Prophets by their people in
their lifetime but Jesus (pbuh) was rejected by his
people. John chapter 1 verse 11 states, "He came unto his own, but
his own received him not."
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Both brought new laws and new regulations for
their people. Jesus (pbuh) according to the Bible did not bring any
new laws. (Mathew 5:17-18).
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It is Mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy chapter
18:19
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not harken unto my words which he
shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."
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Muhammad (pbuh) is prophesised in the book of
Isaiah:
It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12:
"And the book is
delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am
not learned."
When Archangel Gabrail
commanded Muhammad (pbuh) by saying Iqra - "Read", he replied, "I am not
learned".
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Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned by
name in the old testament:
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name in the Song of Solomon chapter 5 verse 16:
"Hikko Mamittakim
we kullo Muhammadim Zehdoodeh wa Zehraee Bayna Jerusalem."
"His mouth is most
sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O
daughters
of Jerusalem."
In the Hebrew language im
is added for respect. Similarely im is added after the name of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) to make it Muhammadim. In English translation they have even translated the name of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as "altogether lovely", but in
the Old Testament in Hebrew, the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is yet present.
New Testament
Al-Qur'an Chapter 61
Verse 6:
"And remember, Jesus,
the son of Mary, said, 'O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you,
confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come
after me, whose name shall be Ahmed.' But when he came to them with clear signs, they
said, 'This is evident sorcery!' "
All the prophecies
mentioned in the Old Testament regarding Muhammad (pbuh) besides applying to the Jews also
hold good for the Christians.
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John
chapter 14 verse 16:
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you forever."
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Gospel of
John chapter 15 verse 26:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the
Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he
shall testify of me."
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Gospel of
John chapter 16 verse 7:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I
go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you".
"Ahmed" or
"Muhammad" meaning "the one who praises" or "the praised
one" is almost the translation of the
Greek word Periclytos. In the Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7. The word
'Comforter' is used in the English translation for the Greek
word Paracletos which means advocate or a kind friend rather than a comforter.
Paracletos is the warped reading for Periclytos. Jesus (pbuh) actually
prophesised Ahmed by name. Even the
Greek word Paraclete refers to the Prophet (pbuh) who is a mercy for all creatures.
Some Christians say that
the Comforter mentioned in these prophecies refers to the Holy Sprit. They fail to realise
that the prophecy clearly says that only if Jesus (pbuh) departs will the Comforter come.
The Bible states that the
Holy Spirit was already present on earth before and during the time of Jesus (pbuh), in
the womb of Elizabeth, and again when Jesus (pbuh) was being baptised,
etc. Hence this prophecy refers to none other than Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh).
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Gospel of
John chapter 16 verse 12-14:
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when
he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you unto all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to
come. He shall glorify me".
The Sprit of Truth, spoken about in this prophecy
refers to none other than Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) .
NOTE :
All quotations of the Bible are taken from the King James Version.
Top
Similarities Between
Christianity and Islam
"Say: O People of the Book
(Torah & Gospel)! Come to an agreement between us and you:
that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall
ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take
others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then
say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered
(unto Him)." [Quran, 3:64]
Similarities / Similar
Teachings in the Qur’an and the Bible which Muslims follow
but Christians don't.
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Islam
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Definition of Islam
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Meaning of Islam
> Islam is derived from the word salaam meaning
peace.
> Submission to the Will of Allah (God
Almighty).
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Meaning of ‘Muslim’ – One who submits his will
to Allah.
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Islam is not a new religion found by Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh).
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Messengers in Islam
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To every nation was sent a Guide or a Messenger.
(Qur'an 35:24 and 13:7)
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25 Prophets mentioned by name in the Qur'an
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Islam is the only non-Christian faith that
believes in Jesus (pbuh)
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Stories only of some prophets mentioned in
Qur'an (Qur'an 4:164 and 40:78)
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More than 1,24,000 Messengers according to
Hadith
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Previous Messengers were only sent for their
people and nation and their complete message was
meant only for a particular time period.
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Moses (pbuh) was only sent for the Jews.
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Jesus (pbuh) sent only for the Jews i.e. lost
sheep of Israel.
Al-Qur'an 3:49, Mathew 10:5-6, Mathew 15:24
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Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the Last and Final
Messenger for the Whole of Mankind.
Al-Qur'an 33:40, Al-Qur'an 21:107, Al-Qur'an
34:28
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Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prophesised in the
Bible.
Al-Qur'an 7:157
Al-Qur'an 61:6
Deuteronomy 18:18
Isaiah 29:12
Song of Solomon 5:16
John 16:7
John 16:12-14
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Revelations of God
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Several Revelations sent by Allah – Al-Qur'an
13:38.
By name only four are mentioned in the Qur’an.
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The Qur’an is the Last and Final Revelation.
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All previous Revelations before Qur'an were only
sent for a particular group of people and for a
particular time period.
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The Qur’an was Revealed for the Whole of
Mankind.
Al-Qur'an 14:1, 14:52, 2:185, 39:41
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Pillars of Islam
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Tauheed (Monotheism)
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La ilaha ilallahu, Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah
Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1 Hadith No. 7
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Believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the
Angels and the Book and the Messengers.
Al-Qur'an 2:177
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Come to common terms — Worship of one God
Al-Qur'an 3:64
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Concept of God
Al-Qur'an 112:1-4
Deuteronomy 6:4
Mark 12:29
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Shirk – Biggest Sin
Al-Qur'an 4:48
Al-Qur'an 4:116
Exodus 20:2-5
Deuteronomy 5:7-9
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Jesus (pbuh) not God. He never claimed Divinity
Al-Qur'an 5:72
John 14:28
John 10:29
Mathew 12:28
Luke 11:20
John 5:30
Acts 2:21
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99 Attributes of Almighty God
Al-Qur'an 17:110
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Prefer using name ‘Allah’ rather than the word
‘God’ as the word ‘God’ can be played around
with.
Word 'Allah' in the Bible – Eli, Eli, Lama
Sabachthani
Mark 15:34
Mathew 27:46
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Salah
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Not merely Prayers but Programming
Al-Qur'an 5:90
Al-Qur'an 2:188
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Prayers restrain you from shameful and unjust
deeds
Al-Qur'an 29:45
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Salaah timings – for healthy soul five times a
day
Al-Qur'an 17:78
Al-Qur'an 20:130
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Take off shoes before entering mosque.
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Commandment of Allah to Moses
Al-Qur'an 20:11-12
Exodus 3:5
Acts 7:33
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Can Pray with Shoes
Sunan Abu Dawood – Vol. 1, Book of Salaah,
Chapter 240,
Hadith No. 652-653.
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Hygienic
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Ablution
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Stand shoulder to shoulder, while praying –
Sahih Bukhari – Vol. 1, Book of Adhan Chapter 75
Hadith no. 692
Abu Dawood – Vol. 1, Book of Salaah Chapter 245
Hadith No. 666.
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Sujud – Prostration
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To humble your mind, humble your body
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Sujud mentioned 92 times in the Qur’an
Al-Qur'an 3:43 and 22:77
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Prostration in the Bible
Genesis 17:3; Numbers 20:6
Joshua 5:14; Mathew 26:39
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Zakah
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Meaning: Purification and Growth
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Description: 2.5% of saving every lunar year in
charity
Al-Qur'an 9:60
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If every human being gives Zakaah, not a single
person will die of hunger.
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"Wealth does not circulate only amongst the
wealthy and the rich"
Al-Qur'an 59:7
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I Peter 4:8
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Saum (Fasting)
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A. Description – one lunar month i.e. during the
month of Ramadaan every lunar year, Muslims
fast, i.e. abstain from food and drinks from
sunrise till sunset.
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Benefits: learn self restraint. If you can
control your hunger you can control almost all
your desires. It enhances spiritual awareness.
Al-Qur'an 2:183
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Medical Benefits:
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Discourages smoking, alcoholism and other
addictions.
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Bible prescribes Fasting
Mathew 17:21
Mark 9:29
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Hajj
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Description – Pilgrimage atleast once in life
time if you can afford it
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Universal Brotherhood – 2.5 million people from
all over the world gather, wear two pieces of
unsewn cloth, preferably white. Cannot
differentiate between rich and poor.
Al-Qur'an 49:13
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Significance of Kaaba – Muslims don’t worship it
Psalms 84:4-7
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Islam is a Complete Way of Life
These five pillars do not constitute complete Islam.
Only if the pillars are strong, will the structure be
strong.
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Humans Created to Worship Allah
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Jinn and Man created for worship of Allah (Al-Qur'an
51:56)
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Meaning of Ibadaah – root word Abd meaning ‘slave’.
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Obeying Commandments of Allah is Submitting Your Will to
Allah
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Abstaining from alcohol
Al-Qur'an 5:90
Proverbs 20:1
Ephesians 5:18
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Abstaining from prohibited food
Al-Qur'an 5:5
Al-Qur'an 2:173, 5:3, 6:145, 16:115
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Dead meat
Leviticus 17:15
Deuteronomy 14:21
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Blood
Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:14, Deuteronomy 12:16,
I Samuel 14:33, Acts 15:29
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Pork is prohibited
Leviticus 11:7-8
Deuteronomy 14:8
Isaiah 65:2-5
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Food on which names beside Allah have been invoked
Acts 15:29; Revelation 2:14
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Being Honest in your Business
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Helping Neighbours
Al-Qur'an 107:1-7
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Abstaining from Backbiting
Al-Qur'an 104:1-3
Al-Qur'an 49:11-12
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Obeying and Respecting Parents
Al-Qur'an 17:23, 24
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Celibacy or Monasticism is prohibited in Islam
Sahih Bukhari: Vol. 7 Book of Nikah, Chapter No. 3,
Hadith No. 4
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Loving, being Kind and Just to your Wife
Al-Qur'an 4:19
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Abstaining from Adultery
Al-Qur'an 17:32
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Dressing Modestly
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Circumcision
Acts 7:8
John 7:22
Luke 2:21
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In short, every Muslim should follow all the
Commandments of Allah (swt) and His Messenger Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and abstain from the things they have
prohibited.
Conclusion
-
If Christian is a person who
follows the teachings of Christ (pbuh) and not one who
worships Christ (pbuh). (We are more Christian than the
Christians themselves).
-
Muslim is a person who
submits his will to Allah.
Jesus (pbuh) said, "not my will but thy will be done."
i.e. Muslim.
John 5:30
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Al-Qur'an 5:82
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