A COMPARISON OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE WORLD’S TWO LARGEST RELIGIONS
By Silas
INTRODUCTION
Jesus founded Christianity, Muhammad founded Islam. These are the two largest religions in the world with about 1.8 billion and 1.1 billion members respectively. Without a doubt, these men have affected humanity in a powerful way. As religious leaders they laid down many principles to live by.
Both religions have much in common, but differ strongly in other aspects. What were the founders’ characters like? How do they compare with each other? What does the Bible and the Quran say about Jesus? What did their teachings and actions induce their followers to do? This article answers these questions by comparing and contrasting some of their actions and teachings.
NOTE: I will use the Bible, usually the New International Version (NIV)[1] as the source for Jesus’ words and actions. I will quote from the Quran, usually N.J. Dawood’s translation [2], and the Hadiths of Bukhari [3] and Muslim [4], the “Life of Muhammad” [5], which is a translation done by A. Guillaume of Ibn Ishaq’s “Sirat Rasulallah”, the “History” of Tabari [6], and the Sunan of Abu Dawud [7]. Generally, the Hadiths of Bukhari and Muslim are the sayings and deeds of Muhammad, and are recognized as the most authentic by Islamic scholarship. Ibn Ishaq’s “Sirat Rasulallah” is recognized as the best extent biography of Muhammad, and Tabari’s “History” is the best historical account of Muhammad and the early Islamic community available.
SOME OF THEIR LAST WORDS
JESUS: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. (said while dying on the cross at Calvary after being betrayed and sentenced to die for no legitimate reason).
MUHAMMAD: “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of the prophets.” Bukhari, Vol. 1, #427 [Muhammad had been poisoned years earlier by a Jewish woman whose husband was killed by the Muslims and the poison had slowly worked its effect. He said this while dying in the arms of his wife Aisha].
COMMENT
As I’ve studied both of these men’s lives, I find that the above comparison details some of the strongest character differences. Here are their dying words, words that will mark the end of their lives. Christ asks God to forgive His enemies, while Muhammad utters a bitter curse against those who rejected his assertion of prophethood. Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for Muhammad to ask Allah to guide the Christians and Jews while he was dying?
SLAVERY
JESUS: had no slaves. Jesus taught to do to others as you would have them do to you. Jesus had no slaves, and it is apparent from His teachings that He would not have slaves. He freed men, not enslaved them. No one wants to be enslaved against their will.
Further, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:8-10,
“We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers…”
From these verses, we see that forcibly enslaving people, and trading in slaves, are against Christian teachings.
MUHAMMAD: was a slaver. He owned and sold many slaves, both male and female. He said Allah allowed him and his Muslim followers to have sex with their female slaves when the men wanted to. Reference the Quran, Sura (chapters) 33:50, 52, 23:5, and 70:30. Slaves are considered “booty” for Muslims when taken in raids, thus they are Muslim’s property. Muhammad felt proud and conceited enough to enslave thousands of people.
