Muhammad and Jesus: A Side by Side Comparison
Adapted from www.thereligionofpeace.com
"I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them." - Allah (Qur'an 8:12)
"Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah." - Muhammad (Ibn Ishaq 992)
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." - Jesus (Matthew 5:14)
Even though many Muslims regard terrorists who kill in the name of Allah as criminals, they cannot deny that Muhammad also killed in the name of Allah. What example of Jesus do Christians emulate which has them confused them with terrorists and criminals?
Each year, thousands of Christian homes and churches are torched or bombed by Muslim mobs, and hundreds of Christians, including dozens of priests, pastors, nuns and other church workers are murdered at the hands of Islamic extremists. The so-called justification varies, from charges of apostasy or evangelism, to purported "blasphemy" or "insulting" Islam. Innocent people have even been hacked to death by devout Muslims over cartoons.
Yet, there is little if any violent retaliation from religious Christians to the discrimination, kidnapping, rape, torture, mutilation and murder that is routinely reported from nations with Muslim majorities. Neither is there is any significant deadly terrorism in the name of Jesus, as there is in the stated cause of Allah each and every day. Muslim clerics in the West do not fear for their safety as do their Christian counterparts.
The "Christian world" and the Islamic world contrast sharply in other ways as well, from the disparate condition of human rights and civil liberties to economic status. An astonishing 70% of the world's refugees are Muslims - usually seeking to live in Christian-based countries.
These sharp differences are almost certainly rooted in the underlying religions, which begin with the disparate teachings and examples set by Jesus and Muhammad...
Differences Between Muhammad and Jesus |
|
Muhammad... |
Jesus... |
| Not born of a virgin. | Born of a virgin. (Luke 1:27) |
| Claimed to be a man. | Claimed to be the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) |
| Performed no miracles. | Performed many miracles, including healing people, calming a storm, raising the dead. |
| Did not fulfill any Biblical prophecy | Fulfilled many Biblical prophecies |
| Was a sinner (Qur'an 40:55; 48:1-2) | Never sinned (1 Peter 2:22) |
| Said Allah hates those who don't accept Islam. (Qur'an 30:45, 3:32, 22:38) |
Said God loves everyone. (John 3:16) |
| "I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" (Muslim 1:33) |
"He who lives by the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52) |
| Stoned women for adultery. (Muslim 4206) |
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." (John 8:7) |
| Permitted stealing from unbelievers. (Bukhari 44:668, Ibn Ishaq 764) |
"You shall not steal." (Matthew 19:18) |
| Permitted lying. (Sahih Muslim 6303, Bukhari 49:857) |
"You shall not bear false witness." (Matthew 19:18) |
| Owned and traded slaves. (Sahih Muslim 3901) |
Neither owned nor traded slaves. |
| Beheaded 800 Jewish men and boys. (Sahih Muslim 4390) |
Beheaded no one. |
| Murdered those who insulted him. (Bukhari 56:369, 4:241) |
Preached forgiveness. Loved his enemies. (Matthew 18:21-22, 5:38; Luke 23:34) |
| "If then anyone transgresses the prohibition against you, Transgress ye likewise against him" (Qur'an 2:194) |
"If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39) |
| Jihad in the way of Allah elevates one's position in Paradise by a hundred fold. (Muslim 4645) |
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God" (Matthew 5:9) |
| Married 13 wives and kept sex slaves. (Bukhari 5:268, Qur'an 33:50) |
Was celibate. |
| Slept with a 9-year-old child. (Sahih Muslim 3309, Bukhari 58:236) |
Did not have sex with children. |
| Ordered the murder of women. (Ibn Ishaq 819, 995) |
Never harmed a woman. |
| "O you who believe! Fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." (Qur'an 9:123) |
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) |
| Ordered 65 military campaigns and raids in his last 10 years. (Ibn Ishaq ) |
Ordered no military campaigns, nor offered any approval of war or violence. |
| Killed captives taken in battle. (Ibn Ishaq 451) |
Never took captives. Never killed anyone. |
| Encouraged his men to rape enslaved women. (Abu Dawood 2150, Qur'an 4:24) |
Never encouraged rape. Never enslaved women. |
| Demanded captured slaves and a fifth of all other loot taken in war. (Qur'an 8:41) |
"The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." (Matthew 20:28) |
| Was never tortured, but tortured others. (Muslim 4131, Ibn Ishaq 436, 595, 734, 764) |
Suffered torture, but never tortured anyone. |
| "And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion is only for Allah" (Qur'an 8:39) |
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44) |
| Blessed the brutal murder of a half-blind man (al-Tabari 1440) |
Healed a blind man (Mark 8:28) |
| Ordered a slave to build the very pulpit from which he preached Islam. (Bukhari 47:743) |
Washed his disciples feet. (John 13:5) |
| What are the Greatest Commandments? "Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause" (Muslim 1:149) |
What are the Greatest Commandments? "Love God and love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:34-40) |
| Demanded the protection of armed bodyguards, even in a house of worship. (Qur'an 4:102) |
Chastised anyone attempting to defend him with force. (John 18:10-12) |
| Died fat and wealthy from what was taken from others in war or demanded from others in tribute. |
Demanded nothing for himself. Died without possessions. |
| Advocated crucifying others. (Qur'an 5:33, Muslim 16:4131) |
Was crucified himself. |
| According to his followers: Had others give their lives for him. (Sahih Muslim 4413) |
According to his followers: Gave his life for others. (John 18:11 and elsewhere) |
| Died and remained dead. | Died and rose from the dead. |
Differences Between Early Muslims and Early Christians |
|
Muhammad's Companions... |
Jesus' Disciples... |
| Lived as warriors. | Shared the Good News to all people. |
| Slew and persecuted religious minorities. | Were slain and persecuted as a religious minority. |
| Emphasis on Jihad (the way of Muhammad): "He who fights that Allah's word should be superior fights in Allah's cause" (Bukhari 53:355) |
Emphasis on Evangelism (the way of Jesus): "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15) |
|
Attacked and conquered the populations in |
Did not resort to violence of any sort, despite tremendous persecution. |
| Declared holy war on the people of five major world religions in just the first 100 years following Muhammad's death. |
Went centuries without declaring 'holy war'. |
| Plundered and lived off the wealth of others. | Gave away their possessions to those in need. (Acts 2:44-45) |
| Captured and enslaved non-Muslim people. | Considered themselves to be slaves of others. |
| Waged war to keep members from leaving the religion. Put apostates to death. |
No record of aggression toward apostates. |
| Muhammad's own family members quickly fell into armed warfare against each other. |
Jesus' disciples never resorted to violence against one another (or anyone else). |
| First 240 Years: 11 of the first 32 caliphs were murdered by fellow Muslims. |
First 240 Years: 14 of the first 25 popes were martyred by pagans (none by fellow Christians). |
| Caliphs were polygamous and maintained harems of hundreds of captured sex slaves. | Popes were expected to be celibate. |
| Islamic mosques sustained by taxes forced from subjugated non-Muslims (the jizya). | Christian churches sustained by voluntary tithes from Christians. |
Differences Between Islamic Teaching and Christianity |
|
The Qur'an |
The Bible |
| Must know Arabic in order to "fully understand" the Qur'an (according to Muslim apologists) | Universal. Can be translated into other languages without excessive commentary. |
| Chronological progression of the Quran is from peace to violence. |
Chronological progression of the Bible is from violence to peace. |
| The words 'torture' and 'punishment' appear six times more often than in the New Testament. |
The word 'love' appears five times more often in the New Testament than in the Qur'an, |
| Contains not a single original moral value. | The 'Sermon on the Mount' and others. |
| Suffering is an excuse for violent revenge and establishment of Islam by force: "And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]...and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah." (Qur'an 2:191) |
Suffering builds character: "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:4) |
| Emphasis on this World: "And Allah has made you heirs to their land and their dwellings and their property" (Qur'an 33:27) |
Emphasis on the Next: "Mine is not a kingdom of this world" (John 18:36, see also Luke 14:33) |
| Kill, convert or subjugate Christians and Jews. (Qur'an 9:29) |
Share one's faith with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15) |
| Martyrs as Killers: "Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain" (Qur'an 9:111) |
Martyrs as Martyrs: "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter" (Romans 8:36) |
| Killing Apostates: "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them" (Qur'an 4:89, also Bukhari 52:260, 83:37...) |
Letting God Judge Apostates: "For we know Him that has said, 'Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense,' says the Lord. And again, 'The Lord shall judge his people'" (Hebrews 10:25-30) |
| Punishment: "Let not compassion move you from carrying out God's law..." (Qur'an 24:2) |
Mercy: "Love is patient. Love is kind... It keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) |
| Charity and Non-Believers Mercy toward fellow Muslims - ruthlessness toward unbelievers. Muslims are warned not to befriend those outside the faith. They must even ensure that their charity tithe (zakat) stays within their own identity group. (Qur'an 48:29, 3:28, Sharia) |
Charity and Non-Believers Christians are specifically told that even those who hate them are entitled to kindness and charity. They should be loved and cared for as surely as any fellow believer. (Mark 10:25-37) |
| The Qur'an explicitly instructs men to beat disobedient wives. (Qur'an 4:34, Sahih Muslim 2127) |
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." (No permission to beat women) (Colossians 3:19) |
| Explicitly allows Muslim men to rape their female slaves, even those already married. (Qur'an 4:24, 70:29-30, 23:5-6...) |
Tells masters and slaves to serve each other as if serving God. (Ephesians 6:7-9) |
| Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are ruthless to the unbelievers" (Qur'an 48:29) |
"Do good to them that hate you" (Luke 6:27) |
| Allah wills those that stray and are lost (Qur'an 16:93) |
God wants all people saved (1 Timothy 2:4) |
| Warns Against Questioning Faith. (Qur'an 5:101-102) |
Welcomes Intellectual Challenge. (1 Peter 3:15) |
| Violence as Virtue: "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." (Qur'an 2:216) |
Violence as Sin: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him... '" (Romans 12:19-20) |
| Hell for unbelief. Good deeds count for naught (Qur'an 18:102-107) |
Hell for bad deeds and the failure to do what is right (Romans 2:6-8, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:41-45) |
| Judging: "Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them..." (Qur'an 9:73) |
Judge Not: "For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself..." (Romans 2:1) |
| Taking wealth from others: "Allah promiseth you much booty that ye will capture..." (Qur'an 48:20) |
Working for and giving wealth to others: "The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might have something to give to the needy." (Ephesians 4:28) |
| Calls down Allah's curse on Christians and those of other religions. (Qur'an 9:30) |
Calls down God's blessing on those who curse Christians. (Matthew 5:44) |
| Arrogance & Privilege: "Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind" (Qur'an 3:110) |
Humility & Servitude: "If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:35) |
| "O you who believe! do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends: Would you offer them love while they deny what has come to you of the truth? (Qur'an 60:1) |
"Love your enemies..." (Luke 6:27) |
Differences Between the Islamic and Christian-Based Worlds |
|
Muslim Legacy |
Christian Legacy |
| Countries that Muslims want to escape from. | Countries that Muslims want to escape to. |
| Madrassahs that indoctrinate Muslim children with bigotry and terror. |
Mission schools that teach reading and writing to Christians and Muslims alike. |
| Suicide bombings for Allah | No suicide bombings for Jesus |
| International terror organizations. | International charities. |
| No formal charities for non-Muslims. | Leading provider of disaster relief to Muslims. |
| Murder of aid workers. | Supply of aid workers. |
| Christians in jail for apostasy or blasphemy. | Religious freedom. |
| Modern-day slavery in the name of Islam. | Abolition in the name of Christianity. |
| Muslim clerics who engage in or condone terrorism. |
Christian clerics murdered each year by terror groups rife with Muslim clerics. |
| Daily religious violence against Hindus. | None. |
| Daily religious violence against Jews. | None. |
| Daily religious violence against Buddhists. | None. |
| Daily religious violence against Muslims. | None. |
| Ritual slitting of animals' throats | Ending of animal sacrifice |
| Religion | Technology & Medicine |
| Censorship | Freedom of speech |
| Intolerance for criticism of Islam. | Tolerance for religious dissent. |
| Restricting other religions from preaching faith. | Allowing all religions the same right to evangelize. |
| Conversions allowed to Islam only. | Freedom of conscience. |
| Converts to Christianity beheaded. | No dead converts to Islam. |
| Most famous Muslim: Osama bin Laden. | Most famous Christian: The Pope. |
Whether true or not, everything that secular critics say they don't like about Christianity, from women's issues to slavery, is not only a tangible part of Islam, but usually magnified.
While the Catholic Church is demonized for not allowing female priests, the fundamentalists of Islam force women into burqas and blow up schools that educate girls. Even activists known for championing women's rights in the Muslim world still rationalize keeping captured women as sex slaves, since it is explicitly permitted in the Qur'an. And, while Christians object to extra-marital sex, only Islamic purists plant consenting adults in the ground and stone them to death.
Theocracy (in the form of Sharia) really is the the explicit goal of Islamic teaching, whereas Christianity leaves room for the separation of religion and government (Mark 12:17, John 18:36). Terrorism really is an expression of devotion to Allah (here's an example) - and not just criminal activity or warfare by disinterested parties with a nominal religious identification (i.e. "born a Catholic").
While Christianity believes in the reality of eternal damnation, Islam not only mentions the terrible fate awaiting unbelievers in nearly every other chapter of the Quran, but also includes vivid descriptions of torture at the hands of Allah.
The two religions contrast sharply even in their positive aspects. The morality of the Qur'an is frustratingly obscure for those who try to compare it to what is contained in the Bible. Most of Islam's holiest book is devoted toward distinguishing and heaping abuse on unbelievers. There are no verses that promote universal love and brotherhood. The few verses that are sometimes held up as examples of tolerance and peace generally require separation from textual and historical context.
The difference between Christianity and Islam starts at the top:
Muslims are told that Muhammad - a slave-owner, sexual glutton, thief and killer - is the most "beautiful pattern of conduct" and "example" for mankind to follow (Qur'an 33:21), as well as the "exalted standard of character" (Qur'an 68:4).
Christians are told to emulate Jesus - a pacifist and servant - and "walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6). Unlike Muhammad, who ordered military assaults against Christians, for example, Jesus told his followers not to resort to violence and to pray for one's enemies.
These two men could hardly have been more different in how they lived or in what they taught others. Why should we not then expect starkly contrasting legacies - from the conduct of their closest companions to the livability of modern-day countries influenced by the predominance of one founder's teachings over the other?
As Wafa Sultan (who describes herself as a Muslim who does not adhere to Islam) puts it: "The problem with Christians is they aren't as good as Jesus. But thank God most Muslims are better than Muhammad."