Customer Reviews

Jesus and Muhammad: Profound Differences and Surprising Similarities

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Dr. Mark Gabriel will take you on a journey of discovering Jesus and Muhammad in a way that few others can-as an insider, a believer, and a scholar of both faiths.

Born in Egypt, he grew up as a devout Muslim. He memorized the Quran, earned a Ph.D. in Islamic studies at Al Azhar University, and faithfully followed the laws of Islam. Yet the more he learned, the more disillusioned he became. He abandoned Islam at the age of 34.

After a year of searching for God, he opened a Bible for the first time one night. As he read the life of Jesus from the book of Matthew, he mind automatically compared it to the life of Muhammad. When morning came, he chose to follow Jesus. With the same zeal that he used to follow Muhammad, he has followed Jesus for the past 12 years, earning a Ph.D. in Christian education.

His perspectives on Jesus and Muhammad will give you new insight into these men. You will walk through their lives, discovering amazing similarities between their childhoods, their public ministry, and their teachings. At the same time, deep differences become obvious-in their attitudes toward people, their missions, and their views of God.

Rather than relying on secondary sources, Dr. Gabriel focuses on the core books of each religion--the Gospels of the New Testament, the Quran, and the correct books of hadith. Any reader can access this material in English and check the information for themselves.

In addition, Dr. Gabriel adds stories from his personal life about his experience of following Muhammad's example and then following Jesus. The result is a book that is both easy to read and profound. I highly recommend this book.

I took a post graduate level class from Dr. Gabriel this year and I think that I can clear up a few misconceptions on his background and purposes. During the class when answering questions he always quoted the Quran from memory in Arabic. Then he would provide a quick English translation and have us find the verse in one of our translations. From this I can say that he did indeed have the entire Quran memorized, and hence that substantiated many of his biographical details. Also a local Egyptian gentleman visited the class, and they talked about their former homeland, Egypt.
Secondly, he repeatedly expressed his love for all Muslims, and encouraged the class to continue to pray for them. Clearly, anyone who thinks that Dr. Gabriel "hates" Muslims is using that word in a different sense than that with which I am familiar.
The book itself is a fair account of the differences between Jesus and Muhammad. I would suggest that many people need to actually read the Bible to see what it says about Jesus. I suggest that they start with the Gospel of John. Next I suggest that some of the critics of Dr. Gabriel's work should actually read the Quran and see what it teaches on various subjects. Most people in the west will be surprised.
Next, read a biography of Muhammad. Get a feel for the kind of person he was. The earliest biography of the prophet is Islam is by Ibn Ishaq and can be found in translation on the web. Follow that by searching through the collections of hadith on the USC-MSA website. Type in a few search words such as "Jew," or "Jihad." Be inventive in your research. If you enter the search with as few preconceptions as possible you will be amazed at what you can learn. Good luck and may God bless your search.

The author does a nice job comparing and contrasting Jesus and Muhammad. Although the book is set up in almost a textbook like format, it is an easy read. This is a great book if you are interested in learning about either Jesus or Muhammad.

The author compares the teachings and the life examples set by Jesus and Muhammad. There is a stark difference between the path of Peace taught by Jesus and the path of violent conquest to subject all others to Islam as portrayed by all the wars and bloodshed Muhammad led his people through by the example of his life and teachings. The author portrays this difference in contrast very well. This book challenges the concept of Islam as a religion of peace through Muhammad's own words and teachings as well as the life he lived as an example for fellow Muslims to follow. It offers a challenge for those that have eyes, ears, and a mind, which God gave them which they are willing to use.

For too many people, all religions are alike. Dr. Gabriel puts the focus on two major world religions and shows how different they really are. We are all familiar with Jesus's counsel to "turn the other cheek" to your enemy. Islam has a very different approach.

Also, Islam's condemnation of anyone who is not a Muslim (infidel) sets up a two-tier theocratic society wherever it rules. Apartheid in South Africa was based on skin color - this one is based on your religious beliefs. Both should be condemned just as strongly as an affront to universal values that promote equality of all men and women.

Buy the book and learn the differences. They are critical to know in this day and age.

The author quotes from the Quran and the hadith (which include Muslim practices and philosophy), both of which he knows well having memorized the Quran by age 12. He also knows the Bible well and quotes effectively from it in making his comparisons. Topically arranged, the book is easy to read and understand. Excellent! ! !

I have had the honor of hearing Mark Gabriels speak in person on several occasions. He is truely a humble, servant of the Lord and knows Him intimately. His books provide clear information about Islam, Muslims, and Christianity. I would highly recommend any of them to those who wish to know more about Mulsims and how to minister to them.

God bless.

I am always compelled to read the reviews before I decide to write a response or for that matter many of the reviews initiate my responses. As for this book, it was one of the first that I read on Muhammad being compared to Jesus. I read the Bible, but I also bought a Qur'an to cross-reference every point that Mr. Gabriel brings up. In comparing the two, it is obvious if you can read that Mr. Gabriel is right on. Not to say that it makes Islam look acceptable in the eyes of a westerner, but in anyone's eyes it looks more like a cult that rules by fear and aggression. Although I am a Christian, I feel like it is absurd to say that all Muslims are terrorists. There may be some truth after reading other books by Spencer that do lead one to believe that no matter how good of a Muslim you are, you cannot escape the history of that which you have chosen. No religion is perfect, period. Look deeper for answers on your own. I don't expect to read one book and decide on Islam/Christianity nor should you. The Qur'an and Muhammad have established a life, history and legacy as Mr. Gabriel defines in this reading. Make no mistake, he has experience and if you truly look up each verse that is referenced, it says what Gabriel states in the Bible and the Qur'an. And in response to the individual that references slaves and Jesus? I would advise you to re-read those verses. One is a parable and the other has nothing to do with the topics you have identified, period. All in all you must read more than one book, look for answers, verify the answers, and formulate an opinion on your own. When I find a person who established his entire existence on love and forgiveness, I will no longer look to Jesus. No matter where I look, what I study, Jesus seems to be a topic almost all religions at one time or another talk about. Jesus recognized no other religion and Muhammad seems to borrow much from the Jews and Christians......wonder why? Remember, cross-reference and verify everything that someone states is written in the Bible or the Qur'an and I think this book will be a valuable resource to learn about both Jesus and Muhammad. It's fine if you like neither of them. This is just one opinion!

The astonishing thing is that for 19 chapters Dr. Mark adroitly delivers a meticulous comparison between this and that leaving the judgement for the reader without imposing his personal opinion that solely appears at the 20th chapter . Going through the content, I couldn't stop from affirming how pleased and honored I am to follow and belong to you JESUS.

I found this book to be a solid study of the respective founders of Christianity and Islam, rather than the usually blatantly partisan, frustrating, and confusing comparative studies done on the modern-day religions. Dr. Gabriel knows his stuff, and he mananged to address any and all niggling doubts in my mind. I had been going back and forth between Islam and Christianity, trying to decide if I should stay in the religion I'd been taught all my life (Christianity) or convert to a new one (Islam). I was sick at heart over the struggle. After praying for God to show me the direction He wished me to go, I found this book. I read it from cover to cover that night, thanked God for answering my prayers so quickly, and firmly turned my back on Islam. May God bless and keep Dr. Gabriel.