Two influential spiritual leaders who were worlds apart, separated not only by time but also by their great followings after they had passed away. Jesus of Nazareth, who was actually born in Bethlehem, and Muhammed of Mecca were two legends that history has not fully grasped and may never fully grasp. Although their geographical locations were so near that further influence may be possible, the path one trod was different from the other. Apparently, their ideologies, teachings, lives and histories have made a great impact on people many generations after them. They have influenced the world in ways no leader thereafter has been able to match. Unparalleled in so many respects—Jesus and Mohammed cannot be compared because they leaned towards different beliefs; however, they have undeniably been the foremost leading icons in the entire history of mankind.
Jesus had a more profound and humble beginning than the other. He was born between 8-4 B.C and died between 29-33 A.D. Prophets in the book of Isaiah foretold his birth in chapter 6:14, predicting that a virgin would conceive, and he would be known as the Counselor, Prince of Peace, and Mighty God. Jesus is simply put, the incarnate Son of God – Israel’s awaited Ruler who would save them from Roman dominion. Additionally, Jesus came from royal lineage; his father Joseph was from David’s clan – Israel’s former King. When Rome subdued Israel, they dissolved their monarchial system and replaced it with rulers from Rome.
Jesus’ life, public ministry, and death were chronicled in the New Testament, written approximately centuries after his death. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John concisely and harmoniously account for the life of Jesus and his miracles. During his life, he devoted himself to teaching, performing miracles, and showing benevolence to the people of Israel as well as those from other adjacent countries. Although his life and ministry were rather short due to his untimely death on the cross, Christians held onto the sacrifice he made as an amalgamating fact that strengthened their faith in him. His death was tragic; he was publicly humiliated before being nailed on the cross. However, this tragedy never halted Jesus’ following; after his death until today, his teachings became the principal doctrines of Christianity.
Muhammad is believed to have been born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, around 570 A.D. While many consider him the founder of Islam, this fact is not entirely accurate. Islam is a monotheistic religion that firmly believes in one true God, Allah. Like Jesus, Muhammad’s family came from the prestigious Hashim clan of Qurash people with a religious background.
During his early life, he traded with Christian and Jewish holy men who regarded him as the prophet prophesied in their Scriptures. Muhammad was known for his honesty and integrity and gained the trust and confidence of his trade partners in Syria.
Muhammad married Khadija, a wealthy widow who had previously been his mistress. Khadija was impressed by Muhammad’s intelligence and skills, as well as his positive qualities as the manager of her businesses. Eventually, Khadija proposed marriage to Muhammad.
When he was around 40 years old, Muhammad had his prophetic calling. Many traditions and stories have been passed down about this experience, but it is clear that Muhammad’s life had a strong impact on the Arab nation. He also became an efficient war leader who achieved victory in Medina. Additionally, he was widely accepted as a treaty-maker and arbitrator.
These successes convinced many pagans and Jews to convert to Islam.
Unlike Jesus, the death of Muhammad was prestigious, comparable to the death of a modern great leader. He was enshrined in Arab communities as one of the most revered Islamic figures. Many of the ceremonies he performed became prominent rituals of Islam, including Idl-Fitr and Hajj.
Several great contrasts can be seen in the lives of Jesus and Muhammad. One simple difference is that Jesus lived a celibate life and primarily devoted himself to his ministry, while Muhammad married and even had several wives after his marriage to Khadija. However, one significant disparity is that Jesus was purely a religious leader who introduced and taught to love thy enemies” (Matthew 5:44). He never led any revolts against the Roman Empire or any kingdom the Jews were at war with. In one of his teachings, he was once asked by the Jews if they ought to pay Caesar taxes due to Rome or just give their tithes to the temple of Solomon. Jesus wittingly answered, “What image do you see on the coin? Give to Caesar what is of Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God” (Luke 20:24-26). In his stichomythic responses to Jewish agitators, he never compromised civil peace nor led any wars or revolutions in Israel during his time. On the other hand, Muhammad was not only a spiritual messenger of Allah but also a brilliant civil leader and war commander who won many battles in Syria against several warring tribes before introducing peace.
Muhammad personified the great spiritual and civil leader that the Arabs had imagined. His spiritual integrity and bravery in leading troops were traits that every man in his country, even those in neighboring communities, dreamed of having. He was a combination of strength and meekness.
Unlike Jesus, who believed that Israel needed a reformation of lives rather than governmental change, perhaps frustrating the Jewish people who were waiting for a Messiah to lead them in overthrowing the Romans. However, Jesus never lifted a finger against Rome.
For the Jews, a Messiah is a strong persuasive leader who will unite all of Israel and form a strong Jewish nation under the kingdom of Judea. In contrast, Muhammad made several agreements with other tribes and forged them into one nation. Even if they never became part of the Arab Kingdom, they certainly became Muslim.
The religion had been the strongest unifying force Muhammad used to explore and commence peace in his own region.
Jesus was a religious leader, while Muhammad held both religious and political leadership roles.
But what is striking about Jesus is that he is the only religious leader who has an account of resurrection. Muhammad, on the other hand, was not believed to have resurrected from the dead. In the book of Acts, several hundred people witnessed His death and several hundred more saw his new life after his tragic death on the cross. This account made Christianity so different from all other world religions. Muhammad was said to be a prophet and a messenger, but Jesus was considered to be incarnated Deity. This made the biggest difference between the two leaders.
However, the resurrection of Jesus was greatly contested and disproved by some people. Others believe that someone died for him and he only re-appeared after three days to fulfill his own resurrection prophecy. Attempts at proving that much of the resurrection story were false never succeeded in historical accounts.
Many Bible and Jewish scholars agree that this account is factual rather than myth or legend. While this belief circulates among intellectuals and skeptics, it has never dissuaded believers from their faith in Jesus and His promise of eternal life and forgiveness.
Comparatively, Islam believes in one God, similar to Judaism and Christianity. Central to this belief is the understanding that Muhammad is not God, but rather a divine messenger sent to reconcile and bring his people back to the one true God. In Islam, Muhammad is never considered a deity. On the other hand, Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and also God Himself as part of the Triune God. While Christianity also espouses monotheism like Islam, it goes further by acknowledging three personas: The Father, The Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit. This fundamental Christian belief emerged after Jesus’ death and was spread throughout Israel, Asia Minor, and parts of Europe by His apostles who preached His gospel.
The religious contexts of Muhammad and Jesus were vastly different. Muhammad’s influence extended beyond religion to include politics, domestic life, culture, and traditions of the Muslims. In contrast, Jesus’ teachings focused primarily on individual change and personal regeneration rather than cultural or civic concerns. As a result, European cultures remained largely unchanged when individuals became followers of Jesus; emperors retained their positions and lifestyles with only minor adjustments in morality and belief.
While both Muhammad and Jesus taught about moral aspects of life practice, Muhammad’s teachings had conservative implications for political, cultural, and individual effects on Muslims. In contrast, Jesus’ disciples were more concerned with moral aspects than modes or traditions.
Despite this difference in focus between the two religions, Christianity has several practices that were instituted by Jesus himself such as taking communion or undergoing water baptism.
The Muslims were never named after Muhammad. They were never referred to as “Muhammedans” or “Muhammadans”. If they were, this would contradict their belief that Muhammad is not God and render their monotheistic belief contradictory. However, Christians named themselves after the titular description of Jesus, which is Christ. This term was derived from the Greek word “christos” or “kristos”, a translation from the Hebrew word “messiah”. The central teaching of Jesus was to love God and serve and show benevolence to the poor while helping the oppressed and lowliest people, drawing a crowd. People were appalled by Jesus’ concern for society’s outcasts and unloved. He showed mercy and charity that no person in his generation had seen before, making Him an authority on morality and integrity. Yet Jewish leaders thought of Him as a blasphemer when people regarded Him as the true Son of the Living God, which made them furious enough to connive His death.
Muslims teach kindness, fairness, and equality in all of their dealings. However, strict adherence to the central belief of the Five Pillars of Islam” is commanded. The primary concern of Islam is obedience to Islamic law. Christianity, on the other hand, emphasizes obedience to God’s teachings. Both leaders taught extensively and made a significant impact that resulted in a vast religious dominion rather than a political empire.
In the modern world, Muslims cannot be considered a weak force just as Christianity has held power and progressed throughout the centuries.
Jesus and Muhammad may have similarities and differences. Their leadership styles, faith, and personalities may not be congruent when compared. However, the integrity of their leadership, the uniqueness of their morals, and the influence of their lifestyles have become the foundation of their followings to this day. Truly, Jesus and Muhammad are the greatest icons of mankind that no one has surpassed.
Yet, Jesus never taught to hate Muslims. He never taught that war is a means in itself, nor did he divide any kingdom or oppose any governmental rule. He simply taught the ways of life. Muhammad, in many respects, was similar. The difference is that Muhammad wanted peace but used war as a means to achieve it. He tolerated much amity and comity but led civil strife to obtain the peace he aimed for his nation.
Jesus never taught of any Christian form of jihad,” though many Christian crusaders in the early centuries defied this truth.
Jesus and Muhammad were truly different from each other, but they never resorted to strife. Instead, they exercised maximum religious tolerance, as opposed to bigotry and discrimination.
Bibliography:
The Holy Bible was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers Inc in 1973 in the USA.
Berkey, Jonathan P. The Formation of Islam religion. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Jesus Christ.” Encarta Encyclopedia. USA: 2006.
