Question

Compare Islam and Christianity. How did the two arise? How are the faiths alike, and how are they different? How were Christian and Muslim states governed in the early Middle Ages?

Answer 1

Islam and christianity are two largest religion in the world. Both are believed to be originated in the middle age and known as monotheistic. Christanity was developed in the first century CE. The foundation was based on the life, teachings,death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his followers are known as christians.

Islam is believed in the 7th century CE. It is based on the teachings of Mohammad Sallallahu Allehe Wassalm and is considered as surrender to the will of Allah. We can know the similarities and differences of both religions by comparing them with the help of the following points-

• The word Christian is derived from a Greek word 'christos' that reffered to Jesus Christ. On the other hand, Islam is an Arabic world that means submission and peace.
• Christianity is mainly divided into three groups. These are known as Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic. Islam has two groups known as Sunni and Shia. Both of the religion believe in one God.
• Christians' holy book is known as Bible and considered as words of God to the people. The holy book of muslims is Quran. Quran has some similarities with the bible.
• Christians performs several rituals like Baptism and Holy Communion. They have extreme faith in prayer. In Islam five main rituals are Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj. Shadadah means faith in Allah, Salat means prayer five times a day, Zakat is giving a part of your salary to poor, Sawm means by fasting for thirty days in the holy month of ramadan and Hajj is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mohammad known as Macca.
• Christians believe that human has got sinful nature by his ancestor Adam, who went against God's wish but there is no such concept in Islam. According to them people are born sinless but their actions in the world lead to sin in them.

Christianity and Islam in the early Middle Ages- Christianity during the middle ages around the 16th century was considered as the beginning of modern christianity. The five main cities that were early centres of chrstianity Rome, Constantipole, Jeruslam, Antioch and Alexandria. In the early middle ages, around 476, the last emporer was dethroned by Odoacer. The independent churches were ruled by local Bishops under the rule of higher Bishops, metropolitans etc. The muslims won almost all of the Middle East between 622 and 640. The main cities included were Jeruslam and Antioch. They almost removed christianity from Africa between 642 to 695. They went through Persia and conquered it where they ruled as Turks. At that time missionary work in muslim regions became impossible. Conversion to Islam was considered as legal and permissible at that time.

During the time period of 590- 604 Bishops were given authority over all regions which turned into isolation after conquering the Western empire Germanic tribes. The Roman Catholic church had the highest power during middle ages. The laws, rules, regulations, governance were greatly affected by religions in the middle age. Islam had taken a shape during this era and muslim emporer conquered several territories. The architecture, art work, culture were also developed of both religions during middle ages.