ALLAH of the Quran OR GOD of the

ALLAH of the Qur’an OR GOD of the Bible? Some similarities & surprising differences

ESSENCE Aspect Description Old Testament New Testament Qur’anic term [1] God is One Dt. 6: 4 Mk. 12. 29 Q. 38: 65 ﺍﻟﻮﺍﺩ Living Jer. 10: 10 Mt. 16: 16 Q. 20: 111 ﺍﻟﺤﻲ Independent Job 12: 10 Immutable Q. 2: 267 Mal. 3: 6 Jam. 1: 17 Q. 17: 77 Gen. 21: 33 1. Tim. 1: 17 Q. 112: 2 ﺍﻟﺩ Omnipotent Lk. 1: 49 2. Cor. 13: 3 Q. 3: 26 ﻳﺮ King Jer. 10: 10 Rev. 15: 3 Q. 20: 114 ﺍﻟﻙ Ps. 9: 7 1. Tim. 6: 15 Q. 32: 5 ﺭ omniscient Ps. 44. 21 1. Jn. 3: 20 Q. 2: 115 ﻳﻢ immanent Ps. 119: 151 Mt. 1: 23 Q. 34: 50 [ ﻳﺐ 2] omnipresent Ps. 139: 8 Eph. 1: 23 Q. 2: 115 ﻳﻊ creates Gen. 1: 1 Eph. 3: 9 Q. 6: 73 reveals Gen. 35: 7 Mt. 11: 25 Q. 42: 52 Eternal NON-MORAL ATTRIBUTES Acts 17: 25 He rules [1] Note – these are not necessarily identical with the terms used in various versions of the Arabic Bible [2] Significantly the Qur’anic verse most commonly used to describe God’s proximity (‘closer than his jugular vein’ Q. 50: 16) is in the context of judgement, rather than grace.

Anthropomorphisms MORAL ATTRIBUTES judges Gen. 18: 25 Rom. 2: 16 Q. 11: 45 just Ps. 9: 8 Rom. 3: 26 Q. 21. 47 ﻻ ﻡ the Truth Ps. 31: 5 Jn. 14: 6 Q. 20: 114 ﺍﻟ merciful Dt. 4: 31 Lk. 6: 36 Q. 3: 31 ﺭﺣﻴﻢ kind Ps. 9: 8 Rom. 3: 26 Q. 21. 47 ﻟﻄﻴﻒ holy Isa. 6: 3 Lk. 1: 49 Q. 62. 1 ﺍﻟ ﻭﺱ Gen. 25: 21 Rom. 11: 4 Q. 11: 61 ﻳﺐ loves Dt. 10: 18 Jn. 3: 16 Q. 3: 31 ﻳ forgives Ps. 103: 3 Mk. 2: 7 Q. 64: 14 ﺭ has a hand Ex. 7: 4 Mk. 16: 19 Q. 3: 26 sees (eyes) Gen. 16: 13 Mt. 6: 4 Q. 3: 163 ﺭ hears (ears) Ex. 3: 7 1. Jn. 5: 14 Q. 34: 50 ﻉ speaks Ex. 20: 1 Heb. 1: 1 Q. 2: 253 ﻗﺎﻝ answers prayer sits on a throne has a face Ps. 47: 8 Rev. 6: 16 Q. 7: 54 ﺍﻭﻯ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺵ 2. Chr. 7: 14 Mt. 18: 10 Q. 18: 28 ﻩ

Which one is real?

Some significant differences God as described in the Bible Allah as described in the Qur’an

What is the divine nature? Complex Unity: Tri-Unity or Trinity “ in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. ” (Matthew 28: 19) Simple Unity ‘He is Allah, One. Allah the eternal. He does not beget, nor is He begotten. And there is no-one comparable to Him. ” (Qur’an 112: 1 -4)

How does God relate eternally? The Father, Son and Holy Spirit have always existed in an eternal relationship of fellowship, love and acceptance Allah was eternally alone before the world was created with no-one to share love with

How was the world when He originally created it ? It was perfect. At the end of the creation, “God saw all that He had made and it was very good. ” (Genesis 1: 31) It contained evil. Muhammad said: “I seek refuge from the evil of what He [Allah] created. ” (Qur’an 113: 2)

Why did He create us? “But because of his Allah “only created great love for us, man and jinn [spirits] God, who is rich in in order to serve or mercy, made us alive worship Him” with Christ” (Qur’an 51: 56) (Ephesians 2: 4 -5)

How does He view us? “You are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. ” (Galatians 4: 7) “No-one comes to [Allah] except as a slave” (Qur’an 19: 93)

Where does evil come from? “But each person is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. ” (James 1: 14 -15) “No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We [Allah] bring it into existence: that is truly easy for Allah. ” (Qur’an 57: 22) Text questions to Bernie on 0449 768 932

Who tempts us? “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me. " For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. ” (James 1: 13) “Allah sends astray whom He wills and He guides on the Straight Path whom He wills. ” (Qur’an 6: 39; 7: 155; 13: 27; 14: 4; 16: 93; 28: 56; 35: 8)

Who opens & closes eyes? “I [God] am sending you … to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins. ” (Acts. 26: 17, 18) “Those who disbelieve … Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a covering. ” (Qur’an 2: 7; 45: 23)

Who blinds unbelievers? “The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers. ” (2. Corinthians 4: 4) “We [Allah] have put a barrier in front of them & a barrier behind them & further We have covered them up; so that they cannot see. ”(Qur’an 36: 9)

Who speaks truth or deceives? “I, the LORD, “The unbeliever deceives, speak the truth; and Allah deceives, and I declare what is the best of deceivers is right. ” Allah. " (Qur’an 3: 54; (Isaiah 45: 19 ) 8: 30; 10: 21)

Who wants to save us? “If We [Allah] had so willed We could patient with you, certainly have brought not wanting every soul its true anyone to perish, but everyone to guidance: but the Word from Me will come true. come to "I will fill Hell with Jinns repentance. ” and men all together. " (2 Peter 3: 9) (Q. 32: 13) “The Lord … is

What is His attitude to sinners? Jesus was called the “friend of sinners” (Matthew 11: 19; Luke 7: 34) “Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers. ” (Q. 2: 98)

Who shows love? “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. ” (Romans 5: 8) “Allah does not love sinners. ” (Qur’an 2. 276; 4: 107; 8: 58)

What is His plan of salvation? "For God so loved the “If Allah had so willed He world that he gave his could have made them a single people; but He one and only Son, that whoever believes in him admits whom He will to His shall not perish but have Mercy; and the wrongdoers eternal life. For God did will have no protector not send his Son into helper. ” (Q. 42: 8; 11: 118) the world to condemn “And he whom Allah has the world, but to save made to go astray, you will the world through him. ” never find for him any way (of guidance). ” (Q. 4: 88) (John 3: 16 -17)

What languages does He use? “Each one [in the crowd] heard [the “We have apostles] speaking in his own language. sent it down Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all as these men who are speaking Galileans? Then an Arabic how is it that each of us hears them in his Qur'an in own native language? Parthians, Medes and order that Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea you may and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia understand” and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya (Qur’an near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews 12: 2) and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (Acts 2: 6 -11)

GOD IN THE BIBLE ALLAH IN THE QUR’AN Complex unity (Tri-unity) Simple unity (Tawheed) Eternal relationships in Trinity Allah was eternally alone by himself The world was perfect when created The world was created with evil in it God created humanity out of love Allah created humanity to serve him God relates to humans as his sons & heirs Allah relates to humans as his slaves Evil comes from human desire & sin Evil is decreed by Allah beforehand God does not tempt anyone Allah sends astray whoever he wills God rebukes Satan Allah gives advice to Satan God opens the eyes of unbelievers Allah closes and seals their eyes Satan blinds their minds Allah places a barrier around them God speaks the truth Allah is the best of deceivers God wants no-one to perish Allah wants to fill Hell Jesus is a friend to sinners Allah is an enemy to unbelievers Christ died for sinners Allah does not love sinners God sent his Son to save the world Allah makes people go astray God communicates in all languages Allah communicates only in Arabic