By James M. Rochford

1. The Qur’an tells Muslims to believe in the OT and NT.

Muslims believe in the inspiration of the OT and NT. They refer to the Books of Moses as the Taurat, the Psalms of David as the Zabur, and the New Testament Injeel. Regarding the OT, the Qur’an states:

(2:2-5) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah—Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.

(2:89) And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming that which was with them—although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved—but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allah will be upon the disbelievers.

(2:101) And when a messenger from Allah came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know [what it contained].

(2:136) “Say, [O believers], ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.’”

(3:3-4) He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur’an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution.

(3:84) Say, “We have believed in Allah and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him.”

(3:95) “God has spoken the truth, so follow the religion of Abraham the Monotheist; he was not a Pagan.”

(4:125) “Who is better in religion than he who submits himself wholly to God, and is a doer of good, and follows the faith of Abraham the Monotheist? God has chosen Abraham for a friend.”

(4:163) Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

(5:42-44) [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, devourers of [what is] unlawful. So if they come to you, [O Muhammad], judge between them or turn away from them. And if you turn away from them—never will they harm you at all. And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. But how is it that they come to you for judgment while they have the Torah, in which is the judgment of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers. Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then it is those who are the disbelievers.

(10:94) So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.

(16:123) “Follow the religion of Abraham, the Monotheist. He was not an idol-worshiper.”

(29:46) And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”

(41:43) “Nothing is said to you but was said to the Messengers before you: your Lord is Possessor of Forgiveness, and Possessor of Painful Repayment.”

(42:13) “He prescribed for you the same religion He enjoined upon Noah, and what We inspired to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: ‘You shall uphold the religion, and be not divided therein.’ As for the idolaters, what you call them to is outrageous to them. God chooses to Himself whom He wills, and He guides to Himself whoever repents.

(46:9) “I am not something original among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner.”

(46:12) “And before it was the Book of Moses, a model and a mercy. And this is a confirming Book, in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong—and good news for the doers of good.”

Regarding the NT, we read:

(5:45) And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

(5:46-47) And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.

2. The Qur’an has a surprisingly high view of Jesus.

The Qur’an mentions Jesus multiple times. In fact, three surat of the Qur’an are named after Jesus (Surah 3, 5, 19). Comparative religion expert Geoffrey Parrinder writes, “[Jesus] is mentioned in fifteen surat and ninety-three verses.”[1] Most Christians are often shocked at how the Qur’an speaks so highly of Jesus. According to the Qur’an:

-Jesus performed many miraculous signs (2:87, 253; 3:49; 5:110).

-Jesus was a prophet whom Muslims should believe (2:136; 4:163).

-Jesus was given honor from God (3:45).

-Jesus was righteous (3:46; 6:85). Jesus was born sinless according to the Qur’an. The Qur’an does say that Allah forgave Muhammad three times in the Qur’an.

-Jesus was the Word of God (Arabic Kalimat Allah; 4:171; c.f. 3:40, 45).

-Jesus was created out of nothing like Adam (3:52, 59). God said to him, “Be,” and he existed (3:59). This would fit with the biblical view that Christ was born miraculously by a virgin.

-Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (19:19-34). Parrinder writes, “The Qur’an rebuts Jewish suggestions that there was any stigma in the birth of Jesus.”[2] He cites various Qur’anic verses to support this conclusion (3:37, 42; 5:21, 75, 79, 91; 66:12).

-Jesus was called the “son of Mary.” The NT affirms that Jesus was the “son of Mary” (Mk. 6:3; c.f. Mt. 13:55), and Jesus was born of a virgin (Mt. 1:23). Parrinder writes, “The Qur’an uses the name Mary more times than does the New Testament; thirty-four times in the former, nineteen times in the latter.”[3]

-Jesus was a messenger to the children of Israel (3:49), and he confirmed the Law that came before him (61:6).

-Jesus was supported by the Spirit of God (2:81, 87; 2:253-254; 4:169-171; 5:109-110), which the NT also confirms (Lk. 1:35; 4:14; Mk. 1:10).

-Jesus had a message of guidance and light (5:46), and he brought a message that people were cursed if they didn’t believe (5:78).

-Jesus was the Messiah (3:40, 45; 4:156-157, 169-172; 5:17, 19). Parrinder writes, “Jesus receives the title Messiah (Christ) eleven times in the Qur’an.”[4] The Qur’an uses the Arabic word masih for “messiah.” Parrinder writes, “While there is no Quranic etymological explanation of the word Masih, it was not difficult for the commentators to find a number of meanings… In popular Muslim usage the name of Messiah is prefixed with the word al-Sayyid, ‘the lord’, which is a mark of honour.”[5] While we don’t have a fixed meaning for this word in Arabic, it certainly was one of great honor.

-Jesus was a prophet of God (19:30-31). The Qur’an only calls Jesus a prophet one time, but he is usually named among other known prophets of God. The NT affirms that Jesus was a prophet, as well (Mk. 6:4; Lk. 13:33).

-Jesus was said to be at the final judgment (43:61). There, he tells people to fear God and obey him (43:63). Parrinder comments, “Bukhari in his version of the Traditions said that the Son of Mary would descend among men as a just judge. He would break the crosses, kill the swine, suppress the poll-tax, and make wealth so abundant that nobody would wish for any more. Baidawi said that Jesus would descend in the Holy Land, that he would kill al-Dajjal, the Anti-Christ, and go to Jerusalem, worshipping there, killing swine and all who do not believe in him, reign in peace for forty years, and finally die and be buried in Medina. An empty place beside the tomb of Muhammad in Medina was thought to be reserved for Jesus.”^[6]

3. Both the Qur’an and the Bible believe in an infinite-personal God.

There are certainly theological differences between the nature of God in Islam and Christianity. For instance, biblically, God’s will is always an expression of his nature. But in Islam, Allah’s will is superior to his own nature. This means that Allah could lie if he decided to. Compare this with the author of Hebrews’ assertion that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18). While Allah is considered merciful (6:12), this is only because he acts mercifully, rather than him being merciful. This is a crucial difference in theology proper.[7]

However, there are more similarities, than differences. For instance, both faiths believe in an infinite-personal and sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe. This is a common conception of God that should be acknowledged.