Salvation in Christianity and Islam: A comparison

The question of various salvations
Mainly, religion offers a salvation to adherent as privilege product to help people from fate, anxiety, and in which people will be saved from catastrophic situation. Kind of religious salvation represents the teachings of that religion, such as in belief, doctrine, method, etc. Just as salvation is key concept to understand differences, it also indicates that there is great variety of opinion about what constitutes salvation and the means to achieve it. The discourse of salvation also leads to the core of discussion, such as in Biblical and Qur’anic faith between Christianity and Islam.
The salvation refers to idea of dire situation, the situation like death or last judgment in term of Christianity and Islam. In Abrahamic religion views, God saves or delivers from some dire situation faced by humankind to the health or paradise; but this concept is different with Buddhism because of the Buddhism view looks salvation as the only redeem by cutting incarnation circle.
It is fact that every religion develops different view in constructing the kind and method of salvation. In one hand, sometimes in one religion also have different understanding of what specific kind of salvation which refers to historical, textual, and cultural context of them.
In this way, it will be understood the dynamic of discourse in Christianity and Islam as development stage of biblical and Qur’anic interpretation. Some question need to be appeared: what is salvation, what is the basic tenet of salvation, who is being saved, and what kind of salvation. In my mind, those questions are important relating to the emergence such claim of salvation as shown by some hardliner people to get god salvation by violence matter. This writing attempt to present dynamic of understanding and by compare the ideas of salvation discourses both in Christianity and Islam without prejudice. I think this is, perhaps, not represent all the stream or dominion in Christianity, but path of them which is common.

The term of salvation
Christianity usually uses the world of redemption to call salvation. The meaning is saved by Jesus Christ crucifixation. Furthermore, the term which is close to salvation in Islam is word najat, which come from Arabic language and the meaning is escape or deliverance from the fires hell to the pleasure or paradise. This word, according to Coward (2003) is not common term in the scripture and just mentioned only at 40:41, “I call you to salvation, and you call me to the fires.” In this case word najat refer to salvation in the sense of future punishment. Otherwise, when referring to God’s saving, the Biblical texts show that God can save those who trust in Him, and that He, on the other hand, punishes the sinners with death. In the prophecies of the Old Testament, the root najat refers to the “day of the Lord” or “the day of judgment. Since sin leads to death, salvation from death and salvation from sin can be seen together.
Eberhar Troguer asserts that the use of najat in same extent close in Christian and Islam. In no case is the root of najat used to express salvation from eternal death by Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore it seems to be necessary to include other terms to express salvation by Christ. According to Troguer, the Arabic term that also usually used by Arabic Christians normally use forms of the root xalasa when speaking of Christ as the Savior (muxallis, an intensive form). Xalasa is used to express salvation in earthly situations of danger, but it is especially used for Christ as the Savior, for example: Matt. 1:21 (“he will save his people from their sins”); Matt. 18:11 (“the Son of Man came to save what was lost”): John 4:42 (“this man really is the Savior of the world”). But it seems strange to Muslim listener, because in the qur’anic sense the term xalasa is "to be pure, to be sincere." That word to indicate that a person is a sincere and true believer in God or a prophet (2:139). The Qur’an does not use the intensive form xallasa to make pure, to save as such Christian does; because, the term of savior in Muslim sense is muxallis, the God who sincere to saved by his freedom.
The term of salvation as discussed above, primarily by Coward and Troguer is to share the salvation between the biblical and the Qur’anic view. For me the main consequence in the practical approach to Muslims is to explain the Biblical “history of salvation” by narrating the Biblical stories. It proves difficult to explain the way of salvation in dogmatic terms. I prefer to testify and to tell how ‘Allah’ saves and redeems. The most difficult subject in the Christian-Muslim encounter is to speak about the salvation and intercession through Jesus Christ, because this means explaining the cross and why it was necessary according to the will of God.

The basic tenet of salvation
The basic tenet of salvation in Christianity and Islam refer to the theological doctrine that is constituted on the Holy Scriptures. Harold Howard, in the “Sin and salvation in the world religion” (2003) clearly explains the root of different tenet of Christianity and Islam which is unfold in too many arenas. Such as in the understanding of God word, status of human being, sin, etc. In short, the basic tenet of both Christianity and Islam can be summarized as follow:
1. In Christianity, man is deserving of damnation by God for the original sin, which he inherits by descent from Adam, and for his own actual sin. But, because sin is regarded as also putting man in the power of the devil, Christ's work of salvation has been interpreted along two different lines. Thus, his crucifixion may be evaluated as a vicarious sacrifice offered to God as propitiation or atonement for human sin. Alternatively, it may be seen as the price paid to redeem man from the devil. These two ways of interpreting the death of Christ have provided the major themes of soteriological theory and speculation in Christian theology. Despite this fluidity of interpretation, belief in the saving power of Christ is fundamental to Christianity and finds expression in every aspect of its faith and practice.
2. In the other hand, in Islam, Muhammad regarded himself as “a warner clear” and as the last and greatest of a line of prophets whom Allah had sent to warn his people of impending doom. Although the word naja (Arabic: “salvation”) is used only once in the Qur’an, the basic aim of Islam is salvation in the sense of escaping future punishment, which will be pronounced on sinners at the Last Judgment. Muhammad did teach that Allah had predestined some men to heaven and others to hell; but the whole logic of his message is that submission to Allah is the means to salvation, for Allah is merciful. Indeed, faithful submission is the quintessence of Islam, the word Islam itself meaning submission. Although in his own estimation Muhammad was the prophet of Allah, in later Muslim devotion he came to be venerated as the mediator between God and man, whose intercession was decisive.

The actor of Saviour
As I mention before that the term of God is central both in Islam and Christianity in accordance with process of salvation. The Bible and the Qur’an, however, have different understanding of God whether God in Christianity and Islam are the same being. While Qur’an accepts the concept of God as savior, it refers to different being, because in Qur’anic term God is the one, who is not child of god as such in Christian view. Thus, perhaps the root of differences between the two faiths is in the understanding of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Robert Tobias states that salvation in Old Testament states God as Savior and Redeemer. Scripture testifies that immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve, God started to take care of them in order to save their life on earth. That means that Abraham Chosen by God as starting point of salvation which lead to sacrificial death of Jesus in the history of humankind. Howard argues that the incarnation and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ formed the climax of God’s plan for the salvation of humankind. In short, salvation is human needs, thus God by his love gifts Jesus to deplete human sin.
The concept of God as redeemer is contrast to the Qur’anic concept, in which God’s absolute free will. While in Christianity God understood exactly should redeem people, in Islam God has free will to determine which one people will be saved. Salvation in Islam is not to remove sin, but is to escape from the fires of hell by following God guidance (huda). Huda is to bring human from darkness in to light, out of polytheism and into worship to one God. The only people who get hudan will find success, or prosperity (falah) in this world and the next. Falah, is the salvation, depend on human effort as well as God’s mercy in following the Qur’anic teaching.
At vice versa, the necessity of salvation according to the Biblical testimony is connected with the understanding of God’s absolute holiness and the depth of the human fall. In Biblical understanding sin is not just a human weakness and a tendency to worship other gods besides God (Qur’an 4:116). According to the Biblical faith, sin is a person’s rebellion against a holy God, and this rebellion can only be overcome by atonement. So the Bible has a different view of a person’s relationship to God than does the Qur’an.
The important point of Jesus and Muhammad is Jesus called sinner to repent by showing his love trough his fellowship with sinner and by proclaiming forgiveness of sins. Jesus died by his own will because of his love towards sinners. He wanted to be faithful to his message and to his deeds, even at the price of his death. Whereas, Muhammad called sinner to repent by preaching and shown the ways to get salvation in the Qur’an. Thus, sometimes Jesus and Qur’an is compared as God revelation, although Jesus and Qur’an are very different kind. Jesus is Human, and Christian belief as son of God, otherwise Qur’an is just God revelation which believed by Muslim as complete guidance.

Who is being saved?
There is tendency of claim shown by religion to adherent that by follow such religion will be saved from last judgment or dire situation. The exclusive claim of salvation primarily is represented by orthodox theologian. In Christianity well know with the concept “extra nulla salus”, means there is no salvation beside church. Other religion beside interpreter could be positioned as heresy.x In Islam also arise claim that the only by following Islamic way, someone will be saved.
The concept of people who will be saved in Christianity seems simpler rather than Islam. That is the people who allow and admit Jesus as Christ and the way to God (Jhon 14:6). John 3:15: "...everyone who believes in him [Jesus] may have eternal life." John 3:18: "...whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." Acts 4:12: Romans 10:9: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
In contrast, Islam contends that salvation is God misery. There is no guarantee for Muslim to be saved unless they consistent with their belief to God and follow to the God’s law. The final decision is in the hand of God. God will measure the human conduct, if he/she have many more kindness beside worst he/she will be saved in the last judgment and getting the paradise. The people who will be saved in common is misery, except Muhammad prophet and some their assistance.
In Christianity god give assurance of forgiveness for people who join to Christianity as well. Christian obligation is just follow the way of love as such Christ shown. At vice versa, Salvation, according to Muslim belief, is not simply a balancing act between good and bad. Beyond the confines of exacting justice, salvation begs the mercy of God. While one’s good deeds can certainly hasten one’s journey to paradise, there can be no redemption without God’s mercy.
The Muslim believer hopes to die as a true Muslim and that God in his mercy will save him from hell, supported by the intercession of Muhammad. To speak about assurance of salvation would mean to anticipate God’s decision and to interfere with his will. Therefore a Muslim can never say with full assurance that he will be saved. While the Qur’an challenges people to make sure of their future salvation by repentance and obeying God, the Bible testifies that God’s salvation is completed and can be accepted by faith. This is the main difference between Christian and Muslim faith.

The ways of salvation
Primary the ways of salvation in Christianity is by following Jesus Christ trough the imitation of body flesh of Jesus. This ways is very exclusive, in John 14:6: "Jesus answered: 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'" In other verses, Hebrews 9:28: "...he [Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
In the other hand, in Islam refer to the Qur’anic text also seem exclusive. There is not many ways to get god’s salvation except goes to God party. In Qs. 58:22, God says “..therein they will abide; Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. They are allah's party. Hearken ! it is Allah's party who are the successful.” Also in Qs. 5:59, “And those who take Allah and HIS Messenger and the believers for friends should rest assured that it is the party of Allah that must triumph.” And than Qs. 30:32 “So you all turn to HIM, in repentance, and seek His protection and observe Prayer, and be not of those who associate partners with Allah.” Muslim also should aspire to please God by performing good deeds and observe five pillar of Islamic faith, that are sahadat, shalat, fasting. Zakat, and Hajj, as a key to get God salvation.
However, both Christian and Muslim scholar interpreted their ways of salvation. In reality many stream which is different each other in interpreting Jesus figure in Christianity. Orthodox Christian thinker saw salvation is involving Christ transformation of the cosmos itself. For those who believed and were baptized in Christ the suffering, ignorance, and evil of the human condition was being transformed by Christ’s spirit, and would be fully overcome as the second coming. In the other hand, Origen, a leader of Father Church, believes that salvation is the restoration of all soul to their original blessedness, for none, not even Satan. In addition, for Aquinas, in Summa Theologia, being saved requires that one asserts inwardly and outwardly to the article of faith of the catholic church of love for god and out of trust Him. Just as the previous scholar, martin Luther and John Calvin as reformer also have different view of salvation, for example Calvinist believe that the salvation is by work, that Christian should worked hard in order to get God salvation.
Because of the root idea of salvation in Islam is escape from hells torment to reward Heaven’s delight. The idea of salvation will be as the will of Allah, which means that salvation is misery of god activity; salvation by reward of faith, people who believe to god will be saved and forgive (Qs. 57:23), this idea of becoming a Muslim by faith merges with the idea becoming a member of the sacred community of Islam, the umma; salvation trough faith and work combined, both of them required because faith and action taken together perfect the life and bring about salvation; and salvation trough mystical path, for Sufis, salvation is not paradise, but its union to God which can be realized in this life.

Last remarks: Salvation and contemporary issues
The concept of salvation is very central of religions and their adherents. Someone will be ready to do and conduct anything, even though it’s hard and dangerous, if religion legitimates it by the final salvation. The concept of duality of life contributes to harden the people belief to God, or last judgment. Temporality in life arise new awareness that human should seek the eternal salvation, whatever the ways.
Seeing and reflex the salvation concept both in Christianity and Islam seem still in heaven and far from human life in the world. hence, we should consider to be brought down to the health and well-being the earth, plant, water, animal, etc. salvation is also should protect human from the contemporary human being, such as catastrophic from nature and man-made disaster. The implementation of salvation is not must be categorized to the religions, but have to be a responsibility of all human being to protect the earth and human life.
Religious doctrine of salvation should be capital for doing the biggest salvation, not only for individual salvation, but also for all being. It is no matter whatever religion they are, they will be free from fear if does the right thing. God says in Qs. 5:69, “Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”


Bibliography:

Books and Scriptures
1. Al-Quran and translation. Magfiroh Pustaka, Jakarta, 2006
2. Holy Bible; easy to read version. World Bible translation Center. Texas, US. 1999
3. The devitional study bible. The zondervan coorporation. 1987
4. Encyclopedia Britannica. Electronic Version, 2009
5. Coward, Harold. Sin and Salvation in the world religions. Onewold publications, Oxford, UK, 2003
6. Tobias, Robert. Salvation in Christ. Augsburg and Mineapolis, US. 1992
7. Boff, Clodovis et all. Salvation and liberation. Orbis Book, Maryknoll, NY, 1984
8. Philips, Timothy, et all. For views on salvation in a pluralistic world. Zordenpan, Grand rapids, Michigan, 1995
9. Feinberg, John S., Salvation in the Old Testament. Tradition and Testament. Essays in Honor of Charles Lee. Chicago: Moody Press, 1981.