Title: IF JESUS’ SUBMISSION TO HIS FATHER MAKES HIM A MUSLIM, THEN WHO IS ALLAH’S SON?
Author: Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
Islamic apologists frequently argue that Jesus was a Muslim because He submitted to the will of God. They anchor this on the Arabic definition of "Islam" (submission) and "Muslim" (one who submits to God). However, this argument is not only linguistically shallow, but theologically incoherent when analyzed through the lenses of both Christian doctrine and Islamic theology. If submission alone defines a person as Muslim, then Abraham, Moses, David, and even Satan—who at times obeyed God's command—could qualify. Yet, the core of Islamic theology rejects the very foundation upon which Jesus operated: the intimate relationship with God as His Father.
Hence, we pose a question that penetrates the heart of Islamic theology and exposes its inherent contradictions: “Is Allah a Father in any sense?”
I. Submission in Context: Jesus and the Father
Christianity does not define Jesus merely by His submission to God, but by His unique Sonship and divine identity. Jesus' submission (e.g., Luke 22:42 – "Not my will, but yours be done") is a relational act within the Trinity—between the Son and the Father—not a servile obedience between a slave and master.
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
This declaration, to Christians, affirms not just submission but unity in essence, co-equality, and mutual love. Islam, on the other hand, categorically denies this relationship. According to the Quran:
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten.” (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1–3)
This verse refutes any notion of divine Fatherhood or Sonship, making the Islamic God (Allah) completely non-relational.
So the question arises: If Jesus' submission makes Him a Muslim, then to whom did He submit? Clearly, not to the Allah of the Quran, who denies having any son. Jesus called God “Abba” (Father) (Mark 14:36), a term utterly alien and even blasphemous in Islamic theology.
II. Is Allah a Father in Any Sense?
In Christianity, God is revealed as a Father:
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To Jesus uniquely (Matthew 3:17),
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To believers spiritually (John 1:12),
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And as Creator of all (Malachi 2:10).
Islam, however, denounces all three:
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Not the Father of Jesus – Surah 4:171: “Do not say ‘Three.’ Cease! It is better for you. Allah is only one God. Far be it from His glory to have a son.”
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Not a spiritual father – Allah has slaves (abd), not sons (ibn).
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Not a relational father even in metaphor – Surah 5:18 rebukes Jews and Christians: “The Jews and the Christians say, ‘We are the sons of Allah and His beloved.’ Say: Why then does He punish you for your sins?”
In effect, Allah is not a father in any relational, redemptive, or theological sense. This makes submission to Allah fundamentally different from submission to the Father of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ submission was an act of divine love, not merely obligation.
III. Jesus the Son vs. Muhammad the Servant
Christians believe that Jesus is:
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The eternal Word made flesh (John 1:14),
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The only begotten Son (John 3:16),
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The radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3).
Muslims claim Muhammad is the servant and messenger of Allah (*‘abd’ and *‘rasul’), but reject any divine Sonship. Thus, Jesus stands in relational intimacy with the Father, while Muhammad stands as a distant slave to a master.
To equate Jesus' submission to Muslim submission is a category mistake. It ignores Christ's divine origin, eternal Sonship, and pre-incarnate glory:
“Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
If Jesus' obedience to the Father makes Him a Muslim, then Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice his son should make him Christian—since the Bible says it was Isaac, not Ishmael (Genesis 22:2). Why the double standard?
IV. The Fatal Flaw in Muslim Apologetics
Muslim apologists rely on semantics—“Islam” meaning submission—to retroactively claim biblical figures. But that’s historical revisionism. Submission to God in general doesn’t define a person as Muslim in the Quranic sense unless it’s to Allah as defined by Muhammad. Yet none of the prophets ever mentioned in the Bible knew Allah, or affirmed the Shahada (declaration that Muhammad is Allah’s prophet).
Therefore, to say Jesus is a Muslim is to say:
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Jesus believed Muhammad was a prophet (He didn’t).
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Jesus denied being the Son of God (He didn’t).
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Jesus never called God “Father” (He did constantly).
These are lies the Quran tells against the historical Jesus.
V. Crushing the Myth: Jesus Cannot Be a Muslim
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Linguistic Submission ≠ Islamic Muslim: Submission is universal; Islam is specific to Muhammad’s theology.
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Allah ≠ the Father: If Jesus’ Father is not Allah, then Jesus wasn’t submitting to Allah.
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No Sonship in Islam: Without the Son, there is no Father. And without the Father, there is no true understanding of Jesus’ identity.
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Jesus was crucified (historical fact) – Islam denies this (Surah 4:157), proving it preaches another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Conclusion: Submission Alone Doesn’t Define Islam
The attempt to redefine Jesus as a Muslim on the grounds of submission is a theological deception. It erases the intimate divine relationship between the Son and the Father and tries to replace it with a master-slave dynamic foreign to Jesus’ mission and message.
So to every Muslim claiming Jesus was a Muslim because He submitted: Was Allah His Father? If not, then Jesus was not a Muslim—He is the Son of the Living God.
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
End of Debate.
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Restorative Justice Practitioner, Bible Scholar, Founder of USA Theological University
President, Shimba Theological Institute
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