Friday, January 09, 2026
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 1
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 2
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 3
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 4
Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 5
In the piece Who is the Liar? John the Baptist or Yahya (يحيى), and Occam's Razor, we attempt to use problem solving tools to arrive at the truth, specifically Occam's Razor. This piece is intended to be complementary.
The Sermon on the Mount and the Farewell Sermon
The Sermon on the Mount is the most famous collection of Jesus' teachings, spanning three chapters in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5–7). It serves as a manifesto for the Kingdom of Heaven, outlining a revolutionary way of living that prioritizes internal character over external rule-following.
The sermon begins with the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12), a series of eight (sometimes counted as nine) blessings that redefine what it means to be "blessed" or "happy
The Beatitudes in Matthew present eight blessings that link virtues or circumstances with divine rewards. A list of the Beatitudes can be found in the Bible.
Beyond the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount covers various aspects of Christian life, including the call to be Salt of the Earth and light of the world, fulfilling the Old Testament law's spirit, instructions on prayer (including the Lord's Prayer), seeking God's kingdom, the Golden Rule, and the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The traditional location of the sermon is the Mount of Beatitudes in Israel.
The closest analogy in Islam to the Sermon on the Mount in terms of location, audience, and comprehensive ethical content is the Farewell Sermon (Khutbat al-Wada) delivered by Prophet Muhammad.
The Farewell Sermon ( Khutbah al-Wada) is not documented as a complete text within the Quran. Instead, it is recorded in Hadith literature (sayings and actions of the Prophet) and historical biographies (Sirah).
However, certain verses of the Quran are closely associated with the sermon because they were either revealed during the address or serve as the scriptural basis for the themes the Prophet Muhammad discussed.
Both serve as "manifestos" for their respective faiths, summarizing core spiritual and ethical principles for living a life aligned with God's will.
Just as the Beatitudes redefine who is "blessed" (the humble, the merciful),
While both emphasize the sacredness of human life and property as trusts from God that must be protected and respected, prominent Muslim women say abortion is a personal choice.
A thematic comparison between the Beatitudes and the teachings (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad reveals deep parallels in their vision of spiritual "success."
Both serve as "manifestos" for their respective faiths, summarizing core spiritual and ethical principles for living a life aligned with God's will
Thematic Differences
Both serve as "manifestos" for their respective faiths, summarizing core spiritual and ethical principles for living a life aligned with God's will.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Sermon on the Mount (Jesus) | Farewell Sermon (Muhammad) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Traditionally a mountainside (Mount of Beatitudes) in Israel. | Mount Arafat (Jabal al-Rahma or "Mount of Mercy") near Mecca. |
| Audience | A large crowd of disciples and followers from Galilee and beyond. | The largest gathering of Muhammad's life (estimated over 100,000 pilgrims). |
| Content | Ethics, internal transformation, the Beatitudes, and the Lord's Prayer. | Human rights, equality, social justice, women's rights, and the Five Pillars. |
| Theme | Fulfilling the Law through inner righteousness (mercy, purity, peace). | Establishing a universal brotherhood based on piety (taqwa) rather than race or status. |
the Farewell Sermon redefines "superiority," famously declaring that "an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab... except by piety and good action".
Both sermons emphasize mercy and justice over old cycles of retribution. While Jesus taught to "turn the other cheek," Muhammad formally abolished blood feuds from the pre-Islamic "Age of Ignorance" and prohibited usury (riba).
While both emphasize the sacredness of human life and property as trusts from God that must be protected and respected, prominent Muslim women say abortion is a personal choice.
A thematic comparison between the Beatitudes and the teachings (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad reveals deep parallels in their vision of spiritual "success."
Both serve as "manifestos" for their respective faiths, summarizing core spiritual and ethical principles for living a life aligned with God's will
Thematic Differences
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks with personal authority ("But I tell you..."), whereas in the Farewell Sermon, Muhammad speaks as a "will-less messenger" delivering the final word of God to his people.
While the Sermon on the Mount focuses heavily on internal transformation (e.g., lust as adultery), the Farewell Sermon provides a more concrete framework for a new society, specifically addressing the rights of women, economic justice (abolishing interest), and racial equality.
Prominent Muslim women, like Ilhan Omar, reject the label of "oppression" and believe assimilation is a Nazi Value, despite the fact that Muslim-majority nations often show lower average economic participation, particularly for women. Using Occam’s Razor—the principle that the simplest explanation is usually the best says Muslim women are oppressed as depicted in the Indian movie Haq. The argument highlights a fundamental tension between theological ideals and lived realities.
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