Allah
Comparative Religions Spring Semester 2007
Is Allah of the Quran the same God of the Bible? By Ihab Mikhail
1
The debate between Christianity and Islam is as fresh today as it was during the time of
Mohammad the founder of the Islam religion. Over the past 1400 years, there has been numerous discussions between the two religions on numerous topics fundamental to both faiths and on how each view the others’ position. One of these crucial topics is whether the God of Islam, Allah, is the same God as that of
Christianity mentioned in the Holy Bible. Why this particular topic was raised is because of the following details are mentioned in the Quran:
● Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days,
● Allah created Adam and Eve as our first parents, and that they were cast out of the
Garden of Eden (
Jannatul'Adn
in Islam) when they ate the forbidden fruit
● Allah sent prophets such as Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus (Isa) to guide the nations
● Allah showed special favors to the children of Israel
● there will be a great Judgment Day, and that the destiny of mankind is either to heaven
(
jannat
) or hell ( jahannam ).
In addition, the Quran asserts that Allah, is indeed the God of Abraham and hence the God of the Bible. In addressing the people of the Book (Ahl ul Ketab), Christians and Jews alike,
Mohammad said: "We believe in what has been sent down to us and in that which was sent down to you; our God and your God is One; and we are submitted to him". (
Surah 29.46
)
The Bible does mention these same details and, therefore, one may conclude that Allah in the
Quran is the same God in the Bible. But is he? To answer this fundamental question, which has bearing on one’s fate in the after life, it is vital to study the nature of Allah as mentioned in the Quran and
Is Allah of the Quran the same God of the Bible? By Ihab Mikhail
1
The debate between Christianity and Islam is as fresh today as it was during the time of
Mohammad the founder of the Islam religion. Over the past 1400 years, there has been numerous discussions between the two religions on numerous topics fundamental to both faiths and on how each view the others’ position. One of these crucial topics is whether the God of Islam, Allah, is the same God as that of
Christianity mentioned in the Holy Bible. Why this particular topic was raised is because of the following details are mentioned in the Quran:
● Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days,
● Allah created Adam and Eve as our first parents, and that they were cast out of the
Garden of Eden (
Jannatul'Adn
in Islam) when they ate the forbidden fruit
● Allah sent prophets such as Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus (Isa) to guide the nations
● Allah showed special favors to the children of Israel
● there will be a great Judgment Day, and that the destiny of mankind is either to heaven
(
jannat
) or hell ( jahannam ).
In addition, the Quran asserts that Allah, is indeed the God of Abraham and hence the God of the Bible. In addressing the people of the Book (Ahl ul Ketab), Christians and Jews alike,
Mohammad said: "We believe in what has been sent down to us and in that which was sent down to you; our God and your God is One; and we are submitted to him". (
Surah 29.46
)
The Bible does mention these same details and, therefore, one may conclude that Allah in the
Quran is the same God in the Bible. But is he? To answer this fundamental question, which has bearing on one’s fate in the after life, it is vital to study the nature of Allah as mentioned in the Quran and