Jesus in Quran and Gospel-commonalities

You know what is truly painful for a person of faith? Do you know what really shatters a faithful being into plenty of pieces? When each blow of cold breeze whispers the painful tales of grief and suffering of fragile souls, a faithful couldn’t help but cry oceans of tears as his soul chokes him to the core. The deep pain of humanity weighs heavily on his heart, yet his soul, enriched by God’s love, strives to alleviate that suffering and create a world free from pain.

Bridging Differences-common grounds:

Many partisans of God feel profound sorrow witnessing the nihilistic, caliginous and abysmal state of humans who suffers in the deep depths of sadness and are engulfed by depression. Elon Musk recently tweeted that religion maybe necessary in averting sadness. On one side, we have atheism, satanism, and other ideologies that reject the divine and often lead to profound despair. On the other, we find people of faith, united by a belief in God that provides a foundation of hope and purpose. This duo can sit together, discuss their differences and work for the welfare of humanity.

Current Efforts

This is a little effort from my side to promote interfaith harmony between Muslims and Christians. Jordan B. Peterson has called for such dialogue in his interviews, seeking to establish common ground to counter the forces that aim to distort God’s creation and foster a society of apathy and nihilism. I was particularly moved by Pope Francis’s statements against Trump and Harris for their anti-life stances, which deepened my feelings of love and respect for his message. Religion is not anti-life; rather, it is those who lack a fear of God who often embody that stance. I’m sharing a link to this insightful podcast for anyone interested.

https://youtu.be/x7ZlXD7COMU?si=bRvLLS9Zfftth-Dg

Let’s dive into the main subject:

While Islam and Christianity have their share of contradictions and differences, the similarities between them far outweigh these points of divergence.

An invitation for dialogue

This shared foundation offers a rich opportunity to build common ground. The Quran refers to Christians as “People of the Book” because Jesus was given the Gospel, which is considered a divine revelation. This designation underscores the shared heritage and respect for scripture among the faiths between their followers The Quran encourages dialogue in many passages, emphasizing the importance of understanding, mutual respect, and peaceful communication among different faiths. This call for conversation fosters cooperation and helps build bridges between communities.

‘People of the Book! Come now to a word common between us and you’ (6:34)

. The Heart of Two Religions: Faith in Jesus

Jesus (PBUH) occupies a revered position in both Christianity and Islam. Both religions require their followers to have faith in him infact it is among basic tenets of Islam, though their understandings differ.

. From Gospels to Quran: Celebrating Miracles Together

The four Gospels of the New Testament provide detailed accounts of Jesus’s deeds, highlighting his miracles. The Quran also reaffirms these miracles at various points, acknowledging his divine capabilities while presenting a unique perspective on his life and mission..

· Inanimate matter to living being- transformation to life

{I create for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird with God’s permission.} (Quran 3:49)

This miracle is not found in the New Testament, but it is found in the non-canonical ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’:

“When this boy, Jesus, was five years old, he was playing at the ford of a rushing stream… he then made soft clay and shaped it into twelve sparrows… but Jesus simply clapped his hands and shouted to the sparrows: “Be off, fly away, and remember me, you who are now alive!” And the sparrows took off and flew away noisily.” (Infancy Gospel of Thomas: 2)

· Healing Hands: Jesus’ Power to Cure

Gospel and Quran affirms the power of Jesus to heal blind and lepper in addition to this Jesus resurrected the dead is also affirmed by Quran and Gospel. Jesus has the knowledge of future is another commonality.

{I also heal the blind and the leper.} (Quran 3:49)

· Knowledge of Future:

· {I inform you too of what things you eat, and what you store up in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are a believer}

· Power to Resurrect- Breath of life

{…and I bring to life the dead, by the permission of God.} (Quran 3:49)

The New Testament mentions three cases where Jesus brought the dead back to life by God’s permission — the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18, 23; Mark 5:22, 35; Luke 8:40, 49), the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11), and Lazarus (John 11:43).

. Affirmation of God being Supreme and Sovereign:

Quran affirms what has been revealed in the old revelations and call people towards reflection and truth. Bible and Quran declared that Jesus performed miracles through God.

“A man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst.” (Acts 2:22)

“A man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst.” (Acts 2:22)

. Belief in Jesus’ return to Earth:

Muslims hold this belief that Messiah will return to Earth like Christians. His 2nd coming is attributed to the period of war and He will end all the conflicts between people. Christian and Islamic scriptures believe Jesus exit was mysterious.

However there is a difference in both scriptures.

“We killed the messiah, Jesus Son of Mary, the Messenger of God,” the Quran says:
They killed him not, nor crucified him, but it was made so to appear to them. And those who differ about him are in doubt about him. They have no knowledge of him except the pursuit of a conjecture. They killed him not for certain. But God raised him to himself. And God is Mighty, Wise” (Quran 4:157).

There is a lot more to share but In conclusion, this article meant to highlight the importance of interfaith harmony and dialogue between Muslims and Christians. Despite differences, the shared heritage and respect for scripture among the faiths offer a rich opportunity to build common ground. The Quran’s emphasis on understanding, mutual respect, and peaceful communication among different faiths fosters cooperation and helps build bridges between communities.

May our collective efforts foster a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation, ultimately achieving the aim of promoting interfaith harmony and creating a more just and peaceful society for all.