People always wonder that if Christianity and Islam are from the same source (God Almighty), how come they are so different. This fact appears so because the original Christianity as taught by Bible(read Islam in Bible: this brief work points out the similarities between the scriptures of both religions) and Jesus(pbuh) has been distorted and overshadowed by man made doctrines and teachings of Paul. As a matter of fact, Jesus never claimed to establish Christianity on earth and never called himself a Christian. The word Christian is mentioned only three times in the New Testament and first by pagans and Jews in Antioch about 43 A.D. "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christain."(Acts 26:28). So the name 'Christian' was first given by foes rather than friends. In this brief leaflet I shall try to provide some insight into this topic. Doctrine of Trinity:
Trinity is not Biblical. The word 'trinity' is not even present in any version of the Bible or Bible dictionaries, was never taught by Jesus and was never mentioned by him. New Testament: The closet evidence for the doctrine of trinity is the First Epistle of John(5:7-8):"." for there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one" is found in the Kings James Version authorized in 1611. But now this part,"the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:and these three are one," has been expunged in the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 and in many other Bibles, as it was a gloss that had encroached on the Greek text. The formulation of the Trinity by Athanasius, an Egyptian deacon from Alexandria, was accepted by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, i.e. more than three centuries after Jesus had left.
Holy Quran:
Allah warns in the Holy Quran," Surely they are disbelievers, those who said:'Allah is one of the three in a Trinity.' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but one God(i.e. Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them." (5:73)
Doctrine of Divinity Of Jesus:
Jesus Christ(pbuh) never said, " I am God" or "worship me". Bible and Quran are full of verses that establish the unity of one true God.
Old testament:
(i)" Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4). (ii) "...that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I,even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour"(Isaiah 43:10-11). My friends do you still want to go against the wishes of God by calling Jesus your Lord and Saviour ? See further: Deutronomy 4:35,4:39; Isaiah 44:6; Exodus 8:10, IISamuel 7:22; 1Kings 8:23; IChronicles 17:20; Psalms 86:8,89:6 and 113:5; Hosea 13:4; Zechariah 14:9.
New Testament:
(i) Jesus himself confirmed,"And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel:The Lord our God is one Lord"(Mark 12:29) (ii) " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5). Look at the expression "the man Jesus Christ". This is what Islam has been teaching and what Muslims have been preaching all along yet they are labelled as the AntiChrists. See further: I Corinthians 8:4
Holy Quran:
(i)"And your God is one God:There is no god but he, most gracious, most merciful."(2:163) Also see 6:19; 112:1-4
Doctrine Of The Divine Sonship Of Jesus:
Often we hear of Jesus as being the only begotten son of God. First of all, one should not accept the word 'son' literally because many prophets and even ordinary people are called sons of God in Bible. And secondly, Jesus is not the only begotten son of God mentioned in the Bible;" I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me[David], Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." (Psalm 2:7). Other sons of God are; (i) Moses: "And thou [Moses] shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus sait the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn." (Exodus 4:22) (ii) Solomon: "He [Solomon] shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father and he shall be my son." (II Samuel 7:13-13) or (1 Chronicles 22:10) The meaning of Son of God is not literal but metaphorical. It can be anyone who is beloved by God. That is why Jesus said that God is not only his father but also your father (Matthew 5:45,48). For other Sons of Gods and even Daughters of God see: Deuteronomy 14:1; II Corinthians 6:18; Jeremiah 31:9. Then why do people think of Jesus as their God ? One can clearly see in the Bible that Jesus who was the expected Messiah, a Prophet, was escalated from teacher to Son of God, Lord, and finally God Himself. This over infectuation started as; " The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we knew that thou art a teacher come from God.."(John 3:2) proceded to; "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did,said, this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."(John 6:14) [Jesus is also called a prophet in John 7:40, Matthew 21:11, Luke 7:16 and 24:19; This is his real status as the Holy Quran testifies to this fact. His escalation started as a prophet and ended as;" And straightway he [Paul] preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the son of God." (Acts 9:20). Paul was one of the first ones to corrupt the pure teachings of Jesus. One can also conclude from here also that early Christians were still using synagogues before Christianity deviated from the original teachings of Jesus and Paul was explelled from the Synagogues, as he was accused of blasphemy. Read Acts 13:50, 17:18 and 21:28. Look at; " For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11). This goes totally against Isaiah 43:10-11 which is mentioned above.
Holy Quran:
Due to these misconceptions and misuses of the words 'father' and 'son', they are not mentioned in the Holy Quran. (i)"(Both) the Jews and the Christians say:"we are sons of Allah, and His beloved." Say:Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay, ye are but men.."(5:18) (ii) "...And (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but one God:there is no god but He..."(9:31)
Doctrine Of Atonement And Original Sin:
Christainity is the only religion on the face of the earth which holds one responsible for something that he never did (Original Sin) and, bestows salvation upon him for doing nothing (Crucifiction)! Just like the other doctrines, this one was accepted by the Church three to four centuries after Jesus left this earth. It contradicts the Bible itself;
Old Testament:
" The father shall not be put to death for children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin "(Deuteronomy 24:16). See also Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 18:20.
New Testament:
"Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and everyman shall receive his own reward according to his own labor." (I Corinthians 3:8)
. This is not something hard to swallow, its just simple logic.Holy Quran:
Adam and Eve were responsible for their own sin, which was forgiven by God according to the Islamic version. One has to believe in Oneness of God instead of believing in the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus, the Divine Sonship of Jesus, the Original Sin and the Atonement. All these are doctrines made by men. Jesus had prophesied that people will worship him uselessly and believing in doctrines made by men; " Howbeit in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandments of God.." (Matthew 15:9)
My dear brothers and sisters I welcome you to invistigate the true religion of Islam instead of following any other way of life because your salvation is at stake. Earn it and work for it. Belief in the one true God and good deeds go hand in hand. One without the other is useless. May God Almighty give us the courage and wisdom to see the truth and guide us to the right path. Amen.