Where Do Christians and Muslims Agree?

Photo from @PeaceCatInt

In the seventeenth century, there was a philosopher known as Herbert of Cherbury, who questioned the serious divisions among the various monotheistic religions–Muslims, Jews, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Catholics, and Protestants.  And he came up with five essential assertions that he believed were common to all monotheistic religions. His goal was to establish common ground between these religions. The five assertions are:

(1) There is a God; 
(2) This God ought to be worshiped; 
(3) The connection of virtue with piety is and always has been the most important part of religious practice; 
(4) While people are aware of their evils, they can and must expiate them by repentance; and 
(5) People face reward or punishment after this life.

I like Herbert of Cherbury’s assertions.  I would suggest, however, that the question of how one attains eternal life in Heaven, or salvation, is an essential issue where common ground is important.  With respect to Christians and Muslims, Christians criticize Muslims for believing that one must do adequate good works to earn a place in Heaven. Muslims criticize Christians for their belief that faith alone will earn them a place in Heaven, without any works at all.  Both views are oversimplifications, and I believe both views are wrong.

On a Muslim website (Click here to view), there is an excellent article, entitled, Grace, Faith, and Works–a four-part article about the role of grace, faith, and works in our salvation.  The article states, “Islam teaches that salvation is attained by God’s Grace, and that God bestows His Grace upon those who have both inner belief and good works.”  The article quotes the Holy Quran, “And those who believed and did good works, they are the inhabitants of Paradise, abiding therein eternally.” (Quran 2:82)

The Christian position is most concisely stated in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, in the Holy Bible, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV. In agreement with the Muslim view, these verses tell us that salvation is attained by God’s grace.

While the Apostle Paul's words explicitly say that salvation is “not a result of works,” that does not mean that works do not have a crucial role in our salvation.  Verse 10 explains the role of good works, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
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The idea is that good works are the fruit of our faith.  Faith that does not produce good works is not saving faith. 

Is this view consistent with Islamic views?  I believe it is.

The article on the Muslim website, referred to above, clarifies very well the role of faith and good works. “To explain this concept, Muslim scholars have likened faith to a tree.  Belief in the heart is considered the root; it is hidden beneath the surface, not visible to the eye. Yet, the root is what gives the tree a firm foundation, without which there can be no tree.  Works then are considered what is apparent above the surface, such as the trunk and branches of the trees. This is one of the reasons why it is improper to debate ‘faith versus work’.”

Christians can wholeheartedly agree with this explanation.  Consider these words from the Epistle of James in the Holy Bible, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works,’  Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!  Do you need to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?” James 2:18-20 ESV
As you can see, both Muslim and Christian views are the same.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus (Peace be upon Him) prays for His disciples; that is, He prays for you and me.  Consider these words of His prayer, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”  John 17:3 ESV

I do not see anything in this portion of His prayer that is inconsistent with Muslim and Christian beliefs.  Praise the Lord! Alhamdulillah!

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