The Misrepresentation of the Trinity in the Qur’an:

A Theological Refutation of the Claim that Mary is Part of the Godhead

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

One of the most startling and historically inaccurate assertions in the Qur’an is its depiction of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. In Surah al-Ma’idah 5:116, the Qur’an records Allah as allegedly questioning Jesus:

“And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, ‘O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?’”

This verse implies that Christians worship a triad consisting of Allah, Jesus, and Mary. The theological problem with this portrayal is obvious: at no point in the two millennia of Christian doctrine—whether in Scripture, Patristics, Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant theology—has Mary ever been considered a member of the Trinity. This Qur’anic statement is not only a misrepresentation of Christian faith but also evidence that the Qur’an is not divine revelation. A true God would not misrepresent the faith of His people.

The Christian Doctrine of the Trinity

Christianity has always confessed one God in three co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). From the Nicene Creed of 325 A.D. to the Athanasian Creed, this Trinitarian confession has been universally held. Mary, while venerated as the Theotokos (“Mother of God” in the sense of giving birth to Christ in His humanity), has never been elevated to divine status within orthodox Christianity.

Even in the highest forms of Marian devotion within Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, Mary remains a creature, a servant of God, and never a deity. To suggest otherwise is to invent a caricature of Christian theology.

The Qur’an’s Error

The Qur’an’s reference to Mary as a member of the divine triad demonstrates either:

A profound misunderstanding of Christian doctrine on Muhammad’s part.
A deliberate distortion intended to ridicule Christian belief.

Both options disqualify the Qur’an as divine revelation. For if Allah were truly omniscient, He would not misrepresent what Christians believed. This is a theological impossibility—God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19).

Thus, if the Qur’an asserts that Christians worship Mary as part of the Godhead, when no Christian sect in history has ever held such a belief, then the Qur’an has borne false witness. This exposes both the Qur’an and Muhammad as unreliable and false.

Patristic and Historical Witness

The writings of the early Church Fathers (e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian, Athanasius, Augustine) consistently articulate the Trinitarian doctrine. The Cappadocian Fathers (Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzen) refined Trinitarian theology, distinguishing between essence (ousia) and persons (hypostases). At no point is Mary included.

Even apocryphal and heretical sects never suggested Mary was divine. The Qur’anic accusation is, therefore, not based on history, but on a fabricated polemic.

Theological Consequence: Allah as a False Deity

If the Qur’an misrepresents Christian theology, then Allah—the speaker of the Qur’an—is a deceiver. The Bible clearly teaches that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). Therefore, the god of the Qur’an cannot be the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but a counterfeit spirit.

If Muhammad proclaimed this distortion as revelation, he stands exposed not as a prophet of God but as a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20–22).

Conclusion

Christians never claimed Mary is part of the Trinity. The Qur’an’s portrayal of Mary as a deity reveals historical ignorance and theological falsehood. Since God cannot err, lie, or misrepresent, the Qur’an cannot be divine. Consequently, Muhammad is not a prophet of the true God, and the Qur’an must be rejected as revelation.

The true Trinity remains: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the eternal God who saves.

📖 References

Holy Bible, ESV.
Nicene Creed (325 A.D.); Athanasian Creed.
Augustine, De Trinitate.
Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit.
Al-Ma’idah 5:116, The Qur’an.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025