Some resemblances between Islam and Mormonism (Part Five)

I continue with the manuscript of a book that I’m preparing as an introduction to Islam for a Latter-day Saint audience:

There are some parallels that are still closer. “Those that cry lies to Our signs,” declares the Qur’an, “and wax proud against them—the gates of heaven shall not be opened to them, nor shall they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle.”[1] Of the unrighteous, who refuse to listen to the proph­ets, the Qur’an says, “They have hearts, but understand not with them; they have eyes, but perceive not with them; they have ears, but they hear not with them.”[2] Only once does the Qur’an actu­ally quote the Bible: “We wrote in the Psalms after the Torah had been given: `The righteous among My servants shall inherit the earth.”‘[3]

Sometimes the similarities are more conceptual. Thus, for example, the Qur’an believes that the earth was created in six days.[4] It is also known that a day with the Lord is equivalent to a thousand years of our time.[5] According to both the Qur’an and Alma the Younger, the heavenly bodies follow assigned courses as a sign for men and women upon the earth.[6] The Qur’an condemns those who pray, who make a show of piety, but do not give alms to the poor.[7] So does the Book of Mormon:

If ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing.[8]

[1] 7:40. Here, the implication is that it is truly impossible for such people to enter par­adise. At Matthew 19:23-26, Jesus presents a seemingly impossible condition but, nonetheless, tells his disciples: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” It could be argued that this difference indicates a real difference between Islam, a religion which tends to emphasize justice, and Christianity, which tends to emphasize God’s grace. This issue should not be pressed too far, however, since there is grace in Islam, and, clearly, justice in Christianity.

[2] 7:179. Compare Jeremiah 5:21; Matthew 13:13-14; Mark 8:17-18; Romans 11:8.

[3] 21:21:105 (Arberry); compare Psalms 25:13; 37:11; 37:29; Matthew 5:3.

[4] 10:3; 32:4; 57:4.

[5] 22:47; 32:5.

[6] 55:5; Alma 30:44. Compare Doctrine and Covenants 88:42-47.

[7] 107:4-7.

[8] Alma 34:28.

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I’ll be participating on a panel tomorrow (Wednesday) morning about the Arab-Israeli conflict, in connection with a documentary film being shown at the annual Sundance Film Festival.  It will be at the Little America Hotel, in Ballroom C.  Should be fun.