Comparative Study: Islam and Christianity

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Islam and Christianity Islam and Christianity are both extremely prominent religions. The histories of these religions, as well as their beliefs and impacts on the world today, share many commonalities. However, both Islam and Christianity are also unique in these elements. The founders of Islam and Christianity were alike because they both underwent religious experiences. Islam was founded by Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. He was born to a powerful tribe in Mecca, a city in present-day Saudi Arabia, in 570 CE. He was orphaned as a young boy, went to live with his uncle, and eventually became a trader and travelled to distant places. He retreated to mountainous regions outside of Mecca to meditate on the city’s religious corruptions. During
Islam spread much quicker than Christianity. In the centuries following Muhammad’s death, an Islamic Arab state formed and spread to Egypt, Rome, Byzantium, Persia, and Mesopotamia. The people in this state all shared a common faith, but maintained unique cultural identities (Strayer 418). This Arab state that stretched from Spain to India was able to draw on its entire population for military services, which resulted in a widespread conversion to Islam (Strayer 419). When the Arab armies conquered people, they were very tolerant of other religions. They allowed Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians to live as second-class citizens and to freely practice their respective religions as long as they paid a special tax (Strayer 420). Arabs rarely forced people to convert to Islam, but many people made the consensual decision to do so. This was because conversion to Islam came with many advantages, including exemption from the special tax and social mobility. Widespread conversion was also made easier because some elements of Islam, such as fasting and the beliefs in one God and heaven, were familiar to Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians (Strayer
Islam is based on the belief that the Prophet Muhammad is Allah’s, or God’s, messenger. They believe the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and gave him Allah’s word, which makes up Islam. They believe Allah is the “only Creator, Provider, and Commander” and that he alone should be worshiped and obeyed (Islam Beliefs and Practices). Christians also believe in a single God. However, they believe that God exists in three forms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Together, these make up the Trinity (Karpiel and Krull 411). Christians also believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that he died and rose again, which proves that he was both human and divine. They believe this belief will grant them eternal life with God (Karpiel and Krull 410). Muslims, however, believe that Jesus was just a

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