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Jesus and Muhammad

Michelle Culver
HUM/130
March 15th, 2015
Marc Rhoads

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Jesus & Muhammad
Theologian throughout the history of the world read the written biographies of mankind
and the divine being that created all time and existence. These two historical figures contributed
more to mankind with their culture and laws than any other religion to date. Numerous inhabitants
can in some way trace their roots to Muslims and Christianity. Who were these two men? We
begin with Muhammad.
DuringtheageofignoranceMuhammadwasbornintotheHashimclanoftheQuraysh
tribe(LivingReligions,2014,p.379).Nothingpropheticorextraordinarywasexpectfrom
Muhammad,butastimeprogressedhisnamebecamewellknownthroughouttheArablandas
thevesselforGodstouniteamulticulturalembraceofnomadArabsintoadominantforcefor
theirGod.Withroughly23%,about1.6billionMuslim(Worldetal.,2013)revereMuhammad
astheSealoftheProphets, the last and ultimate authority in the continuing prophetic tradition.
Approximately533yearslateranothermannamedJesusChristchangedourworldin
threeshortyears(LivingReligions,2014,p.302).DespitetheRomansexecutiononthecharge
ofsedition,thepowerfulnessoftheRomanEmpirewillhavebeenenvelopedbythesensationof
ChristianitywithingenerationsafterJesusscrucifixion.Andtoday,nearly2.18billion
Christiansfollowerscreatetheworldslargestreligionrepresentingroughly33%ofglobal
population(Globaletal.,2011).
Althoughbothpreachedstronglyinamonotheisticreligion,theirdifferenceinlivesand
deathaccountformuchofthedivisionbetweenIslamandChristianity.Abrieflookat
Muhammadlifetellsusthathisfatherdiedduringatradingjourneybeforehewasborn(Living
Religions,2014,p.379).Aspercustom,MuhammadwassenttotheBedouintribetobewet
nursedandfellintothecareofapoorwoman,andasaresultgrewupamidstpoverty(Living

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Religions,2014,p.379).Byageeight,Muhammadsmotherdiedmakinghimanorphanwhere
eventuallyhebecamethewardofhisuncleAubTalib.
FollowingfamilytraditionsMuhammadmanagedcaravansandat25hemetKhadijaha
beautiful,intelligent,andwealthywomen(LivingReligions,2014,p.380);whombecamehis
strongestsupporter.Attheageof40,returningfromhisspiritualretreatduringRamadan,
KhadijahheardhiscriedouttheAngleGabrielforcefullycommandedhimtorecitetheQuran.
Khadijahconsoledhimtoovercomehisanxietyofresponsibilityandridiculeofprophethood
(LivingReligions,2014,p.380).
In the beginning his revelation only reached a few people: his wife, Khadijah; his cousin,
Ali; his friend, the trader Abu Bakr; and his loyal freed slave, Zayd (Living Religion, 2014, p.
381). After three years time, his agonizing doubts of the Qurans authenticities developed into a
believable faith read for public preaching. The Qurayshites ridiculed and defamed Muhammad for
declaring himself a prophet (Living Religion, 2014, p. 381).
During his fifth year, the Year of Sorrow, Muhammad lost his back bone Khadijah and
Abu Talib (Living Religion, 2014, p. 382). It was thru this time Muhammad experienced the Night
of Ascension. He ascended through the seven heavens into the Divine Proximity where he met
former prophets and teachers from Adam to Jesus, saw paradise and hell, and received the great
blessings of the Divine Presence (Living Religion, 2014, p. 382).
Afterwards, Muhammad made hijrah from town to town, solving its social and political
problem, thus creating the Islamic Social Administration (Living Religions, 2014, p. 382). Thus
rose the zealous leadership to take up sword for Allah, purging the nomad Arabs from rampant
idolatry. In his eleventh year, Muhammad demonstrated the faithful rites set to be followed
thenceforth from his pilgrimage to Mecca (Living Religions, 2014, p. 383).

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Bythetimeofhisdeathin632CE,Muhammadledseveralmilitarycampaignswhich
conqueredPalestine,Syria,Egypt,Iraq,andthenPersiainatenyearspan(LivingReligion,
2013,p.383).Heprovedcourageousnessandaccomplished leader. In one generation Muhammad
and his followers had changed the political landscape of the Eastern world, by reform society,
actively combating oppression and corruption; inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right,
and forbidding all that is wrong (Living Religion, 2014, p. 384). Today Muslims around the
world honor Muhammad as Allahs one True Prophet.
Generation later, Jesus Christ was born 1 CE in Bethlehem by his virgin mother Mary in a
stable (Living Religion, 2014, p. 306). Differences between interpretations believe either poor
shepherds or greats sage greeting Jesus (Living Religions, 2014, p. 306). There are no known
accounts of Jesus youth, accept for when his parents left him at the temple during their trip to
Jerusalem. Luke wrote, All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers of
the Torah (Living Religion, 2014, p. 306). This story accounts for Jesus understanding of his
sense of mission even as a boy, his knowledge of Jewish tradition, and the close personal
connection between Jesus and God.
At age 30, Jesus appeared before John to be baptized, but John felt Jesus sinless life didnt
need repentance, but Jesus insisted (Living Religion, 2014, p. 306). When he emerged from the
water conversion ensued, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending
upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven. Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am
well pleased (Living Religion, 2014, p. 307). Jesus began publicly ministering Gods Word and
performing nature-defying miracles.
WordspreadaswitnesswereastoundedbyJesusabilitytoturningwaterintowine,
walkingonwater,calmingstormingseas,givingsighttotheblind,healingparalyzedlimbs,
restoringlifetothedead, casting devils out of the possessed, and turning a few loaves and fish

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into enough food to feed a crowd of thousands, with copious left-overs (Living Religion, 2014, p.
308).Jesustaughtloveandcompassion,andcontinuedtodemonstratesuchpowerandhumility.
AndhisenemieswereunabletorefuteJesus'amazingpowerovernature,thusasignofGod.
PeopleofallclassflockedtoJesusoutofspiritualhunger,includingwomenbreaking
Jewishtraditions,butneverthelawwhichtheycontinuallysoughtcatchhiminaviolationof
(LivingReligion,2014,p.310).ButJesusslifewaspureandreproach;heshowedloveand
forgiveness.Heconstantlydemonstratedheartfeltcompassiontowardsthepoor,outcast,and
untouchablesbecauseitwashismissiontogathertogethereveryonewhocouldbesaved(Living
Religion,2014,p.313).
TheenemieswereinfuriatedwithJesussrejectionoftheirinterpretationsoftheevolving
rabbinictraditions.Theywerealsoangeredatthetwofacednessthatheexposedfromthemnot
abidingMosaicLaw.Claiming,Iamfromabove;youareofthisworld,Iamnotofthis
worldandforetellingasagoodshepherdhewouldofferhisfleshandbloodforthesakeof
humanity(LivingReligion,2014,p.316).
Knowinghisloomingdeath,Jesusgatheredhis12disciplesfortheLastSuper.He
demonstratedhowtopreservespiritualunionceremony,explainedthebreadandwinerepresent
hisbodyandblood.Hetoldthediscipleoneofthemwouldbetrayhim;howeverJudashad
alreadysoldinformationfor30piecesofsilver(LivingReligion,2014,p.316).
AfterprayingintheGardenofGethsemaneJesussaid:Itsallover.Thehourhascome
(LivingReligion,2014,p.317).ArrestedandpassedtoPontiusPilateaRomangovernor,for
sentencing,yetPontiusdidntwanttoexecutebutflogginginstead(LivingReligion,2014,p.
318).Neverthelesshewashandedovertothemilitaryforexecutionbycrucifixiontopleasethe
crowd.Afterenduringtorturouswhips,acrownofthorns,nailedtoacross,andmockingly

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paradedtothehillofGolgotha;hehungforhoursbeforehedied(LivingReligion,2014,p.319).
WitnessingJesuscrucifixioncausedhisdisciplesfleeinfearoftheirlife.
Jesuswaswrappedinlinenandplacedintoatombwherehisbodywaskeptguard.Jesus
claimedbeforehisdeaththathewouldariseinthreedays.Uponvisitinghistomb,Mary
Magdaleneplusafewadditionalclosewomenfoundhistombempty.AnAngelappearedunto
themandproclaimedJesushasbeenresurrected.ThedisciplessoughtafterJesus,turningtheir
discouragementintothefoundationhopeofsalvation.Withsteadfastbelief,hisdisciples
proclaimedJesusreturn;therewithspreadinghiswordslikewildfireconsumingtheRoman
Empire.Theworldhasneverbeenthesame.
Although both men preached of a monotheistic God who is sovereign, infinite, all-know,
creator, and judge of man; these two religion trace their foundation back to the prophet Abraham,
splitting by Isaac or Ishmael. Believing in the Old Testament, both authenticated new scared text
from God. These spiritual works lead to worldwide influential religious and cultural change;
which are the foundations of the creation of Christianity and Islam.

References

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GlobalChristianityAReportontheSizeandDistributionoftheWorldsChristianPopulation.
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March15th,2015.
LivingReligions,9thEd,MaryPatFisher,PearsonPublishing,2014,p.202431
WorldsMuslimpopulationmorewidespreadthanyouthink.2013Retrievedfrom
http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2013/06/07/worldsmuslimpopulationmore
widespreadthanyoumightthink/March15th,2015.