The Influence of Judaism on Islam

"But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever..." (Qur'an, 4:57)

Although they share several basic theological ideas, some of Christianity and Islam's principles differ from one another. The major differences include penance, judgment, and the afterlife in heaven. While these two religions seem the same, evaluating topics like their duties on earth, rewards in heaven, and general vision of the afterlife will prove differently.

In Christianity, human life exists so they can perfect themselves, to help other human beings, and to prepare for the afterlife. Suffering, when accepted and put to use, allows human beings to grow in virtue and good people are eventually rewarded in the afterlife.

In Islam for those that follow the belief in the oneness of God and do good works, (as in Christianity) God has prepared an everlasting Paradise as well. Anyone who follows and believes this may enter. Life involves preparing the soul to become worthy to pass through death, which is a transition, and progress to eternity in Paradise. Allah will judge each person according to his or her beliefs and acts during this life. Also like Christianity, each person will be judged according to their individual situation, beliefs, and acts towards others.

According to Christianity, however, Jesus sacrificed himself when he was crucified thus allowing all Christians to ask God for forgiveness of their sins. As long as they continue with this belief, they will receive mercy from him. While Christians believe that their sincere repentance grants them a new, "clean slate" with God, Muslims believe that their sins will always be held against them when judged on the final day despite their atonement. In Islam there is no penitence from sins with their god, Allah, though they are still sorry and confess them. These differing views on forgiveness set the tone for each respective religion.

Christians and Muslims share the basic concept of heaven, as a final resting place for those who have done God's will during their lives on Earth. Nevertheless, the descriptions of heaven differ considerably. First, Muslims hold a more worldly belief of heaven. This is a state of everlasting harmony, rewarding Muslims who have lived righteous lives. This heaven fulfils its people's mortal wishes. Rewards such as dozens of virgins await the martyrs of Islam, for example. The main difference between these two views of heaven is the nature of their rewards. While Islam provides earthly gifts to worthy Muslims, the Christian heaven provides spiritual satisfaction to those Christians who have maintained the faith. Christians believe that heaven is the dwelling place of God, and fellowship with Him provides the indescribable happiness linked with heaven.

Not only are the rewards of these religions considerable, but so is the general depiction of Heaven as well. The Christian view is often shown as a place of angels, light, joy, dance, and song. (Molloy 364) However in the Koran and the Muslim imagination, paradise is quite concrete and sensuous. It is not just a heaven of diaphanous angels, singing hymns and resting on wispy clouds. Literally, from Middle Iranian, paradise means, "wall around". So instead Paradise is more like a fertile oasis or an enclosed garden. (474)
Muslims and Christians have the same core belief when it comes to their God. However, what they are working to achieve in the afterlife is different. Similar to this, it is important to see how they are working on earth to get to the final resting place with God and Allah, in Heaven and Paradise. Whatever the look and feel of these spiritual places, they are certainly alike, but not the same.

Van Voorst, Robert E. Anthology of World Scriptures

Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions