Assalamualaikum.
I recently received an email from my friend asking opinion about a comparative list between Jesus and Muhammad. The email concluded that there is no comparison between Jesus and Muhammad. Muhammad falls so far short, that he cannot be held on any level remotely close to Jesus. Muhammad is clearly inferior to Christ.
The whole thing could not be responded in a simple manner because the list can endlessly continue. But let the sender ask himself, what is the purpose of highlighting the list?
When we discuss about Jesus – peace be upon him – and Muhammad – peace be upon him -, the intention is the first and foremost.
Me myself, I learn about Muhammad and his religion for me to clarify my own purpose of life, why God created me, why I am here, where am I heading to after this worldly transit? I found my answer best through the teaching of Muhammad. I learn about religion to answer my own Questions, and not to question others!
As a historian, I believe that Muhammad was the only prophet that was born under the light of history. Every single thing about him, I can identify the source and even the source can be evaluated scientifically for the authentication. But the case was not with all other Prophets including Jesus Christ.
Can the existence of Jesus Christ be proven historically and scientifically? Maybe yes, but it would not be an easy task. As far as the history concern, this was the major issue why the scholars of the Enlightenment rejected Christianity because empirical studies could not find solution in proving the existence of Jesus himself. In 325CE the Bishops gathered in Nicaea to decide if Jesus was a son of God or a man. It was that crucial if history involves.
But as a Muslim, the Quran was the source for me to know and believe in Jesus. Al-Quran helped me to believe in him. It was even a part of my faith. I cannot be a Muslim without believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus was better explained in the Quran, at least for my own level of understanding.
So, if the sender believe that his idea about Christianity gave him satisfaction in finding the absolute truth, then let him be with his Christianity. Islam stands with its own strength and Christianity should be confident with what it has. There is no need to prove who is better than who, if the intention is to find what is good for us in this temporary life.
All the claims made by the list can be answered by reading more about Muhammad. Keep aside the pre-conceived idea he had about him, and be open to read properly. I would not suggesting him to read any book written by Muslims, but why not spend sometime reading books about Muhammad written by someone like Karen Armstrong in her book “Muhammad: A Biography of The Prophet“.
I found peace and had full of tranquility by believing and loving both Jesus and Muhammad and I cannot do anything to help someone who find peace in hating any of these great men.
God knows the best.
ABU SAIF
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The biography and mission of both Muhammad and Jesus (Peace be upon them) has both historical and religious connection. Therefore, you cannot speak about them without proper religious and historical background.
I am not going to refute what the questioner believed in, but just to refer him to the testimony of great non-Muslim personalities in the history of the world on Muhammad and his religion. The followings are some of the testimonies:
“Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”
Lamartine, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277.
“It is not the propagation but the permanency of his religion that deserves our wonder, the same pure and perfect impression which he engraved at Mecca and Medina is preserved, after the revolutions of twelve centuries by the Indian, the African and the Turkish proselytes of the Koran. . . The Mahometans have uniformly withstood the temptation of reducing the object of their faith an devotion to a level with the senses and imagination of man. ‘I believe in One God and Mahomet the Apostle of God’ is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honours of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.”
Edward Gibbon and Simon Ocklay, HISTORY OF THE SARACEN EMPIRE, London, 1870, p. 54.
“He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope’s pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports.”
Bosworth Smith, MOHAMMAD AND MOHAMMADANISM, London, 1874, p. 92.
“It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher.”
Annie Besant, THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD, Madras,1932, p. 4.
“His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement – all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad.”
W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.
“Muhammad, the inspired man who founded Islam, was born about A.D. 570 into an Arabian tribe that worshipped idols. Orphaned at birth, he was always particularly solicitous of the poor and needy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and the downtrodden. At twenty, he was already a successful businessman, and soon became director of camel caravans for a wealthy widow. When he reached twenty-five, his employer, recognizing his merit, proposed marriage. Even though she was fifteen years older, he married her, and as long as she lived, remained a devoted husband.
“Like almost every major prophet before him, Muhammad fought shy of serving as the transmitter of God’s word, sensing his own inadequacy. But the angel commanded “Read.” So far as we know, Muhammad was unable to read or write, but he began to dictate those inspired words which would soon revolutionize a large segment of the earth: “There is one God.”
“In all things Muhammad was profoundly practical. When his beloved son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumours of God’s personal condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Muhammad is said to have announced, “An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such things to the death or birth of a human being.” “At Muhammad’s own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria with one of the noblest speeches in religious history: “If there are any among you who worshipped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you worshipped, He lives forever.”
James A. Michener, “ISLAM: THE MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION,” in READER’S DIGEST (American edition), May 1955, pp. 68-70.
“My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level.”
Michael H. Hart, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p. 33.
I think by now the questioner may have upgrade and update his ideas beyond the bottom line.
Thanks
great! thank you
Salam.
Thanks Brother Adam
That list… is sooooo cool. Is there anymore? I want, I want, I want!!
Thank you very much Akhi Hasrizal and Akhi Adam for the explanation. I do received emails with regards to this matter, and alhamdulillah, your ‘words of wisdom’ enlightened most of the issues raised.
Kindly, just to share a link that might be helping in understanding the ‘purpose of life’ i.e. one of the subjects mentioned above.
http://www.darulkautsar.com/keindahanislam/keunggulanislam/KYbooklet.htm
waauuuuuu…. amazing!
[...] I Love Both Jesus and Muhammad [...]
Assalamualaikum w.b.t,
Every man is a slave of God. No slave can say that he is a better slave than another. Only The Master has the ultimate say……and these two men certainly have never said that one was better than the other. May God’s blessings be with both of them.
[...] I Love Both Jesus and Muhammad [...]
nicely said zulhimi.
Salam…
Thanks a lot ya ustaz…I’ve been reading on the same matter few days ago , err..some points left me puzzled. Alhamdulillah your explanation has helped me to understand
Syukran
omit the successor… st athanasius, bishop of alexandria.. correct your mistake like i am correcting mine now…
and for such vitriolic comment, apology is thus humbly put forward..
peace…
I have made the amendment and highly appreciate your comment. sharing is caring
[...] 1. I Love Both Jesus and Muhammad [...]
i read love for Jesus and Muhammad(SAW) its very true if we are not belive anyone of Prophets we are not in muslims but Bro In the Respact of our Prophets Muhammad(SAW) if we add in our written always it is good for us (although compairision ) you are understand my points is.pls dont mind it .
[...] Dalam soal jawab, jangan kita terlalu cepat mahu memikirkan tentang jawapan. Ada sahaja kemungkinan seseorang itu bertanya dengan soalan yang salah, justeru sulit sekali untuk jawapan yang betul diberikan. Contoh pembetulan soalan, ada saya sentuh di dalam artikel I Love Both Jesus and Muhammad. [...]
Looking upon the title of this post, it reminded me of the late As-Syahid Ahmad Deedat…
Assalamu Alaikum Warrahmaatullah.
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