Jesus and Mohammed: Comparison and Contrast Essay

Religion is defined as the belief and reverence in a supernatural power considered as the creator and ruler of the universe and it consists of a system based on the belief and worship of that power (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2006). It is also referred to as a set of beliefs, practices and values which are based on a spiritual leader’s teachings. Religion has been the guiding force of individuals, groups and even nations in the challenges they face, the successes they achieve, and the failures they experience. It is the binding element for people and nations to unite, cooperate, and work with one another. While it serves to unite people, religion likewise causes major dissent among members belonging to different religions.

Christianity and Islam are the world’s two largest religions. Christianity, the religion with the largest membership base, has approximately 2.1 Billion members or 33 percent of the world population, followed by Islam with approximately 1.5 Billion members or 21 percent of the world population (Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents, 2007). Both religions account for the majority of the people in the world. Amidst the enormous number of followers, these two religions were expemplified by their founders or leaders. Christianity was founded by Jesus, while Islam was founded by Mohammed. Both personalities provided a role model figure for the people to follow. They served as the examples whose actions and predispositions serve as the foundations of their religion’s principles and laws. There could never be a discourse on Christianity and Islam without mentioning in great part and detail the lives, works and teachings of their founders and leaders. Christianity could never embody the ideals it hold today without Jesus. In the same breath, Islam could never have retained its identity without Mohammed. Before we further deal with the lives and teachings of Jesus and Mohammed, it is best to give apt descriptions of the two religions they founded.

Christianity is a religion based on the miracles and teachings of Jesus, who is called Christ or the anointed one (Slick, 1996). Jesus is both divine in nature and human and thus, deserves worship and prayer. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah to come that was mentioned in the Old Testament. Christianity teaches that the existence of only one God is absolute. God created the Earth, the universe and man, who he created in his image or likeness. The central belief in Christianity is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, those who have sinned will be saved and reconciled with God (Christianity). The English word Jesus means ‘Savior’, which is the primary role that He is playing in the lives of Christians.

Islam, which means submission, is a religion which originated from the teachings of Muhammad who is an Arab political and religious figure in the 7th century (Islam). Followers of Islam are called Muslims. It is the belief of Muslims that Muhammad is the final prophet of God or Allah in Arabic, and that Allah revealed the Qur’an, which is the religious text of Islam to Mohammed. Islam maintains that Christianity distorted the messages of the earlier prophets and that Mohammed did not start a new religion. Rather, he just restored the faith of the prophets before him.

Jesus was the role model of Christians in his time and he still continues to be the ideal act to follow up to this day. Much of the information on the life of Jesus came from the four Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. The word Gospel in old English means good news and the four Gospels now refer to the life and teachings of Jesus (Palmer, 2004). Little was written about the birth and childhood of Jesus. The focus was on the adult life of Jesus when he started his ministry after Baptism by John the Baptist. It was written that Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary and a carpenter named Joseph. The conception of Jesus was made possible by the Holy Spirit as he was conceived even before Mary and Joseph had sexual intercourse. Jesus started his ministry when he was about thirty years old and the year was around 26AD. After baptism, Jesus selected twelve people among his followers to be his disciples. He then spent the next three years teaching and doing miracles with his disciples and crowds as witnesses. The miracles he did included walking on water, healing the sick, turning water into wine, multiplying a small amount of fish and loaves to feed thousands of people, casting out demons and raising a man from the dead (The Life of Jesus).

Jesus’ popularity quickly gained ground but the Roman rulers and the Jewish priests did not like the power that he was gaining. He upset both groups by saying that he will liberate the Jews from the Romans and that he had alluded to his divinity and being the son of God. Jesus knew about the capture that will soon take place, but he did not flee for safety. He offered himself as sacrifice and is being true to the prophecy that he will die at the hands of the sinners. He was then tried by the Jewish chief priests and was found guilty of blasphemy. The punishment was death and so he was crucified until his last breath. Before dying, he asked God to forgive the sinners. Three days after his death, he rose from the dead. This resurrection gave a deeper and divine meaning to the preaching of the disciples and the faith of the people. Mohammad was born in Mecca, which is now called Saudi Arabia in the year 570 AD, and became an orphan while still a child (Waines, 2001). He was involved in merchant trade and married a widow who employed him in her trading company. He lived a regular life until his fortieth birthday when he was visited by an angel of God while he was meditating. The angel told him that he will be the messenger of God. Verses given by the angel were compiled by Mohammed to come up with the Quran or Islam’s holy book, which was used and still being used by the Muslims to guide them in their religion. The succeeding years allowed Mohammed to gain more followers. When he was 52 years old in the year 622 his popularity soared that

the ruling Quraish tribe of Mecca threatened his life which prompted him and his followers to leave Mecca and to go to Medina (Xenakis). In the year 633 and at the age of 63, Mohammed soon died due to a violent fever after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca (Oussani).

After the death of Mohammad, the Muslims aspired to be a world power and a conqueror of other non-muslim cities or nations. This zeal was inspired by Mohammad when he was on his deathbed. He told his followers to convert non-muslims to Islam because there should only be one God, which is Allah. The muslims spread the religion through the sword. They conquered cities or territories of non-muslims using force and their swords. The Non-Muslims are forced to convert to Islam, otherwise they will be executed, most of the time by beheading. Girls are oftentimes sold as slaves and are treated very unfairly. There were also disagreements and fighting within their group. Some wanted to assume the position of Mohammed as prophet and some lost faith in the religion and decided to convert.

Christianity on the other hand reacted differently to the death of Jesus. Since Jesus did not remain to be dead and was in fact ressurected, Christians did not so much dwell on the fact that Jesus indeed physically died on the cross. They considered Jesus as the epitome of their faith. Their faith got even stronger because of the fulfilled promise of Jesus that he will rise again from the dead after subjecting himself to physical harm. The disciples of Jesus went on their own ways to spread Christianity. They spread Christianity by word of mouth and through missions. They never forced people to convert to Christianity.

Jesus and Mohammed share similarities in a very limited way but the differences they have are very vast. The only similarities they have include the followers or believers they gained and the popularity they had which prompted groups to want to persecute them. Aside from the acquisition of adherents or believers and popularity or notoriety for some groups, both have nothing more in common.

The very basic difference they have is their identity: Jesus as the son of God and Mohammed as the last prophet of Allah. Jesus was not married while Mohammed was. They greatly differ in their characters, principles and beliefs. Jesus was a pacifist. He is an advocate of turning the other cheek when you are slapped in the face. He does not believe in retaliation and instead espouses forgiveness. He embraced the outcasts and even loved his enemies. War or violence is the last resort for action, and will only be for self-defense. Mohammed on the other hand, declared war on non-Muslims. Jesus did not use force or violence to make people believe. Mohammed on the other hand was a warrior and a fighter. He was more exposed to violence and thus has little contempt towards the use of force and violence. He also had low regard for women’s rights.

Another major difference is their reactions toward possible capture and execution because of their beliefs. Jesus stood his ground when news came that he will be captured. He did not flee but instead was determined to accomplish his true purpose by submitting himself to persecution. On the other side of the fence, Mohammed along with his followers fled to Medina, when he got news that the ruling party has ordered to capture him.

Jesus is worshipped by virtue of his divinity as the son of God. True worship is not composed of lengthy and routinary prayers and rituals. It is measured by appreciation, respect and gratitude towards Jesus. People show that they worship Jesus by taking him as a role model in their everyday lives. Mohammed is not worshipped because he is just a prophet. Muslims show their respect to Mohammed by following all the tenets in the Qu’ran.

In the present time Christianity has grown to include different groups or minor religions within Christianity which espouse the same basic principles but may differ in the modes of actions or techniques. Some interpretations may also differ but only to a certain degree. Instead of active missionary travels as what the disciples did after Jesus died, the media has played a major and significant role in information dissemination. One can get information about Christianity by watching television or by reading a magazine or a newsletter. Technology really has a way of bridging gaps and breaking barriers or boundaries. Messages about Christianity are always offered to people without use of force or violence, but love and peace are always at the frontline.

Islam firmly believes in the necessity of force and importance of power. They may not always be violent and ready to fight, but they are aware of possible agitations that may cause violence. Their messages to people are still characterized by aggression. Some involve themselves in encounter or wars just so they can praise Allah’s name and show other people that because of Allah they will be victorious in that particular battle. Use of force or violence and even killings are a necessity for them so they can gain control. The Quran is still their guide in the things they ought to do according to Mohammed.

Faith is subjective and personal. To say who is wrong and right can never be objective. Existence, its significance and its meaning revolves around the beliefs of a person. These beliefs comprise religion among other things. We are products of our culture and environments. Exposure to a religion for a long period of time or since childhood, with people around you espousing that religion, the natural tendency is for you to acquire and embrace the religion as your own. Jesus and Mohammad grew up in different times, different places and with totally different circumstances. Their foundations and familial relationships are totally different. We cannot dispute one being better than the other because then the objectivity fades away.

References

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8. The Life of Jesus. (n.d.).
9. Waines, D. (2001). The life of Mohammed. Web.
10. Xenakis, J. (n.d.). The early life of Mohammed. Generational Dynamics: The early life of Mohammed