What's common between Islam & Christianity? - Zaid Shakir

Overview & Key Concepts

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What is Christianity?

Christianity is a global religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who followers believe is the Son of God. It's a monotheistic ... more

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Who is Zaid Shakir?

Zaid Shakir (born Ricky Daryl Mitchell, 1956) is a Muslim American scholar. Shakir is co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. He ... more

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What is Islam?

Early Islam or the history of Islam is believed, by most historians to have originated with Muhammad's mission in Mecca and Medina at the start of the ... more

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Frequently Asked Questions

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1.Christianity and Hinduism revere their religious figures as gods or incarnations of God

According to Islam, all these righteous persons were mortal, human prophets of God, like Muhammad, having the same needs that every human being has. They all eventually died, as everyone must.

There are several reasons why they have come to be revered by their followers as 'gods'. One is that their words were misunderstood by the later generations, who mistook their figurative expressions in a literal sense. Another is that the details of their lives were not preserved accurately, and therefore a great many myths have grown up around them, and their works and deeds have been much exaggerated.

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2.What is Christianity?

The platform defines Christianity as a religion that was originally and historically preached by Jesus himself, but argues that the mainstream version practiced across the world today has evolved into a system based almost entirely on the subsequent theological teachings, letters, and doctrines developed by the Apostle Paul.

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3.How did the Early Jewish-Christians practise their religion?

The earliest Jewish-Christians strictly followed traditional Hebrew practices, including daily prayers, circumcision, rituals for purity, fasting, dietary laws, and temple, according to the source material.

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4.Why did Christians turn away from the original message of Jesus?

By the time the New Testament Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke, John) were compiled, there was a growing movement to frame traditional Jewish practices as obsolete, driven by a desire to break free from strict Mosaic laws like circumcision, ritual purity, and dietary codes, which required portraying Judaism as an inferior path for the new faith to flourish.

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5.What did early Jewish-Christians think of Apostle Paul?

Between 55 and 66 CE, early Jewish-Christian leaders in Jerusalem rejected Paul's teachings and challenged his authority, leading to a significant decline in his popularity.

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6.When was Christianity born?

After 70 CE, Christianity became a new movement. Western Christian writings after 70 CE are a product of that transformation. Christianity became a Mithras-type saviour cult whose hero was not a myth but a real man.

Anyone who questioned Jesus' divinity were viewed as ignorant and inferior, including early Jewish-Christians, Jews, Jesus' closest friends and even family.

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7.Were the early Christians Jews?

Yes, Jesus and early followers were entirely Jewish, strictly observing traditional laws and customs.

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8.Did Saul kill the early Jewish-Christians?

Before his conversion, Saul actively sought to imprison and execute early Jewish-Christians. Saul believed that he was serving God by finding Christians, throwing them into prison, and even executing them.

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9.How did the early Jewish-Christians view Jesus' resurrection?

The earliest Jewish-Christians did not believe that the resurrection meant Jesus was God, but rather that he was a righteous man approved by God through miracles, wonders, and signs. Based on texts like Acts 2:22-24, they maintained the theological view that Jesus had been raised by God, not that he was the Creator himself.

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10.Who seperated Christianity from Judaism?

It was Apostle Paul's dramatic conversion and subsequent teachings that directly resulted in the permanent theological separation of Christianity from Judaism. Within mere months of Jesus' departure, the original human-centric and law-abiding message was fundamentally altered into an independent religious system.

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11.What happened after Apostle Paul converted to Christianity?

Following his conversion, Paul did not immediately meet with the original Apostles in Jerusalem; instead, he went to Arabia and returned to Damascus, waiting three years before visiting Peter and James for only fifteen days, avoiding the others.

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12.What dramatic experience made Apostle Paul convert to Christianity?

Paul experienced a sudden vision of a blinding light and a voice on the road to Damascus, but the multiple accounts recorded in the Book of Acts contain clear, direct contradictions regarding whether his companions also fell to the ground, and whether they actually heard the voice or saw the light.

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13.How did Matthew (Gospel) support Apostle Pauline Christian doctrine?

The Gospel of Matthew, aimed at law-abiding Jewish-Christians, did not support Pauline doctrine and actually stood in direct opposition to it.

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14.Where is Pauline Christianity today?

Pauline Christianity constitutes the majority of modern Christianity, though some scholars question if the early, law-observant Jewish-Christian church was more accurate than Paul's later, Trinitarian-focused theology.

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15.How was Christianity made appealing to pagan idol worshippers?

Pope Gregory I (540-604 CE), a famous Christian leader encouraged accomodating pagan customs and beliefs. So if pagans worshipped a Tree or Spirit abiding in it, rather than shun the pagan worship, he urged priests to somehow link the worship to Jesus Christ, and allow them to continue their Tree or pagan idol worship.

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16.Should Christians celebrate Jesus on 25th December?

Any believing Christian who is aware of the historical, pagan 'Sun-Baal' connections of this date should entirely avoid celebrating Christmas. It points to certain denominations, such as Jehovah Witnesses, who explicitly refuse to participate in the celebration for this very reason.

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17.Does the Christian Trinity come from pagan Triadic dieties?

Yes, the core teachings of modern Trinitarian Christian churches do not come from Jesus, but were pagan three-in-one concepts that existed long before his arrival and were later adopted by Christians to make their doctrine highly appealing to idol-worshipping masses.

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18.How did Christianity start?

The road from Jesus to the Christian religion that finally emerged in the fourth century, with its myth of Jesus as the son of God solidly in place, is a very long and twisty path.

Christianity was not born of an immaculate conception. It was the product of myriad moments of intellectual labor and negotiated social agreements by the people investing in the experiment.

This discovery has been difficult for many Christians to accept. That is because the traditional picture of Christian beginnings starts with a Jesus who knows in advance what is required of him and his disciples in order to establish the Christian religion.

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19.Who were the early Christians?

The earliest followers of Jesus were entirely Jewish individuals who continued to observe traditional Mosaic law and temple customs. They did not immediately form a new religion, but were initially viewed as a messianic sect within Judaism.

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20.What does the Quran say about Jews and Christians?

The Quran recognizes Jews and Christians as 'People of the Book' (Ahl al-Kitab), acknowledging that they were given previous divine revelations through prophets like Moses and Jesus. While it praises the righteous among them, it also critiques their theological developments, specifically rejecting the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and the divine sonship of Jesus.

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21.Do Christians worship Mary?

Mainstream Christian denominations, including Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, explicitly state that they do not worship Mary as a goddess, as worship (latria) belongs strictly to God alone. Instead, they give her a high level of honor and veneration (hyperdulia) as the Mother of God (Theotokos), asking her to intercede and pray to God on their behalf.

Some Christians do worship Mary. Even today, the abstract of that is found in churches where she is called upon as THEOTOKOS in Greek which means 'Mother of God', God bearer, one who give birth to God.

There was an idea that Mary was not the mother of God and counsels tried to change her name from THEOTOKOS to CHRISTOTOKOS, or from 'Mother of God' to 'Mother of Christ' - but this change was rejected.

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22.What did Apostle Paul achieve by his Christian conversion?

By adopting faith in Jesus, Paul effectively expanded a localized, strictly observant Jewish movement into a highly adaptable, universal religion accessible to all cultures. He utilized his unique background as both a learned Pharisee and a Roman citizen to systematically build an expansive network of legal-exempt Christian communities across multiple Roman provinces.

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23.I am a Christian and I know my sins are forgiven and I am going to Heaven. Is this correct?

Mainstream Christian theology teaches that a believer can have absolute assurance of salvation and the forgiveness of sins through personal faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In contrast, Islamic theology emphasizes that definitive assurance of entering Heaven remains unknown during worldly life, as final judgment belongs entirely to God, who balances infinite mercy with a strict accountability of an individual's faith and actions.

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24.How did the Christian Trinity come about?

The New Testament gospels show Jesus selecting twelve apostles to lead his immediate followers, but he did not lay down a detailed blueprint for a complex institutional priesthood or administrative hierarchy. The elaborate structures, clerical offices, and distinct liturgical traditions seen in modern churches developed gradually over centuries as the movement adapted to Roman institutional frameworks.

The concept of a dual human and divine nature in the person of Jesus is known as the Hypostatic Union, an essential component of modern Trinitarianism.

Yet it was not until the Council of Chalcedon that we see the emergence of an official doctrine of the Trinity in a form that is recognisable with what Christian Trinitarians believe in today. This took place in the fifth century, over 400 years after Jesus!

The evangelical theologian and Professor Wayne A. Grudem sums this up as follows: 'A precise understanding of how full deity and full humanity' argues Grudem, 'could be combined together in one person was formulated only gradually in the church and did not reach the final form until the Chalcedonian Definition in 451 AD.

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25.Does the Quran tell Jews and Christians to refer to their Scriptures (Torah and Bible)?

Yes, the Quran references previous scriptures in passages like Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:47), which tells the followers of the Gospel to judge by what God has revealed in it. From an academic perspective, this reflects the historical context of 7th-century Medina, where Jews and Christians were recognized as 'People of the Book' who possessed divine laws. While Islamic theology holds that modern biblical texts have suffered from textual corruption (tahrif), the Quran historically appeals to the core monotheistic truths remaining in those scriptures to validate Muhammad's message.

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26.Do all Christians believe Jesus was God or Son of God?

The early Jewish-Christians such as the Ebonites, the Cerinthians, the Basilidians, the Capocratians, and the Hypisistarians. The Arians, Paulicians and Goths also accepted Jesus as a prophet of God.

Even in the modern age there are churches in Asia, in Africa, the Unitarian church, the Jehovah's witnesses, and even the majority of todays Anglican Bishops do not worship Jesus as God.

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27.Why did early Christians have church synods and councils?

Early Christian bishops organized regional synods and ecumenical councils to systematically define orthodox Christian doctrines and combat widespread heresies. These massive assemblies were essential for creating a unified creed, standardizing the New Testament canon, and establishing clear administrative laws for a rapidly growing global church. Prominent gatherings, like the Council of Nicaea, were often financed and politically mandated by Roman emperors to secure empire-wide religious stability.

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28.There is only one Bible with one Christian doctrine?

No, textual criticism shows the Bible consists of thousands of varying manuscripts rather than a single, uniform text. These textual differences, such as in Jude 1:5, have historically contributed to diverse theological interpretations within Christianity.

Bible versions translate verses with different explanations. For example, in JUDE 1:5, who saves and then destroys the people of Egypt?

17 Bible versions state the 'Lord' did
7 Bibles state 'Jesus'
1 Bible claims 'God' did

These differences give rise to different Christian theological views.

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29.Does the Old Testament teach the Christian Trinity?

Mainstream biblical scholars and historians agree that the Old Testament does not explicitly teach the doctrine of the Trinity, nor did ancient Jewish communities possess a concept of a triune Godhead. There is no historical evidence in pre-Christian Jewish literature including the Hebrew text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, or ancient commentaries of a belief in a plurality of divine Persons. While Christian theologians retrospectively interpret certain plural expressions (such as 'Let us make man' in Genesis 1:26) as hints of the Trinity, ancient Judaism strictly maintained a unitarian monotheistic understanding of God.

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30.What is the Christian Trinity?

Orthodox Christian theologians define the doctrine of the Trinity as the belief that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, existing eternally as three distinct Persons within one single, undivided divine Being. These three Persons are considered entirely co-equal in power and co-eternal in time, with the Son being understood as 'eternally begotten' of the Father and existing simultaneously as 100% God and 100% man. The platform notes that many modern Christians mistakenly believe they are practicing Trinitarianism simply by acknowledging the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without understanding the complex historical and philosophical mechanics required by the formal church dogma.

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31.What do Christian 'Trinity' scholars say about the Old Testament?

Many theologians, including this analysis of Trinity dogma, note that the Old Testament does not explicitly contain the Trinity, which they believe was only fully revealed later.

The distinguished Trinitarian scholar Bertrand de Margerie in his book The Christian Trinity in History writes:

'Contemporary exegetes [Bible teachers] affirm unanimously that the Old Testament did not bring to the Jewish people a clear and distinct Revelation of the existence of a plurality of persons in God. In this they agree with the clear and frequent affirmation of Fathers such as Irenaeus, Hilary, and Gregory of Nazianzus: that the doctrine of the Trinity is revealed only in the New Testament.'

So any person who lived before Jesus' ministry did not have to believe in the Trinity to be saved because the Trinity is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

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32.What do Christian scholars say about the Trinity?

Mainstream scholars acknowledge that the Trinity is not explicitly defined in the New Testament but was formulated later by combining various verses and theological concepts.

Scholars freely admit that the Trinity is never presented as a complete doctrine in the New Testament, but rather is built from scattered Bible verses.

In the New Testament there is no explicit statement of the doctrine
Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (p. 1112)

It is not a Biblical doctrine in the sense that any formulation of it can be found in the Bible
New Bible Dictionary (p.1221)

The New Testament does not present a systematic presentation of the Trinity. The scattered segments from various writers that appear throughout the New Testament reflect a seemingly accepted understanding that exists without a full-length discussion.
Holman Bible Dictionary (p.1372)

Theologians admit the New Testament does not define the Trinity. Furthermore, there is no clear teaching that salvation depends on the belief in the Trinity.

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33.When did Catholic Christianity become official religion of Rome?

In 380 CE, under the Edict of Thessalonica issued by Emperor Theodosius I, Nicene (Catholic) Christianity officially became the state religion of the Roman Empire, leading to the institutional regulation of religious practices and the formalisation of a calendar of feast days like Christmas and Easter.

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34.What happened to Christians who questioned their creed?

Once Catholicism became the official state religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, it became highly dangerous to question or deviate from imperial doctrinal definitions. Imperial authorities enforced a strict monopoly on thought by carrying out systematic book burnings, completely destroying the philosophical refutations written by early critics like Celsus and Porphyry. As a result, modern academic knowledge of these ancient counter-arguments is limited to surviving snippets quoted inside the church's own refutation books.

• Porphyry (3rd century philosopher) wrote a 15-volume refutation of Christianity, the gospels and resurrection
• Celsus (2nd century philosopher) rejected the impossible concept of the resurrection

The imperialistic power of the church, and its stranglehold on intellectual endeavours was such that the above books and many more perished in the pious book burnings in the 4th century. Today, our knowledge of these books is limited and known through the refutation books which had to quote the destroyed books.

Once Christianity was established as the state religion, it became dangerous, as a subject of Rome, to question the doctrinal version of events.

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35.Can Christians eat swine and pork?

While modern Christian practice permits eating pork, the text notes that God explicitly prohibited the consumption of pig and swine meat in the Old Testament laws. The source argues that the New Testament passage often used to defend eating pork was originally a specific debate regarding whether unwashed hands made clean food unclean, rather than a lifting of the pork ban.

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36.Many Christians believe that Jesus abolished the Old Testament dietary laws

Many Christians believe that Jesus abolished the Old Testament dietary laws. The dietary interpretation of Jesus' words (i.e. swine pig consumption) does not exist in the Textus Receptus Bible, the authoritative Greek New Testament text that was accepted by the Christian Church until about 100 years ago.

This parenthetic interpretation of Jesus words was obviously a comment that some Bible scribe wrote in the margin of the text. Later scribes accidentally or deliberately incorporated the marginal comment into the text itself, so the statement appears only in corrupted texts.

But the statement does not appear in the Textus Receptus, so the KJV says nothing about Jesus 'declaring all foods clean.'

God had clearly prohibited pig, swine and pork in the Old Testament. This verse was over whether or not 'unwashed hands' caused clean food to become unclean.

'Thus he declared all foods clean' is completely missing from the Textus Receptus, the authoritative Greek New Testament line used for centuries. It claims this widespread dietary interpretation was likely a later scribal note added to the margins of the text, which was subsequently mistaken for Jesus' actual words in corrupted versions.

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37.What life did Apostle Paul lead before his miraculous conversion to Christianity?

Before his conversion, Paul was known as Saul and operated as a strict Pharisee and enforcer hostile toward early followers of Jesus. Academic historians note that he worked under the authority of the high priestly administration in Jerusalem to systematically suppress the growing messianic movement, believing he was protecting traditional Judaism from a dangerous heresy

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38.Who was the founder of Christianity?

The platform asserts that Jesus was not the actual founder of Christianity as an independent world religion, noting that the vast majority of the New Testament text does not directly focus on the historical Jesus but is defined by Paul. Academic critical scholars agree that while Jesus initiated the original localized movement within Judaism, it was Paul's theological letters and universal missionary blueprint that systematically institutionalized the faith globally.

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39.What did Apostle Paul do after his miraculous conversion to Christianity?

Following his Damascus vision, Paul records in his letters that he did not seek instruction from others, but immediately withdrew into the Arabian desert for a period of reflection. The platform notes that this independence significantly elevated Paul's personal status, allowing him to claim he received his theological mandate directly from a divine revelation rather than from Jesus' twelve original earthly disciples.

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40.What happened after Rome chose Christianity as the state religion?

When the Roman authorities officially adopted Christianity in the 4th century CE, they institutionalised the Roman Catholic version of the faith, favoring the universal theological framework of Paul over the localized, law-observant traditions of the original disciples. Mainstream historians emphasize that this political alliance standardized a singular imperial orthodoxy across the Mediterranean world, systematically suppressing alternative theological perspectives.

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41.Did Jesus ever preach Christianity?

No. Neither Jesus nor his twelve disciples had any intention of founding a new, separate religion, as they operated entirely within the confines of traditional Judaism. Mainstream historians and biblical scholars affirm that the historical Jesus viewed his messianic mission as a internal renewal of Israel's covenant, continuing to follow the Mosaic Torah and temple rituals rather than building a separate world religion.

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42.What are the origins of Christian church music?

Saint Ambrose (334-397), a keen advocate of church music is credited with introducing it into Christian worship.

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43.How did early Catholics learn about Christianity?

Early Catholics were taught Christianity by the priests, nuns and at Catholic schools - and not through Bible study. The priests role was to pass on Christian beliefs and practise to his congregation. The priest acted as an intermediary between God and the people; as mankind was regarded as inherently sinful.

Catholics were discouraged from individual Bible study and pushed towards conforming with traditional Church teachings.

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44.When was the word 'Christian' first ever used?

When Paul was joined in his missionary by Peter, Antioch became the first outreach centre for the Gentiles; it was here the term 'Christian' was first used.

The author of Acts (Luke, the companion of Paul) is assigning the term Christian to the disciples, all of whom were observant and respectful of Jewish Law.

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45.What did Apostle Paul do after he converted to Christianity, on the road to Damascus?

Following his conversion 1-3 years after the crucifixion, Paul vanished from the public eye before re-emerging 13 years later (47-60 CE) as a missionary to the Gentiles.

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46.Was Jesus a Catholic Christian?

Historically, Jesus was a practicing Jew, and the original Jesus movement was a reform movement within Judaism . Conversely, the Catholic Church views Jesus' mission as universal, intended for the entire world, not just the Jewish people .

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47.How did Early Christians view the Old Testament?

Early Christians considered the Old Testament 'God-breathed' and authoritative, but believed its ultimate meaning was only revealed through its connection to Jesus Christ, who fulfilled Israel's prophetic history.

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48.In the past, how were the Christians viewed?

Paul's Christianity had a universal ambition; it aspired to bring salvation to the world.

Christianity had to reject the Hebrew representation of scripture, written in the obscure, provincial tongue only the Jews spoke, and to announce the miraculous new revelation of Septuagint, the eternal bible reincarnated in a language that everyone understood.

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49.What is Islam?

Islam translates to submission and full surrender to God. Under this core definition, all historical prophets sent to humanity are considered Islamic prophets. This extensive list features prominent figures such as Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad.

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50.Who is a Muslim?

A Muslim is a dedicated follower of the religion of Islam. This theological path is defined as a monotheistic Abrahamic faith revealed through the final prophet, Muhammad.

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51.Were all Prophets Muslim?

Yes, because they all consistently preached the worship of one absolute God and prohibited the worship of false deities.

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52.Do Muslims believe in Prophets?

A Muslim is strictly required to believe in, honour, and respect each and every prophet sent by God without exception.

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53.Why choose the name MuslimProphets.com?

The name reflects that all prophets taught monotheism and the worship of one God, making them all 'in-essence' considered Muslim.

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54.Does Islam promote extremism, terrorism and violence?

No, the platform maintains that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, aligning with the message of all prophets.

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55.Where can I learn more about Islam?

Various online sources are available.

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56.Do Muslims believe in The Bible?

Muslims believe that God originally revealed the Gospel to Jesus as a source of guidance, light, and instruction.

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57.What is the basic teaching of Islam?

The basic teaching is to make peace with God, which requires a person to submit to Him and obey His commands completely.

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58.How did Islam come into the world?

The religion of Islam in its present form came to us through the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who lived and preached in Arabia some 1400 years ago (born 571 CE, died 632 CE). However, Muhammad taught that he was not bringing a completely new religion into the world, because the basic principles of Islam had also been preached by all the great founders of the various religions before him. Islam, therefore, did not begin with Muhammad, but was also the religion of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and every ancient prophet.

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59.If all prophets taught Islam, what was so different about Muhammad?

Over time, previous teachings had been altered or lost, so Muhammad was sent as the final prophet to restore, update, and unify the foundational principles of faith into a complete religion.

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60.What do I have to do to become a Muslim?

One becomes a Muslim by publicly declaring the shahada, or testimony of faith, acknowledging there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.

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61.What do Muslims believe?

Core beliefs involve five main aspects: the perfection of God, the role of angels, accepting all prophets and their revelations, and the reality of life after death and its consequences.

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62.What is the basic teaching of Islam about God?

Islam teaches that there is one, and only one, God Who is the Creator and Controller of the entire universe. He is unique in every respect, and there is nothing which bears any likeness to Him. He is the Knower of all things, and has full power over the whole of creation. He does not stand in need of anything at all, while everything is totally dependent on Him. He possesses all the perfect qualities, and man should worship Him, and Him alone.

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63.Does Islam give any arguments to prove the existence of God?

The Holy Quran gives three kinds of arguments on this point.

Firstly, it refers us to the physical world which shows great order and arrangement, works according to laws, and where everything has a set purpose in the whole scheme of things. There is also immense beauty in nature which attracts man's heart. Science is discovering more and more of these characteristics of the world all the time. So behind this highly purposeful and beautiful working of nature must be One, single Intelligence of great beauty and attraction.

Secondly, the Quran tells us about the close and deep connection between God and the inner nature of every person. There is an in-built desire in each and every person to search for something higher than oneself, and when in difficulties a person instinctively wants to call upon a Hidden Power to help him.

Thirdly, and most convincingly, Prophets and men of God appeared in every nation in the world and showed their people the reality of God through their teachings and works. Just as most of us learn about science not by making all the discoveries ourselves, but by accepting the work and evidence of those who devote themselves to the study of science, similarly the proof of the existence of God is provided by the lives of the great luminaries whom God sent all over the world for this very purpose.

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64.Other religions also teach the existence of God. Is there any difference between their teaching and the Islamic concept of God?

The first major difference is that Islam teaches the absolute one-ness of God, with Whom no one can share in Divinity. No idol or heavenly object, nor any religious or spiritual teacher, can possess some Divine power or attribute.

Secondly, Islam teaches the highest conception of God, and does not accept any limitation to His power and knowledge, while other religions set limits to Him. For instance, Islam rejects the Hindu belief that God is not the Creator of matter and souls but exists alongside them. It also rejects the Christian doctrine that God is unable to forgive sins unless He punishes someone, and so He sent His 'son' to suffer the punishment for the sins of all humanity. Moreover, a son is needed to take the place of the father when the father dies, and clearly this cannot apply if God is perfect.

Thirdly, Islam refutes the idea that any human being, however great, was a 'manifestation' of God on earth, or a Divine incarnate.

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65.Which prophets do Muslims have to believe in?

Muslims are strictly required to maintain belief in every single prophet and messenger sent by God. This belief must be completely equal, meaning no distinctions or hierarchies of validity are made between them. This universal recognition applies regardless of the specific country or historical era in which they appeared.

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66.Since Muslims believe in all the Prophets equally, why is Muhammad special?

All Prophets were equally from God, and equally true, but the scope of their missions varied. The messengers before Muhammad were each given teachings limited to their respective nations, because in those times a nation did not have much to do with other nations.

Furthermore, the teachings of each Prophet applied for a limited period of time only, after which God would raise another Prophet to revise some of the teachings for the new circumstances.

The time came to unite all the nations upon a single religion so that mankind may live in peace as one nation. Muhammad, to whom God gave teachings for the whole world for all time to come fulfilled this purpose.

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67.Do Muslims believe in scripture other than their own Quran?

Muslims believe that previous scriptures given to Moses, David, and Jesus contain elements of truth, but they maintain that the Quran is the final revelation from God and takes absolute precedence.

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68.Is the Star and Crescent a symbol of Islam?

The crescent is not a symbol of Islam, but of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans are those tribes that moved to Turkey from east and middle Asia. They converted to Islam and built a huge Muslim Empire that ruled the whole Muslim world for centuries. When they took Islam as a religion they started using the lunar calendar, the calendar that was used by Muslims, Jews and early Christians. Even today, the flag of Turkey has a crescent on it. There was no crescent on any mosque built before the Ottomans era.

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69.How are Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus considered Muslim Prophets, when Islam came 600-years after Jesus?

A Muslim is essentially defined as anyone who believes in and submits to one God; because all of these historical prophets consistently preached the message of pure Monotheism and called people to worship the Creator alone, they are considered to be Muslim in-essence regarding their foundational theological beliefs.

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70.Can Muslims eat swine and pork?

No, the consumption of pork, bacon, and ham is strictly prohibited by divine law, matching historical restrictions found in the Old Testament followed by Jews and certain Christian groups.

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71.Do Muslims believe in a God?

Yes, Muslims believe in Allah as the all-powerful, eternal Creator who is separate from creation, has no partners, no gender, and is the absolute sole entity worthy of human worship.

He is transcendent and not a part of his creation. He is all-powerful, absolutely Just and He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, and will be when nothing else remains. Also, There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship besides Him.

This belief in God is how one becomes a Muslim and is similar to the first commandment of Christianity and Judaism: You shall have no other gods before Me.

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72.In Islam, can God become a Man?

No, God is perfect and He is all powerful. Both Muslims and Christians accept that this is true. The ontological term for this is that God is 'immutable' or absolute in His perfect nature. In the Christian faith, God's incarnation is seen as a manifestation of His power, whereas in Islam it is seen as the changing of God's nature. If God is perfect, and God's nature changes, how can He be perfect?

It would have to mean that He was not perfect before and is now perfect, which would not make Him God or that He was perfect before and is now not perfect, which would also not make Him God.

If God is perfect, then there is no need for Him to become anything, so that He can grant us salvation. Since He's already perfect, loving and merciful, why would He need to change His nature to a weaker, human nature to grant us salvation? That's a contradiction. Therefore, when the Christian argues that God changing His nature makes Him perfect, this is not the case. They need to think before they speak. If God is perfect and you add something to His nature, does that mean He was not perfect before? Which means He was not a God before this addition?

If God is perfect and you add something to His nature, that would mean He lacked something before and thus could not be a God.

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73.Does the Quran encourage violence against the disbelievers (non-Muslims)?

Academic Islamic scholarship clarifies that verses in the Quran addressing warfare against non-Muslims were historically revealed during active, state-level conflicts with the pagan tribes of Mecca and their military allies. Mainstream historians emphasize that these specific martial passages must be read within their situational context of self-defence and treaty violations, rather than as an open-ended command to attack peaceful non-Muslims.

The historical context is that this Quran verse was revealed at the Battle of Badr, a battle in which the pagans of Makkah traveled over 200 miles to destroy the Muslims of Madinah. The Pagans of Makkah had an army of about 1000 while the Muslims were only 300 followers. Muhammad and his followers had suffered severe persecutions and torture for 13 years in the city of Makkah. Having fled from Makkah to the safety of Madinah, they found that they were once again threatened.

From a historical and textual context this Quran verse does not promote the killing of innocents.

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74.Does Islam encourage violence?

From an objective theological perspective, standard Islamic jurisprudence explicitly prohibits unprovoked violence, aggression, and the targeting of civilians, defining warfare strictly under defensive parameters. While fringe extremist groups frequently misinterpret isolated text to justify modern terrorism, mainstream Islamic law actively prioritizes peace, diplomacy, and the protection of religious minorities.

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75.Why should non-Muslims pay the Jizya (tax)?

In classical Islamic law, the Jizya was a poll tax levied annually on adult, able-bodied non-Muslim male subjects (Dhimmi) living under an Islamic state. Historically, this tax served a dual purpose: it exempted non-Muslims from mandatory military service (which was required of Muslims) and acted as a financial contribution for state-provided security and the protection of their property, life, and religious freedom.

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76.Are Muslims told to kill polytheists in the Quran?

Academic, context-based interpretations of the Quran indicate that verses regarding fighting (e.g., 9:5, 2:190) are historically situated within specific conflicts or treaty breaches rather than universal commands, emphasizing that the text generally prohibits indiscriminate violence, defends the sanctity of life (5:32), and allows for positive relations with peaceful non-Muslims (60:8).

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77.Can the Muslims have non-Muslim friends?

Muhammad was kind to the pagans of Mecca and fought them only when they fought him. He made treaties with the Jews of Madinah and honored the treaties until they broke them. He received the Christians of Najran with kindness in Madinah. They argued with him about Islam, but he treated them with honor and respect.

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78.Why should non-Muslims pay a Jizyah tax?

Historically, the Jizya functioned as a protection tax, exempting non-Muslim subjects (dhimmi) from military service in exchange for state security, as established in the legal frameworks of early Islamic states.

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79.Can the Muslims be harsh to non-Muslims?

Mainstream Islamic scholarship and textual analysis indicate that passages mentioning sternness or fighting (such as Surah At-Tawbah 9:123) specifically target active combatants, political subversives, and hypocrites who worked internally to destabilise the community from within. Objective historians emphasize that these verses do not prescribe a universal template for daily interactions, which are otherwise commanded to be characterized by justice, kindness, and respectful coexistence.

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80.Does the Quran encourage ill-treatment of non-Muslims?

No, orthodox Islamic theology strictly prohibits the unprovoked abuse, exploitation, or mistreatment of peaceful non-Muslims, explicitly warning in the Hadith literature that anyone who oppresses a religious minority will face divine complaints from the Prophet himself on the Day of Judgment. Scriptural texts command Muslims to uphold agreements, demonstrate broad compassion to all of creation, and engage in respectful theological dialogue.

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81.Why do Muslims say non-Muslims will go to Hell?

One of the basic teachings of Islam is that God does not have a favorable opinion of those who knowingly deny His right to be worshiped alone (as He alone is responsible for our creation, our sustenance, and our judgement) and reject any of His messengers.

This is not to say that there will be conveyor belts for each religion, and we just jump on and go to either Heaven or Hell according to what we call ourselves. Each person will be judged based on their understanding of God's message, as well as his or her capability and intentions to follow the path to God as best he or she could.

Muslims are not allowed to say that someone will go to hell just because they call themselves a Christian, Jew, or Polytheist. Muslims are not allowed to speak without knowledge. And each person's destination in the Hereafter is known only to God.

It is interesting to note that some people of different faiths insist on telling everyone who does not go to their specific place of worship that they will certainly be going to Hell (knowledge they do not have). But when they see this Quran verse, they are upset by it.

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82.Why do Muslims sacrifice livestock (goat, sheep, cow etc.) on Eid Al-Adha?

This annual global ritual commemorates the absolute devotion of Abraham, who was commanded by God in a vision to offer his eldest son as a sacrifice. Mainstream Islamic tradition identifies this son as Ishmael, noting that when Abraham demonstrated his complete willingness to obey, God miraculously substituted a ram in the boy's place. The meat from the sacrificed livestock is systematically divided into three equal parts to be shared with family, neighbors, and the impoverished.

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