Islam, God's Oneness and Jesus

[Seeker]

The email I received listing common Muslim objections to Christianity began this way:

(This brochure has been prepared to briefly describe the Islamic belief in Allah and the status of Jesus (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (PBUH)) as well as to invite Christians to the path of righteousness and redemption.)

THE ALMIGHTY AND THE MAJESTIC ALLAH (MAY HE BE GLORIFIED AND EXALTED), STATES IN HIS HOLY QURAN: “SAY: HE, ALLAH, IS ONE.” (AL-IKHLAS: 1) CHRISTIANS, BY SAYING: “FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT” ARE SUBMITTING TO A POLYTHEIST BELIEF. IS THIS NOT A CLEAR DEVIATION?

ALLAH (MAY HE BE GLORIFIED AND EXALTED), IN HIS SURA AL-IKHLAS MOST CERTAINLY DECLARES THAT: “HE BEGETS NOT, NOR WAS HE BEGOTTEN.” (AL-IKHLAS: 3) CHRISTIANS ARE BELIEVING THAT “JESUS MESSIAH IS THE SON OF GOD”
IS THIS NOT A CLEAR IGNORANCE?

WHEREAS, AS INFORMED IN THE HOLY QURAN JESUS (PBUH) HAS SAID: “I AM A SERVANT OF ALLAH, HE HAS GIVEN ME THE SCRIPTURE AND MADE ME A PROPHET.” (MARYAM: 30) WHEREAS, CHRISTIANS IDOLIZE JESUS (PBUH). WHAT A HUGE DEVIATION THIS IS.

IN AYAH 4-5 OF SURA AL-KAHF ALLAH (MAY HE BE GLORIFIED AND EXALTED) STATES: “AND TO WARN THOSE WHO SAY, ALLAH HAS BEGOTTEN A SON. NO KNOWLEDGE HAVE THEY OF SUCH A THING, NOR HAD THEIR FATHERS.  MIGHTY IS THE WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS. THEY UTTER NOTHING BUT A LIE.” (AL-KAHF: 4-5) CHRISTIANS ARE IMPUTING THAT ALLAH (MAY HE BE GLORIFIED AND EXALTED), HAS BEGOT A SON. WHAT GREAT HEEDLESSNESS THIS IS?

I'd like to form a reply to this should it come up with Muslim friends.  So how would you reply to the objection that God is "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is really a polytheistic belief?  Any ideas?

[royston]

As Christians, we have one God who manifests Himself as three different persons.. So there is no real conflict.. But I have no response to the other three objections though.. Perhaps somebody with a better understanding of the context of the verses can enlighten us.

Royston

[Rose Mary]

Hi,
This is Rose Mary's son, Patrick.  I am in university and I am studying Ancient Islam, including the Hadith, Qur'an, and Muslim life.  Islam seems to have a good concept of the Sanctity of Life, from the moment of conception to natural death.  This is very similar to the Trinity, because for the Christian, God is "family".  Therefore, a good reply to your friend would be that "mankind" is created in God's image...not the other way around.  We are not "dividing" God into Three...rather Christians go to God in three ways: Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification...but God is not limited to these attributes.  We are created, redeemed, and finally, sanctified before we enter the "abode of God".  Also, please remind your friend that our title for God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are names for God.  They are 3 different aspects of God, because he is does not exclude mothers, daughters, or his creatures.  All belong to God, all come from God, and all return to God...even the souls in hell serve a purpose: i.e. when the Virgin Mary appeared in Fatima, Portugal, she showed the three children the damned souls burning in the fires of hell.  This brought many souls to devote conversion and sanctification.
  Therefore, the Christian conversion can be compared to the Four Stages of Life in Islam.  These are: 1) Life in the Womb 2) Life in the World 3) Life in the Grave and 4) After-Life (Heaven or hell)
p.s. I hope this helps

[Seeker]

Thanks Patrick and Royston for the very insightful replies.  I do think it is important to stress that God is one, but He reveals Himself to be three persons in One God and that this is consistent with one infinite, eternal, and all-powerful God.  The family analogy is very good.  I appreciate the responses.

I had never heard of the Four Stages of Life in Islam before.  That is also very helpful Patrick.  Thanks.

[trmichels]

There is no way to repsond to the other three objections, in a logical "Christian" manner, because they are based on Islamic beliefs, not Christian beliefs.

As Mohamed's interpretation of the Bible, and suggesting he had the right to correct or "add to" the inspired word of God, the Quran is flawed. In order to have a discussion on those three points you have to start, not with the Quran, but with the Bible. And since Muslims will not accept that position, you have not a chance in heaven of holding a discussion with them on the subject.

This is the problem with Islam, it is a corruption of Judaism and Christianity, not a "divinely inspired' addition. Thus, Islam is flawed from the beginning, and it and Mohammed hve led it's believers a long way away from Yahweh.   

T.R.

[Seeker]

Very good points TR.

[mario]

So what is the difference between the word "GOD" and "YAHEWH".  I also wonder How do Christian arabs(catholics, orthodox, syrian church) who speak only arabic refer to God, I mean do they call him "GOD" or call him "ALLAH" in arabic ?. 
Another quesiton if I used a expletive word (God forbid) such as f#&k God in English I know that would be considered blasphemy. After reading some of your arguments I feel it's perfectly alright to say f#&k Allah(which is God in Arabic) and this would not be considered blasphemy. The question I have is if I used the same expletive and said f#&k Dios(which is spanish for God) would that be considered blasphemy ?. Just trying to make a point here.

[Seeker]

Hi mario!

I see your point.  You're absolutely right that Allah is God in Arabic.  I suppose an Arab speaking believer would think of Him as Allah just as a Spanish speaker would think of Him as Dios. In fact, I bet you hear many prayers to Allah in the Maronite and Syriac Liturgies.

I think the argument would be that the Muslim (and Jewish) understanding of Allah and who He is, is fundamentally different than the Christian understanding of Allah as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.