Who Is the Creator, Allah or Jehovah?

Monday, August 3, 2015
Who Is the Creator, Allah or Jehovah?
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

All adherents of religion generally believe that God is the Creator of humanity, animals, and everything visible and invisible. But it is important to examine critically what Jehovah (Yahweh) says about creation and compare it with what Allah says in the Qur’an. Do their statements align, or do they differ?

1. The Image of Humanity

Allah declares in the Qur’an:

“Say, He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (Qur’an 112:1–4, Surah Al-Ikhlas)

According to this verse, Allah emphasizes that He neither begets nor is born and that no one resembles Him.

In contrast, the Bible says:

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27, NIV)

Here we observe a key difference: Jehovah (Yahweh) created humanity in His image, whereas Allah asserts that no one resembles Him.

Questions for Reflection:

• Does this suggest that Allah and Jehovah are the same entity?

• If humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), in what way does God resemble us? (See also Genesis 5:1–2; 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Colossians 1:15; 3:10; Acts 17:28–29; James 3:9)

• Given that God is Spirit (John 4:24), how can humans reflect His image spiritually and morally?

2. Oaths and the Creator’s Authority

The Qur’an also records Allah swearing by His creation:

“By the sun and its brightness, and by the moon when it follows it, and by the day when it displays it, and by the night when it conceals it, and by the heavens and Him Who built them, and by the earth and Him Who spread it, and by the soul and Him Who proportioned it.” (Qur’an 91:1–7, Surah Ash-Shams)

“By the night when it covers, and by the day when it shines, and by He who created male and female.” (Qur’an 92:1–3, Surah Al-Layl)

Here Allah swears by the heavens, the earth, and the Creator of both. But who is this “Builder of the heavens and Expander of the earth”?

Further verses assert:

“And Allah has created the heavens and the earth in truth…” (Qur’an 45:22, Surah Al-Jathiyah)

“The Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them; if you are certain [of faith] then believe in Him alone.” (Qur’an 44:7–8, Surah Ad-Dukhan)

In comparison, Jehovah declares:

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens alone, who spreads out the earth—who was with me?” (Isaiah 44:24, ESV)

And:

“I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return: ‘Before me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.’” (Isaiah 45:22–23, ESV)

Notice that Jehovah swears by His own self, not by His creation, unlike Allah, who swears by the heavens and the earth.

3. Key Observations and Debate Questions:

1. Jehovah asserts His sovereignty as the sole Creator and swears by His own being. Allah swears by His creation. What theological implications arise from swearing by created things versus swearing by the Creator Himself?

2. If Allah is truly the Creator, why does the Qur’an not specify what was created on the first day? (See Qur’an 41:9–12 for creation sequences—still debated)

3. Are Allah and Jehovah the same being if their statements about creation, humanity, and oaths differ?

4. Why does the Qur’an emphasize that Allah has no equal, yet humans are created without His image, whereas Jehovah explicitly created humans in His image?

5. Who truly is the Creator of all things—Allah as described in the Qur’an, or Jehovah as depicted in the Bible?

This reflection invites deeper study and comparative theological discussion. Scholars, students, and followers are encouraged to examine scripture critically and question apparent contradictions.

References:

• The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)

• Qur’an, Translations by Saheeh International

• John 4:24, Genesis 1:26–27, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 5:1–2, Genesis 9:6

• 1 Corinthians 11:7, Colossians 1:15, Colossians 3:10, Acts 17:28–29, James 3:9

• Isaiah 44:24; 45:6–7, 22–23; 14:24; Jeremiah 27:5

• Hebrews 12:9, Ezekiel 18:4, Numbers 16:22

Maxwell Shimba Ministries Org ©2015. All Rights Reserved

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