The Injeel in the Quran: A Counterfeit Gospel

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The foundation of the Christian faith rests on the historical truth and theological centrality of the Gospel—the Good News that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, died for the sins of humanity, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). This saving message, proclaimed by the apostles, is the essence of Christianity and the basis of salvation: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, KJV).

In contrast, the Quran presents an alternate narrative regarding the Gospel (Injeel). While it claims to affirm the revelation of the Injeel to Jesus (Surah 5:46), the Quran simultaneously denies the core tenets of the biblical Gospel, namely the crucifixion, resurrection, and divine Sonship of Christ. This creates an irreconcilable contradiction between the Christian Scriptures and the Quranic claims.

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The Quranic Denial of Crucifixion

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are indispensable to Christian theology. Paul emphasizes that “if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, KJV). Yet, the Quran explicitly denies this historical reality:

“That they said (in boast), ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah’—but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them…” (Surah 4:157, Yusuf Ali).

By rejecting the crucifixion, the Quran undermines the doctrine of atonement, leaving no theological basis for the forgiveness of sins. In contrast, the Bible repeatedly testifies that Jesus “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25, KJV).

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The Quranic Denial of the Sonship of Christ

Another central teaching of the New Testament is that Jesus is the Son of God, coequal with the Father (John 10:30; Hebrews 1:1–3). At His baptism, God the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, KJV).

Yet, the Quran emphatically denies this truth:

“It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him!” (Surah 19:35, Yusuf Ali).
“Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah…” (Surah 4:171, Yusuf Ali).

This denial stands in direct opposition to the biblical witness. If Jesus is not the Son of God, then His role as Savior and Mediator is nullified, contradicting His own claims: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, KJV).

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The Warning Against “Another Gospel”

The Apostle Paul sternly warned believers against accepting any message that distorts the Gospel of Christ:

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another… But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6–8, KJV).

By denying the crucifixion, resurrection, and divine Sonship of Christ, the Quran presents precisely “another gospel,” which Paul condemns. This indicates that the Quran cannot be from the God of the Bible, and Muhammad cannot be regarded as a prophet of the true God since his message contradicts the apostolic witness.

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Conclusion

The Injeel of the Quran is not the true Gospel but a counterfeit narrative that contradicts the essential truths of Christianity. The God revealed in Jesus Christ is not the Allah of the Quran, and Muhammad cannot be considered a genuine prophet of God since his teachings deny the very foundations of salvation history.

The authentic Gospel remains unchanging: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Any denial of this truth is a rejection of God’s revelation, for “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” but the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12, KJV).

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References

• The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).

• The Quran. Translations by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

• 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12.

• Surah 4:157; Surah 4:171; Surah 5:46; Surah 19:35.

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