I am a Christian, why should I become a Muslim?

[Guest Ethan]

I have looked into the evidence for both Christianity and Islam and found Christianity's evidence compelling, but Islam's far from compelling. 

Why are you a Muslim? Why should I become a Muslim?

[notme]

I am Muslim because I read the Quran and found it to be consistent and reasonable, and therefore much more likely to be true than other religions that I have studied.  

17 hours ago, Guest Ethan said:

Why should I become a Muslim?

Clearly you shouldn't, because you said: 

17 hours ago, Guest Ethan said:

I have looked into the evidence for both Christianity and Islam and found Christianity's evidence compelling, but Islam's far from compelling. 

While I feel certain that Islam is true, I can not dictate your beliefs.  Each of us must find our own path.  

[Guest Ahmad]

Christianity has changed over time according to humans desires. Islam has not changed especially Shia Islam. If you have any questions [moderator edit: personal info deleted.  Please use the forum to communicate] I would be glad to answer any question you may have. 

Edited September 14 by notme
Removed personal content.

[Guest ethan]

Thank you, I appreciate your peaceful and respectful tone. However, I would like to understand this point here you have raised. Is the Qur'an consistent and reasonable? This is not what I have discovered. 

Why is a doctrine of abrogation necessary if the Qur'an is the word of Allah? Surely this indicates human flaws and a lack of consistency. Furthermore, I do not think that the Qur'an is very consistent even with a theology of abrogation. 

What was man made from? A clot of congealed blood (Surah 96:2), clay (15:26), dust (3:59), nothing (19:67), sperm (16:4). 

Is wine consumption good (47:15; 83:22-25) or bad (5:90)? 

Does Allah forgive those who worship false Gods? No (4:48) or yes (4:153)? 

Furthermore, is the Qur'an reasonable? I disagree. 

Women are inferior to man (2:228), Men are in charge of women (4:34), women are innately evil and malicious (12:28, 33, 34, 50), Women's testimony is 1/2 that of a mans (2:282), Husbands have total rights over a wife's body (2:223), Women receive 1/2 the inheritance of a man (4:2). 

Kill the idolaters whenever you find them (9:5), fight the unbelievers (9:14, 29), killing an unbeliever gives a reward but killing a believer sends you to hell (4:91). 

This is a very simplistic and by no means comprehensive analysis of the Qur'an. I am also happy to look at Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. 

 

[Ashvazdanghe]

21 hours ago, Guest Ethan said:

found Christianity's evidence compelling, but Islam's far from compelling. 

Hi, what has been your resources for comparison & reaching to compelling which you statement is too general because there is  two different viewpoints between Sunni & Shia Islam viewpoints which at least show an example of your evidence  for reaching to your compelling which we can discuss about it which for founding Shia evidences you can check https://www.al-islam.org 

Theological Differences Between Christianity and Islam

On the face of it, few notice how much Christianity and Islam are alike in basic beliefs. On the five pillars of Islamic belief: the belief in God, angels, the prophets, the sacred books, and the Day of Judgement, there is no basic disagreement. Christians also believe in all of these, although they would define the one God in three persons and take one prophet and one sacred book fewer than in Islam. But all agree on the principles. Unfortunately, the reality is not that simple. That extra book and prophet are most essential to Islam, to say nothing of the absolute unity of God, whereas the five pillars, to the Christian, miss some of the basic issues.

One of the fundamental differences between Islam and Christianity is that while Islam has a basic set of beliefs in common to nearly all who claim to be Muslims, there is hardly anything that is common to all of Christianity. 

 

6. Tying the Knot

The areas of contrast between Christian and Islamic belief can be charted simply as follows.

Although Christians will balk at the thought that the death of Jesus on the cross in Christian teaching is essentially a human sacrifice, and some will deny the authority of the Church, this simple caricature of the differences between Christianity and Islam should make the Christian stop and think. It may well be that worship of one God alone, and the realization that he has direct access to God without recourse to any institutions, and free forgiveness of sin through the infinite grace of God, is what he really always thought was true and right. After all, all are born Muslim.

Image: 

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Invitation to Islam: A Survival Guide

A Christmas Gift from Muslim to Christian

 

Christian and Islamic Practice Compared

Truly those who believe in what is revealed to you, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabeans: whoever (of them) believe in God, and the Last Day, and do good works, for them there is their reward with their Lord, and there shall be no fear for them nor shall they grieve. (Qur’an, Suratul-Baqara, 2:62).

The purpose of this essay is to describe the similarities and differences between Christian and Islamic practice. This is useful in understanding what others consider of importance in religious life, and thus how to achieve fruitful dialogue. From an Islamic point of view praxis is in fact of more critical interest than from the Christian point of view in general. Christians, especially Protestants, are more likely to focus on belief than practice. In sharing Islam, this is one of the vital areas. To put it concretely, difficult as it may be to convince a Christian of the unity of God, it is even more difficult to influence a Christian to pray in prostration with regularity.

Thomas McElwain

https://www.al-islam.org/invitation-islam-survival-guide-thomas-mcelwain/theological-differences-between-christianity-and

https://www.al-islam.org/invitation-islam-survival-guide-thomas-mcelwain/christian-and-islamic-practice-compared

Islam In The Bible

Thomas McElwain

https://www.al-islam.org/islam-bible-thomas-mcelwain

Shi'i beliefs in the Bible

Thomas McElwain

https://www.al-islam.org/shii-beliefs-bible-thomas-mcelwain

Chapter 3: Ashama Ibn Abjar (Najashi) The Christian King Of Ethiopia Defends Islam

Christians Who Defended And Died For The Prophet Muhammad And His Family

Mateen Charbonneau

https://www.al-islam.org/christians-who-defended-and-died-prophet-muhammad-and-his-family-mateen-charbonneau/chapter-3-ashama

Christian Monk Who Died For Imam Husayn (A)

https://www.al-islam.org/media/christian-monk-who-died-imam-husayn

 

 

The Shi’a Origin And Faith

Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita’

https://www.al-islam.org/shia-origin-and-faith-muhammad-husayn-kashif-al-ghita

 

Who are the Shi‘a?

Inquiries About Shi'a Islam

Sayyid Moustafa Al-Qazwini

https://www.al-islam.org/inquiries-about-shia-islam-sayyid-moustafa-al-qazwini/who-are-shia

[Ashvazdanghe]

23 hours ago, Guest Ethan said:

found Christianity's evidence compelling, but Islam's far from compelling. 

Dr.Thomas McElwain, an American pastor and university professor who chose the name “Ali Haider” after becoming a Muslim, tells us of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) being mentioned in the Holy book of Christians and Jews. The two scholarly books “Islam in the Bible” and “Shi’i Beliefs in the Bible” are the result of his years of effort in the comparative study of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

Thomas McElwain

https://www.al-islam.org/invitation-islam-survival-guide-thomas-mcelwain/theological-differences-between-christianity-and

https://www.al-islam.org/invitation-islam-survival-guide-thomas-mcelwain/christian-and-islamic-practice-compared

Quote

Islam In The Bible

Thomas McElwain

https://www.al-islam.org/islam-bible-thomas-mcelwain

Shi'i beliefs in the Bible

Thomas McElwain

https://www.al-islam.org/shii-beliefs-bible-thomas-mcelwain

http://al-mostabserin.com/english/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01-4-300x225.jpg

https://al-mostabserin.com/english/10532

Why is the succession of Prophet Muhammad ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) so important?

 

Dr. Thomas McElwain answers:

 

Why is the succession of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) so important? Was succession so important for other prophets as well?

Yes, the succession of prophets has been mentioned in previous holy books. In the fifth chapter of the book “Genesis” of the Torah, the successors of Adam to Noah (peace be upon them) are mentioned. In chapter 27 of the book “Numbers” of the Torah, verses 16 and 17, Moses (peace be upon him) prays for his successor. The succession of “Elisha” after “Elijah” is mentioned in the second book of The Kings, chapter 2, verse 15. These are just three examples that come to my mind right now and show that God has appointed successors for all prophets. The Bible does not recognize the unauthorized following of prophets and accepts obedience to prophets only through the channel of God’s appointed successors.

 

What points can be taken from the sermon of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) on the day of Ghadir?

https://al-mostabserin.com/english/10532

 

Edited September 14 by Ashvazdanghe

[Ashvazdanghe]

Addendum users likeiwise @Abu Hadi who has been Christian before Islam can give more detailed answers to it . 

[notme]

5 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

This is not what I have discovered. 

You raise some commonly mentioned points.  Most members of Shiachat are Shia Muslims. I recommend  you read the resources at https://www.al-islam.org/ for a Shia perspective.  For short and very informative articles, start with the "in a nutshell" series here: https://www.al-islam.org/nutshell/

 

I apologize for the inundation with information, but we can't debate you when you are asking questions that don't make sense to us.  I'm sure you'll find some great points to debate after reading a bit.  

[mahmood8726]

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Thank you, I appreciate your peaceful and respectful tone. However, I would like to understand this point here you have raised. Is the Qur'an consistent and reasonable? This is not what I have discovered. 

Why is a doctrine of abrogation necessary if the Qur'an is the word of Allah? Surely this indicates human flaws and a lack of consistency. Furthermore, I do not think that the Qur'an is very consistent even with a theology of abrogation. 

What was man made from? A clot of congealed blood (Surah 96:2)

When we were forming inside of our mother, yes we were created from a clot of congealed blood.

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, clay (15:26), dust (3:59)

Adam(peace be upon him) was created from dust and clay, which in extention includes all of us who came from him. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, nothing (19:67)

We were nothing before being created, so we did come from nothing and got created from nothing.

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, sperm (16:4). 

This is obvious.

 

None of these are contradictions, all of them are true. They aren't mutually exclusive. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Is wine consumption good (47:15; 83:22-25)

These verses refer to wine consumption in heaven, this by no means is relevant to this world. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

or bad (5:90)? 

Yes it's bad. The verse is explicit about it. I doubt you live in heaven, so this verse is what's relevant. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Does Allah forgive those who worship false Gods? No (4:48)

The sin of idolatry is unforgivable once the doors of repentance close (when you die). 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

or yes (4:153)? 

In this specific verse, the people forgiven were still alive, they repented for worshipping the golden calf. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Furthermore, is the Qur'an reasonable? I disagree. 

I defenetly disagree with you here.

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Women are inferior to man (2:228)

This by no way says women are inferior to men, just that men and women have diffirent responsibilities and obligations. Were all equal in the eyes of Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى).

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, Men are in charge of women (4:34)

I don't see how this makes islam less reasonable, every religion including Christianity dictates this too. Just because Islam is not compatible with femenism, does not make Islam false, what you should look for is if islam is the truth, is muhammad(peace and blessings be upon him) a real prophet? Is Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) real? Etc...

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, women are innately evil and malicious (12:28

It was the husband who exclaimed this...

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, 33, 34, 50),

You missed the entire point of these verses, I highly urge you to reread these verses and their tafsir, here is a what I presume a sunni tafsir of these verses that I felt explained them well: https://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=12&verse=30

The verses you quoted are reffering to specific women who tried to seduce prophet Joseph(peace be upon him), including the lady of the house who madly fell in love with him. 

I am not trying to be harsh, but it seems to me, that you keep making this mistake of inattention with most of the verses you quoted. Either you didn't read any of the verses you quoted and machine gunned common verses leveled against Islam, or you read theses verses but very quickly and you jumped verses making you not understand the context. Please read all of it. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Women's testimony is 1/2 that of a mans (2:282)

I don't know why. This however does not disprove islam, as I said, you should base your acceptance of Islam on more solid reasons as stated above. There are countless forums on shiachat that have been made on this Women's testimony being half. I won't pretend like I know the reason.

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, Husbands have total rights over a wife's body (2:223)

That verse does not say that, you misunderstood the soil metaphor. Husbands can't do whatever they please to their wives body, their wives are their wives, not their property where they can destroy them, etc...

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, Women receive 1/2 the inheritance of a man (4:2). 

Same as stated, however I can try rationalizing this one. Unlike women, men have and obligation to share their money with their wives. On the other hand, wives who make money from their job do not have an obligation to share their money with their Husbands. Do you see where I am going with this one? Obviously the husband is more in need for that money generally speaking. Even today most relationships have the wife expecting the man to provide, even in this hyper femenist society.

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Kill the idolaters whenever you find them (9:5)

This is reffering to the Arab pagans they were fighting at the time, the muslims were at war with the arab pagans of quraish, these verses are adressing this. If you actually read the verse after it, you would realise it's not all gloomy too. 

Surah 9.6

And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

, fight the unbelievers (9:14, 29), killing an unbeliever gives a reward but killing a believer sends you to hell (4:91). 

As for the rest I won't bother with it, you need to read more my friend, you're jumping verses and reading them too quickly.  If some of what I said seemed harsh, this wasn't my intention, it's just me being blunt and honest. 

18 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

This is a very simplistic and by no means comprehensive analysis of the Qur'an. I am also happy to look at Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. 

 

This is a mainly shia forum, most of us don't take sahih bukhari or sahih Muslim are reliable sources. We might take some parts of them as reliable, but not most of it and certainly not all of it, but obviously we are not mostly sunnis. There are sunnis here though so feel free to talk to them too.

 

Either way, I might get some things wrong, I am a layman. People like @Ashvazdanghe and others could feel free to correct any mistakes I made here. 

Edited September 14 by Hussein999

[Abu Nur]

19 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Why is a doctrine of abrogation necessary if the Qur'an is the word of Allah?

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) does not change His "way" (The Sunnah). He gave the promises and does not change them. He also stated all the principles of Religion and He does not change them.

One of the teaching of God is that God is not a Man (Numbers 23:19), but Paul Christians did change this principle.

The abrogation means here that there are rules than can change for better or equal by time, but there is no abrogation in the principles of religion, because these principles are always true. For example God is one, God is not a man or Belivers shall inherent the Garden which is a promise that God never go ageinst His promises.

[Abu Nur]

19 hours ago, Guest ethan said:

Does Allah forgive those who worship false Gods? No (4:48) or yes (4:153)? 

4:153 is in Bible too. They repented so Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) forgave them.

[root]

Why shouldn't you?

[JannahLM]

On 9/13/2024 at 2:22 AM, Guest Ethan said:

I have looked into the evidence for both Christianity and Islam and found Christianity's evidence compelling, but Islam's far from compelling. 

Why are you a Muslim? Why should I become a Muslim?

This is interesting as I came to the opposite conclusion. I was balanced too in my investigation as I'm from a non-religious family.

[mahmood8726]

51 minutes ago, JannahLM said:

This is interesting as I came to the opposite conclusion. I was balanced too in my investigation as I'm from a non-religious family.

I honestly don't think he payed much attention as has been pointed out in my response to him. Many of the verses he quoted, he would have immediately realized had no problems, had he actually taken the time to read them. Like the ones about prophet Joseph(عليه السلام), it's like he didn't even read them and took the word of someone else who told him they were apprently misogynistic quranic verses on women. 

Edited September 15 by Hussein999

[notme]

10 minutes ago, Hussein999 said:

apprently misogynistic quranic verses on women. 

Apparently he hasn't read the Bible either, if he finds mysogeny problematic but is ok with Christianity! 

[mahmood8726]

22 minutes ago, notme said:

Apparently he hasn't read the Bible either, if he finds mysogeny problematic but is ok with Christianity! 

I'm sure he wouldn't like the story of Adam(عليه السلام) and eve in the Bible. 

 

Certainly way diffirent than islam that says both made a mistake and doesn't blame the woman mostly like the Bible does. 

Edited September 15 by Hussein999

[root]

This whole are woman equal to men issue is so stupid it makes me puke. Equal in what? It's like saying Red blood cells are worth more that white blood cells. They are two different things with different structure and different jobs. We die without either one, so in terms of worth, they are equal, in other issues they are not.

[mahmood8726]

1 hour ago, root said:

This whole are woman equal to men issue is so stupid it makes me puke. Equal in what? It's like saying Red blood cells are worth more that white blood cells. They are two different things with different structure and different jobs. We die without either one, so in terms of worth, they are equal, in other issues they are not.

What secularists/femenists usually mean is inferior in the sense of being less valuable. This however is their fallacious way of thinking, they assume not the same rights and responsibilities = one is less valuable than the other. 

 

It makes it 1000x worse when they deem their ideology to be "universal", so anyone that questions their dogmatic ideology is deemed evil and anything other than what they beleive is Satan incarnate. It's why even if the quran disagrees with their view, they deem it as immoral and evil, even though they themselves rely on some man made ideology which assumes it is "universal". They will immediately get angry and discard islam as a potential truth. 

Edited September 15 by Hussein999

[Abu Hadi]

On 9/14/2024 at 4:14 AM, Ashvazdanghe said:

Addendum users likeiwise @Abu Hadi who has been Christian before Islam can give more detailed answers to it . 

This is why I waited to respond. OP is most likely a bot C/P points found in a database or data file. I highly doubt this is a real person. If 'Guest Ethan' was a real person, he would have replied to @Hussein999 's post which addressed all his 'concerns' in a categorical, definitive, and also elegant way. Mashallah. 

I don't have time to waste responding to bots. If Guest Ethan would like to come back on to discuss after the points have been addressed I would be happy to discuss. 

[Abu Hadi]

Note. The discussion concerning working women was split into another topic in General Islamic Discussions called 'The working women, an Islamic Perspective'