A Theological Examination of the Biblical God (YHWH) and the Quranic Allah
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
The identity of God remains one of the most profound subjects of inquiry in comparative theology. Within Judeo-Christian tradition, God reveals Himself as YHWH (Yahweh)—the covenant-keeping, self-existent One who declares, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). In contrast, the Quranic depiction of Allah presents a being whose attributes, actions, and relationship with humanity differ substantially from the Biblical revelation of God.
From a Biblical standpoint, Yahweh is not only the Creator but also a relational and redemptive God, revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:1-14). Christianity holds that God’s ultimate revelation is incarnated in Christ, who embodies divine love and truth. Conversely, Islamic theology explicitly denies the divinity and sonship of Jesus (Quran 4:171), emphasizing absolute monotheism (tawḥīd) in a way that excludes any Trinitarian understanding.
Scholars such as Norman Geisler and Abdul Saleeb (Answering Islam: The Crescent in Light of the Cross, Baker, 2002) have argued that, although the term God may appear linguistically similar, the ontological essence and moral attributes of Allah and Yahweh diverge significantly. The Biblical God reveals Himself as love (1 John 4:8), while the Quranic Allah is primarily characterized by power and transcendence rather than personal communion.
Therefore, the assertion that Allah and Yahweh are the same being is theologically untenable within classical Christian doctrine. Any attempt to conflate the two diminishes the uniqueness of the Trinitarian revelation and the redemptive role of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Yahweh alone is the one true God, self-revealed in the Scriptures and in His Son—the incarnate Word.
No comments:
Post a Comment