Comparing Islam and Christianity

A few evenings back, while surfing through some bookmarked blog searches, I chanced upon a post by an Islamic apologist that compared the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity in tabular form. I have long wanted to do something like this, but since it now exists, I am content to reference the information on the other site.

I complimented the Islamic apologist on their effort as there are often differing, even opposing, doctrines held by various Christian denominations. All in all I thought our Islamic friend came closest. I did point out few errors on the Christian side, particularly some of those regarding the Catholic doctrine of purgatory (final purification) which were cited.

I also pointed out that early Christians regarded Islam as a Christian heresy, which would explain both the similarities and the diferences. I also provided a link to John of Damascus' treatise On the Heresy of the Ishmaelites in case they were unfamiliar with it.

And there is also the up until now strong and people-deceiving superstition of the Ishmaelites, being the forerunner of Antichrist. And it is born from Ishmael, who was born from Hagar to Abraham, from which they are called Hagarenes and Ishmaelites. And they call them Saracens, as from Σαρρας κενοι (those empty of Sarah), because of what was said by Hagar to the angel: “Sarah has sent me away empty.” So then, these were idolaters and reverenced the morning star and Aphrodite, who they indeed named Khabar in their own language, which means great. Therefore, until the time of Heraclius, they were plainly idolaters. From that time and until now came up among them a false prophet called Mamed, who, having encountered the Old and New Testament, as it seems, having conversed with an Arian monk, he put together his own heresy. And under the pretext of seeming pious, attracting (?) people, he reported that a book was sent down to him from heaven by God. Therefore some of the compositions written by him in a book, worthy of laughter, which he handed down to them as an object of reverence.

One aspect of Islam I had never heard is that OT prophets are considered infallible in Islam. In light of that, I asked "how does Islam fulfill the infallible prophecy of Malachi in Malachi 1:11?" This is a difficult enough prophecy for those Christian groups which do not use incense in their worship.

For those of you clicking through, please be charitable. Don't forget to remember the truths that Islam got right. All truth is of God, even truth found in sources we may personally dislike.

Source: CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM - Similarities And Diffrences