"Nearly everyone has some conception of religion. In fact, sometimes it appears that there are as many definitions of it as there are people" (Schmidt 9). Not only does each person have his or her own way of defining religion; each person has his or her own way of practicing a religion. On the surface, Islam and Christianity appear to have very little in common however, getting deeper into areas such as beliefs and origin, the two exemplify strong mutual resemblances, particularly in the fundamental areas. Like most religions, Christianity and Islam share many similar convictions such as one God and His prophets, yet each rejects the validity of all others -- claiming to be the only true faith of the only true God. But despite this, other contradictions between them exist, along with Jesus as the Messiah or prophet, original sin versus good deeds, and the path to salvation.
Both Muslims, those who submit themselves, and Christians believe in a god, referred to as "Allah" by the Muslims and "God" by Christians. Islam, meaning, "surrender" or "submission" to the will of Allah, emphasizes God as the creator and sustainer of the universe. This God, compassionate and honorable, calls all people to believe in him and worship him. As a devoutly lawful God, He will judge every person on the Last Day according to his deeds. On this day, the deceased resurrect and either receive rewards in heaven or punishment in hell. Similarly, Christianity parallels this singular view of God. In the Bible one of the Ten Commandments states that, "I am the Lord thy God.thou shalt have no other gods before me." Also, identical to Islam, God is considered the creator of the universe, and therefore also just. When one dies, the same holds true for Christian beliefs, the dead will resurrect and either go to heaven or hell. .
God or Allah dispatched prophets to share the word: Jesus received or preached the word of God in the Gospels, and Muhammad in the Quran, but others helped to spread the message as well.
