Confrontation between Muhammad and Jesus
How are Muhammad's life and teachings, through the eyes of a Muslim, comparable to Jesus Christ? What is the Islamic person who thinks it is the difference between their relationship with God, what they have taught and its effectiveness, their mission in life and even their personalities? How much of what Muhammad and Jesus said is true?
who are they?
Islam teaches that the Holy Prophet (Muhammad) is a historical figure. Jesus' personality is shrouded in mystery.
Our comments:
Muhammad's life is well documented (571 - 632 AD) although much of our knowledge depends on traditional accounts and biographies (Ibn Ishaq).
Christians, and basically all historians, agree that someone called "Jesus" was a preacher from Galilee who lived in the first century AD. The Qur'an accepts its historicity, "The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah. So believe in Allah and his messengers "(4: An-Nisa: 171).
witness
More than eleven thousand people testified of Muhammad's life and work. There is absolutely no contemporary evidence of the life and work of Jesus.
Our comments:
Muhammad entered Mecca with 10.000 followers on 11 January 630 AD after his exile in Medinah. This is documented by contemporary sources. According to the book of Acts of the Bible, a contemporary source, 120 disciples of Jesus gathered immediately after his death (Acts 1:15).
The apostle Paul, in his letters, claims to have seen Jesus (1 Corinthians 9: 1). The Bible documents that on at least eight separate occasions the Lord appeared to humans after his death (see our chronology of the ministry of Jesus after his resurrection).
Written testimony
Muhammad gave a complete book to his followers which declared that it had been revealed to him by Allah and embodied in himself a perfect code of life. Jesus did not give a book of any description to his followers and left the question of religion entirely at their discretion.
Our comments:
The Koran depends entirely on Muhammad. For Jesus, there was already a book that testified to the truth. We call it the Old Testament. It was written by at least thirty people. The New Testament was written after the death of Jesus and includes the writings of eight authors.
The Quran and the New Testament express opposite approaches to religion. The focus of Islam is on the "letter of the Law" against the true focus of Christianity on the "spirit of the Law".
Rules for living
Muhammad has given a completely new dispensation to the world. Jesus did not claim any position so high for himself, but told his followers to follow the same old Mosaic dispensation.
Our comments:
Muhammad's teaching was new to the Arabs, but does not claim that his dispensation is "completely new", since it dates back to Abraham (2: Al-Baqarah: 136). What Jesus proclaimed was like seeing beyond the letter of the Mosaic Law on the nature of God and the life of the Spirit to which he is calling us. Jesus is said to have made many statements, such as being "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14: 6).
Unequivocal teachings
Muhammad taught the basic principles of his religion in unequivocal language and in unequivocal terms. There is therefore no dispute over them or any controversy over them in the Muslim world during all these thirteen centuries. Jesus knew nothing about the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Logos, the Transubstantiation, the Atonement or the elaborate rituals of the Roman Church, and so on.
Our comments:
There are several Muslim "denominations", for example Sufism, but generally there is intolerance for divergent points of view. But today there are aspects of popular Islam with which Muhammad would probably disagree, such as the celebration of his birthday, Mawlid, and his veneration in the branches of Sufism.
Jesus was unaware of developments within Christianity after his time, but surely he would not have agreed with many of the teachings (pagan holidays, refusal of the Sabbath and God's laws, promotion of the Trinity, etc.). Supported by the overwhelming majority of Protestants, Catholics and others who say they represent him.
Role model
The Holy Prophet is a human being just like us and as such he can command our faithfulness and our love. Jesus is a perfect man plus a perfect god and as such his personality has become a true enigma. We cannot feel attracted to him because he is not one of us. It belongs to a rather different species and as such cannot serve as a model for us.
Our comments:
Anyone can be a role model. But what kind of role model? Muhammad lived a life of aggressive evangelism. Jesus lived a peaceful life of service and was "tempted in all places like us, but without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). We have to "walk while walking".
Appeal
Muhammad is the largest specimen for humans. For twenty three long years, he has lived and worked among us as a normal mortal and during this period he has shown so many phases of his humanity and so varied aspects of his sweet personality that men in all walks of life, from kings and sovereigns up to the man of the street, everyone can find a defined pattern for his guide in life ("The ideal character of the prophet" by MS Chaudry).
Jesus has absolutely no such beauty or excellence to his credit. He barely lived three years after the beginning of his ministry and died ignominiously on the cross.
Our comments:
It is difficult to know what Muhammad was like, because his life is surrounded by nice legends. But obviously he has a certain physical appeal or nobody will follow him. Indeed, Jesus had "no form or beauty that we should desire" (Isaiah 53: 2). His appeal is to the spiritual, nonphysical side of our existence.
Elevated position
The Koran confers this exalted position on the Prophet. Allah says: "Verily, in the life of the Messenger of Allah there is a noble uswa (model) for you." Jesus makes no such claims.
Our comments:
The skeptic would note that because Muhammad transmitted the Qur'an, his observations about himself may be selfish. The New Testament makes many statements about the exalted position of Jesus. Christ himself is careful to give all glory to God the Father.
successes
The Holy Prophet "is the greatest success of all the religious personalities in the world" (article of the British Encyclopedia on Muhammad). Jesus left his work unfinished because of his sudden arrest and crucifixion (as believed and preached by the Christian Church).
Our comments:
Muhammad launched a very successful international religion. Jesus calls his church "a small flock" (Luke 12:32). Christ continues his work to this day, "And behold, I am always with you, even until the completion of age" (Matthew 28:20).
Code of Conduct
Muhammad has given a perfect code of life to his followers. Jesus left part of his teachings to be imparted by the Paraclete (Holy Spirit, John 14:16).
Our comments:
Muhammad did not exactly follow his code, for he had, for example, at least twelve wives towards the end of his life. Christianity is a religion of continual divine revelation in which believers are expected to "grow in grace and knowledge" (2 Peter 3:18).
Mastery of the world
Muhammad made a powerful revolution and made the Arabs masters of the then civilized world. Jesus could not free his people, the Jews, from the yoke of the Romans.
Our comments:
The Arab empire was vast but where is it now? Unlike Muhammad, Jesus proclaimed a Kingdom that was not of this world (John 18:36). The beliefs taught by Christ eventually conquered the Roman Empire. It should also be noted that, according to the CIA Factbook, more people around the world consider themselves Christians than Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or any other religious affiliation (2010 estimate).