Differences in Byzantium and Islamic Religious Views

One of the biggest religious misunderstandings of two extremely powerful empires began with the Islamic and Byzantine Empire. These two empires were fundamentally different and had separate views on many key beliefs such as religion. The Islamic Empire was built on the Muslim beliefs, while the Byzantine Empire was formed on Christian beliefs.  These separate religious views caused an huge rift between the empires because they refused to focus on religious similarities, and only on the differences.

The islamic religion has two extremely important holy writings: Sharia Law and the Five Pillars of Islam, that encompass all aspects for a holy muslim lifestyle. These two scriptures serve as guidance for religious and moral beliefs, governing over all parts of a muslim’s life. Sharia law covers three main topics: beliefs, character, and actions, and components of it command, “ Believe in God, the angels, prophets, revelation, and other metaphysical and physical aspects of the faith.  Strive for traits like humility and kindness, and to avoid traits such as lying and pride. Include those relating to God, such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage, as well as actions relating to other humans, such as marriage, crime, and business” (Hafiz). The Five Pillars of Islam is another significant guidance source for Islamic followers, and it includes five overall commandments that should never be broken. The first pillar is Shahadah, the testimony of faith,which states, “There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” (What are the Five Pillars of Islam). The second pillar is Salat,  which requires Muslims to pray five times a day to create a stronger connection with Allah. The third pillar is Zakat, meaning muslims donate “specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people” (What are the Five Pillars of Islam). The fourth pillar is Sawm which is the fasting during the month of Ramadan. The final fifth pillar is the Hajj, and this a pilgrimage to Mecca all able Muslims should take once in their lifetime (The Five Pillars of Islam).

Christianity has an extremely important set of rules: The Ten Commandments, and these are outlined and taught throughout the Christians’ holy scripture: The Bible. The Ten Commandments is a conditional, moral covenant given to the prophet Moses by God. Moses was given these at Mount Sinai ca. 1300 BCE and shared them with the hebrews of Israel ("Ten Commandments”).  The 10 commandments say, “ I am the Lord, your God, thou shall bring no false idols before me, do not take the name of the Lord in vain, remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, honor thy father and thy mother, thou shall not kill/murder,, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not steal, thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, and thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife” (The Ten Commandments List). All of these commandments are highlighted and demonstrated throughout the bible, another significant christian scripture.

Christianity and Islam, while seemingly inherently different, have many religious similarities. The first similarity is the belief in only one god. The first commandment states, “[...] You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ten Commandments), and the first pillar states, “There is no true but Allah[…]”(What are the Five Pillars of Islam). These two demands show that monotheism is a very significant component of both faiths. The next similarity is that charity is a fundamental part of both religions. The bible says “but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks,” (Deuteronomy 15:8), and  one of the 5 pillars of Islam is Zakat which means charity (Saulat). The last similarity is that both believe wives should submit to their husbands. The bible shows this by stating, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:22), and Sharia law allows this also by saying, “A man can beat his wife for insubordination” (Sharia Law). However, while the religions are similar in some areas, they are very different in others. One of the biggest differences is how religions treat followers that leave the faith. In christianity the bible discourages it, but according to sharia law leaving islam is punishable by death (Awad).

The Byzantine Empire and Islamic Empire had two seemingly different religious beliefs, but had they chosen to dig deeper they would have discovered many similarities. Some of the main similarities in holy scriptures include Islam’s Sharia Law to Christianity’s bible and The Five Pillars of Islam to the Ten Commandments. The similarities of rules within these scriptures include views on women, monotheism, and charity. However, these religions still contain differences, such as death being an acceptable punishment in the Islamic empire, while the Byzantine empire just discouraged it. Christianity from the Byzantine Empire and Islam from the Islamic Empire share many differences and similarities, creating two unique, but similar religions.

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