Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?

The Catholic Church, since the Second Vatican Council (*Nostra Aetate*, 1965), has affirmed that Muslims worship the one God, the Creator, in the Abrahamic tradition, alongside Christians and Jews. However, significant theological differences in the character of God and the Quran’s portrayal of Jesus (known as Isa in Islam) raise concerns for many Christians, particularly regarding claims of a shared deity. This article explores these differences, focusing on the Quran’s depiction of Allah, its contrasts with the biblical God, and the inconsistent treatment of Jesus as a revered prophet who is not divine yet returns to judge at the end of time.

The Character of God: Allah vs. the Biblical God

While both Christianity and Islam are monotheistic faiths rooted in the Abrahamic tradition, their understandings of God diverge sharply in ways that challenge the idea of a shared deity. Below are key differences in character and attributes.

 a. The Trinity vs. Absolute Unity

The cornerstone of Christian theology is the Trinity: one God in three persons—Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). This doctrine defines God as inherently relational, with love existing eternally between the Father and the Son (John 17:24). The Bible presents God as both transcendent and immanent, entering human history through the incarnation of Jesus (John 1:14).

In contrast, the Quran emphatically rejects the Trinity as polytheistic, insisting on *tawhid*, the absolute oneness of Allah. Quran 4:171 states, “Do not say ‘Three’; desist—it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God.” Similarly, Quran 112:1-4 declares, “Say, He is Allah, [who is] One… He neither begets nor is begotten, nor is there to Him any equivalent.” This unitarian view precludes any relational or incarnational aspect, emphasizing Allah’s transcendence and indivisibility. For Christians, the absence of the Trinity fundamentally alters the nature of God, as it removes the relational love central to the Christian understanding (1 John 4:8, “God is love”).

b. Fatherhood vs. “A Father of None”

The Bible frequently describes God as a Father, both to Jesus (John 3:16, “His only begotten Son”) and to believers, who are adopted as children through Christ (Romans 8:15). This fatherly relationship underscores God’s personal, covenantal bond with humanity.

The Quran, however, explicitly rejects the notion of Allah as a father. Quran 112:3 states, “He neither begets nor is begotten,” denying any concept of divine sonship or familial relationship. This rejection extends to Jesus, whom the Quran denies as God’s Son, viewing such language as anthropomorphic and contrary to Allah’s majesty. For Christians, this is a profound difference, as the fatherhood of God is integral to salvation and the believer’s identity as a child of God (Galatians 4:4-7).

c. Love vs. Conditional Mercy

Christianity portrays God’s love as unconditional and intrinsic to His nature. The New Testament declares, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and this love is demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice for sinners (Romans 5:8). God’s love exists independently of human actions, offered freely to all.

The Quran describes Allah as merciful and compassionate, with titles like “the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” (Quran 1:3). However, some Christian scholars argue that Allah’s love appears conditional, tied to obedience. Quran 3:31 states, “If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you.” While Muslim scholars emphasize that Allah’s mercy encompasses all things (Quran 7:156), the absence of an explicit “God is love” framework and the emphasis on submission over relational love distinguish Allah from the biblical God. Allah is master, you are his submissive slave.

d. Truth vs. the “Great Deceiver”

A point of contention for some Christians is the Quran’s description of Allah as the “best of planners” (*khayr al-makirin*), sometimes translated as “best of deceivers” in verses like Quran 3:54 and 8:30. In these contexts, Allah outwits those who plot against His prophets, such as thwarting a scheme against Jesus. The Arabic term *makr* implies strategic planning, not necessarily moral deceit, and Muslim scholars argue it reflects divine wisdom. The denial of Jesus' crucifixion is evidence of Allah having deceived many into believing the "falsehood" that Jesus was crucified. 

Christians contrast this with the Bible’s portrayal of God as unerringly truthful: “God, who never lies” (Titus 1:2). 

The Quran’s Inconsistent Portrayal of Jesus (Isa)

The Quran’s treatment of Jesus (Isa) presents a significant point of divergence and internal inconsistency that challenges Christian readers. While Islam reveres Jesus as a prophet, it denies His divinity and crucifixion, yet assigns Him a unique eschatological role that seems to contradict His non-divine status.

a. Jesus as a Prophet, Not God

The Quran acknowledges Jesus as a major prophet, born of the Virgin Mary (Quran 19:16-21), a miracle-worker (Quran 3:49), and the Messiah (*al-Masih*, Quran 4:157). However, it categorically denies His divinity and Sonship. Quran 5:17 states, “They have disbelieved who say that Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary.” Similarly, Quran 9:30 condemns Christians for calling Jesus the Son of God, equating it with polytheism.

For Christians, this denial is irreconcilable with core beliefs. The New Testament affirms Jesus as “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14), fully God and fully man, whose divinity is essential to His role as Savior (Colossians 2:9). The Quran’s rejection of Jesus’ divine nature fundamentally separates its theology from Christianity.

b. Denial of the Crucifixion

The Quran also denies Jesus’ crucifixion, a cornerstone of Christian salvation. Quran 4:157-158 states, “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them… Rather, Allah raised him to Himself.” This contradicts the New Testament’s accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection (e.g., Matthew 27:32-56, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4), which are central to Christian atonement theology.

Muslim interpretations vary: some suggest a substitute (e.g., Judas) was crucified, while others propose Jesus was taken to heaven without dying. This denial undermines the Christian narrative of Jesus’ sacrificial death for humanity’s sins.

c. Jesus’ Return and Judgment: An Inconsistency

Despite denying Jesus’ divinity, the Quran and Islamic tradition assign Him a unique role in the end times, creating an apparent inconsistency. While the Quran itself does not explicitly detail Jesus’ return, widely accepted Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) state that Jesus will return to defeat the Antichrist (*Dajjal*), establish justice, and judge humanity. For example, Sahih Muslim (Book 41, Hadith 6924) describes Jesus descending, breaking the cross, and leading as a just ruler.

This eschatological role raises questions: if Jesus is merely a human prophet, why is He uniquely tasked with returning to judge, a role typically reserved for God in both Christian and Islamic theology? The Bible assigns judgment to Jesus as the divine Son (John 5:22, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son”). In Islam, Allah is the ultimate judge (Quran 22:69), yet Jesus’ role in the end times elevates Him above other prophets, creating a tension with the Quran’s insistence on His non-divinity. This inconsistency puzzles Christian readers, as it seems to endow Jesus with divine-like authority while denying His divine nature.

The differences between Allah and the biblical God—particularly the rejection of the Trinity, God’s fatherhood, and unconditional love—suggest to many Christians that the two faiths worship distinct conceptions of God, despite shared monotheistic roots. The Catholic Church’s position (*Nostra Aetate*, *Catechism* 841) that Muslims worship the same God aims to foster dialogue by emphasizing common ground, such as belief in one Creator. However, for most Protestant Christians, the theological chasm, especially regarding the Trinity and Jesus’ divinity, makes this equivalence untenable.

The Quran’s portrayal of Jesus further complicates the discussion. By affirming His virgin birth and miracles but denying His divinity and crucifixion, the Quran presents a Jesus who is revered yet stripped of His salvific role. The assignment of an eschatological role to Jesus, as a judge in the end times, seems inconsistent with His status as a mere prophet, raising questions about the coherence of Islamic Christology.

Engaging with Respect and Clarity

For Christians seeking to understand or dialogue with Muslims, it’s vital to approach these differences with respect while acknowledging the irreconcilable aspects. The linguistic similarity of “Allah” as a term for God (used by Arab Christians in the Bible) should not obscure the theological divide. Christians can affirm shared monotheistic values, as the Catholic Church does, while clearly articulating the centrality of the Trinity, Jesus’ divinity, and the crucifixion to their faith.