The Apostleship of Paul According to the Noble Qur’an

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The figure of the Apostle Paul stands at the center of much debate in both Christian and Muslim circles. While many Muslims today reject Paul’s apostleship, claiming he was a false teacher and not a true messenger, this perspective is both theologically and historically uninformed. By examining the Scriptures—both the Bible and the Qur’an—as well as classical Islamic scholarship and the hadith, we can gain a deeper understanding of Paul’s divine mission.

How Do Messengers Receive Revelation?

We begin with the foundational understanding of how prophets and apostles receive divine revelation. In Numbers 12:6, the Almighty declares the nature of prophetic communication. Was Paul among those who received revelation in such a manner? Acts 16:9 tells us, "During the night Paul had a vision..." Clearly, Paul was a recipient of divine visions, aligning with the criteria for messengers outlined in the Hebrew Scriptures.

To Whom Was Paul Sent?

God explicitly states Paul's commission in Acts 9:15:
"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.'"
Further confirmation is found in Acts 13:2:
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'"
Paul himself affirms his apostleship in Galatians 1:1:
"Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead."
And again in Colossians 1:1:
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother."

Here, Paul stands firm, not as a self-appointed leader, but as one commissioned directly by Christ and God Himself.

The Requirement of Faith in All Messengers

Islamic faith, as summarized in the classical creed (Swifat ul I’iman Mufaswalu), is built on six articles:

1. Belief in Allah

2. Belief in His Angels

3. Belief in His Books

4. Belief in His Messengers

5. Belief in Divine Destiny

6. Belief in the Last Day

Our focus is on the fourth article: faith in the messengers. Islam teaches there have been approximately 124,000 prophets, but only 25 are explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an. Surah 4:164 states:
"Of some messengers We have already told you the story; of others We have not—and to Moses Allah spoke directly."
Surah 2:136 likewise commands:
"Say: 'We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.'"

Paul himself, as he testifies in Philippians 3:5, was an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin—a direct descendant of Jacob (Ya’qub). Therefore, the Qur’an implicitly includes Paul among those whom Muslims are called to respect as a true messenger.

The Testimony of the Qur’an and the Early Muslim Scholars

It is crucial to recognize that the rejection of Paul as an apostle is a recent development in Islamic polemics. In Surah 36:13-14 (Ya-Sin), we read:
"And set forth to them the parable of the people of the city, when the messengers came to it. When We sent to them two messengers, but they denied them both, so We strengthened them with a third; and they said, 'Indeed, we have been sent to you as messengers.'"
Many respected Qur’anic commentators, such as Sheikh Balwani and Yusuf Ali, identify this city as Antioch and name the three messengers as John, Simon, and Paul (Yuhanna, Shim‘on, and Boulos). Ibn Kathir, a renowned Islamic scholar, affirms in his tafsir (Qur’anic commentary) that these messengers, including Paul, were sent to the people of Antioch.

Additionally, in Ibn Hisham’s biography of the Prophet Muhammad (Sirat Nabawiya, vol. 4, p. 140), the Prophet is recorded as listing Paul among the apostles of Jesus, specifically sent to the Romans.

The Qur’an’s Directive for Guidance

When Muslims have doubts regarding matters not explicitly detailed in the Qur’an, they are instructed in Surah 10:94:
"So if you are in doubt about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you..."
Thus, the Qur’an itself encourages Muslims to consult the People of the Book—Jews and Christians—about the prophets, most of whom are found in the Bible.

Conclusion: Rejecting Paul is Rejecting the Faith

Rejecting Paul’s apostleship is not only a departure from biblical revelation but also from the plain teachings of the Qur’an and classical Islamic scholarship. To oppose Paul is to oppose the faith itself and, ultimately, to challenge the wisdom of God. Satan uses subtle snares to divert believers from the truth. Instead of following contemporary polemics, we are called to heed the testimony of Scripture, the guidance of the Qur’an, and the consensus of early Muslim scholars.

Shalom.

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This theological reflection affirms that both the Bible and the Qur’an, along with the earliest Islamic scholars, recognize the apostleship of Paul. Contemporary opposition is a modern innovation, not rooted in sacred Scripture or tradition.