Compare Islam and Zoroastrianism
Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity. As a monotheistic faith that originated in the Middle East, Islam holds many beliefs and practices in common with Judaism and Christianity.
One monotheistic religion that predated all these religions is Zoroastrianism. Founder by Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra), Zoroastrianism arose in Persia and was the state religion of Persia until the 7th century CE when it was replaced by Islam.
As a brief guide of the similarities and differences between Islam and Zoroastrianism, the following chart compares the statistics, origins, history and religious beliefs of these two faiths. Please note that, as with all charts of this kind, information is generalized and oversimplified and should not be used as the only basis of information.
On a mobile device? You can scroll right to see more columns, but you'll probably have to use a larger device to have a decent view of the chart. Sorry about that.
| Islam | Zoroastrianism | |
|---|---|---|
| Adherents Called | Muslims | Zoroastrians, Parsis, Parsees |
| Islam Adherents | 1.6 billion | 200,000 |
| Main Locations | Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia | India, Iran |
| Texts | Qur'an (sacred text); Hadith (tradition) see Islamic sacred texts | Zend Avesta see Zoroastrian texts |
| Date Founded | 622 CE | c. 6th century BCE |
| Place Founded | Arabian Peninsula | Ancient Persia |
| Founders & Early Leaders | Muhammad | Zoroaster |
| God | One God (Allah in Arabic); the same God revealed (imperfectly) in the Jewish and Christian Bibles | One God, Ahura Mazda, but a dualistic worldview in which an evil spirit, Angra Mainyu, is almost as powerful. |
| Spiritual Beings | angels, demons, jinn | angels and demons |
| Revered Humans | prophets; imams (especially in Shia Islam) | |
| Salvation | correct belief, good deeds, Five Pillars see Salvation in Islam | good works |
| Predestination | affirmed | denied; God allows free choice |
| Afterlife | eternal Paradise or eternal Hell see Islamic Beliefs About the Afterlife | Judgment followed by heaven or hell. Hell is temporary until final purgation and return to Ahura Mazda. |
For sources, please see linked articles.
Article Info
| Title | Compare Islam and Zoroastrianism |
|---|---|
| Published | March 17, 2004 |
| Last Updated | April 10, 2017 |
| URL | www.religionfacts.com/ |
| Short URL | rlft.co/1885 |
| MLA Citation | “Compare Islam and Zoroastrianism.” ReligionFacts.com. 10 Apr. 2017. Web. Accessed 31 Mar. 2020. <www.religionfacts.com/ |