An overview of Islam: Allah's plan for you +

In my experience, Muslims commonly view life as a test from Allah. Those who pass the test go to paradise, those who fail go to hellfire.  Yet the Quran describes Allah as "merciful" over and over.  I never understood this point, and I don't think most Muslims can explain it either.  If you are convinced by the historical resurrection of Jesus, and you don't hear a convincing response from the Quran, then die and land in Allah's hellfire, you might not think that was so merciful.

In the Bible, the first three chapters of Genesis set the stage for the rest of the book, which describes a rescue mission by God after mankind joined Satan's rebellion.

In contrast to the Quran, the basic story of the Bible is this:

• Creation
• Fall of Mankind
• Redemption
• Restoration

I find it remarkable that the creation, fall and redemption of man are described right at the start of the Bible, before Genesis 3:15. 

If God is willing to send Jesus to die on the cross for us, then he is doing all he can to save us.  Compared to Christianity, in what way does Allah inconvenience himself to save us?

For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

--John 3:17


[The Lord] is not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
--2 Peter 3:9

In Christianity, God is on our side, to save those who would be saved from their sin.