The Similarities
Jesus is one of the greatest persons ever to have walked the earth. Two world faiths hold him in high regard. Islam holds him to be God’s Messiah, Prophet, and Righteous Servant. Christianity holds him to be all of the above and even more. Some Christians believe that Jesus is God the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Some believe that he is the Son of God. Some take this title to mean the Divine Son of God. Others think that ‘Son of God’ is a title that can refer to a person who is especially favoured by God; and that it refers to Jesus more so because he was favoured by God to a remarkable degree.
Hence belief in Jesus is an element of faith that is common to Christianity and Islam even though the two faiths believe in him differently. Both faiths hold Jesus in high esteem. Muslims and Christians believe that Jesus entered the world in a miraculous manner; that he worked mighty deeds on earth; that his exit was mysterious; and that his second coming will be spectacular. His miraculous entrance is hailed by Christians as the virginal conception, as is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Quranic story of Jesus as found in chapters 3 and 19 has many elements in common with Luke’s Gospel, leading to the common interpretation and belief among Muslims in the virginal conception as well.
Jesus’ powerful deeds, especially during the last few years of his ministry, are detailed in the four Gospels in the New Testament. Likewise the Quran informs us that God supported Jesus with the Holy Spirit and that Jesus healed the leper, cured the blind, and even raised the dead back to life, all with God’s permission.
According to the Gospels, Jesus’ exit from the world was at first a mystery to his disciples. But the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John show that Jesus later appeared to his disciples and confirmed for them that God had raised him alive to heaven. The Quran, without describing the event in any detail, confirms for Muslims that “God raised Jesus to Himself” (Quran 4:157). The belief that Jesus is alive with God, then, is common to Muslims and Christians.
Muslims also generally believe that Jesus will return to earth before the Day of Judgment. This belief is not clearly stated in the Quran although two verses (4:158 and 43:61) have been interpreted as possible references to this event. This belief is, however, stated in many sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and found in the most authentic collections of his sayings.
In short, Muslims and Christians share a common reverence for Jesus, and this can serve as a starting-point for dialogue leading to greater levels of mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect.
The Differences
Focusing on our commonalities, however, should not prevent us from being honest about our differences, for only in understanding our differences as well can we truly understand each other.
One area of difference is on the scriptural authority that settles questions for Muslims and Christians. For Christians the Bible is the Word of God. Some Christians add that the Bible is the Word of God and the word of man—that it is through the word of man that the Word of God is mediated. Many Christians believe that the authors of the Bible were basically free to write according to their knowledge and experiences, and that God controlled the process such that the result is in fact His Word without ceasing to be the words of the human authors. Some Christians believe that the process by which God inspired the writings that make up the Bible guarantees their inerrancy. Others believe that the Bible is free of error only in those matters on which human salvation depends.
Muslims believe in principle that any revelation from God must be accepted. Thus they believe in the Biblical prophets, especially as they are presented in the Quran. The Quran itself mentions some parts of the Bible as being based on scriptural revelations from God. In this way the Quran mentions the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospel of Jesus. But Muslims see no reason to believe that the Bible is the final revelation from God. They believe that after the Old and New Testaments God revealed a final testament: the Quran. For Muslims, therefore, the ultimate authority is the Quran itself. They believe it to be the final revelation from God confirming the truth of the previous scriptures and yet acting as a quality control on the previous scriptures (Quran 5:48).
Hence in principle Muslims accept as Divine revelation those parts of the Bible which are in agreement with the Quran. They hesitate, however about those parts which are in disagreement. For them, if the disagreeable part refers to the practices of the faith then the Quranic practices abrogate the old, and they follow the new. If the differences are matters of history or theology Muslims may consider these due to something lost in the translation or transmission of the Bible over the ages. Often in dialogue Muslims point to some passages which are noted in many modern Bibles as having been changed over time. An example of this is The First Letter of John, chapter 5, verse 7 which used to say, “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one” (1John 5:7). These words, however, have been removed from the verse in most modern versions because Biblical scholars have discovered that it is absent from the earliest and most reliable manuscripts of John’s first letter.
Because Muslims and Christians accept different scriptural authorities, they may be expected to arrive at different conclusions about what to believe. This is why Muslims do not believe that Jesus died on the cross as depicted in the Gospels. The Quran does not describe in detail what happened, but insists that Jesus’ enemies did not manage to kill him. In response to those who said, “We killed the messiah, Jesus Son of Mary, the Messenger of God,” the Quran says:
They killed him not, nor crucified him, but it was made so to appear to them. And those who differ about him are in doubt about him. They have no knowledge of him except the pursuit of a conjecture. They killed him not for certain. But God raised him to himself. And God is Mighty, Wise” (Quran 4:157).
The Quran does not say specifically how Jesus managed to escape the plot of his opponents. But Muslims believe that the Quran, though very brief, gives God’s viewpoint on the story of Jesus.
But the main point of difference on the question of Jesus’ crucifixion is about the purpose of his purported death. For Christians, his death was not merely caused by sinful people, but was for the cause of sinful people. Jesus laid down his life for the sins of many, or, in an alternative view, for all people. There are various ways of explaining the efficacy of Jesus’ death. Some believe that God accepts the death of Jesus as a substitute for sinful people who are henceforth spared their deserved penalties. Others believe that the death of Jesus appeased the wrath of God and made it possible for people to be forgiven.
Muslims, however, believe that the matter is simple. God is Gracious. He can forgive his servants if he chooses; nothing impedes him. His promise is that he will forgive those who turn to him in repentance. If we sincerely repent of our sins against him, and do our best to repair the harm we have done to his creatures, his forgiveness is assured. On this point Muslims and Christians seem to agree. For even on the view that Jesus died for our sins Christians also insist on the need for repentance and a return from sinful ways. Moreover, Muslims find it difficult to understand how a just God can punish an innocent person in order to free the guilty.
Finally, despite their agreement about Jesus, Muslims and Christians also disagree about him. Muslims find it puzzling to think of Jesus as God and man at the same time, for this seems to combine two contrary features in the same person. If he was God he only appeared to be a man. And if he was really a man with some of the imperfections this entails then he was not the perfect God in whom Muslims and Christians believe.
Even more perplexing for Muslims is the doctrine that Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity. For Muslims, there is only one God, and Jesus is one of his greatest creatures. Christians agree that there is only one God. But they add that the one God subsists in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To Muslims, however, the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel; and of the three persons only The Father, whom Muslims call Allah, can be truly God. Hence the simple Muslim declaration of faith: “There is no god but God.”
The dialogue between Christians and Muslims must continue, and this will, we hope, lead to a greater level of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect. We have only sketched here some of the main issues that need to be discussed as starting points for the achievement of such mutual appreciation. These two world faiths together are followed by half of the world’s population. If they work together they can combat many of the ills that plague our world at present.
Malcolm X’s struggles through life propelled him on a quest for a better world. From a troubled childhood to an incarcerated youth, from upholding black pride to advocating black supremacy, from blind trust to disenchantment, he experienced many significant life events which evolved his worldviews. His pursuit finally led him to authentic Islam which revolutionized his beliefs and enabled him to embrace a holistic approach to race relations. By the end of his remarkable life, Malcolm X was convinced that Islam’s emphasis and application of equality in all aspects of life offered the ideal solution to racism in America.
Born Malcolm Little on May 19th, 1925, Malcolm was raised in a family that valued its black heritage and actively participated in the civil rights movement. Growing up in a society of institutionalized racism, Malcolm X felt the sting of unequal rights and lack of opportunities from his earliest years. His family routinely received threats by white supremacists, eventually resulting in the burning down of their home and the alleged accidental death of his father. After his mother was committed to an asylum, he and his siblings were distributed among foster homes and orphanages. Malcolm excelled in his studies despite his tumultuous upbringing. However, he became demotivated and left school because his professional aspirations were ridiculed by one of his teachers in a racist comment.
Without the possibility of upward social mobility, a life of crime was practically inevitable for young Malcolm. In 1946, he began serving a prison sentence spanning several years. Malcolm utilized this time to reflect on the oppressive condition of blacks in America and broadened his knowledge through reading a variety of books. Religion, race and world history were among his favorite subjects. The scar of racial discrimination combined with his years of contemplation and education in prison laid a strong foundation for his activism in the years to come.
Malcolm X: A Decade of Hate
While imprisoned, Malcolm was influenced by the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of a Black Nationalist group called the Nation of Islam. He was instantly drawn to Elijah Muhammad’s message of black empowerment and separation from the white race. By the time he left prison in 1952, he had already joined this group and adopted a new surname, X, referring to his descent from an unknown African tribe.
Although some principles of the Nation of Islam may have been positive, they were often mixed with a racist anti-white ideology. For instance, the movement went so far as to say that the white man was of the devil. In his speeches, Malcolm X encouraged Black Americans to reject oppression and take action to demand equality and justice. He stressed the need to abandon self-hate, ignorance and substance abuse, all of which enabled social injustice to persist in America. In accordance with the Nation of Islam’s central theme, his speeches during this period reflected strong anti-white sentiments.
As a charismatic personality, Malcolm X quickly rose through the ranks of the organization and was recognized as its main spokesperson. He was tasked with opening chapters in many cities and was instrumental in expanding its membership from 500 to 30,000 within a decade. Due to his zeal, activism and eloquence, he became the face of Black Nationalism in America in the Civil Rights era.
Although the Nation of Islam seemingly resembled Islam in that the term “Islam” was part of its title, and its members were called “Muslims,” while chapters were referred to as “mosques,” its beliefs were a far cry from the universal religion of Islam. One of the most obvious differences is that Islam embraces all races and considers them to be equal in the sight of God (Allah in Arabic).
Malcolm X: True Islam, True Unity
Ultimately, the true face of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam as a religious cult became apparent to Malcolm after a decade of his involvement with the group. He left the Nation of Islam in 1964. As Malcolm X discovered true Islam, he rejected the racist teachings of the Nation of Islam and regretted attracting masses of people to the Nation of Islam and their ideology. Subsequently, he undertook the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj. This journey enabled him to truly experience the authentic and pure religion of Islam, transforming Malcolm’s approach to race issues.
During the pilgrimage, he performed various rituals with millions of other believers from different parts of the world; everyone was focused solely on worshipping God. Through this event, Malcolm encountered something that seemed to be a farfetched reality in his lifetime – the true equality of all men and women, irrespective of race and ethnicity. His experience exposed him to the beauty of Islam, where believers of all races and social ranks interact and struggle together to worship God.
In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley references a letter written by Malcolm X in which he discusses this life-altering experience:
Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this Ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad, and all the other prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors. I have been blessed to visit the Holy City of Mecca. … There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blonds to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and the non-white. America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered ‘white’ – but the ‘white’ attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen such sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color. … [O]n this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to re-arrange much of the thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. … [P]erhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man—and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their ‘differences’ in color. (New York: The Random House Publishing Group, 1965; pp. 390-92)
Malcolm’s words are a testament to the unifying power of Islam, a comprehensive way of life 1.6 billion Muslims strive to follow worldwide. He believed in the authentic and pure Islam because he realized that it was true guidance from God, which could establish justice and harmony on earth. Indeed, there are many examples from the life of Prophet Muhammadp which show how Islam unified people who had previously been blinded by tribal loyalties and elitist mindsets. For instance, when an Arab Muslim uttered a racial slur against an African Muslim, calling him the “son of a black woman,” Prophet Muhammadp rebuked the man and told him, “You are a man who still has traces of ignorance in him.” The Arab was so remorseful that he laid his face on the ground and asked the African to step on his cheek to humiliate him.
As is evident from the teachings of Prophet Muhammadp, Islam has the power to completely transform people’s perceptions so that they view every person as an equal. Acknowledging the nobility of all human beings as a birthright, Islam rejects the ideas of inherent racial or nationalistic superiority. This Islamic concept of diversity and pluralism is beautifully captured in the following verse of the Quran, the holy book of Islam: “People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. In God’s eyes, the most honored of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware” (49:13).
During his pilgrimage, Malcolm experienced how people of all races and ethnicities could live together in peace once they accepted that they were equal in the sight of God. After this momentous journey, he became known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz – although he continues to be popularly identified as Malcolm X.
Islam won Malcolm’s heart and gave his spirited self a renewed purpose. He traveled through the Middle East and Africa, establishing an international network and envisioning an expanded mission based on inclusive human rights, as advocated in Islam. Upon his return, Malcolm X reflected his new beliefs by declaring, “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.”
February 21, 1965, marks a dark day in American history. After receiving numerous threats, Malcolm X was assassinated at the young age of 39. He had tirelessly devoted his life to the pursuit of justice while expressing deep humility and sincerity in his search for the truth. Indeed, these characteristics capture the greatness of this man and endear him to us as a worthy role model for all times.
Note: The subscript p next to Prophet Muhammadp represents the invocation Muslims say with his name: May God’s peace and blessings be upon him.
