Some Muslims say that their God is not the same as the Christian’s God. Likewise, Christians also say that their God is not the God of Muslims. Is there more than one God? Of course not! Yet, both Islam and Christianity have at least four foundational disagreements about God.
The Closeness of God (With His People)
Even though the Quran states that God is closer to us than our own jugular vein (Qs 50:16), it doesn’t reveal what that means. The little it does reveal about God’s relationship with man is compared to master and servant. The Creator is far away from His Creation. They can’t reach Him. God doesn’t even attempt to have a relationship with his creation.
On the contrary, the Bible teaches that while God is transcendent, He also desires to have a relationship with His people. Christians call God Father and He calls them His children. Many verses in the Bible describe God in ways that show His desire for a close relationship with us. Psalm 68:5-6 says that God is a “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. …”
The Suffering of God
The Quran teaches that God actually makes His people disobey (Qs 35:8). We can only know that God punishes and gives rewards. We don’t know whether His people’s sin saddens Him or affects Him in any way.
Yet the Bible teaches that God suffers because of our disobedience! Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. …”
God’s Love
The Quran says that God only loves good people, not the sinner. “… Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors” (Qs 2:190). “Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful’” (Qs 3:31).
In contrast, the Bible states that God loves all people, even the sinner (Romans 5:8). That’s why He came to earth, to save the sinner! The “Kalimah Allah,” Isa Al-Masih, told his disciples, “… love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Injil, Matthew 5:44). Why? Because Allah also loves them!
The Knowability of God
In Islam, God is unknowable. “Allah is wise” and “Allah is loving” are the only descriptions given to God. And these descriptive phrases are never explained.
But the Bible tells us many things about God. According to the Bible, God is sovereign, love, just, good, ruler, and many more.
All of Psalm (Zabur) 139 explains that God knows everything about us. But it ends by asking God to know us personally. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24). Do you want to know God personally? He definitely wants to know you! If you would like to learn more about how you can do that, please click here.
[We invite you to visit us at https://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about God’s gift of Salvation. God loves you and waits to hear from you. Isa clearly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Injil, John 14:6). For a deeper understanding of Isa we suggest you subscribe to “Isa, Islam, and Al-Fatiha” at this link.]
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW
We encourage our readers to comment on the article above. Comments that don’t directly relate to the topic will be removed. Please start a dialogue with us by focusing on one of the following questions:
1. What is the Quran’s picture of the relationship between God and the people? How is that different from what the Bible teaches?
2. According to the Bible, who does God love? What did He do because of His love?
3. Why is God affected by our sinful character? What did he do to deal with our sin?
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[b]”I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” [/b](Isaiah 45:7) Does your god create evil?
Psalms 78:65: [b]”Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine.” `
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[/b]What kind of god sleeps like a drunkard? seriously?
1 Samuel 15:35: [b]“And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”[/b] What kind of god makes a mistake only to regret his actions?
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Muslim,
Evil here means darkness/ disaster. [b]“Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words. He will rise up against that wicked nation, against those who help evildoers”[/b] (Isaiah 31:2). He can bring peace and also disaster which was given to the Egyptians during Pharaoh as written in the book of Exodus.
Regarding Psalm 78:65, It’s poetic hyperbole to highlight the contrast between God’s action in behalf of his people in the days of David and the preceding time of Israel’s troubles.
Regarding 1 Samuel 15:35, God expresses human-like emotions after seeing what Saul did in His sinfulness.
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Download the Quran.
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Abid,
Thanks for your comment. We have read the Quran and other Islamic sources. The article above was made based on those materials.
Blessings.
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Oh God makes men disobey aka sin also.. even one of the disiples! Remember Judas? Matthew 27:3
“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
Silver aka money $$$, is the root of all evil.. it is the reason the Messiah was crucified, but it was also prophecy… everything, EVERY detail of Jesus death is in the old testament prophets books.. even the minor prophets.. oh psst the Jewish elite 1% ruling class killed them as well!
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Dear Sherrie,
Thank you for your comment.
The God in the Bible is not an authoritarian God, who only gives orders and gives rewards.
He is the God who knows His people and wants to be known by His people. The God who wants to have a relationship with His people and bring them back to Him, after the relationship is broken because of sin.
Humans sin by their own choice. God does not make them sin.
God took the initiative to provide a way for people to return to Him, only through Isa. Whoever believes in Isa and follows His teachings will be saved.
Isa said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ” (Injil, Prophet John 14:6).Isa guarantees the assurance of salvation for his followers.