The Person of Christ in the Gospel and the Qur'an

His Miraculous Conception

We read in the Qur'an, And Mary, daughter of Imran, whose womb was chaste, therefore We breathed therein from Our Spirit. And she put faith in the words of the Lord and His Scriptures, and was from the obedient (Sura al-Tahrim 66:12. See also Sura al-Anbiya' 21:91.).

Al Fakhr al Razi says, We breathed therein of our Spirit means in 'Isa, as 'Isa was in her abdomen. There is disagreement over who breathed. Some say the breathing was from Allah - as Allah says, We breathed therein of Our Spirit. Others say that the one who breathed was Gabriel, because it is said in a statement attributed to Gabriel, I grant to you.

There is also disagreement over the manner of this breathing. There is the saying of Wahb that Gabriel breathed into her breast and it reached her womb. Another version is that he breathed into the hem of her garment and she conceived. Al Saddi said, He took hold of her sleeve and breathed into her side, and it entered her breast and she conceived. Then Mary's sister, the wife of Zachariah, came to visit and help her, and while she was assisting her she knew that Mary was pregnant, and Mary mentioned her state to her. The wife of Zachariah said 'I find the child in my womb worship that which is in yours.' Thus the statement (believing in the Word of Allah). Another version holds that the breathing was in her mouth and reached her womb and immediately she conceived.

Ibn Abbas said, Gabriel opened the inner garment with his fingers and breathed inside. The saying, whose body was chaste means she kept herself chaste and maintained her virtue, and, We breathed therein of our Spirit means the breathing was into the opening of her garment. It is also said, We (i.e., Allah) created whatever appears in it (womb of Mary).

Mu'qatil, in his explanation of the words, She believed in the words of her Lord, said they mean, in 'Isa. And Hasan, when reading the Qur'an, indicated this by substituting Word of the Lord, for Words 'Isa is called the Word of Allah in a number of places in the Qur'an.

His Miraculous Birth

The Qur'an mentions this conversation between the virgin Mary and the angel of the Lord when he came with the announcement of Christ's birth. He said, 'I am a messenger of the Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless boy;' she said 'How can I have a boy when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste.' He said, 'So it will be.' Thy Lord says, 'It is easy for me. And we will make him a revelation to mankind and a mercy from us, and it is a thing ordained' (Sura Maryam 19:19-21).

Al Baidawi has commented on the miraculous birth of Jesus saying, That distinction sets Christ apart from other humans and messengers, because he was born without any human embrace or relationship.

But Al Fakhr al Razi comments on the subject thus:

Al Imam Abu Jaafar al Tabari said in explanation of the words faultless boy, basing it on the saying of Abu Amr, the chaste boy is pure from sin. Thus the Arabs say, a youth pure and chaste, outstanding and excellent.

He was Blessed of God

We read in Sura Maryam these words as spoken by Christ, He hath made Me blessed wherever I may be (Sura Maryam 19:30).

Al Tabari, quoting Yunus ibn Abd al Ala and Sufyan said the explanation of hath made Me blessed means He hath made me a 'teacher of good.'

Suleiman bin Abd al Jabbar, quoting Muhammad bin Yazid bin Hunais al Makhzoumi, said, I heard Ibn al Ward, a slave of the Bani Makhzoum say, A scholar encountered another more learned than himself and, after greeting him, said What should be manifested from my knowledge? He said The doing of good and the refraining from the forbidden. This is the religion of Allah, which he sent through his prophets to mankind. Scholars have agreed on the saying of Allah He hath made Me (i.e. 'Isa) blessed, wheresoever I be.

He was supported by the Holy Spirit

We read in Sura al-Baqara 2:253, We gave 'Isa, son of Mary, clear proofs and we supported him with the Holy Spirit.

Ibn Abbas said, The Holy Spirit is the name by which 'Isa was raising the dead. Abu Muslim said, The Holy Spirit by whom he was supported was probably the pure Spirit, which Allah breathed into him, and by which he distinguished him from whose whom he created in a normal manner from man and woman.

We read in Sura al-Nisa' 4:170, The Messiah, 'Isa, son of Mary, is a messenger of Allah, and his Word which he conveyed unto Mary and a spirit from him. So believe in Allah and his messengers.

The substance of these verses is that Alllah gave 'Isa a spirit in his person and this spirit supported him in his personality. But Muslim scholars have differed in the explanation of the Holy Spirit by whom he was supported.

Ibn Ines said, He is the Spirit which was breathed into Christ. Allah related him to himself, honouring him (Christ) and setting Him apart. The 'Holy' is God, and the saying 'We breathed in him of our Spirit' is indicative of this.

Al Suddi and Kaab said, The Holy Spirit is Gabriel, and his support of 'Isa consisted in being his companion and friend, helping and accompanying him wherever he went, until he was taken up into heaven.

Ibn Jubair said, Spirit of the Holy is the supreme name for Allah and by it 'Isa was raising the dead.

Al Qashani said, Allah purposed to cleanse the body of 'Isa from inherent impurities and he was an incarnate spirit in an ideal and spiritual body. He (Allah) cleansed his spirit and purified him from being influenced by natural instincts and environmental characteristics, so that he could be supported by the Holy Spirit in whose form he was.

Ibn A'ta said, The most excellent plants are those whose fruits are like 'Isa, the Spirit of God.

Ibn Abbas said, As it was, the Spirit which was breathed into him and the Holy One is Allah, so he is the spirit of Allah.

His Ascension at the time of His Death

We read that, Allah said, 'O 'Isa, lo, I amd gathering You and causing You to ascend to me and am cleansing You of those who disbelieve' (Sura al Imran 3:55).

Al Fakhri al Razi said, There are many interpretations of this verse, of which we quote two.

The Infallibility of His Message and His Way of Life

Some people imagine that infallibility of message is definitely linked with infallibility of conduct, but the verses of the Qur'an contradict this idea. We read many verses which make it clear that the prophets' lives were not without blame, neither before nor after their message. But in the Qur'an Christ's life was infallible, as was his message. The angel witnessed to that when he said to his mother, I am the messenger of your Lord and I bestow on you a faultless child. Al Baidawi said in his comments on the word faultless that 'Isa advanced intellectually from year to year.

Signs proved the uniqueness of His message

As his message was made unique by the support of the Holy Spirit so it was also unique in the multiplicity and character of the signs attending it, which exceeded those given to any other messenger. We read, We gave 'Isa, son of Mary, clear proofs (Sura al-Baqara 2:253). The proofs were the miracles.

Al Baidawi said, Allah bestowed on him a special assignment and made His miracles a reason for his preference above other messengers. They were clear signs and great wonders unequalled in number by any other.

His Omniscience

The Qur'an says, When the Son of Mary is quoted as an example, your people alienate themselves from Him. Surely he is a sign for the hour (i.e., Day of Judgement) (Sura al-Zukhruf 43:57,61).

Al Jalalan said in his explanation of the phrase 'a sign for the Hour': seeing as 'Isa was a Sign for the hour, he know when it (the day of Judgement) would come. When we remember that people generally recognize that Allah is separate from his creation in that he alone knows the times, we comprehend the distinction which the Qur'an assigns especially to Christ.

He is the Mediator near to Allah

The Qur'an confines the work of intercession to Allah alone, when it says: Unto Allah belongs all intercession. (Sura al-Zumat 39:4) Another verse of the Qur'an hints that intercession is also one of the privileges of Christ when it says, Remember when the angel said, 'O Mary, lo, Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, 'Isa, Son of Mary, an outstanding personality in the world and in the hereafter, and one of those brought near' (Sura al Imran 3:44).

His Power to Create

In the Qur'an there is the following statement: When Allah saith 'O 'Isa, son of Mary! Remember My favour unto The... and how I taught Thee the Scripture and Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel: and how Thou didst shape of clay as it were the likeness of a bird and didst blow into it and it was a bird, by my permission' (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:109).

Ibn Arabi in his interpretation of this verse said, Allah bestowed on 'Isa a Spirit, and added the power to breathe life into what he had made of clay. To none other than 'Isa has Allah given this power to impart life.

He spoke at his birth

When Mary had her son, her people blamed her, thinking that she had given birth to him out of wedlock. Then she pointed to him and they said 'How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy?' He said 'Lo! I am a slave of Allah. He hath given me the scripture and hath appointed me a prophet' (Sura Maryam 21:28-29).

It has been said by trustworthy scholars that when Mary's people went too far in reproaching her, she was silent and pointed to her child as if she would say to them, He will answer you.

Al Suddi said, When she pointed to him they were very angry, and said, 'Her mockery of us is worse than her adultery.'

Another story relates that 'Isa was feeding at his mother's breast, and when he heard the complaint against Mary, he stopped feeding, turned his face to the people, and resting on his left hand, pointed with his finger and spoke to them.

There is also another story, told by Al Razi, which says Zachariah came to her during this dabate among the Jews concerning her, and said to 'Isa, Speak for yourself if you have been commanded so to do, and 'Isa said, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me wisdom and made me a prophet.

He raised the dead and healed the blind and the leper

The Qur'an states, in the words of Christ, I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead by the permission of Allah (Sura al Imran 3:49).

It is known that the word blind in this quotation means those who were born in that condition. It is also a fact that leprosy is a dangerous disease, and both ailments were beyond the power of man to cure.

Al Muthanna, quoting Ibn Ishaq and Hafs ibn Umar and Ikrima, mentioned that Allah told 'Isa to repeat this verse to the Jews by way of proving he was a prophet because blindness and leprosy had no cure.

Concerning the phrase I raise the dead, Wahb ibn Munabbih related that while 'Isa was playing with some boys, a youth sprang on one and, striking him with his foot, killed him, then threw him bleeding into the arms of 'Isa. People were told of this and accused 'Isa, then seized him, took him to a judge, and said, This boy has killed another boy. The judge questioned him and 'Isa replied, I do not know the one who killed him, neither am I one of his friends. Then they wanted to strike 'Isa, so he said to them, Bring the boy to me, and they asked him, Why? He replied, I will ask him who killed him. They asked, How can he speak to you if he is dead? Then they took him to the dead boy and 'Isa began to pray for him and Allah restored him to life.

From Wahb comes another story, which says, A great number of sick people, possibly some fifty thousand, once crowded around him. Those who were able to do so reached him, but for those who could not do so, Jesus walked amongst them and cured them by prayer.

Another from Kalbi, who said, Jesus used to raise the dead by the cry 'O Thou Who art alive -- O Everlasting One.' He raised Lazarus his friend and he called Shem, the son of Noah, from his grave and he came forth alive. He passed by the dead son of an old woman and invoked Allah for him, and the deceased descended from his bier, returned to his family, and continued his normal life.

He had knowledge of things hidden and invisible

The Qur'an mentions Christ as saying, I announce to you what you eat and what you store up in your houses (Sura al Imran 3:49).

In regard to this, scholars see two factors. First, 'Isa (from the beginning) could discern hidden matters. As Suddi relates, While he was playing with the children he told them what their mothers and fathers did. He told one boy, 'Your mother has hidden something for you,' so the boy went home and cried until he received it. Then the people said to their children, 'Don't play with this magician' and they gathered them into a home. 'Isa came to look for them and the people said to him, 'They are not in the house.' So he asked, 'Who then is in this house?' They replied, 'pigs.' 'Isa said, 'Thus they will be, for they are pigs.'

The second factor is that discernment of hidden matters is miraculous. Astrologers who tell the future and reveal hidden matters can only do so by questioning. They also confess they often make mistakes. But knowledge of the unknown, without recourse to aids or previous knowledge, cannot be without inspiration.

He brought a table spread with food from heaven

The Qur'an says, When the disciples said, 'O 'Isa, son of Mary! Is Thy Lord able to send down for us a table spread with food from heaven?' He said, 'Reverence Allah, if you are true believers.' They said, 'We wish to eat thereof, that we may satisfy our hearts and know that Thou hast spoken truth to us, and that we may be witnesses thereof.' 'Isa, son of Mary, said 'O Allah, send down a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a feast for us, for the first of us and the last of us, and a sign from Thee. Give us sustenance, for Thou art the best of Sustainers' (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:112-114).

It is blasphemy

The Qur'an states, It is not fitting to the majesty of Allah that he decreeth a thing. He saith only unto it 'Be!' and it is (Sura Maryam 19:34).

It also says, They say, 'Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son.' Assuredly ye utter a disastrous thing, whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, that ye ascribe unto the Beneficent a son. It is not meet for (the majesty of) the Beneficent that he should take a son. There is none in the heavens and in the earth but cometh unto the Beneficent as a slave (Sura Maryam 19:89-94).

Al Fakhri al Razi's commentary states, I know that Allah, when he replied to the idolaters, spoke to those who asserted that he had a son. The Jews said that Azer was the son of God, and the Christians said that Christ was the Son of God, and the Arabs said the angels were the daughters of God, and all of them are included in the verse, 'They say The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son... '.

The words a disastrous thing mean it was a shocking denial of truth. Thus the tearing of the heavens and the splitting of the earth and the collapse of mountains mean that the wrath of Allah is on him who says, The Beneficent has taken to himself a son.

It is a uniting of part of creation with the Creator

In Sura al-Zukhruf 43:15, we read, They allot to him a portion of his bondmen. Lo! man is an obvious blasphemer. Does he take daughters from that which he created and honour you with sons?

Here there arises the question: what relationship is there between Creator and created that a part of creation can be joined to the Creator? It is physically and mentally impossible. Also they (the Muslims) go on from the statement There is none in the heavens and in the earth but cometh unto him as a slave to say that it is not possible for a slave to become a lord, and from the words the Creator of heaven and earth, they affirm it is not possible for the created to be a creator.

We, as Christians, affirm that it is not possible to join anything to Allah from his creatures, but according to our belief, this cannot be applied to any relationship between the Father and the Son, as the Son is one in essence with the Father, and the Qur'an itself says that Christ is the Word of God, and a Spirit from Him. So the uniting of part of God's creation with Him has nothing to do with the matter of the Sonship of Christ.

A Son can only be born from male and female

Here there is a problem in the understanding of Islam concerning sonship, seeing as the Qur'an states, How can he (Allah) have a child, when there is for him no consort? (Sura al-An'am 6:102).

Al Baidawi has commented on this verse saying, It is only rational to say that a child is one born of male and female, of the same kind and nature, and Allah is far above homogeneousness.

This is the concept of Islam, with regard to the inconceivability of God as having a son. He does not have a consort and it is impossible that there could be one. This is the secret of their denial to God's fatherhood of Christ, for there is no sonship, in the opinion of the Qur'an except in a physical sense.

That which is written in Tabari's Jami al Bayan supports this opinion. It is quoted by Wahb and Abi Zeid who say, A child must be born of male and female, and it cannot be that Allah has a consort and a child. It is he who has created all things and if there is nothing except that which Allah has created how could he have a son?

Some scholars resort to the verse given concerning certain heretics who were originally heathen and after joining the church sought to introduce in it a heresy which claimed that Mary, the virgin, was a god. Perhaps they took her as a substitute for the goddess Venus, whom they used to worship before. They are alluded to by the learned Ahmad al Maqrizi, in his book Al Qoul al Ibrizi, page 26, and also mentioned by Ibn Hazm in his book Al Milal wa Al Ahwa wa Al Nihal, page 48. Their heresy suggests that Allah had a consort and a son by her, and is obviously rejected by the Qur'an. But this idea is entirely foreign to Christianity. No Christian believes it. It is an insult directed against a Holy God who is free from bodily characteristics.

In fact anyone considering the Christians' belief, which is based on the Gospel, finds that they never look upon Christ as Son of God in a physical sense but believe he is the Son of God, coming out from the divine presence, as in the description of Him being the Word who was with God in the beginning, and who was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

The great apostle Paul points to this truth when he says in Romans 1:1-4, Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

He used to partake of food

It is recorded in Sura al-Ma'ida 5:75, The Messiah, son of Mary, was not other than a messenger, like those who had passed away before him. His mother was a saintly woman. They both used to eat (earthly) food. See how we make the revelations clear to the people and see how they are turned away. According to Islamic thinking the impossibility of there being divinity in Christ is clear from his humanity, for he who partakes of food, how can he be Allah?

Al Razi says in explanation of this verse,

The created is incapable of benefitting or harming

Sura al Ma'ida 5:76 says, Serve ye in place of Allah he who possesseth for you neither hurt nor use? Allah is the Hearer, the Omniscient. Commentators have taken this verse to refer to perverted Christian claims and have said it contains a number of arguments.

It is stated in the Qur'an that, They have disbelieved who say 'Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary.' Who can do anything against Allah, if he had willed to destroy the Messiah, Son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on earth? (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:17)

Al Razi, in his comments on this verse, claims it contains a question. If none of the Christians say that Allah is Christ, Son of Mary, why did Allah speak like that about them, seeing as they do not say it? His answer is that many of those who believe in incarnation say that Allah may have become incarnate in the body of a designated person or in his spirit, and if that is so, it isn't improbable to say that some of the Christians hold this doctrine. Yet this is not far from what Christians do maintain, because they say that the person of the Word was united with the person of 'Isa.

The element of the Word is either a Being of an attribute. If he is a Being, then the personality of Allah has become incarnate in 'Isa, and is one with him, and thus, according to this saying, 'Isa is Allah. If we say the element of the Word is an attribute then the transition of an atribute from one personality to another is illogical.

Then the supposition of the transfer of the element of knowledge from Allah to 'Isa necessitates that Allah himself is emptied of knowledge and he who is not omniscient is not Allah. According to their belief 'Isa is Allah and it is certain that even if the Christians do not clearly state this doctrine, the result of their ideology is nothing less than that.

Allah - his name be praised - remonstrated against the corruption of this belief when he said, Who can do anything against Allah, if He had willed to destroy the Messiah, Son of Mary, and His mother? These words, in the opinion of commentators, mean that 'Isa was the same as any other on earth in his physical appearance, nature, physique, character and conditions.

The Qur'an states, They surely disbelieve who say: 'Lo! Allah is the Messiah, Son of Mary.' The Messiah himself said 'O children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! Whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden Paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil doers there will be no helpers' (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:72).

The Imam al Razi says in explaining this verse: Allah, when he inquired about some sayings of the Jews, began here with a statement to the Christians, and spoke of a sect that said, 'God became incarnate in 'Isa and was united in his person.'

Sura al-Ma'ida 5:73 states, They surely disbelieve who say 'Lo! Allah is the third of three'; when there is no Allah save One. If they do not desist from so saying a painful doom will fall on those who disbelieve. Muslims start from this verse and accuse the Christians of worshipping three gods, Allah, Mary and Jeus.

Al Razi looks at the belief of the Christians in the following way: It is said about the Christians that they claim One Essence, and Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and these Three are One God, even as the sun contains a disk, rays and heat. They mean by The Father the Personality; by The Son the Word; and by The Spirit the Life. They assert the Personality, the Word, and the Life, saying 'The Word which is the Words of God, merged with the body of 'Isa, as water mixes with wine, and water with milk', and allege that the Father is God, and the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Al Razi concludes his explanation with this addition, Now this is known to be false by instinct of the mind, for three cannot be one and one cannot be three.

The Qur'an says, And when Allah saith, 'O 'Isa, Son of Mary! Didst Thou say unto mankind, Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah'? He saith, 'Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it then, Thou knowest it. Thou knowest what is in my soul and I know not what is in Thyself. Thou only art the Knower of things hidden' (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:116).

Al Razi finds problems in this saying:

The first is linked with the meaning of the statement of Allah, O 'Isa, son of Mary, remember my grace is upon you. He relates this to the distinction Christ will have on the day of resurrection.

The second, if Allah, being omniscient, knew that 'Isa did not say, take me and my mother for two gods - and it is not fitting that the omniscient should ask the question - why did he address him? If it be said that the purpose of it was to reprimand and rebuke the Christians, then we say that no Christian has believed the statement that 'Isa and Mary were two gods besides Allah. Therefore, how is it possible to link this statement with them when no one has ever made it?

The answer given to the first point, Why did he address him? is that it was a rhetorical question.

The answer given to the second is that Allah is the Creator. However, Christians believe that the Creator of the miracles performed by 'Isa and Mary was 'Isa and Allah did not create them at all. If that is so then the Christians have said that the Creator for those miracles is 'Isa and Mary and not Allah. So truly they have asserted to some extent that 'Isa and Mary are two gods beside Him. Thus Allah is no longer God. Al Razi believes that various statements and stories agree with this interpretation.

However, commentators on the Qur'an disagree about the exact time God asked Jesus this question.

Al Suddi for instance says that God, when he raised Jesus, Son of Mary, unto himself, asked him, Didst Thou say unto mankind, 'Take me and my mother for two gods?'

But Qatada says, This question has not yet been asked. It will be asked at the Resurrection. Ibn Jarih and Maisara agree with this opinion.

O people of the Scriptures! Do not exaggerate in your religion, nor say anything about Allah save the truth. The Messiah, 'Isa, Son of Mary, is a messenger of Allah and his Word, which he conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and his messenger and say not 'Three'. Cease! It is better for you! Allah is only One God(Sura al-Nisa' 4:170).

A servant, not Lord

According to the word of the Qur'an, quoting the saying of Christ, I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture, and hath blessed and made me wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, and hath made me dutiful towards her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant or unblest (Sura Maryam 19:30-34).

Al Imam al Razi commenting on this verse says: In this phrase 'slave of Allah' there are four points to note:

First, it does away with the erroneous belief of the Christians that 'Isa is God.

Second, if Christ, when he confessed his servitude, was truthful in his statement, then truly he was Allah's slave. If he was lying, the power he used would not have been divine, but satanic, and both suppositions would render void his being a god.

Third, that which was the pressing need for him at that time was to remove the accusation of adultery from his mother Mary. However 'Isa did not clearly deny that, but laid emphasis on the fact of his servitude, as if the removal of the accusation that he was equal with Allah were more important than removing the accusation from his mother.

Fourth, the removal of this accusation from Allah assists the removal of the accusation from his mother, bacause Allah would not choose an adulteress to bear a child for this great and high position.

Then he comments on the Christian belief in the divine nature of Christ and says, The belief of Christians is very confused. They have agreed that God is not in a body nor confined, yet we can put forth an argument which makes void their belief from every direction. We say that if they believe he is confined we annul their statement with the argument that all bodies are created. If they believe he is not confined then their statement that the Word merged with humanity as water mixes with wine, and fire blends with coal, is made void, because this is not reasonable except there be a physical element.

I believe the concept of the Qur'an with regard to the person of Christ is based upon two truths containing a mystery which the natural man cannot comprehend.

The first truth is that Jesus, as being the Son of Mary, was the Servant of God. This is expressed in the language of the prophets, as Isaiah 52:13 and 53:11 says, See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted... by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

The second truth: this attribute of servant is not incompatible with the Qur'anic statement that he is a Word, bestowed upon Mary and a Spirit from him.

Anyone who ponders carefully the twofold meaning of this verse in the Qur'an sees within it the declaration of Paul in Romans 1:1-4, as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.

Christ is in the likeness of Adam

It is written in the Qur'an, Lo! the likeness of 'Isa with Allah, is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust and then said unto him 'Be!' and he is (Sura al Imran 3:59).

In Abi Jaafar al Tabari's book Jami al Bayan it reports that Allah said, O Muhammad! tell the Christians of Najran that my creation of 'Isa without a male progenitor was similar to that of Adam to whom I said, 'Be!' and he was; without a progenitor male or female. My creation of 'Isa from his mother, without a male, is no greater miracle than my creation of Adam.

It is related that Muhammad ibn Saad, quoting his father and Ibn Abbas said, A group of people from Najran came to Muhammad, among whom were As Sayyid and Al Aqib. They said to Muhammad, 'Why do you speak about our Friend?' He said, 'And who is he?' They said, ''Isa. You allege he is a servant of Allah.' Muhammad replied, 'Surely he is a servant of Allah.' Then they said, 'Have you ever seen or been informed about 'Isa?' and forthwith they left him. Then came Gabriel sent by our Lord, the Hearer and the Omniscient, and said, 'Tell them, if they come to you, that the likeness of 'Isa (in His creation) with Allah is like that of Adam.'

Another story from Muhammad ibn Husain, Ahmed ibn al Mufaddal, and Al Suddi says, When Muhammad was sent and the people of Najran heard of him, four of their leaders, Al Aqib, As Sayyid, Masirjus and Jarijus, came to him and asked him what he thought of 'Isa. He said, 'He is a servant of Allah and his Spirit and his Word.' They said 'No! He is Allah. He descended from his dominion and entered into Mary, was born and manifested himself. Have you ever seen a man who was born without a father?' It was then that Allah sent to Muhammad this verse, ''Isa is in the eyes of Allah the same as Adam.'

A third story, from Al Qisam, Ibn Juraij and Ikrima, said, We heard that the Christians of Najran sent a deputation to Muhammad, among them Al Aqib and Al Sayyid, who said, 'O Muhammad, why do you revile our Friend?' He replied, 'Who is your Friend?' They said ''Isa, Son of Mary. You allege he is a servant.' To which Muhammad replied, 'Truly, he is a servant of Allah and his Word, bestowed on Mary and a Spirit from him.'

Then they were angry with him and said, 'If you are truthful show us a servant who can raise the dead and heal the blind and the leper and who, creating from clay the form of a bird, will breathe into it so that it becomes a bird - isn't he Allah?' Muhammad said nothing until Gabriel came to him and said, 'O Muhammad! They have blasphemed who said that Allah is Christ the Son of Mary.' Then Muhammad replied, 'Gabriel! they asked me to tell them to whom 'Isa is similar,' and Gabriel said, ''Isa is just as Adam.'

The Deity of Christ

No doubt the enquirer into Christianity will find himself confronted by many serious questions. Probably the most difficult is the deity of Christ. By this I mean the firm belief of Christians that Jesus, who was born of the virgin Mary in Judah and lived on our earth for some time, is both the Son of God, and God the Son.

It may seem that this belief is difficult for many, although the difficulty does not alter the fact of Christianity being the only true religion. The belief of Christians in the existence of three persons in one God, does not necessitate that one preceded the other in time, or that one is greater than the other in any sense whatever. God is one but reveals himself by these names in order to show the plan of redemption.

Before starting to consider the deity of Christ, it is necessary to consider the statements in the Bible concerning the Fatherhood of God to Christ.

Revelations from the Father

In the Gospel of Luke 1:31,32 we read that the Angel of the Lord said to the virgin Mary, You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. When Jesus was born the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.-- which means, 'God with us' (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23).

Then we read, at the time of the baptism of Jesus, As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased' (Matthew 3:16-17).

Furthermore while Jesus was with three of his disciples on Mount Hermon, he spoke with Moses and Elijah, and He was still speaking when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! (Matthew 17:5).

Declarations of Christ

Christ said in one of his parables, I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener (John 15:1) Then in John 10:27-30, he declared, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand... no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. In his parting message he said, I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father (John 14:12,13).

When the Jews boasted to Christ because Moses had given them manna in the wilderness, he said to them, I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven (John 6:32).

He also said to others, I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does... just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.... I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live (John 5:19-25).

Then later, while teaching the people, he said, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:34-36).

In a dialogue with others he stated, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.' For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:17-18). And one day he said to his listeners, All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:27-28).

When we consider this profound declaration, it is clear that neither an ordinary man, nor prophet, nor apostle nor angel from heaven, nor chief of angels can comprehend the secret of the wonderful person of Jesus Christ. It clearly means that the nature of Christ is unlimited, for no one can comprehend Him other than the Father. Surely, if Christ is only an ordinary man it is not right that this statement be made. Without any doubt, this glorious declaration teaches us that one of the functions of Christ in his eternal oneness with the Father is to reveal to us the Father who is described as The Invisible.

This revelation, which Christ declared, may appear to be a mystery and difficult to understand. But the Holy Spirit inspired the writer of the Gospel of John to clarify it for us in a series of verses, of which the clearest is: No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known (John 1:18). This verse assures us that no human or angel has ever seen God, or known Him with the knowledge which makes him fully acquainted with His divine attributes. What was revealed to them came by inspiration or vision. Moses, and others of the prophets, never saw God. They received their revelations by inspiration and the source of them was the Second Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for He alone of His own accord knows the thoughts of the Triune God who appeared in a body (1 Timothy 3:16).

When Jesus said to His disciples, I and the Father are one. He who has seen me has seen the Father. I am in the Father and the Father is in me, he was assuring them of the unity between himself and his Father, namely that he and the Father are one in essence and glory, rank and ability, will and purpose.

The Testimony of the Apostles

The Testimony of the Prophets

After the testimony of these verses we must keep in mind that Christ is called Son of God because of his being the Second Person of the Godhead. So it must be understand that the words son and father, according to the Christian belief, has no connection whatever with the human idea of fatherhood and sonship.

Perfect Deity

Perhaps one of the strangest departures from orthodox Christians was that of the Gnostics, who denied the idea of the incarnation adhered to by the vast majority of Christians of their time. The Gnostics acknowledged the deity of Christ, but denied his humanity. They said that Christ appeared in the likeness of a man without having a real human body, and thus he was not born. He neither suffered nor actually died, because his body was a phantom or apparition visible to men. One sect among them said that the body of Christ was not material as the bodies of other men, but that he was of special heavenly substance.

However the idea cannot be maintained in the light of the truth set forth in the inspired Word from God. We read in 1 John 4:1-4, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Human Only

This idea is no less strange than the reciting. The adherents of this sect claim the humanity of Christ, but not his deity. They say that Christ is the perfect man, i.e. the greatest man in the world, and must be honoured as the greatest leader and most wonderful and glorious hero and martyr. Probably the clearest answer refuting the opinion of these heretics is the statement of Dr. Conrad when he said, These who have come to this conclusion are completely mistaken, for it is not possible for them to maintain that Christ is a leader, or a hero, after they have refused to accept what he affirmed about himself. In this case Christ is one of two things; either he is the greatest deceiver, or deceived and therefore needs to be pitied. It would then be foolish to give him a place of honour. Actually, if Christ is not worthy of worship, he is not worthy of any respect, for he demanded for himself that which would not be justified, namely, worship and majesty.

Unity of Deity and Humanity in the Person of Christ

This is the correct teaching that has prevailed in the Church. The confession of the Church continues to be proclaimed in the whole world, through every generation and age. The substance of this opinion is that Christ has two perfect natures, for he is perfect God and perfect Man.

From the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6):

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Also in Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Matthew 1:23 also tells us that the word Immanuel means God with us.

From the Psalms: Psalm 110:1:

The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'This expression is very significant, and we cannot find for it any explanation except to believe in the eternal dialogue between the Father and the Son, and to be sure that God is the one who spoke.

From Micah 5:2:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will rule over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

His Eternal Being

Perhaps this is one of the most momentous things he ever stated when, speaking to Jewish religious leaders, he said, I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am! (John 8:58). This word I am is the same which God used of himself when Moses asked, Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you' (Exodus 3:13,14). Thus, Christ reveals in himself the same God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush on Mount Horeb.

Also in John 17:5, it is recorded that Christ, in His intercessory prayer said, And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began and verse 24, Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. These words give assurance of the eternal existence of Christ and silence all tongues which allege that this is not so.

His coming from Heaven

In His dialogue with some of the Jews, Jesus said, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world (John 8:23).

Then, in his discussion with the religious leader Nicodemus, he said, No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-- the Son of Man (John 3:13). Furthermore, we read, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13).

We note here that Jesus not only speaks of his coming from heaven but also of his existence in Heaven while he was on earth.

His presence in all places and at all times

In Matthew 18:20 it is stated that he said, For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. and after his resurrection he said to his disciples, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).

His unlimited power

He said at his appearing John on the island of Patmos, I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).

His power to create

The following verses make this clear. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men (John 1:3,4).

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him(Colossians 1:16).

To make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things(Ephesians 3:9).

His power to raise the dead

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, 'Don't cry.' Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, 'Young man, I say to you, get up!'(Luke 7:12-14).

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go'(John 11:43,44).

He will be the Judge of the whole world

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats(Matthew 25:31,32).

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son(John 5:22).

He is worthy of worship

That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father(John 5:23).

The worship of the Son with the Father was known to godly men in the Old Testament. David said, Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Psalm 2:11,12).

He forgives sins

The Jews were always convinced that God alone had the authority to forgive sins and they were astonished when they were present at one of Jesus' miracles and he said to the paralysed man, Son, your sins are forgiven (Mark 2:5). When their thoughts were disturbed by his behaviour, he said to them, Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.... He said to the paralytic, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, We have never seen anything like this! (Mark 2:8-12).

He gives eternal life

He said in John 10:27-28, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

He is equal with the Father

He himself stated, I and the Father are one (John 10:30) and, Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves (John 14:8-11).

He accepted worship and adoration

There is no doubt that Christ accepted worship and adoration, which is not permissible for a mortal being ever to accept. This happened with the man who was born blind. When Jesus asked, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' 'Who is he, sir?' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in him.' Jesus said, 'You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.' Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him (John 9:35-38).

Thomas

This disciple, after the resurrection, when he saw the marks of the nails in the hands of Jesus, and the wound in his side which was pierced by a sword said, My Lord and my God (John 20:28).

John

This inspired disciple said in John 5:20, We are in him who is true-- even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Paul

The great apostle said in Romans 9:5, Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Whoever desires salvation must, before everything else, abide by the universal faith of the Christian church.

This universal faith is the worship of God who is one in three and three in one.

We do not mingle the three, nor separate them in essence.

The Father is one, the Son is one and the Holy Spirit is one, but the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one in deity and equal in glory and eternal majesty.

As is the Father, so is the Son and so is the Holy Spirit.

The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated and the Holy Spirit is uncreated. They are not three uncreated but One uncreated.

The Father is unlimited, the Son is unlimited and the Holy Spirit is unlimited. They are not three unlimited but One unlimited.

The Father is from eternity, the Son is from eternity and the Holy Spirit is from eternity. They are not three from eternity, but one from eternity.

The Father controls all things, the Son controls all things and the Holy Spirit controls all things, but they are not three controllers but one.

The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, but they are not three gods, but one God.

The Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord, but they are not three lords, but One Lord.

Even as Christians truth commands us not to confess that each of the persons is by himself God or Lord, so also our religion forbids the saying that there exist three gods and three lords.

We have one Father, not three fathers; one Son, and not three sons; one Holy Spirit and not three holy spirits.

No one of these three persons existed before or after the other. Neither is one greater or less than the other. All three Persons are eternal and equal.

Thus, from all that has been said, we must worship the One in three and the three in one.

The true faith is that we believe and assert that our Lord Jesus Christ is God from the essence of the Father, begotten from eternity, and that he is man from the nature of his mother, begotten in this age.

And he, though he is God and Man, is one Christ, not two, and he became man by changing his deity to humanity, but by blending humanity with deity.

That each of the three persons, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are given the titles and attributes of deity, and that each of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are worthy of honour and trust and worship.

The Bible makes it clear, that the Son is divine, even as the Father. Jesus said in John 5:23, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.

The deity of the Holy Spirit is also clear from the Bible text, even as is the deity of the Father and the Son. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Each of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit speak of themselves as I.

Each One, when speaking to the other directly says Thou, and indirectly He.

The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father, and the Holy Spirit witnesses to the Son and glorifies him.

In Deity

The Scriptures, given by the inspiration of God, state concerning:

In Lordship

In Eternity

In Their Omnipresence

In Their Worthiness of Worship

In the Quality of Truth

In the Quality of Love

In Holiness

The objection to the Deity of Christ

Perhaps someone will object to the deity of Christ and support his objection with the saying of Christ in John 5:30, By myself I can do nothing... for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Also John 14:28, For the Father is greater than I.

To this objection we say that these statements do not disprove the deity of Christ with regard to the fact of his relationship to the Father within the Trinity, for it was necessary for man's redemption that the second person of the Trinity should become incarnate, to carry out the divine will by offering himself to atone for the sin of mankind. After he had completed this divine work he ascended to heaven and sat on the right hand of God in heavenly places far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:21-23).

We understand from the teaching of the apostles that the work of redemption necessitated that the redeemer should be a man in order to share the nature of those whom he had come to redeem. Also to be God that he might have supreme power to overcome sin and set free from its authority all who believe in him. All who study the Bible find the shadow of this Redeemer throughout its lines, from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation. Sometimes he is seen born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:4). Sometimes he is seen as God, that he might be the centre for worship of his chosen ones and the object of their faith.

Christ is an amazing person: he is God and Man in One. He filled the vision of the prophets throughout the generations before his incarnation. Isaiah pointed to his coming in the flesh as the greatest of God's wonders and signs, when he says, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. --which means, God with us (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23). Isaiah also described him with the words, he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

The objection to the Deity of the Holy Spirit

Some say that the Holy Spirit is not a person of the Trinity, but rather that he is the power of God, carrying our his work in the universe and in the hearts of men. But the texts of the Bible make it clear that the Holy Spirit is a person and not merely a divine power at work in us. Mere power cannot be said to be the possessor of holiness, truth, wisdom or will, neither can it speak or be spoken to.

It is recorded in the Bible that at the baptism of Christ the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form as a dove, and there was a voice from heaven which said, You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased (Luke 3:22). This reveals the three persons at one time, for the Holy Spirit descended from heaven, from the Father who spoke from heaven, upon the Son who was on earth.

Likewise, the promise of Christ to his disciples of another Comforter, the apostolic blessing The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, and the apostle Paul's declaration For through him (Jesus) we have access in one Spirit to the Father indicate three persons of the Godhead.

All who study the Bible find many passages which show the falsity of the claim that the Holy Spirit is merely divine power. One of them is the apostle's statement that through the Spirit the church was given many gifts, one of which was the working of miracles (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). If the Holy Spirit is merely power, the meaning would be that the Spirit is just one of the gifts.

There are other passages also which show he is a person, and not a mere gift or power among them.

Luke 4:14: Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

Acts 10:38: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.

Romans 15:13: That you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:19: By the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.

If this objection were true, we should have to say that Jesus returned in the power of the power or that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy power. The apostolic blessing would read like this: the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the 'holy power' be with you all. No Christian could accept such renderings.

The objection to the doctrine of the Trinity

Many times the question is asked, What is your evidence for the plurality of the Godhead? The answer is that the unity of God is prominent in the Bible, and the acknowledgement that the universe has no place for another like God does not necessarily prevent there being three persons, who are one in essence.

It enhances the deity and reveals its perfections.

The unity without the Trinity limits it and leaves it devoid of every content of happiness and love. We find in the counsel of the Trinity the love of one for another, which gives the deity all the requirements of eternal happiness.

The Trinity is a means by which God reveals himself to his creatures.

Each one, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are of one substance. The Son has full knowledge of the Father and can reveal him perfectly. The Holy Spirit is of the essence of deity and can thus reveal it to mankind.

By means of the three persons, God draws near to his creatures. But without this approach God remains far from us, veiled from our understanding and cut off from our experience.

The Trinity is the means by which God completed the work of redemption in all its requirements.

The second person became flesh, and atoned for our sins. He interceded and mediated for us and provided a means of justification, reconciliation and salvation. The apostle says, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19). It is also said concerning the work of the third person, the Holy Spirit, that he renews our hearts and enlightens our minds and sanctifies us with the holiness which enables us to enter the presence of God. Truly, without the Trinity, God could not become Redeemer and Saviour, Sanctifier und Judge, in a way which fulfills the sinner's need of redemption from the curse of the law which condemns him because of sin.

The Trinity presents God as a pattern for human life.

In loving social relations and family harmony we see the true quality of Fatherhood in the first person, and true Sonship in the second person, which elevates both the aspect of fatherhood and sonship among men.

What are some points where Islam and Christianity touch on identical views in regard to the personality of Christ?

What are the reasons which led the Muslims to refuse the Christian teaching of the Trinity?

In your opinion, do the Muslims have sufficient reason for saying that the gospels are distorted because they do not mention Muhammad as being a prophet?

What is the distinguishing characteristic of Christ in the Qur'an?

Which miracle does Islam accredit to Christ (which does not accur in the gospel)?

Is one able to perceive the deity of Christ in the Qur'anic texts?

In your opinion, what are the reasons which led Islam to deny the Fatherhood of God?

What conclusions does Islam make about the deity of Christ?

How would you answer the Imam Arrazi in his denial of the teachings of Christ?

How would you refute the statement of Islam that Christ was just a slave?

Briefly state the evidence from the Holy Bible about the divinity of Christ.

Did Christ mention his relationship to the Godhead in the Gospel? Give references.

What evidence is given from the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Apostles about the deity of Christ?

Did Christ ask the people to honour him as they honour the Father?

How would you specify the views of the agnostics and aruists which show their denial of the person of Christ?

Is there a Psalm which reveals the acceptance of Christ in the Godhead?

How would you, personally, explain the truth that God is a Trinity?

How would you answer those who say that the Holy Trinity is three Gods?

Does the expression The Holy Trinity have roots in the holy books (Qur'an and Bible)?

Give a text from the Holy Bible which shows the uniqueness of the Holy Trinity.