~Ruqaya, on 06 March 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:
Its strikes me they they are quite similar.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name - In the name of God the most beneficent, the most merciful (adressing God, praising)
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven - praise be to God, lord of the worlds, the most beneficent the most merciful, owner of the day of judgement (Gods dominion over earth and heaven and the end of days and the judgement)
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses (as we forgive those who tresspass against us) - thee alone we worship, thee alone we turn to for help(asking for sustenance/aid)
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil - show us the straight path, the path that thou has favoured, not the path of those whove earnt that anger and gone astray (asking for help to resist the devil and recognise the good route to Him)
for thine is the kingdon, the power and the glory, forever, amen.
Hello Ruqaya's Amal,
It is interesting the similarities. It is very possible that Muhammad heard the Lord's prayer from Christians.
Jesus taught the prayer to his apostles, the leaders he chose (apostles) who walked and talked with him, as well as his followers (disciples.) Jesus promised the Advocate = Counselor = Comforter = Spirit of truth = Holy Spirit to the apostles and disciples who walked and talked with him. After they received the Holy Spirit like Jesus promised them, the apostles and disciples taught other people this prayer as well as the other teachings and actions of Jesus. Since Jesus taught them to now until when Jesus comes back, many people follow Jesus' example for praying.
Jesus teaches a lot of praying, including the following passages:
Matthew 5 (NIV) -
I boldened some.
"
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor
[Lev. 19:18 and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 6 (NIV) - I boldened some.
"
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.]
but deliver us from the evil one.[Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Matthew 26 (NIV) -
I boldened some.
"
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
Quote
Apart from the word 'father' perhaps, i dont see why the lords prayer should be objectionable. I like that they have such similarities

The Lord (Master's) prayer is beautiful!!!
I understand however why some Muslims do not want their children saying it. For example, if God wills I have children someday, I would not want my children reciting prayers that Muhammad taught. If after they grow up they decide to become Muslim, it would sadden me, but I would never stop loving them and would always pray for them. As a Christian, if God wills my husband and I have kids someday, my children will learn the Lord's prayer. You are right that there are similarities between the prayer Jesus taught and the prayer that Muhammad taught. Again, it is very likely that Muhammad heard about the Lord's prayer.
Concerning God being the Father, it is possibly hard for Muslims and for Gentiles who do not study the Tanakh to understand the importance of Jesus calling God his Father, and of us (Christians who follow Jesus) being children of God. This is a spiritual term, and is a part of the Messianic promise God gave to King David:
2 Samuel 7 -
http://www.mechon-ma.../pt/pt08b07.htm -
I boldened some.
ד וַיְהִי, בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא; {ס} וַיְהִי, דְּבַר-יְהוָה, אֶל-נָתָן, לֵאמֹר.
4 And it came to pass the same night,
{S} that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying:
ה לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל-עַבְדִּי אֶל-דָּוִד, {ס} כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה: הַאַתָּה תִּבְנֶה-לִּי בַיִת, לְשִׁבְתִּי.
5 'Go and tell My servant David:
{S} Thus saith the LORD: Shalt thou build Me a house for Me to dwell in?
ו כִּי לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי, בְּבַיִת, לְמִיּוֹם הַעֲלֹתִי אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְעַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה; וָאֶהְיֶה, מִתְהַלֵּךְ, בְּאֹהֶל, וּבְמִשְׁכָּן.
6 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
ז בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי, בְּכָל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָבָר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֶת-אַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי לִרְעוֹת אֶת-עַמִּי אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר: לָמָּה לֹא-בְנִיתֶם לִי, בֵּית אֲרָזִים.
7 In all places wherein I have walked among all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying: Why have ye not built Me a house of cedar?
ח וְעַתָּה כֹּה-תֹאמַר לְעַבְדִּי לְדָוִד, כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, אֲנִי לְקַחְתִּיךָ מִן-הַנָּוֶה, מֵאַחַר הַצֹּאן--לִהְיוֹת נָגִיד, עַל-עַמִּי עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל.
8 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over My people, over Israel.
ט וָאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ, בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ, וָאַכְרִתָה אֶת-כָּל-אֹיְבֶיךָ, מִפָּנֶיךָ; וְעָשִׂתִי לְךָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל, כְּשֵׁם הַגְּדֹלִים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ.
9 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou didst go, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.
י וְשַׂמְתִּי מָקוֹם לְעַמִּי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּנְטַעְתִּיו, וְשָׁכַן תַּחְתָּיו, וְלֹא יִרְגַּז, עוֹד; וְלֹא-יֹסִיפוּ בְנֵי-עַוְלָה לְעַנּוֹתוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה.
10 And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disquieted no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,
יא וּלְמִן-הַיּוֹם, אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי שֹׁפְטִים עַל-עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַהֲנִיחֹתִי לְךָ, מִכָּל-אֹיְבֶיךָ; וְהִגִּיד לְךָ יְהוָה, כִּי-בַיִת יַעֲשֶׂה-לְּךָ יְהוָה.
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover the LORD telleth thee that the LORD will make thee a house.
יב כִּי יִמְלְאוּ יָמֶיךָ, וְשָׁכַבְתָּ אֶת-אֲבֹתֶיךָ, וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ; וַהֲכִינֹתִי, אֶת-מַמְלַכְתּוֹ.
12 When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy body, and I will establish his kingdom.
יג הוּא יִבְנֶה-בַּיִת, לִשְׁמִי; וְכֹנַנְתִּי אֶת-כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ, עַד-עוֹלָם.
13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
יד אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה-לּוֹ לְאָב, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה-לִּי לְבֵן--אֲשֶׁר, בְּהַעֲוֹתוֹ, וְהֹכַחְתִּיו בְּשֵׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים, וּבְנִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם.
14 I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son; if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;
טו וְחַסְדִּי, לֹא-יָסוּר מִמֶּנּוּ, כַּאֲשֶׁר הֲסִרֹתִי מֵעִם שָׁאוּל, אֲשֶׁר הֲסִרֹתִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ.
15 but My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
טז וְנֶאְמַן בֵּיתְךָ וּמַמְלַכְתְּךָ עַד-עוֹלָם, לְפָנֶיךָ: כִּסְאֲךָ, יִהְיֶה נָכוֹן עַד-עוֹלָם.
16 And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee; thy throne shall be established for ever.'
יז כְּכֹל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, וּכְכֹל הַחִזָּיוֹן הַזֶּה--כֵּן דִּבֶּר נָתָן, אֶל-דָּוִד. {פ}
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
{P}
Psalm 2 -
http://www.mechon-ma...p/pt/pt2602.htm
"
1 Why are the nations in an uproar? And why do the peoples mutter in vain?
ב יִתְיַצְּבוּ, מַלְכֵי-אֶרֶץ-- וְרוֹזְנִים נוֹסְדוּ-יָחַד:
עַל-יְהוָה, וְעַל-מְשִׁיחוֹ.
2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together,
{N}
against the LORD, and against His anointed:
ג נְנַתְּקָה, אֶת-מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ; וְנַשְׁלִיכָה מִמֶּנּוּ עֲבֹתֵימוֹ.
3 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.'
ד יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק: אֲדֹנָי, יִלְעַג-לָמוֹ.
4 He that sitteth in heaven laugheth, the Lord hath them in derision.
ה אָז יְדַבֵּר אֵלֵימוֹ בְאַפּוֹ; וּבַחֲרוֹנוֹ יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ.
5 Then will He speak unto them in His wrath, and affright them in His sore displeasure:
ו וַאֲנִי, נָסַכְתִּי מַלְכִּי: עַל-צִיּוֹן, הַר-קָדְשִׁי.
6 'Truly it is I that have established My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.' ז אֲסַפְּרָה, אֶל-חֹק: יְהוָה, אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה--אֲנִי, הַיּוֹם יְלִדְתִּיךָ.
7 I will tell of the decree: the LORD said unto me: 'Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee. ח שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי--וְאֶתְּנָה גוֹיִם, נַחֲלָתֶךָ; וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ, אַפְסֵי-אָרֶץ.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.
ט תְּרֹעֵם, בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל: כִּכְלִי יוֹצֵר תְּנַפְּצֵם.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'
י וְעַתָּה, מְלָכִים הַשְׂכִּילוּ; הִוָּסְרוּ, שֹׁפְטֵי אָרֶץ.
10 Now therefore, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth.
יא עִבְדוּ אֶת-יְהוָה בְּיִרְאָה; וְגִילוּ, בִּרְעָדָה.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
יב נַשְּׁקוּ-בַר, פֶּן-יֶאֱנַף וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ-- כִּי-יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ:
אַשְׁרֵי, כָּל-חוֹסֵי בוֹ.
12 Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled.
{N}
Happy are all they that take refuge in Him.
{P}
Psalm 89
"
כא מָצָאתִי, דָּוִד עַבְדִּי; בְּשֶׁמֶן קָדְשִׁי מְשַׁחְתִּיו.
21 I have found David My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him; כב אֲשֶׁר יָדִי, תִּכּוֹן עִמּוֹ; אַף-זְרוֹעִי תְאַמְּצֶנּוּ.
22 With whom My hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him.
כג לֹא-יַשִּׁיא אוֹיֵב בּוֹ; וּבֶן-עַוְלָה, לֹא יְעַנֶּנּוּ.
23 The enemy shall not exact from him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
כד וְכַתּוֹתִי מִפָּנָיו צָרָיו; וּמְשַׂנְאָיו אֶגּוֹף.
24 And I will beat to pieces his adversaries before him, and smite them that hate him.
כה וֶאֱמוּנָתִי וְחַסְדִּי עִמּוֹ; וּבִשְׁמִי, תָּרוּם קַרְנוֹ.
25 But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him; and through My name shall his horn be exalted.
כו וְשַׂמְתִּי בַיָּם יָדוֹ; וּבַנְּהָרוֹת יְמִינוֹ.
26 I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
כז הוּא יִקְרָאֵנִי, אָבִי אָתָּה; אֵלִי, וְצוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי.
27 He shall call unto Me: Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. כח אַף-אָנִי, בְּכוֹר אֶתְּנֵהוּ; עֶלְיוֹן, לְמַלְכֵי-אָרֶץ.
28 I also will appoint him first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth. כט לְעוֹלָם, אשמור- (אֶשְׁמָר-) לוֹ חַסְדִּי; וּבְרִיתִי, נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֹ.
29 For ever will I keep for him My mercy, and My covenant shall stand fast with him. ל וְשַׂמְתִּי לָעַד זַרְעוֹ; וְכִסְאוֹ, כִּימֵי שָׁמָיִם.
30 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. לא אִם-יַעַזְבוּ בָנָיו, תּוֹרָתִי; וּבְמִשְׁפָּטַי, לֹא יֵלֵכוּן.
31 If his children forsake My law, and walk not in Mine ordinances;
לב אִם-חֻקֹּתַי יְחַלֵּלוּ; וּמִצְוֹתַי, לֹא יִשְׁמֹרוּ.
32 If they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments;
לג וּפָקַדְתִּי בְשֵׁבֶט פִּשְׁעָם; וּבִנְגָעִים עֲוֹנָם.
33 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with strokes.
לד וְחַסְדִּי, לֹא-אָפִיר מֵעִמּוֹ; וְלֹא-אֲשַׁקֵּר, בֶּאֱמוּנָתִי.
34 But My mercy will I not break off from him, nor will I be false to My faithfulness.
לה לֹא-אֲחַלֵּל בְּרִיתִי; וּמוֹצָא שְׂפָתַי, לֹא אֲשַׁנֶּה.
35 My covenant will I not profane, nor alter that which is gone out of My lips.
לו אַחַת, נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁי: אִם-לְדָוִד אֲכַזֵּב.
36 Once have I sworn by My holiness: Surely I will not be false unto David;
לז זַרְעוֹ, לְעוֹלָם יִהְיֶה; וְכִסְאוֹ כַשֶּׁמֶשׁ נֶגְדִּי.
37 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me"
All throughout Jesus' teachings, Jesus calls God "Father", both his Father, and our (those who follow him) Father.
Peace and God bless you
John 20 (NIV) -
I boldened some.
"
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her."
Edited by Christianlady, 06 March 2012 - 02:21 PM.