Crusader War College

Louis Palme's article at "The Critic", called "After God, What?", neatly lays out, from the authoritative texts of Christianity and Islam, the real differences between the two religions.

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Mr. Palme points out that, though the first and most important commandment in Christianity is to love God, the first and most important in Islam is to believe in Allah and his prophet. Jesus did not explicitly put himself on the same level as God, but Mohammed did. A little hubristic, don't you think?

Mr. Palme goes on to explain that while the second commandment of Christianity is to love your neighbor as yourself, the second commandment of Islam (as cited at the article from a reliable hadith) is Religious Jihad which, at the time it was spoken, was always taken as physical fighting against those who oppose Allah and his Prophet. The next commandment of Christianity is to keep the essentials of the 10 Commandments, while the next of Islam is participation in the Haj.

The definition of Neighbor is pretty different too. Mr. Palme rightly cites the parable of the Good Samaritan given by jesus in response to this very question as the autoritative Christian definition of "Neighbor". On the other hand, the following quotations from the Quran are definitive:

Muhammad is God’s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. (Surah 48:29)

Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them. (Surah 9:123)

Believers do not make friends with any but your own people. (3:118) (See also 3:28, 4:139, and 5:51)

Mohammed's own uncle, who did not accept Islam, but who cared for Mohammed as a child, is cursed in Sura 111.

I recommend that you read Mr. Palme's treatment of the Golden Rule amongst the various world religions for yourself, with the reminder that it was C. S. Lewis who pointed out that only Christianity's version is stated positively.