Melkova E.P., Charnetskaja S.K. To the tolerance and peaceful coexistence through the Holy Books

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TO THE TOLERANCE AND PEACEFUL

COEXISTENCE THROUGH THE HOLY BOOKS

Melkova E.P., Charnetskaja S.K.

The article is devoted to the questions of tolerance in the sphere of religious interconfessional relations. The authors analyze the texts of the Bible and the Quran – and draw the conclusions of possibility in keeping and multiplying religious dialogue through following the general values, contained in the Holy Books – such as the ideas of all-forgiveness and all-love.

Keywords: interfaith relations, tolerance, the Bible, the Koran, religious dialogue.

К ТОЛЕРАНТНОСТИ И МИРУ ЧЕРЕЗ

СВЯЩЕННЫЕ КНИГИ

Мелькова Е.П., Чарнецкая С.К.

Статья посвящена вопросам толерантности в сфере религиозных межконфессиональных отношений. Авторы анализируют тексты Библии и Корана и приходят к выводам, что сохранение и развитие религиозного диалога возможно через обращение к общим ценностям, содержащимся в Священных книгах.  

Ключевые слова: межконфессиональные отношения, толерантность, Библия, Коран, религиозный диалог.

With around 2.2 billion adherents, split into 3 main branches (Orthodox Christianity, Protestantism, Catholicism), Christianity is considered to be the largest religion in the world. It predominates in Europe, Russia, North America,  South America,  Philippines, South Africa, Central Africa, and Oceania [5].

Islam is the second widespread religion after Christianity. Islam has 1.62 billion adherents and prevails in the Middle East, North Africa, Indonesia and some parts of Asia [4].

Relations between the representatives of those religions determine the political climate of different governments and even regions of the world. In fact, Muslims and Christians have enough similar views. They blame violence, war, evil, and proclaim the importance of love, family, mutual respect, all the peoples’ independence and dignity.

Unfortunately, a lot of people nowadays hate Muslims because they are threatened by terrorist actions. But we often forget that Islam is a very peaceful religion and in fact true Muslims are against terrorism. We should remember Chaadaev’s words: “Islam is one of the greatest displays of the Law” [10]. The American president Bill Clinton said: “In the Quran Allah tells us about the fact, that He created different races not for enmity between them. He wants them to know each other. And the Gospel also tells people to treat with their neighbors kindly” [6].

Every religion is based on Sacred Writings. In Christianity it is called the Bible and in Islam it is called the Quran. There is a comparative analysis of those sacred Books.

The Bible

The Bible is a canonical collection of texts, considered to be sacred in Christianity  and consisted of the Old and the New Testaments. The first part of the Bible was borrowed from Judaism by Christians and its real name is Tanakh in original. Christians called it the Old Testament. There are 39 books in it. Each book has its author. We can find the name of each author in the texts. From the 13th till the 1st century B.C. the books of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew. From the 3d till the 1st century A.D. the Old Testament was translated in Greek. This version was accepted by the first Christians [1].

There is a legend about Greek translation of the Old Testament [2].

Egyptian king Ptolemy-the Second wanted to have a Greek translation of Tanakh for his famous Alexandria’s library. He sought help from high priest Eliozar. Eliozar sent 72 scribes to Ptolemy-the Second. Each scribe had his own cell and had to translate Pentateuch. 72 scribes finished their work at the same time, and all the translations were absolutely identical. 

There are no exact dates of the New Testament’s creation. We can find the first mentions of its texts in the books of Christian writers, lived in the 2nd century A.D. New Testament’s books were written in Greece. Epistles to the apostles were first books to be written.

The New Testament includes 27 books: 4 Gospels, Acts of the Apostels, 21 Epistles of the Apostles and Revelation or the Apocalipse. The New Testament is consisted of 9 authors’ writings: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Jude, Pavel and James [1].

The Word, written in the Bible, was given to the prophets and apostles by God. The prophets wrote about things and events, which were shown them by God. They got God’s Word through the Revelations. The Holy Spirit told the apostles and prophets, what events should be written.

The Quran

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam .The Quran consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each known as a sura. Each chapter consists of several verses, known as ayats. Quran is divided into 7 equal parts, called manzils, so it is more comfortable to read Quran during a week. The division of Quran into 30 parts, called jurs, let people to read Quran even during a month [3].

Having got sacred ayats from angel Jabrail, Prophet Muhammad went to his disciples and told them to write those ayats. He pointed to concrete suras and pointed, which ayats had to be written there. After that the disciples learned new ayats by heart. Muhammad received ayats during his whole life, that is why Quran was brought together after Muhammad’s death. 

There was a battle of Jamam against false prophet Musailim. 70 Quran’s experts died during that battle. Caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar were afraid of other experts’ death that is why they told Zeid ibn Sabid to bring all the Quran’s ayats together. One of Muhammad’s disciples, Zeid ibn Sabid, was one of the best Quran’s experts and knew Quran by heart. Zeid ibn Sabid created special commission. Its members gathered all notes, written on the stones, palm leaves and skins, and brought it to Zeid ibn Sabid, who checked up their authenticity. Special commission gathered fragments of notes and wrote the first Quran’s copy. After that members of commission wrote 5 copies and sent them to the caliphate’s regions: Mecca, Medina, Basra, Damascus and Kufu [3].

So, we can say that ayats were sent to Muhammad, and his disciples wrote the down. After Muhammad’s death Zeid ibn Sabid created special commission, and its members wrote Quran.

Gods

According to Islamic belief, Allah is the proper name of God. “He is the only God, creator of the universe, and the judge of humankind.” 

In Christianity there is only one God in three persons. The doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit [9, p.538-539].

A Prophet is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and to speak for them, serving as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people).

Creation of the world

The creation of the world is similar in the Bible and the Quran. In the Old Testament we can read that God created the world in 6 days. “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made”. 

The seventh day was Sunday (Genesis 2:2) 

In Quran Allah created the world in 6 days too. “Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days” (7:54). But in fact we can say not about days, but 6 periods of vague time, because the Arabian word “yaym” means not only “day” but also a “period” .On the 7th day Allah had a rest too, but it happened on Friday. And in Quran there are no mentions that he was tired.

Satan

Satan is a character appearing in the texts of the Testaments, who personifies evil and temptation, and is known as the deceiver that leads humanity astray. Satan was an angel, he lived in Eden. But after he had wanted to become equal to God he was overthrown to the earth [9, p. 475].

The equivalent of Satan in Islam is Iblis. He has another history. First of all he was not angel, but jinn-a wicked fire spirit. When Allah ordered all His angels to worship Adam, Iblis refused to do it, because he despised Adam.  For this reason Allah overthrew him and condemned him to hellish torments, but Iblis asked him to put off the punishment till the Day of Judgment. Iblis is also mentioned in the Quran as Shaitan. 

Adam and Eve 

Both the Bible and the Quran tell the story of the creation of the first man, Adam.  In the 32th sura we can read: “He began the creation of Man from clay” (32:7-8) We find “Eve” as the name of the first woman at the beginning of Chapter 4 of the Book of Genesis, in the Bible the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam... and He took one of his ribs... and made He a woman ... (Gen. 2:18, 21-3). Unlike the Bible, the Qur'an does not say that Eve was created from Adam's rib, but says that she was made "of like nature." 

The Quran, contrary to the Bible, places equal blame on both Adam and Eve for their mistake. The Quran does not say that Eve tempted Adam to eat from the tree or even that she had eaten before him. Both Adam and Eve committed a sin and then asked God for forgiveness and He forgave them both. 

Last Judgment

The Last Judgment is the final and eternal judgment by God of every nation. We can find the information about this day in the Bible and the Quran as well, and the describing of events is similar. 

Antichrist

In the New Testament the author describes him to be the beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. The number of this beast, in which we will be able to read his name, is 666. The beast will blaspheme God name, rule the world for 42 months, begin the war against saints and win. “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him” (Rev. 19:19). He was “thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone” (Rev. 19:20) and he “will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10).

In the Quran antichrist is called Dajjal. When he comes to the earth, he will attract people, showing them different wonders. Prophets will notify people not to believe him. They will say it will have only one eye and Allah can’t have only one eye. Then prophet Isa (analogy of Jesus Christ in the New Testament) will appear. “Isa will go to Jerusalem. He will overtake Dajjall near the gates of Lood and kill him. Looking at him, Dajjall will be falling to pieces and will fall as the salt in the water.”

Dabbat al-art 

Dabbat al-art is the beast, which will come from under the earth. This beast will mark the faces of people. So, the faces of believers will be white and the faces of atheists will be black. After that Dabbat will tell people, which of them will be in Paradise and which ones will be in hell.

In the Bible we can read about the second beast. It will teach people to respect the first beast. “And he causes all to be given a mark on their right, or on their forehead, the name of the beast or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:16-17).  And he will be “thrown alive into the lake of fire and he will be tormented forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10).

Gog and Magog 

Gog and Magog are enemies of God’s people. They will come in last days and begin the war. When the devil comes out of his imprisonment, Gog and Magog will appear. A great number of them will come from “four parts of the world” (Rev. 20:8).   And they will exterminate the followers of Christianity, but during the battle “fire will come down from heaven and devour them” (Rev. 20:9) [9, p. 112, 326].

Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj are tribes, which will live in the East and oppress other people. To save them from these tribes king Zul-Karnain will build the wall, which will separate Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj from the world. They will be able to destroy this wall after the Second Coming and break up all over the world. After Isa’s battle against Dadjjal Isa will lead people to the war against Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj Isa and his army won’t be able to beat the enemy, and Isa will entreat Allah about help. Allah will direct the worms to the devil and these worms will kill the adversary.

After the judgment the eternity will come. It will be joyful for one during the personal contact with Jesus Crist and agonizing for others.

So, we can say that the ideas of the texts in the Bible and the Quran resemble. We see the difference in names, periods of time, ways of birth and death, but essences of events are identical. The basis of both Christianity and Islam is the humanism, good treatment with other people, people’s love to each other, forgiveness, observance of God’s commandments and, of course, love and loyalty to God.

First of all we have to understand that Islam is not combined with terrorism. Maksood Sadikov, rector of the Institute of theology and international relationships in Dagestan said: “Those, who call themselves Muslims, committing crimes, robberies and violence, mislead others. True Muslim can’t be evil. Extremism is not combined with Islam” [7].

But why are there so many extremists in the world? What do they think about, when they kill people? The President of Kabardino-Balkar Republic Arsen Kanokov gives an explanation of terrorist actions: “Extremists refer to the Allah’s commandment, which is called Jihad-a war with unbelievers”. In fact, Allah told Muslims to fight with “koofr”. The word “koofr” is formed from the word “Kjafir”, which means “to be ungrateful, to break an oath, to be in error”. The word “Jihad” means not “a war with unbelievers”, but “real for sake of the triumph of the truth”. Thus, “Jihad with koofr” consists not of the destruction and conquest of unbelievers, but of sermon and Islam’s spreading by your own example”. And violent spreading of Islam runs counter to Muhammad’s teaching: “There is no compulsion to religion”. Islam’s adherents don’t have the right to counteract violence, except of self-defense from a concrete person, who attacks you. We can say that extremists are sinful. Because of them every Muslim is supposed to be a terrorist. And the fear repels people from Muslims and from their religion. Muslims have no possibility to execute Quran’s orders: they can’t show dignities of their religion, “inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong” (3; 104). But we, we have to help them, to show that we understand their problem and understand, that their religion is peaceful and fair” [8].   

Commandments

Commandments are the conformation of a foregoing fact. A commandment is a religious rule, which is obligatory to be conformed. There are a lot of commandments in the texts of the Bible and the Quran.

There are 10 main commandments in the Bible. God gave these commandments to Moses, and Moses wrote them down. We can find the equivalents of 10 commandments in the Quran, although there are in different suras, and that is why Moslems don’t consider them to be main commandments. They are a part of big complex of Quran’s commandments.

1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). “Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him” (17:23).

2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Exodus 20:4). “Destroy bad idols” (22:30).

3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). “Don’t make Allah the subject of your oaths” (2:224).

4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). “Don’t break Sabbath day” (4:154).

5. “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12). “And you must respect your parents” (17:23).

6. “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). “Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred” (6:151).

7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). “And don’t come close to adultery, because it is abomination and bad way” (17:32). 

8. “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). “That they will not steal” (60:12), describing believers.

9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). “Those who witness no falsehood” (25:72), describing believers.

10. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's (Exodus 20:17). Don’t wish those things, which Allah gave to one as the advantage over others (4:32).

The Paradise

The Paradise is a place of eternal and blissful life. As it has been told earlier, there will be the Last Judgment at the end of the world’s existence. After that event those people, who were keeping God’s commandments during their lives, will be allowed to enter the Paradise. There they will have everything they want. But the most important thing is the possibility to see the God, to see Him and His love to us, and to be always near Him.

Quran’s description of the Paradise

“When the Event (the Day of the Last Judgment) befalls <…> and you will be in three kinds (i.e. separate groups).So those on the Right Hand, - who will be those on the Right Hand? (As a respect for them, because they will enter Paradise).And those on the Left Hand,-who will be those on the Left Hand? (As a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell).And those foremost will be foremost (in Paradise).These will be those nearest to Allah” (56; 1-11).

“And those on the Right Hand, who will be those on the Right Hand? (They will be) among thornless lote-trees, among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits, piled one above another, in shade long-extended, by water flowing constantly, and fruit in plenty, whose season is not limited, and their supply will not be cut off, and on couches or thrones, raised high” (56; 27-34).

“Verily, the Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear and love Allah] shall be amidst shades and springs.And fruits, such as they desire."Eat and drink comfortably for that, which you used to do” (77; 41-43).

“The description of Paradise which the Muttaqun have been promised is that: there are rivers of water, the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk, of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those, who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure) therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord” (47:15).

“Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred”. It is one of Allah’s commandments, and if you don’t keep it, you won’t go to Paradise. It is one more proof, that Islam isn’t combined with terrorism. Unfortunately, not everyone can understand it. Terrorists break Quran’s commandments knowingly, and Allah punishes people, if they aren’t convicted of sins. 

Bible’s description of Paradise

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying:” Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (21; 1-4).

“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. <…> And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as the transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of It: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into It. And the gates of It shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that evil, neither whatsoever indulging in abomination, nor maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life” (21; 19-27).

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curses: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (22; 1-5).

The Paradise is a reward for your good deeds and keeping God’s commandments. And it is a place, which people’s souls have to deserve.

7 deadly sins

Any sin is a breaking of God’s commandments. There are 7 deadly sins in the Bible. They are the most serious and big. There are their equivalents in Quran. We can’t find the world “deadly” in the description of these sins in the Quran, but nevertheless, sins are sins. As far as we know, there is bad fate for sinners.

The list of 7 deadly sins:

1. The pride:  “And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour everything around him” (Jer. 50:31-32). 

“And when it is said to him: "Fear Allah", he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest”! (2:206).

2. The envy: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Prov. 14:30).

“And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything” (4:32).

3. The anger: “A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both” (Prov.27:3).

“Those, who spend in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun” (the good-doers) (3:134).

4. The laziness: “The slothful man says:’’ There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets”. As the door is turning upon his hinges, so the slothful is doing upon his bed.  The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; he brings it again to his mouth with difficulty. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason” (Prov. 26:13-16). 

“As for those who strive hard in us (Our Cause), we will surely guide them to Our Paths .Verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers)" (29:69).

5. The greed: “But this I say: He, who sows sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he, who sows bountifully, shall reap also bountifully” (2 Kor. 9:6). 

“By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (righteousness), unless you spend of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well” (3; 92).

6. The gluttony:  “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness’’… (Lk. 21:34).

“…and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun” (those who waste by extravagance) (7:31).

7. Adultery: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness” (Gal. 5:19).

“And don’t come close to adultery, because it is abomination and bad way” (17: 32).

God’s punishments for the people’s sins

The hell is sinner’s residence, a place of sinner’s eternal sufferings. Evil and cruel people, who commit a lot of sins, will enter the hell after the death. Eternal sufferings are their retribution for sins.

The hell’s description in the Bible and in the Quran

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev.21:8).

“They think that Al-Ahzab (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and if Al-Ahzab (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little” (33:20).

“Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave” (Ps. 31:17).

“These two opponents (believers and disbelievers) dispute with each other about their Lord; then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads” (22:19).

(About hell’s sufferings) “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. 8:12).

“Verily, the tree of Zaqqum, will be the food of the sinners, like boiling oil, it will boil in the bellies, like the boiling of scalding water” (44; 43-46).

The repentance

Nevertheless, sinning doesn’t mean, that your soul will go to the hell after the death. There is a chance to atone sins. If you regret that you have committed bad deeds and broke commandments, if you ask God to forgive you, He will forgive. He’s glad, when we understand our mistakes and try to improve them. Our repentance is important to Him.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Lk.  15:7).

“Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqat (alms, charities) and that Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful”? (9:104).  

“Now we know that what things the law says, it says to them, who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may become guilty before God” (Acts. 3:19).

“Truly, Allah loves those, who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those, who purify themselves” (2:222).

God’s mercy

God forgives people, because He loves them, because He is merciful and remissive. And if we pray God and beseech Him to show mercy, God will forgive us.

“For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them” (Deut. 4:31).

“My Punishment I afflict therewith whom I will and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those, who are the Muttaqun, and give Zakat; and those, who believe in Our Ayat” (7:156-157).

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin”… (Ex. 34:6-7).

“He is Allah, than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful” (59:22).

There are commandments about those character traits, which we must have to deserve eternal life, both in the Bible and in the Quran.

Love to the God

(The Pharisee asked Jesus Christ) “Master, which is the great commandment in the law”? Jesus said unto him:  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Mt. 22:36-37).

“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else)” (2:165).

The kindness

“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (3 Jn:1:11).

“Those who spend [in Allah's Cause – deeds of charity] in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers)” (3:134).

The mercy

“And spend in the Cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the Cause of Allah), and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun” (the good-doers) (2:195).

‘’Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Prov.21:13).

The forgiveness   

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Lk. 6:37).

“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish” (7:199).

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Mt. 6:14-15).

“The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He likes not the Zalimun” (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.) (42:40).     

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” (Eph.4:32).

 “And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masakin (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (24:22).  

The justice    

“For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off” (Ps. 37:27).

 “(They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden. So if they come to you (Muhammad), either judge between them, or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot hurt you in the least. And if you judge, judge with justice between them. Verily, Allah loves those who act justly” (5:42).   

The patience

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved” (Mt: 10-22).

“And many a Prophet (i.e. many from amongst the Prophets) fought (in Allah's Cause) and along with him (fought) large bands of religious learned men. But they never lost heart for that which did befall them in Allah's Way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. And Allah loves As-Sabirin” (the patient ones) (3:146).

Thus, God tells us to be kind, fair, merciful and remissive. The Bible and the Quran preach us existence, based on love and mutual understanding.

The peaceful coexistence

God tells people to live peacefully both in the Bible and in the Quran. These Holy books preach peaceful coexistence. The Islam doesn’t call on terrorism. This religion as well as the Christianity is based on the God’s commandments about love and peace.

Commandments about peaceful coexistence:

“Now the Lord of peace himself gives you peace always by all means” (2 Thess. 3:16).

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another” (49:13).

“God hath called us to peace” (1 Cor. 7:15).

“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful” (4:36).

If the Muslim wants to greet other Muslims, he says the phrase: “As-Salam alaykum”, which means: “Peace attends you!” The answer to this phrase is: “Wa-Alaykum as-Salam”, which also means: “Pease attends you!”

Conclusion:

So, having studied and compared the two sources (the Bible and the Quran), we come to the following conclusion:

1. The ideas of the Bible’s and the Quran’s texts are similar.

2. “Extremism isn’t combined with Islam” [7].

3. There are a lot of common features, such as:

a) The Creation of the world;

b) Adam and Eve;

c) The devil;

d) Jesus Christ’s Second Coming.

Having compared the texts and commandments of Sacred Writings of Christianity and Islam, we can see that the Bible and the Quran both bring peace and love. The Bible and the Quran tell people, that they must remember, they have been created by God and, moreover, alike Him. If God forgives, we must forgive too. If God loves, we must love too. No one of the Holy books proclaims either evil, hate or war. So, both Muslims and Christians, no matter, which nationality the person is, must and have the right being like God. The idea of all-forgiveness and all-love is the main character of the two Holy books.  

Don’t we have to build our partnership, basing on this fact? Christians and Muslims can understand each other, because they have the same views, ideas. They aspire not to destroy or conquer other nations, but create and build peace in the world. We should help each other to do it. Future of our countries and our world depends on friendship, mutual understanding between different religions and nations. The way of creating happy future for our life today and for the next generations is shown by the Holy books, the Bible and the Quran.

Bibliography:

1. Bible [Электронный ресурс] // Encyclopaedia Britannica [сайт]. 2014. URL: https://goo.gl/ndYyk2 (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

2. Marcos N.F. The Septuagint in Сontext: Introduction to the Greek Versions of the Bible / Translated by G.E Wilfred. Watson. USA, 2001.

3. Quran [Электронный ресурс] // Encyclopaedia Britannica [сайт]. 2014. URL: https://goo.gl/odcttQ (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

4. The Future of the Global Muslim Population [Электронный ресурс] // Pew Research Center [сайт]. 27 January 2011. URL: https://goo.gl/HxFQUS (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

5. The Global Religious Landscape [Электронный ресурс] // Pew Research Center [сайт]. 18 December 2012. https://goo.gl/N2Wwzz (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

6. Известные люди о Коране [Электронный ресурс] // Наш мир. Казахстанская республиканская газета [сайт]. 16.11.2008. URL: https://goo.gl/8oXuwj (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

7. Илющенко Р., Садиков М. Ислам никакого отношения к терроризму не имеет [Электронный ресурс]  //  Военно-промышленный курьер. Общероссийская еженедельная газета [сайт]. 05.10.11. URL: https://goo.gl/nWhwsv (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

8. Ложь экстремизма и правда шариата (размышления российского мусульманина) // Наука и образование против террора. Интернет-портал. 03.09.11. URL: https://goo.gl/KhbngA (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

9. Никифор (Бажанов), архим. Популярная библейская энциклопедия. М., 2012.

10. Чаадаев П.Я. Философические письма. Письмо № 7 [Электронный ресурс] // Infolio. Электронная библиотека [сайт]. 2014. URL: https://goo.gl/WXKXTm  (дата обращения: 14.10.2014).

Сведения об авторах:

Мелькова Елена Петровна – учитель английского языка средней общеобразовательной школы № 843 г. Москвы (Москва, Россия).

Чарнецкая Светлана Константиновна – ученица 11 класса средней общеобразовательной школы № 843 г. Москвы (Москва, Россия).

Data about the authors:

Melkova Elena Petrovna – English teacher of Moscow Secondary School 843 (Moscow, Russia);

Charnetskaja Svetlana Konstantinovna – student of the 11-th form of Moscow Secondary School 843 (Moscow, Russia).

E-mail: epmelkova@gmail.com.

E-mail: lana.char.97@bk.ru.