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 and revealed 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 and revealed 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 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 is also 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.
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 …
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