Where did Islam and Buddhism come into direct contact with each other?
Answers
Buddhism and Islam are very different.
Differences
Buddhism doesn't have a central god concept or a monotheistic deity as in Islam where there is one god and one god only. The one god creator belief doesnt jive with buddhism like it does with monotheistic faiths such as islam, christianity, and Judaism. The God concept simply isn't important in Buddhism; it is the essence of the other 3 faiths.
Islam has roots in Christianity just like Christianity stems from Judaism. Christianity affirming beliefs in Moses (although not all beliefs) and Islam doing so for Christianity as well (but not all beliefs that is why it is its own religion). They are each in a way a continuation of the other but with different practices and some different beliefs. I'd say all 3 are cut from the same stone but are shaped differently in a way yet linked in a way since they come from the same essence. Odd analogy I know.
There is no reincarnation at all in Islam, but there is in buddhism. There really is no central concept of dharma and karma is islam. Also, in buddhism there are god-like beings which are NOT AT ALL like God; they are just beings that did good things in previous lives and were born in an upper level or realm; they live much longer than humans and age much slower. These beings also die and can come back as humans or be reborn in hell until they burn off their bad karma only to be reborn again in another realm: human, animal, preta (hungry ghost), demigod, god realm/divine being, or being born in hell (but not 2x).
Buddha spoke of the 4 noble truths that should be acknowledge if one would like to rid themselves of being reborn or suffering. Islam has the quran as the so called word of god and the hadiths (which vary) supposed sayings of the prophet.
Attainting Nirvana or Enlightenment/ Extinguishment is the aim in Buddhism. In Islam, it is to worship the "one true god" so the person can go to heaven or hell. God will decide on the day of judgement.
To my knowledge Buddhists do not pray to Buddha; their aim is to simply strive to be like him and attain enlightenment.
Similarities
There is a hell in Buddhist like in islam, but hell is not eternal. In islam, hell is eternal for some people, but those are really, really bad people. No one knows who goes to the deepest level of hell forever. No one knows who will go there except god. There are also several levels of Paradise in Islam.
Both have myth woven into the religion with Buddha's mom not actually giving birth to him but being born out of a supernatural C-section from her rib side. The prophet mohammed was said to have flown to heaven from a mythical creature known as a Buraq which was a being with a humanoid face but animal body and wings.
In both religions, there were important people that came to foretell of their imminent greatness when the Buddha and Prophet Mohammed were born; they were going to be exemplar beings for their community and the world.
Buddhism has many different sects so things will vary, which can also be said of Islam.
Explanation:
One is the actual geographical situations bringing Buddhism and Islam most into contact with each other, namely Sri Lanka, Bangladesh/Burma, S. Thailand, and Malaysia.