The God of the Qur'an (Koran) and the God of the Bible

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This entry provides a brief look at Islam and Muslims. For in-depth information we refer you to our collection of research resources. • About this page • Color Key • Blue border = Quoted material

The God of the Qur'an (Koran) and the God of the Bible

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In the book, The Compact Guide to World Religions, Dean Halverson compares and contrasts the two concepts of God as seen in the Qur'an and the Bible:

The Similarities

Both are One.
Both are transcendent Creators of the universe.
Both are sovereign.
Both are omnipotent.
Both have spoken to humanity through messengers or prophets, through angels, and through the written word.
Both know in intimate detailt the thoughts and deeds of men.
Both will judge the wicked.

The Differences

The God of the Qur'an is a singular unity; but the God of the Bible is a compound unity who is one in essence and three in position (Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4).
The God of the Qur'an is not a father, and he has begotten no sons (Surahs 19:88-92; 112:3); but the God of the Bible is a tri-unity who has eternally existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 5:18).
Through the Qur'an, God broke into history through a world through a word that is written; but through Jesus Christ, God broke into history through the Word who is a Person (John 1:1; Colossian 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:9-10).
The God of the Qur'an "loves not the prodigals" (Surah 3:140, Ali), and neither does He love "him who is treacherous, sinful" (Surah 4:107, Ali); but "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
"Allah desires to afflict them for some of their sins" (Surah 5:49, Ali; also see Surahs 4:168-169; 7:179; 9:2; 40:10); but the God of the Bible does not "take any pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Ezekiel 18:23) and is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The standard of judgment for the God of the Qur'an is that our good deeds must outweigh our bad deeds (Surahs 7:8-9; 21:47); but the standard of the God of the Bible is nothing less than complete perfection as measured by the holy character of God (Matthew 5:48; Romans 3:23).
The God of the Qur'an provided a messenger, Muhammad, who warned of Allah's impending judgement (Surahs 2:119; 5:19; 7:184, 188; 15:89-90) and who declared that "No bearer of a burden can bear the burden of another" (Surahs 17:15; 35:18, Ali); but the God of the Bible provided a sinless Savior, Jesus, who took our sins upon himself and bore God's wrath in our stead (Matthew 20:28; 26:28; Luke 22:37; John 3:16; 10:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Source: The Compact Guide to World Religions

Dean C. Halverson, Editor. Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1996. Pages 110-111.

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• Subject: Islam and Muslims
• First posted: Nov. 20, 1996
• Last Updated: Nov. 23, 2004
• Editors: Anton and Janet Hein-Hudson
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