Understanding Christianity and Islam - Part 7 (The Concept of God: Allah vs the Father of Jesus)

 The Concept of God: Allah vs the Father of Jesus

Introduction: Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

Both Christianity and Islam are monotheistic religions claiming descent from Abraham. Both affirm that there is only one true God, Creator of heaven and earth. But when we examine how each faith understands the nature and character of God, stark differences emerge, particularly around God's personhood, relationship to humanity, and His self-revelation.

The question is not just, “Is there one God?” but “Who is this God, and how has He revealed Himself?”

The Islamic View: Allah, the Incomparable One

In Islam, God is known as Allah, a name derived from the Arabic al-ilah, meaning “The God.” The Qur’an emphasizes His absolute oneness (tawhid), transcendence, and incomparability:

  • Surah 112:1-4 – “Say, He is Allah, One… there is none comparable unto Him.”

  • Allah is not a “father,” nor does He have a “son” in any biological or metaphysical sense (Surah 5:116; 6:101).

  • Allah is merciful, just, and majestic, but He remains distant, not relational in the sense of a Father.

Muslim scholars strongly reject Trinitarian language and view it as a form of shirk (associating partners with God), the gravest sin in Islam.

The Christian View: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

In contrast, the New Testament reveals a God who is One in Being but Three in Person, Father, Son, and Spirit. This is not tritheism, but Trinitarian monotheism.

  • God the Father is the eternal source of all things (John 17:1-3).

  • The Son (Jesus Christ) is eternally begotten, not made (John 1:1-3, 14).

  • The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, dwelling in believers (John 14:16-17).

God is not only holy and just, but also personal, knowable, and relational. He invites humans to know Him as Abba, Father (Romans 8:15).

“God is love” (1 John 4:8) - this makes sense only if God exists in eternal relationship within Himself.

 Key Differences at a Glance

Attribute

Allah (Islam)

The God of the Bible (Christianity)

Oneness

Absolute unity (Tawhid)

Triune unity: One God, three Persons

Revelation

The Qur’an was revealed through the angel to Muhammad

Incarnation of the Word (Jesus), and the Bible

Relationship

Master–servant dynamic

Father–Child relationship through Christ

Immanence

Mostly transcendent and unknowable

Both transcendent and deeply personal

Love as nature

Loving, but not defined as love itself

“God is love” (1 John 4:8)

Forgiveness

By mercy, without sacrifice

Through the cross, justice and mercy perfectly meet (Rom. 3)

Scholarly Insight

  • Miroslav Volf, theologian at Yale, acknowledges similarities between Islamic and Christian views of God’s sovereignty but emphasizes that the Trinity reflects God’s inner nature of love and relationship.

  • Timothy George, scholar of Islam and Christianity, points out:
     “Muslims misunderstand the Trinity as three gods. But Christianity affirms one God in three persons, not three separate beings.”

  • The Qur’an explicitly denies the Trinity (Surah 4:171; 5:73), while the Bible affirms it from the early church’s beginning.

Why It Matters

A person's view of God determines how they relate to Him:

  • If God is the only master, we live in submission and fear.

  • If God is Father, we live in love, obedience, and relationship.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray to “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). This was revolutionary; no prophet before had used such intimate language.

Christianity does not present a God who is far off and unknowable. Instead, it reveals a God who comes near, who speaks, who loves, who suffers, and who saves. The God of Jesus Christ is not just a majestic deity but a loving Father, drawing His children home.

"To all who received Him... He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

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