The Quran’s Implication in 43:81 That Validates the Worship of the Son of God: A Theological Analysis
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction:
For centuries, the divinity of Jesus Christ has remained the cornerstone of Christian theology and salvation. Yet intriguingly, within the Islamic scripture itself, one finds conditional statements that inadvertently affirm this Christian belief. One such passage is Qur'an 43:81, where Allah supposedly commands Muhammad to declare:
“If the Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship.” (Qur'an 43:81)
At first glance, the Muslim argument dismisses the existence of any son of God. However, this verse presents an undeniable implication: if it were a fact that God had a son, then such a being would be inherently worthy of divine worship — a position fully embraced within Christian doctrine.
The Conditional Reality:
The Arabic construct of "لو" (law) translated as “if” in this verse, introduces a conditional statement. In theological terms, this is a hypothetical admission which, if fulfilled, would necessitate action — in this case, worship. The Quran thus indirectly acknowledges that the Son of God, by nature and essence, must be divine and worthy of the same worship as the Father.
This is significant because it dismantles any accusation of blasphemy against Christians for worshipping the Son, provided that God indeed has a Son — which the Bible asserts unequivocally.
Does the Torah and Injil Affirm God Has a Son?
The Bible leaves no ambiguity regarding this:
Proverbs 30:4 (Torah/Writings)
“Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? Surely you know!”
This rhetorical verse acknowledges not only the existence of God but also that of His Son — an eternal, uncreated, divine being sharing in the nature of the Father.
John 1:1-3, 14 (Injil)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
The Bible teaches that Jesus (Isa Al-Masih) is not a created being but the eternal Logos, co-existent with the Father and deserving of all worship.
The Theological Implication for Islam:
While Muslims reject the idea of God having a son, Qur’an 43:81 inadvertently reveals that should such a Son exist, His divinity and the legitimacy of worshipping Him would be theologically sound — even within the Islamic worldview. This is precisely what Christianity holds: that Jesus is the uncreated Son of God, fully divine, and worthy of worship.
Conclusion:
The Qur’an, in its attempt to preempt Christian theology, inadvertently leaves a theological crack that affirms the Christian belief in the Son of God. As the Torah and Injil testify of God’s Son, and as the Qur’an hypothetically allows for the worship of such a Son, the evidence compels an honest seeker of truth to reckon with the person of Jesus Christ.
As it is written:
John 20:28
“Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
May those seeking the truth come to know the Son who alone reveals the Father.
- Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
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