Session 4 – The Trinity and More

In this session we will look at the difference between the God of Islam, and the

God of the Bible

We will see that the Qur’an does not accurately represent and understand the

historical belief of the Christian church, and therefore, cannot have been inspired by an

all knowing God

If you ask a Muslim to define what Islam is, sum it up in one word or expression, the

odds are they will say Tawhid

Tawhid is the glorious (in their words) monotheism that the Islamic faith has

given to the world

Tawhid is as important to a Muslim as the Trinity should be to a Christian

Without the idea of Tawhid, and all that it encompasses, you have no Islam

The first pillar of the Muslim faith confirms this belief when it says:

“I profess that there is only one God Allah”

ā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, muhammadun rasūlu-llāh

الله ول� س� ر د� م م�ح الله إ�ال �ل�ه إ ال

The Jews likewise had there confession that encompassed their monotheistic beliefs

The Shema: ““Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

The Christian faith does not contradict the Shema, but instead shows it fulfillment

as seen in the trinity revealed in the New Testament

Christians are monotheists as well

The New Testament confirms the monotheism of Christianity in many places

1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and

men, the Man Christ Jesus,”

1 Corinthians 8:6: “yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and

we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through

whom we live.”

The great monotheistic religions of our world include Judaism, Islam, and Christianity

All of these religions proclaim there is one God, maker of heaven and earth

Trinitarianism is not different from monotheism

We are all monotheists, Islam is Unitarian monotheist, Christians are Trinitarian

monotheists (there could also be binitarian)

When we address Tawhid, we are not just talking about monotheism, we are talking

about Unitarian monotheism

Tawhid and Worship

One of the most important values of Tawhid is the purity it brings to worship. You cannot

truly worship without believing in Tawhid

Tawhid is the Muslims salvation

Allamah Al-Sadi comments saying:

“There is nothing that produces such good results nor holds such a variety of virtues like tawhid, for tawhid with its virtues is the best

produce in the world and the Hereafter… And among its virtues is that it is the

greatest means of removing the sorrows of this world and the Hereafter, and warding off punishment in both worlds. It is because of

its virtues that one is forbidden from eternity in the Fire…

provided that his heart contains a mustard seed’s equivalent amount of it – and if it is complete in his heart, then it will prevent

him from ever entering the Fire at all… Another of its virtues is that it is the

exclusive reason for being granted Allah’s pleasure and rewards, and the luckiest of people – who are granted Muhammad’s intercession –are those who said La ilaha illa Allah with sincerity in their hearts.”

Let’s look at what the Qur’an says:

Surah 15:56: “I created the jinn and humankind only that they might

worship Me”

According to the Qur’an, your purpose for existences it to worship Allah, and you

cannot do that without Tawhid

In order to fulfill your existence, you must have Tawhid as a core belief

As we’ve mentioned, the Qur’an says Allah has sent many prophets before Muhammad, and it said they all proclaimed this message:

Surah 21:25: “We sent no messenger before you, but that We revealed to him, that “there is no god but I, so worship Me!”

Orthodox Islamic theology divides Tawhid into three categories: Tawhid of lordship, Tawhid of worship, and tawhid of Allah’s

names and attributes

There is some irony in how important tawhid has become, when the word itself is never used in the Qur’an, but that’s not an

argument against them

The strongest affirmation of Unitarian monotheism (Tawhid) comes from the

Qur’an denouncing the beliefs of Christians

Here is one example where the Qur’an does this

Surah 4:171: “O people of the Book! Commit no excess in your religion, not say anything

but the truth about Allah. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed to Mary,

and spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers, and say not “three.” Cease, [it is] better for you! Allah is only one God.”

We will look at more passages like this soon

The unforgivable sin of Shirk

Shirk is a very serious matter in the Islamic faith, it is associating anything or anyone

with Allah

The Qur’an is clear that Shirk is not forgivable

“Surely, Allah will not forgive those who assign partners to Him. He forgives all but

that to whom He pleases. Whosoever ascribes partners to Allah is guilty of a

monstrous sin.” (Surah 4:48)

A person who has committed Shirk in their lifetime is able to convert to Islam and be

forgiven, but dying in Shirk is the unforgivable sin

In Islam, Allah can forgive any other sin (even if your not a Muslim) but the sin of

Shirk he cannot, and will not forgive

“O my son! Associate [nothing[ with Allah, for association is a formidable injustice”

(Surah 31:13)

While some liberal western Muslims do not, most Muslims believe that Christians who

believe in the trinity, and worship Jesus, are committing the sin of Shirk

Do Muslims and Christians believe and worship the same God?

Remember, according to the Qur’an and the Hadith, Islam is the fulfillment of

Christianity and Judaism

While we would say we serve very different Gods, the Qur’an says otherwise

O Muslims! Do not argue with the People of the Book except in the best of ways, save

with such of them who are unjust; and say: “We believe in that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent

down to you; our God and your God is One, and to Him we surrender.” (Surah 29:46)

Notice the phrase “Our God and your God is One, and to Him we surrender”

Muslims believe that we do worship the same God, but because Christians also worship Jesus (committing Tawhid) and because the Jews rejected the prophet

Muhammad, we have left the true path of worship and cannot please God in our

current state.

Does the Qur’an accurately portray the doctrine of the trinity?

Whether or not it agrees with the doctrine, if Allah (all knowing) is the author of the

Qur’an, he would surely understand what the Christians actually believed

But when we look at the Qur’an in many places, it completely misunderstands the

Christian view of God

We will examine four area in the Qur’an that misunderstand the Christian faith

Surah 4:166-172 “Say Not Three”

The background for this section of the Qur’an is often connected to a discussion

Muhammad had with Christians from Najran

One early source that makes this connect comes from Tanwir Al-Miqbas min

Tafsir Ibn Abbas

“Allah then revealed about the Nestorian Christians of Najran who claimed that Jesus was the son of Allah and that Jesus and the Lord are partners, saying: (O People of the

Scripture! Do not exaggerate) do not be extreme (in your religion) for this is not the

right course (nor utter aught concerning Allah save the Truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary)…

and through His word he became a created being, (and a spirit from Him) and through

His command, Jesus became a son without a father. (So believe in Allah and His

messengers) all the messengers including Jesus, (and say not “Three”) a son, father

and wife. (Cease!) from making such a claim and repent ((it is) better for you!) than such a claim. (Allah is only One God) without a

son or partner…

(Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that he should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the

earth) are His servants. (And Allah is sufficient as Defender) as Lord of all created

beings and He is witness of what He says about Jesus.”

It’s clear early Islamic sources understood the Trinity to be Father, Son, and Mother

(something Christians never taught) but does the Qur’an make that mistake itself?

“166. But Allah [Himself] bears witness concerning that which He has sent down to you;

with His knowledge has He sent it down; and the angels also testify. And Allah is sufficient

witness. 167. Those who disbelieve and obstruct [others] from the path of Allah, they have surely strayed far away.168. Those who disbelieve, and do wront, Allah will never forgive them, neither

will He guide them to a road.169. Except the road to Hell, to abide therein perpetually. And

that is easy for Allah…”

170. O mankind! The messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord. Therefore

believe, [it is] better for you. But if you disbelieve, still, surely to Allah belongs

whatsoever is in the heavens and earth. Allah is Knowing. Wise. 171. O people of the Book! Commit no excess in your religion, not say

anything but the truth about Allah. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a

messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed to Mary, and spirit from Him.

So believe in Allah and His Messengers, and say not “three.” Cease, [it is] better for you! Allah is only one God. Far is it removed from

His transcendence that He should have a son, when His is all that the heavens and all the

earth contain. And Allah is sufficient as [their] custodian. 172. The Messiah will never to be

too proud a slave to Allah, nor will the nearest angels. Those who are too proud to worship

Him and are arrogant, all such will He assemble to Him.”

We know this section is talking specifically to Christians (because it says those

people identify Jesus as the Messiah, Jews would not)

The text seems to talk quite a bit about Jesus and Mary, which lead many Muslims to think that the Christians had a trinity of

God, Jesus, and Mary

Other places are more obvious though

“[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He

does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.”

(Surah 6:101)

When dealing with the Christians, why does it come up that Allah does not have a companion to produce a son with?

That is what the Qur’an thinks the Christians believe about Jesus

Tafsir Al-Jalalayn also understood what the Qur’an was saying (even though it’s wrong)

“So believe in Allah and His Messengers. Do not say, Three gods: Allah, Isa, and his

mother.” It is better than you stop saying these things. Affirming the Divine Unity [is]

better. Allah is only One God. He is too Glorious to have a son!”

Many other Muslim early on said the same thing, Ibn Ishaq in the earliest biography of

the life of Muhammad said:

“The argue that he is the third of three in that God says: We have done, We have

commanded, We have created and We have decreed, and they say, If He were one he

would have said I have done, I have created, and so on, but He is He and Jesus and Mary. Concerning all these assertions the Quran

came down.”

Notice the important part of “Concerning all these assertions the Quran came down”

According to Ibn Ishaq, which represents the belief of early Muslims, the Quran came down to correct an idea (Mary and Jesus

being God) that was not even being made by the Christians at the time

We know with 100% certainty that no Christians in that area taught Mary was the

third in the trinity

Surah 5:17 shows further than the Qur’an did not understand Christian beliefs

“They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allah at all if He had intended to

destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allah belongs

the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He

wills, and Allah is over all things competent.”

Again the author of the Qur’an seems to indicate that Mary is looked at (by Christians)

on the same level as Jesus is (God)

The passage wants to make clear that Jesus and Mary are both created beings who can be destroyed by Allah, why is Mary being

talked about in this passage?

But this is not the last time the Qur’an seems to indicate this,

it gets even more obvious

Surah 5:116 (the obvious statement)

“And when Allah said: “O Jesus son of Mary! Did you say to mankind: ‘Take me and my mother for two gods other than

Allah?” He said: “Transcendent are You! It was not mine to say that of which I had no

right. In saying it, then You knew it. You know what is in my self, but I know not

what is in You self. It is You, only You, Who know well all hidden things.”

It’s hard to get around this problem as a Muslim, your Qur’an, the inspired words of God written by an all knowing deity, did not

understand what the Christians actually believed (and had believed for hundreds of

years) on the topic of the Trinity

Even if the modern Roman Catholic views of Mary existed at the time (they didn’t) it

would still misrepresent the belief, no one says Mary is God.

Close our conversation with Jeremiah 10:6-12“Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD

(You are great, and Your name is great in might), 7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For

among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You. 8 But they are altogether dull-hearted and

foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine. 9 Silver is beaten into plates;…

…It is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman And of the

hands of the metalsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skillful men. 10 But the LORD is the

true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation. 11 Thus you shall say

to them:

…The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.” 12 He has

made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And

has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.”

Realize the important of the issue we’ve discussed, it is the primary difference

between us and the Muslim

When witnessing to them, don’t go off on Muhammad marrying nine year old Aisha

Stick to who God is, is Jesus Christ God, does the Qur’an accurate represent the

Christian beliefs (as it should be able to do)

The Shema: ““Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”

(Deuteronomy 6:4)

Memory Verse