Are Christians the furthest away from God than Muslims & Jews?

Question

The difference between Muslims Jews & Christians.

Muslims have halal meat
Jews have kosher meat
Christians eat anything

Muslims do not eat pork
Jews do not eat pork
Christians eat pork

Muslim men should grow beards
Jews men should grow beards
Christian men are mostly clean shaven

Muslims do not accept homosexual priests
Jews do not accept homosexual priests
Christians have homosexual priests

Muslims pray to one God
Jews pray to one God
Christians pray to 3 Gods but is really recognised as one god

Scott B

Re-read the question. I have not been bias to Muslims. I have simply said Muslims & JEWS follow more rules than Christians. Pls do not ignore the Jews.

If my question was bias, then why criticise me & post a bias answer?

1.Scott B the bible explains you should not eat pork. Read your own book before telling me I lack knowledge.

2.Well Moses, Noah Muhammad & even the man you follow Jesus had a beard, so maybe it was a little important. And again read your own book discussing beards.

3. ? So Christians do not allow gay priests & gay marriages?

4. I think you do not understand the trinity concept. It is in my prior description. Do you deny there is 3 parts in the Christian god?

Firstly I apologise if I insulted you. Secondly I request you to read your bible throughly and assess the questions again.

Answer 1

These are interesting comparisons but not entirely fair because if the Asker knew his New Testament (the latter part of the Bible), he or she would realise the biblical Jewish commands to avoid eating pork and non-kosher meat and to have a beard (er, the men, that is!) were surpassed by Christ's New Covenant which he inaugurated with his followers just before he died. Christ perfectly fulfilled the Mosaic law (the only person ever to do so), so you will find even Jewish attempts to keep the Mosaic law flawed in every Jewish person who has ever lived, kosher meat and flourishing beards notwithstanding. I'm sure you will find every Muslim person who has ever lived has failed to keep Islamic law in some respects as well. So this exercise is somewhat pointless as God does not go by outward appearances, and he views each person as an individual, irrespective of their religious stance; consider the Gentile, Cornelius, whose prayers were pleasing to God despite the fact he was not a Jew, or a Christian and (obviously) not a Muslim (Acts chapter 10).

However, your points about homosexuality is much more valid. Yet, again, you will find some deviation amongst Jews and Muslims. You cannot categorise ALL Jews and ALL Muslims as not accepting homosexual priests. It's just that in the Western world people are free to express their views on the matter without fear of being stoned to death etc. If the same freedom from fear applied in Jewish and Muslim circles, you could be shocked at discovering some toleration. Of course, all three faiths condemn homosexual acts and debar practicing homosexuals from the priesthood. Those who ordain practicing homosexual priests will answer to God for that, and not to you. But I'm pleased you seem to consider it a sin, for most Christians do too. Don't forget, either, that nearly half of all Christians believe in the priesthood of all believers, and don't go along with ordaining 'special' people for that task.

Finally, you were considerate enough to acknowledge that the Christian God is recognised 'as one God', despite your typically Muslim view that they pray to 3 gods. Nobody who thinks Christians pray to 3 gods understands the Trinity doctrine, for it was formulated precisely to show how God is not comprised of 3 'parts' but of 3 persons - which is an entirely different matter. These 3 persons are triune, that is, united as 3 in 1 in the Godhead, so that they are not 3 gods but 1 God - the Creator, and those who have studied the Bible deeply, in light of Christ's sayings, understand this. And this is actually what makes the Christian faith unique, and brings us closer to God, because we have a fuller understanding of how God manifests himself. Of course, the other faiths think exactly the opposite. Never mind. As long as we can keep communicating with each other, understanding might develop.

Answer 2

Wow! I'm convinced by your obviously "non-biased" post to denounce Christianity and follow Allah. No, wait... I have common sense... I'll stick with Christianity. Don't try to explain a religion you don't understand. 1) Where Biblically (you know, the Book we as Christians follow) does it stipulate what meat we have to eat. Remember Christ came to fulfill old testament law and created a new covenant. 2) Beards? Really? That somehow makes a Christian less devout? 3) No "Christian" faith I'm aware of accepts homosexual ministers. 4) Your lack of understanding of the Trinity is apparant. Nice try, but ignorance isn't something to display.

Answer 3

for the most part, yes, athough I wouldn't put Muslims in the same category as Jews... and reform Jews DO allow gay rabbis as do open-minded, intelligent Christian churches.

Answer 4

Just because their followers dont follow the religion properly, doesnt mean thats what the religion really is.

Answer 5

I believe, according to Surah Al Fatiha, that both Christians and Jews are far away from God, otherwise why do we seek guidance to the path of those who have earned God's pleasure rather than those who earn His anger (Jews) and those who have gone astray (Christians)

"Sirat al ladheena unamta alahim, ghrayril maghdubi alayhim wa la dhaleen (ameen)"

Surah Al fatihah (1:6-7)

6) Guide us to the Straight Way
7) The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).

From Tafsir Ibn Kathir:

If someone asks, "Why does the believer ask Allah for guidance during every prayer and at other times, while he is already properly guided Has he not already acquired guidance''


The answer to these questions is that if it were not a fact that the believer needs to keep asking for guidance day and night, Allah would not have directed him to invoke Him to acquire the guidance. The servant needs Allah the Exalted every hour of his life to help him remain firm on the path of guidance and to make him even more firm and persistent on it. The servant does not have the power to benefit or harm himself, except by Allah's permission. Therefore, Allah directed the servant to invoke Him constantly, so that He provides him with His aid and with firmness and success. Indeed, the happy person is he whom Allah guides to ask of Him. This is especially the case if a person urgently needs Allah's help day or night. Allah said,


﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ءَامِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَـبِ الَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَـبِ الَّذِى أَنَزلَ مِن قَبْلُ﴾


(O you who believe! Believe in Allah, and His Messenger (Muhammad ), and the Book (the Qur'an) which He has sent down to His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down to those before (him)) (4:16).


Therefore, in this Ayah Allah commanded the believers to believe, and this command is not redundant since what is sought here is firmness and continuity of performing the deeds that help one remain on the path of faith. Also, Allah commanded His believing servants to proclaim,


﴿رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ ﴾


(Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.) (3:8). Hence,


﴿اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴾


(Guide us to the straight way) means, "Make us firm on the path of guidance and do not allow us to deviate from it.''


﴿صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ ﴾


(7. The way of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not (that) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray).


We mentioned the Hadith in which the servant proclaims,


﴿اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴾


(Guide us to the straight way) and Allah says, "This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asks for.'' Allah's statement.


﴿صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ﴾


(The way of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace) defines the path. `Those upon whom Allah has bestowed His grace' are those mentioned in Surat An-Nisa' (chapter 4), when Allah said,


﴿وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَآءِ وَالصَّـلِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقاً - ذلِكَ الْفَضْلُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ عَلِيماً ﴾


(And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad ), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His grace, the Prophets, the Siddiqin (the truly faithful), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are! Such is the bounty from Allah, and Allah is sufficient to know) (4:69-70).


Allah's statement,


﴿غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ﴾


(Not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray) meaning guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom you have bestowed Your grace, that is, the people of guidance, sincerity and obedience to Allah and His Messengers. They are the people who adhere to Allah's commandments and refrain from committing what He has prohibited. But, help us to avoid the path of those whom Allah is angry with, whose intentions are corrupt, who know the truth, yet deviate from it. Also, help us avoid the path of those who were led astray, who lost the true knowledge and, as a result, are wandering in misguidance, unable to find the correct path. Allah asserted that the two paths He described here are both misguided when He repeated the negation `not'. These two paths are the paths of the Christians and Jews, a fact that the believer should beware of so that he avoids them. The path of the believers is knowledge of the truth and abiding by it. In comparison, the Jews abandoned practicing the religion, while the Christians lost the true knowledge. This is why `anger' descended upon the Jews, while being described as `led astray' is more appropriate of the Christians. Those who know, but avoid implementing the truth, deserve the anger, unlike those who are ignorant. The Christians want to seek the true knowledge, but are unable to find it because they did not seek it from its proper resources.


This is why they were led astray. We should also mention that both the Christians and the Jews have earned the anger and are led astray, but the anger is one of the attributes more particular of the Jews. Allah said about the Jews,


﴿مَن لَّعَنَهُ اللَّهُ وَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ﴾


(Those (Jews) who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath) (5:60).


The attribute that the Christians deserve most is that of being led astray, just as Allah said about them,


﴿قَدْ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ كَثِيراً وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَآءِ السَّبِيلِ﴾


(Who went astray before and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the right path) (5:77).


There are several Hadiths and reports from the Salaf on this subject. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Adi bin Hatim said, "The horsemen of the Messenger of Allah seized my paternal aunt and some other people. When they brought them to the Messenger of Allah , they were made to stand in line before him. My aunt said, `O Messenger of Allah! The supporter is far away, the offspring have stopped coming and I am an old woman, unable to serve. Grant me your favor, may Allah grant you His favor.' He said, `Who is your supporter' She said, `Adi bin Hatim.' He said, `The one who ran away from Allah and His Messenger' She said, `So, the Prophet freed me.' When the Prophet came back, there was a man next to him, I think that he was `Ali, who said to her, `Ask him for a means of transportation.' She asked the Prophet , and he ordered that she be given an animal.


'' `Adi then said, "Later on, she came to me and said, `He (Muhammad ) has done a favor that your father (who was a generous man) would never have done. So and-so person came to him and he granted him his favor, and so-and-so came to him and he granted him his favor.' So I went to the Prophet and found that some women and children were gathering with him, so close that I knew that he was not a king like Kisra (King of Persia) or Caesar. He said, `O `Adi! What made you run away, so that La ilaha illallah is not proclaimed Is there a deity worthy of worship except Allah What made you run away, so that Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greater) is not proclaimed Is there anything Greater than Allah' I proclaimed my Islam and I saw his face radiate with pleasure and he said:


«إِنَّ الْمَغْضُوبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْيَهُودُ وَ إِنَّ الضَّالِينَ النَّصَارَى»


(Those who have earned the anger are the Jews and those who are led astray are the Christians.)''


This Hadith was also collected by At-Tirmidhi who said that it is Hasan Gharib.


Also, when Zayd bin `Amr bin Nufayl went with some of his friends - before Islam - to Ash-Sham seeking the true religion, the Jews said to him, "You will not become a Jew unless you carry a share of the anger of Allah that we have earned.'' He said, "I am seeking to escape Allah's anger.'' Also, the Christians said to him, "If you become one of us you will carry a share in Allah's discontent.'' He said, "I cannot bear it.'' So he remained in his pure nature and avoided worshipping the idols and the polytheistic practices. He became neither a Jew, nor Christian. As for his companions, they became Christians because they found it more pure than Judaism. Waraqah bin Nawfal was among these people until Allah guided him by the hand of His Prophet, when he was sent as Prophet, and Waraqah believed in the revelation that was sent to the Prophet may Allah be pleased with him.