In regards to the conduct expected of their followers, both Christianity and Islam expect their followers to give to the poor. In the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, Jesus instructs his follows to give to beggars, to give charity, and to lend to those who ask to borrow. In the Koran, there is great emphasis placed on giving alms to the poor, feeding the poor, and giving to those who ask for help. Both religions stress to love your neighbor. Both Christianity and Islam tell follows not to do good deeds and give to the poor only to be seen or recognized for the good that they do. One difference in the conduct expected of a Christian and a Muslim is that Christians stress the ethic of nonviolence, of not fighting back, and of loving your enemy. Christians are told not to kill, not to act out of anger, and to reconcile differences. Muslims are told to do battle against the infidel, to fight in the name of Allah. They believe that Allah chooses to judge and try some people through others.

In both Christianity and Islam, the people particularly special to God are the meek, the poor, the destitute, and people who are mourning. The Gospel According to Saint Matthew lists the poor, mourners, the meek, those who want to be righteous, the merciful, the pure hearted, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for their belief in God as close to God’s heart. The meek and the persecuted the Gospel says will inherit the earth and the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Koran, the groups close to God’s heart are the poor, beggars, orphans, widows, and the destitute. Entering into the Kingdom of Allah are the meek and the humble, which they refer to as the lowly. In both traditions, it is the duty of the faithful to take care of those close to God’s heart.