Professor Karim AbuZaid, imam of Abu Baker mosque in Denver delivers a lecture title Salva- tion Between Islam and Christianity at the University of Wyoming Wednesday.
A lecturer came to Laramie to “shed light” on the topic of salvation for both Christians and Muslims, as the Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted a presentation about the topic last night in the Union Ballroom.
Imam of the Abu Baker mosque in Denver Professor Karim AbuZaid, presented “Salvation between Islam and Christianity.” AbuZaid chose the topic with help from MSA President Mustaffa Raja, said AbuZaid.
“In Christianity you must believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins to be forgiven,” said AbuZaid. “In Muslim, God is the one and only; you ascribe unity to Him.”
AbuZaid said that when Muslims worship, pray and do good they do it for God and for no one else or any other attachments. That is the formula to receive salvation in Islam.
Throughout the lecture AbuZaid clarified where Islam and Christianity are similar and where they vary.
“We believe that we are a very special piece, we are [God’s] masterpiece,” said AbuZaid.
Christians claim to be “children of God,” however this is not true, said AbuZaid. God is not human so Christians cannot be his children. Christians are trying to say that humans are the masterpiece of God in a different way that does not work, he said.
AbuZaid said that Christians only believe that Jesus came to die on the cross and that is where their beliefs stop. In Islam, Muslims believe that Muhammed came to restore the Christian beliefs to what is correct. Muhammed wanted to remind people that there is only one God and no others, said AbuZaid. Only God is worshiped and prayed to; when Muslims pray, they do not pray to the Son or the Holy Spirit, he said.
Throughout the lecture AbuZaid spoke about salvation and the “next life” for Muslims. He said that tranquility and inner-peace will be the constant feeling of those in Heaven.
“You’re going to be high all the time,” said AbuZaid. “And whatever you want is out there.”
“You attribute prescribed unity to God. When you pray, you pray to God alone,” he said was part of the formula to get to Heaven for Muslims. “My life, my death, belong to God, the one and only.”
“I think he chose the topic because he wants to show the similarities between the religions,” said Raja.
Raja said the MSA tries to bring to light the aspects about Islam and they show the campus the religion.
MSA member Ghada Sayadi said the MSA decided to bring AbuZaid because of his knowledge on the matter.
“We wanted to let the UW community know that there is no conflict between Islam and Christianity contrary to popular beliefs,” said Syadi.
A reception dinner was hosted at Laramie’s Muslim Center featuring a Middle East feast. All audience members were invited.
Raja announced that Islam Awareness Week will be the second week of April this year where the MSA will host a heated panel discussion and a large dinner among other activities.
