There is a historical and traditional connection between Christianity and Islam. The two faiths share a common origin in the Middle East. Muslims consider Christians as the People of the Book. From a Muslim standpoint, belief in the Injil (the original Gospel of Jesus) is an important part of Islamic Theology although Muslims view the current Gospels as corrupted. The bond extends even further with the Islamic Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)
instructing Muslims to defend the Christian faith from aggressors in
certain circumstances after treaties of peace have been signed, such as
in the document called the Achtiname of Muhammed.Furthermore, Islam and Christianity share at their core, the twin
"golden" commandments of the paramount importance of loving God and
loving one's neighbor, although the interpretations of these statements
differ greatly between the two traditions, and, indeed, vary between all
three Abrahamic Religions.
Despite the similarities between the two faiths there are some major
theological differences. Islam denies that God can be divided into a
Holy Trinity. Muslims consider this division of God's Oneness to be a grave sin (shirk).
This difference, though, signifies a fundamental misunderstanding
between the faiths. Christians also consider it heretical to deny the
oneness, or unity, of God. Their articulation of the Trinity holds in
tension the paradox of both the unity and Trinitarian diversity of God
as one God who is three Persons. Islam also denies that God has a son.
Muslims see Jesus as the last Prophet sent to the Children of Israel like Elijah. Islam fully accepts Jesus as the Messiah.
Christianity, Islam and Judaism are known as Abrahamic Religions because of their common origin through Abraham. Muslims consider Ishamael, the first born son of Abraham, to be the "Father of Arabs" and Abraham's second son, Isaac, is called "Father of the Hebrews". The story of Abraham and his sons is told in the Book of Genesis and the Qur'an but with certain differences.Muslims commonly refer to Christians and Jews as "People of the Book", people who follow the same general teachings in relation to the worship of the One GOD (Tawhid) as known by Abraham.The Catechism of Catholic Church, the official doctrine document released by the Roman Catholic Church, has this to say regarding Muslims:
The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."—Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Qur'an explicitly promises salvation for all those righteous Christians who were there before the arrival of Muhammed:
"Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve"
The Qur'an also makes it clear that the Christians will be nearest in love to those who follow the Qur'an and praises Christians for being humble and wise:
"You will find the closest in affection to those who believe are those who say: “We are Christians”; that is because among them are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.And if they hear what was sent down to the messenger you see their eyes flooding with tears, for what they have known as the truth, they say: “Our Lord, we believe, so record us with the witnesses.”
“And why should we not believe in God and what has come to us of the truth? And we yearn that our Lord admits us with the righteous people.”
So God recompensed them for what they have said with estates with rivers flowing beneath them, abiding therein; such is the recompense of the good doers."
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