Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

 

How should Christians answer this question? Timothy C. Tennent says “the way a question is posed reveals far more than we might suppose.”[1] I would add that the way we answer a question also reveals far more than we might suppose. I believe Christ is unambiguously calling His church to engage the nations with the Gospel, but far too often we have a “knee jerk” response to honest questions. Assumptions are easy. After all, the question appears to demand a “Yes” or ‘No” answer. However, Jesus demonstrated over and over again the need to get behind the question, and understand the questioner. This approach is fundamental to conversation.

Typically, Jesus responded to a question with a question. His methodology encouraged and fostered meaningful conversation. Questions often come in the form of “smokescreens” that do not accurately represent what a person is really struggling with. To give an immediate answer based on assumptions is usually not productive. I suggest we begin by asking ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Certainly He would ask a few probing questions of His own. This was beneficial in a number of different ways. First of all, questions bring clarity to the conversation. Otherwise, we may be answering a question that was never asked. Secondly, questions, if asked respectfully, let the other person know that we’re listening, and we care about them. Scripture tells us we should be “quick to hear” and “slow to speak” (James 1:19). Lastly, questions have a way of forcing the other person to think for themselves and discover truth on their own. In this way, they are less likely to be offended. This point alone should encourage us to carefully consider how we respond.

Now we can return to our question, “Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?” I would suggest Christians refrain from asking this particular question simply because it’s ambiguous. I realize it is the title I have chosen here, but I’m trying to make a point. In today’s cultural climate, we need to be more precise in what we say. As the world grows increasingly smaller and interconnected, our words can have a devastating impact on the Gospel. There are much better questions to ask. I would like to propose at least three. These can be used as clarifying questions or as our initial questions seeking understanding.

1.      Can Christians Use the Term “Allah” When Referring to the God of the Bible? Historically, the answer is yes! By the time Muhammad comes onto the scene in the seventh century, “Allah was widely used by monotheistic Arabs (hanif’s), Jews, and Christians as the word for God.”[2] In fact, archeologists have discovered several inscriptions in Arabia dating as far back as the fifth century B.C.[3] The real question is, what did they mean when they used the term? Words are just sounds and symbols that represent meaning. One of the oldest biblical manuscript written in Arabic is known as Codex 151, and it contains a large portion of the New Testament. It’s interesting how all but three books begin with the words, “In the name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.”[4] Yet the other three books in this manuscript begin with the words. “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”[5] It seems quite obvious that they used the word Allah in reference to the Trinitarian God of the Bible, just as many Arabic speaking people continue to do today. It is no more wrong to use the term “Allah” in place of the Hebrew Elohim or the Greek Theos, than it is to use the English word “God.” However, I do believe it would be a mistake to use the term in place of the tetragrammaton, YHWH. This is the personal and covenantal name of God for “all generations” (Ex. 3:15).

 

2.      Can the Terms “God” and “Allah” Have the Same Referent? I realize that my answer here may make some Christians uncomfortable, but the answer once again must be affirmative. Stay with me. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all monotheistic religions. That is, they all believe in one God and the language they use in reference to that God, regardless of what it is, must be pointing to the same Divine Being. Christians would say God is the Creator (Gen. 1:1), and Muslims would say Allah is the Creator (Surah 35:1). Many of the words Christians use to describe God are also used by Muslims. Please understand, all I’m saying here is that Christians and Muslims believe they are worshipping the one true God. The terms “God” and “Allah” refer to one and the same subject. However, Christians and Muslims must depart ways when it comes to the predicates used to describe the Creator, and this poses a problem for Islam. The Qur’an declares an ontological (Surah 29:46) and revelational continuity (Surah 5:47) between the two religions, and this is where we must part ways.

 

3.      Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? This is a much better question that quickly gets at the heart of the matter. Here the answer must be a resounding No. The biblical predicates concerning the nature of Jesus Christ are incompatible with Islam. There really is no such thing as Christianity or the Gospel message apart from the Trinity and the deity of Christ. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are coeternal and coequal persons of the Trinity. Islam rejects this teaching and embraces a strictly Unitarian Allah (Surah 112). The Islamic doctrine of Tawheed is the most basic teaching of the religion, and places strict boundaries on the absolute oneness of Allah. Most importantly, the God of the Qur’an claims that Jesus did not die by crucifixion (Surah 4:157). The substitutionary atonement of the Son of God on the cross is an essential element of the Christian message. So, to ask a Muslim if the Father of Jesus is the God of Muhammad comes across loud and clear. No!

 

With questions like these, we can quickly guide the conversations towards more important matters. To the ears of a Muslim, there is no ambiguity in the words, “God the Father.” The contrast with the God of Muhammad is crystal clear. In this way, we can steer the conversation toward the Gospel, “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). As the different cultural groups of the world continue to interact more and more, it is crucial for us as Christians to choose our words and our battle carefully. Arguing about a word that has multiple meanings is usually not productive and it does not bring glory to our Savior. We must discipline ourselves to ask and answer the right questions.

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[1] Tennent, T.C. (2007). Theology in the Context of World Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 27

[2] Ibid. 30

[3] Thomas, Allah in Translations of the Bible. 302

[4] Harvey Staal, ed., Mt. Sinai Arabic Codex 151 (Lovanii in Aedibus E. Peeters: Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium, 1983), Vols. 1-4

[5] ibid