Could anyone tell me how much connection exists between Islam and Christianity?
One more favour please 
:)I found a website " http://www.sim.org/islam/man.html ".Could someone tell me if it’s contents are authentic? And while u r at it, how about this page too? " http://www.sim.org/simnow/religions/muhammad.html "?
[This message has been edited by queer (edited April 02, 1999).]
Queer I quickly perused over one of the sites you mentioned. It has a link to a Christian Mission homepage, which should tell you something about the contents. In my opinion, the best way to understand Islam is to ask a Muslim, as the best way to understand Christianity is through a Christian. The page is full of truths and what Muslims would consider half truths. So I guess it depends on whose truth your looking for.
In terms of Christianity - what exactly do you mean by "connection with Islam"? Islam teaches that Jesus was a Prophet of Allah. Jesus recieved the same message as Muhammad, as did Moses and Abraham. The message was misconstrued and corrupted over the ages. Jesus is exalted in position in Islam and holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims:
"Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered." (QS. 2:136)
An entire chapter of the Qur'an (chapter 19) is named after Maryam (Virgin Mary). In Islam Christians and Jews are considered "People of the Book". They are distinct from other non-Muslims. Although they are believed to have corrupted and misconstrued Allah's message, they are respected and permitted to enter heaven if they are righteous in their deeds:
"Lo! Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve." (QS. 2:62)
In Islam, Jesus is not believed to be crucified. In Islam, Jesus did not die. He was "ascended" to heavan and will return:
"(And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ." (QS. 3:55)
"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain." (QS. 4:157)
I hope that answers some of your questions. The question of Jesus and his teachings in Islam is very complex and could occupy volumes of books.
Achtung ;)
"O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender." (QS. 4:171)
Thanx a lot Achtung :)U did answer to what i wanted to know - mostly about what status Jesus has in Islam. I 've got a christian friend who always keeps reminding me about how very linked Islam and Christianity are...just needed some real confirmation!
One more question ,if u dont mind. Are all muslims as well versed in Quran as u are? ( i'm not a muslim...so i dont have much of an idea..and as u said, its better to ask muslims about islam ) If they are, i dont see why muslims shouldn't accept other religions also to be true! Is it true that under the "shariyat" ,(hope i got the spelling right),it's a capital offence to convert from Islam? One last question :)a bit personal...dyu think islam is a liberal religion? I've read many of Ur posts...though i dont understand much as u quote a lot from Quran, u do seem to be an unbiased person...so u must be the right guy to answer this one :)
Thanks for the complement but my knowledge of the Qur'an is rudimentary at best. Muslims cannot accept other religions "to be true" because part of their belief is that Islam is the only Truth. Saying that, there are certain segments under the broad umbrella of Islam who would agree with you and state that other religions are also "true" - these would include the Sufi mystics. But for the most part Muslims believe in the Truth of God as given to them in the message of the Qur'an - all other religious beliefs are either false or distortions of the Truth. That being said, in Islam there is "no compulsion in religion", you cannot force others to comply with your beliefs and Muslims do accept the right of other religions to exist and co-exist with Islam ("Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion" - more below):
"There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower." (QS. 2:256)
"Say: O disbelievers! I worship not that which ye worship; Nor worship ye that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion." (QS. 109:1-6)
To my understanding, there is no punishment in the Qur'an for apostasy.
"Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him...He who turneth back on his heels [apostates] doth no hurt to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful." (QS. 3:144)
"And whoso becometh a renegade [an apostate] and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter. Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein." (QS. 2:217)
"Lo! those who turn back after the guidance hath been manifested unto them [apostates], Satan hath seduced them, and He giveth them the rein. That is because they say unto those who hate what Allah hath revealed: We will obey you in some matters; and Allah knoweth their secret talk. Then how (will it be with them) when the angels gather them, smiting their faces and their backs! That will be because they followed that which angereth Allah, and hated that which pleaseth Him. Therefor He hath made their actions vain." (QS. 47:25-28)
I believe the Qur'an is clear that there is no compulsion in religion and that the "sin" of apostasy is to be judged by Allah in the hereafter and not by humans in this world and time (I think Jewels provided some additional Qur'anic evidence on this subject in a previous post). The Shariah is derived from "man's interpretation" of the Qur'an, Hadith (traditions attributed to Muhammad), legal jurisprudence from accepted jurists and legal precedent. Those who advocate capital punishment for "murtad" or apostasy cite Hadith literature. The positions of scholars are divided on the issue.
I think Islam can exist in a liberal environment. Today there is no such thing as "an Islam", we have to talk about "Islam(s)" - plural. I recall reading one of your posts on Hinduism, where you discuss the diversity of Hinduism and the differing beliefs of different regions, localities, cultures and castes within India. I believe Islam is much the same way (perhaps not to the same extreme). There are moderates and fundamentalists - as there are in any other religious system. Moderates are liberal in their views. There also is diversity in opinion across regional boundaries, from European Muslims in Bosnia, to African Muslims in Sudan, to Muslims in China, Afghanistan, and Indonesia - all differ in their Islam. Some are more liberal than others. One thing I believe must be accepted is the fact that Islam is here to stay. And Islam can exist in an environment where critical thinking is valued and has existed in such an environment in the past (the Arab Mutazallites of the past were rationalists and valued logical reasoning to a presuppositions of religious doctrines) - there is critical thinking occurring within Islamic circles after all. There is possibility that Islam can co-exist with modernity. The challenges are many, but I think change is inevitable - Muslims can no longer live in the conditions, which are forced upon them by oppressive regimes, which use false interpretations of Islam as a tool to curtail freethinking and suppress groups which threaten their power structures.
Achtung ;)