The Best Book
on Comparative
Religion
---By Dr.Zakir Naik.
Religions of the world can be broadly categorized into Semitic religions and non-Semitic religions.
Non-Semitic religions can be divided into Aryan religions and non-Aryan religions.
Semitic religions
Semitic religions are religions that originated among the Semites. According to the Bible, Prophet
Noah (pbuh) had a son called Shem.
The descendents of Shem are known as Semites. Therefore, Semitic religions are the religions
that originated among the Jews, Arabs, Assyrians, Phoenicians, etc. Major Semitic religions are
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. All these religions are Prophetic religions that believe in Divine
Guidance sent through prophets of God.
Non-Semitic religions
The non-Semitic religions are further subdivided into Aryan and non-Aryan religions:
Aryan Religions
Aryan religions are the religions that originated among the Aryans, a powerful group of Indo-
European speaking people that spread through Iran and Northern India in the first half of the
second Millennium BC (2000 to 1500 BC).
The Aryan Religions are further subdivided into Vedic and non-Vedic religions.
The Vedic Religion is given the misnomer of Hinduism or Brahmanism. The non-Vedic Religions
are Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.
Almost all Aryan religions are non-Prophetic religions.
Zoroastrianism is an Aryan, non-Vedic religion, which is not associated with Hinduism. It claims to
be a prophetic religion.
Non-Aryan Religions
The non-Aryan religions have diverse origins. Confucianism and Taoism are of Chinese origin
while Shintoism is of Japanese origin.
Many of these non-Aryan religions do not have a concept of God. They are better referred to as
ethical systems rather than as religions.
Concept of God in
Christianity
Introduction
Position of Jesus in Islam
Concept of God in Christianity
Prophet Muhammad in Bible (OT & NT)
Similarities Between Christianity and Islam
Introduction
Christianity is a Semitic religion, which claims to have nearly 1.2 billion adherents all over the
world. Christianity owes its name to Jesus Christ (peace be on him). The Holy Bible is the sacred
scripture of the Christians:
1. The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old
Testament is the Holy Scripture of the Jews and contains records of all the prophets of
the Jews that came before Jesus (pbuh).
The New Testament contains records of the life of Jesus (pbuh).
2. The complete Bible, i.e. the Old Testament and the New Testament put together,
contains 73 books. However, the Protestant Bible i.e. the King James Version, contains
only 66 books as they consider 7 books of the Old Testament to be apocrypha, i.e. of
doubtful authority.
Therefore the Old Testament of the Catholics, contains 46 books and that of the
Protestants, 39 books. However the New Testament of both these sects contains 27
books.
Position of Jesus in Islam
1. Islam is the only non-Christian faith, which makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus
(pbuh). No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus (pbuh).
2. We believe that he was one of the mightiest Messengers of Allah (swt).
3. We believe that he was born miraculously, without any male intervention, which many
modern day Christians do not believe.
4. We believe he was the Messiah translated Christ (pbuh).
5. We believe that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission.
6. We believe that he healed those born blind, and the lepers with God’s permission.
Concept of God in Christianity
New Testament
1. Jesus Christ Never Claimed Divinity
One may ask, if both Muslims and Christians love and respect Jesus (pbuh), where
exactly is the parting of ways? The major difference between Islam and Christianity is the
Christians’ insistence on the supposed divinity of Christ (pbuh). A study of the Christian
scriptures reveals that Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity. In fact there is not a single
unequivocal statement in the entire Bible where Jesus (pbuh) himself says, "I am God" or
where he says, "worship me". In fact the Bible contains statements attributed to Jesus
(pbuh) in which he preached quite the contrary. The following statements in the Bible are
attributed to Jesus Christ:
a. "My Father is greater than I." [The Bible, John 14:28]
b. "My Father is greater than all." [The Bible, John 10:29]
c. "…I cast out devils by the Spirit of God…." [The Bible, Mathew 12:28]
d. "…I with the finger of God cast out devils…." [The Bible, Luke 11:20]
e. "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is
just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath
sent me." [The Bible, John 5:30]
2. The Mission of Jesus Christ (pbuh) – to Fulfill the Law
Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity for himself. He clearly announced the nature of his
mission. Jesus (pbuh) was sent by God to confirm the previous Judaic law. This is clearly
evident in the following statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of Mathew:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do
and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven." [The Bible, Mathew 5:17-20]
3. God Sent Jesus' (pbuh)
The Bible mentions the prophetic nature of Jesus (pbuh) mission in the following verses:
a. "… and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent
me." [The Bible, John 14:24]
b. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." [The Bible, John 17:3]
4. Jesus Refuted even the Remotest Suggestion of his Divinity
Consider the following incident mentioned in the Bible:
"And behold, one came and said unto him, ‘Good Master, what good thing shall I
do, that I may have eternal life?’
And he said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one,
that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ "
[The Bible, Mathew 19:16-17]
Jesus (pbuh) did not say that to have the eternal life of paradise, man should believe in
him as Almighty God or worship him as God, or believe that Jesus (pbuh) would die for
his sins. On the contrary he said that the path to salvation was through keeping the
commandments. It is indeed striking to note the difference between the words of Jesus
Christ (pbuh) and the Christian dogma of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus (pbuh).
5. Jesus (pbuh) of Nazareth – a Man Approved of God
The following statement from the Bible supports the Islamic belief that Jesus (pbuh) was
a prophet of God.
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God
among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst
of you, as ye yourselves also know." [The Bible, Acts 2:22]
6. The First Commandment is that God is One
The Bible does not support the Christian belief in trinity at all. One of the scribes once
asked Jesus (pbuh) as to which was the first commandment of all, to which Jesus (pbuh)
merely repeated what Moses (pbuh) had said earlier:
"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."
This is a Hebrew quotation, which means:
"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." [The Bible, Mark 12:29]
It is striking that the basic teachings of the Church such as Trinity and vicarious
atonement find no mention in the Bible. In fact, various verses of the Bible point to Jesus’
(pbuh) actual mission, which was to fulfill the law revealed to Prophet Moses (pbuh).
Indeed Jesus (pbuh) rejected any suggestions that attributed divinity to him, and
explained his miracles as the power of the One True God.
Jesus (pbuh) thus reiterated the message of monotheism that was given by all earlier
prophets of Almighty God.
NOTE: All quotations of the Bible are taken from the King James Version.
Old Testament
1. God is One
The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy contains an exhortation from Moses
(pbuh):
"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad".
It is a Hebrew quotation which means:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4]
2. Oneness of God in the Book of Isaiah
The following verses are from the Book of Isaiah:
a. "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."
[The Bible, Isaiah 43:11]
b. "I am Lord, and there is none else, there is no God besides me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 45:5]
c. "I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 46:9]
3. Old Testament condemns idol worship
a. Old Testament condemns idol worship in the following verses:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of
anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in
the water under the earth:"
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord
thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Exodus 20:3-5]
b. A similar message is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy:
"Thou shalt have none other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything
that is in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
beneath the earth."
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord
thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 5:7-9]
Prophet Muhammad in Christians' Scripture
Prophet Muhammad in Christians' Scripture
Old Testament
New Testament
Old Testament
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Al-Araf chapter 7 verse 157:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own
(scriptures) in the law and the Gospel".
1. Prophet Muhammad, prophesized in the Book of Deuteronomy:
Almighty God speaks to Moses in Book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18:
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my
words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
The Christians say that this prophecy refers to Jesus (pbuh) because Jesus (pbuh) was
like Moses (pbuh). Moses (pbuh) was a Jew, as well as Jesus (pbuh) was a Jew. Moses
(pbuh) was a Prophet and Jesus (pbuh) was also a Prophet.
If these two are the only criteria for this prophecy to be fulfilled, then all the Prophets of
the Bible who came after Moses (pbuh) such as Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea,
Joel, Malachi, John the Baptist, etc. (pbut) will fulfill this prophecy since all were Jews as
well as prophets.
However, it is Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who is like Moses (pbuh):
o Both had a father and a mother, while Jesus (pbuh) was born miraculously
without any male intervention.
[Mathew 1:18 and Luke 1:35 and also Al-Qur'an 3:42-47]
o Both were married and had children. Jesus (pbuh) according to the Bible
did not marry nor had children.
o Both died natural deaths. Jesus (pbuh) has been raised up alive. (4:157-
158)
Muhammad (pbuh) is from among the brethren of Moses (pbuh). Arabs are brethren of
Jews. Abraham (pbuh) had two sons: Ishmail and Isaac (pbut). The Arabs are the
descendants of Ishmail (pbuh) and the Jews are the descendants of Isaac (pbuh).
Words in the mouth:
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was unlettered and whatever revelations he received from
Almighty God he repeated them verbatim.
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my
words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
[Deuteronomy 18:18]
o Both besides being Prophets were also kings i.e. they could inflict capital
punishment. Jesus (pbuh) said, "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36).
o Both were accepted as Prophets by their people in their lifetime but Jesus (pbuh)
was rejected by his
people. John chapter 1 verse 11 states, "He came unto his own, but his own
received him not."
o Both brought new laws and new regulations for their people. Jesus (pbuh)
according to the Bible did not bring any new laws. (Mathew 5:17-18).
2. It is Mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 18:19
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not harken unto my words which he shall
speak in my name, I will require it of him."
3. Muhammad (pbuh) is prophesised in the book of Isaiah:
It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12:
"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and
he saith, I am not learned."
When Archangel Gabrail commanded Muhammad (pbuh) by saying Iqra - "Read", he
replied, "I am not learned".
New Testament
Al-Qur'an Chapter 61 Verse 6:
"And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, 'O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah
(sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad tidings of a messenger
to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed.' But when he came to them with clear signs, they
said, 'This is evident sorcery!' "
All the prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament regarding Muhammad (pbuh) besides
applying to the Jews also hold good for the Christians.
1. John chapter 14 verse 16:
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with
you forever."
2. Gospel of John chapter 15 verse 26:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit
of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
3. Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 7:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you".
"Ahmed" or "Muhammad" meaning "the one who praises" or "the praised one" is almost
the translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In the Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and
16:7. The word 'Comforter' is used in the English translation for the Greek word
Paracletos which means advocate or a kind friend rather than a comforter.
Paracletos is the warped reading for Periclytos. Jesus (pbuh) actually prophesised
Ahmed by name. Even the Greek word Paraclete refers to the Prophet (pbuh) who is a
mercy for all creatures.
Some Christians say that the Comforter mentioned in these prophecies refers to the Holy
Sprit. They fail to realise that the prophecy clearly says that only if Jesus (pbuh) departs
will the Comforter come. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit was already present on
earth before and during the time of Jesus (pbuh), in the womb of Elizabeth, and again
when Jesus (pbuh) was being baptised, etc. Hence this prophecy refers to none other
than Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
4. Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 12-14:
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you unto all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will
shew you things to come. He shall glorify me".
The Sprit of Truth, spoken about in this prophecy refers to none other than Prophet Muhammad
(Peace Be Upon Him)
NOTE: All quotations of the Bible are taken from the King James Version.
