Although Muslims are sure of the certainty of the event of resurrection, Allah has kept certain aspects of it hidden from them. Muslims are not given any knowledge as to when this event will happen. Muslims also believe that their resurrection will have both spiritual and physical aspects, however the specifics of how the body will actually be known are not precisely known. An important element here is that the Islamic view of resurrection is dualistic. Islam suggests that the soul of the human being is immortal and lives beyond the body. When the body dies the soul is known to move into another realm known as barzakh. Upon the event of the resurrection the human souls will go back into the bodies that Allah will recreate for them. Belief in life after death for a Muslim encourages a Muslim to lead a good life on earth since he/she will no the fate that waits them if they ignore the commands and warnings of Allah given in the Qur’an.
In Christianity, resurrection seems to be closely tied with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians it is important to believe in the resurrection of Jesus if they hope to attain salvation for themselves.
Christians believe that once they believe in Jesus Christ and his resurrection that their link with him is created till their own final resurrection. As we know, Muslims rely on the Qur’an for their interpretation of the events of resurrection, whereas the Christians take the words of Jesus’ disciples and the books of the Bible. If a Christian believes in Jesus, then he shall go to heaven.
One of the similarities between Christianity and Islam is that both religions make a mention of the blowing of a trumpet to alert the resurrection. Although Christianity and Islam acknowledge the existence of the trumpet, the only difference is that Islam mentions two blowings whereas Christianity mentions only one. Another similarity between the two religions is that both believe resurrection to be spiritual as well as of the physical body. In Islam the soul is considered to be immortal but the body is placed in the grave. The concept of resurrection in Islam suggests a great deal of focus on the human soul. The soul is seen to be accountable for the deeds not the body. The soul is the source of deeds even though the body may carry them out. As in Christianity, Jesus came back a better spirit and being upon his resurrection, Islam also acknowledges that the human spirit and body will come back in a new form that will express its true spiritual essence.
One of the fundamental differences between the two religions is the concept of resurrection. Christianity basis its argument of resurrection on what they see as an actual physical event, which is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Whereas Islam bases its belief on the Qur’an. According to Christianity, the afterlife is not something to work towards in terms of keeping one good deed so that one can earn a good afterlife. Muslims understand and accept resurrection as a reality as Allah has deemed it to be true. Allah Has also promised that every person would have to account for his or her deeds after being resurrected. Although both Christians and Muslims believe in the afterlife they tend to differ slightly. In Islam the average person does not know whether they will go to heaven in the afterlife. However in Christianity the concept of salvation holds the belief that Jesus suffered so that his followers could have heaven. From this we can tell that believing Christians have some form of a guarantee for heaven, whereas Muslims do not.
In Islam, the knowledge of the event of resurrection allows a human to rectify his evil actions, seek forgiveness as well as believe and do well. For the Christians the concept of having communion with Jesus’ body and blood allows people to experience a bit of immortality in this life.
Even though Islam and Christianity are different monotheistic faiths they both uphold the belief that the event of resurrection will come upon humanity when God or Allah will it. Both religions agree that resurrection includes a human’s body and soul and that it is indeed an event in the future, the timing of which is unknown to mankind. They may share some common views however they tend to differ. Christianity has the physical resurrection of Jesus whereas Islam has the direct word of Allah in the Qur’an. Islam keeps the supremacy of Allah above all whereas Christianity makes Jesus the son God and claims salvation through him. The different interpretations of each faith regarding this belief also shed light on each one’s respective beliefs on the power and oneness of God.