Which Religion is Older: Islam or Christianity?

The question of which religion is older, Islam or Christianity, is a topic that has intrigued scholars and believers alike for centuries. The answer to this question requires a deeper understanding of what constitutes “Islam” in the theological sense, as well as the historical emergence of Christianity as a distinct religious tradition.

The Concept of Islam in Islamic Theology

In Islamic belief, Islam is not seen merely as a religion that began with the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century CE. Instead, Islam is considered the original and universal faith that has been preached by all prophets since the beginning of humanity. The word “Islam” itself means submission to the will of God, and it is believed that every prophet, from Adam to Muhammad, preached this message of monotheism.

The Qur’an states, “Verily, the religion with Allah is Islam” (Qur’an 3:19). This verse is understood to mean that the essence of Islam is the submission to God, which has been the core message of all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Therefore, from an Islamic perspective, Islam is as old as humanity itself, beginning with the first prophet, Adam.

The Islamic View of Prophethood

Islamic theology holds that all prophets preached the same fundamental message of monotheism (Tawhid) and submission to God’s will. This message is what defines Islam in the broadest sense. The Prophet Muhammad is considered the last in a long line of prophets, who came to restore the original message that had been corrupted over time.

According to Islamic teachings, the religion of every prophet was Islam, regardless of the name given to their specific teachings. For example, the Qur’an mentions the prophet Abraham as a “Muslim,” meaning one who submits to God: “When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds'” (Qur’an 2:131). This indicates that the faith preached by Abraham, like that of all other prophets, was Islam in its essential form.

The Emergence of Christianity

Christianity, as a distinct religious tradition, emerged in the first century CE, following the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity, whose death and resurrection brought about salvation for all who believe in him.

From a historical standpoint, Christianity developed out of the Jewish tradition, with Jesus himself being a Jew. The early Christians were initially a sect within Judaism before they gradually separated and formed a distinct religious identity. The New Testament, written after Jesus’s life, became the foundational text of Christianity, detailing the life of Jesus and the teachings of his apostles.

However, from an Islamic perspective, Jesus (known as Isa in Arabic) was a prophet who preached Islam, the same monotheistic faith as his predecessors. The Qur’an asserts that Jesus never claimed to be the son of God, but rather a servant and messenger of God: “The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him” (Qur’an 5:75).

The Relationship Between Islam and Christianity

The relationship between Islam and Christianity is complex and multifaceted. While both religions share some common beliefs, such as monotheism and the belief in many of the same prophets, their theological differences are significant. One of the key differences is the concept of the Trinity in Christianity, which Islam rejects.

Islamic teachings emphasize that the original message of Jesus was altered by later followers, leading to doctrines like the Trinity, which are seen as deviations from the true monotheism that Jesus preached. The Qur’an addresses this issue, stating, “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.’ And there is no god except one God” (Qur’an 5:73).

From an Islamic perspective, the religion of Jesus was Islam, but over time, his teachings were transformed into what is now known as Christianity. Therefore, while Christianity as a distinct religion is historically younger than Islam in the broad theological sense, the core message of Islam is considered the original and oldest faith.

Conclusion

To conclude, the question of whether Islam or Christianity is older depends on how one defines these religions. If one considers Islam in the theological sense, as the submission to the one true God preached by all prophets, then Islam is as old as humanity. On the other hand, Christianity, as a distinct religious tradition based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, emerged later in history.

Islamic teachings assert that the message of Islam has been consistent since the time of Adam, with each prophet reaffirming this message of monotheism. Therefore, in the Islamic worldview, Islam is the original and eternal faith, while Christianity, as it exists today, represents a later development that diverged from the original teachings of Jesus.

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