Tawhid and Christian Monotheism

Tawhid is the Islamic confession that God is uniquely one, without partners, rivals, or division. Christians say the ShemaDeuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionHear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source and refuse polytheism. The argument is whether naming Father, Son, and Spirit brings in partners.

Key Points

• Surah 112Qur’an 112:1-4 · Saheeh International¹ Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One, ² Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. ³ He neither begets nor is born, ⁴ Nor is there to Him any equivalent."Qur’an 112:1-4 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source says God is one, the eternal refuge, that he neither begets nor is born, and that there is none equivalent to him.
• Qur’an 4:171Qur’an 4:171 · Saheeh InternationalO People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allāh except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allāh and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allāh and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allāh is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.Qur’an 4:171 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source calls Jesus a messenger, a word, and a soul from God, and says, “do not say, ‘Three.’”
• Deuteronomy 6:4Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionHear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the Lord is one. Mark 12:29Mark 12:29 · King James VersionAnd Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:Mark 12:29 · King James VersionOpen the Source is Jesus reciting that sentence.
• Christians do not confess that God took a wife, or that the Father and the Son are two deities. “Begotten” in the creed is the Son’s relation to the Father, not a divine mother.
• John 10:30John 10:30 · King James VersionI and my Father are one.John 10:30 · King James VersionOpen the Source says, “I and my Father are one.” The charge of blasphemy follows in the same chapter. Unity of purpose and unity of being are both readings people bring to that line. The chapter is John 10:22–39John 10:22–39 · King James Version^10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. ^10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. ^10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. ^10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. ^10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. ^10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ^10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ^10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. ^10:30 I and my Father are one. ^10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. ^10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? ^10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. ^10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? ^10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; ^10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? ^10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. ^10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. ^10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,John 10:22–39 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
• The positive account is the Trinity. What “son” denies in the Qur’an is Can God have a Son?.

The Question

The argument is not whether God is one. It is whether the Christian naming of Father, Son, and Spirit sneaks in partners under a softer word.

What Tawhid Says

Surah 112Qur’an 112:1-4 · Saheeh International¹ Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One, ² Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. ³ He neither begets nor is born, ⁴ Nor is there to Him any equivalent."Qur’an 112:1-4 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source, Saheeh International:

[1] Say, “He is Allāh, [who is] One, [2] Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. [3] He neither begets nor is born, [4] Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

Surah 112 · Saheeh International

Qur’an · accepted by Muslims

The surah says God is one, the eternal refuge, that he neither begets nor is born, and that there is none equivalent to him. Qur’an 4:171Qur’an 4:171 · Saheeh InternationalO People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allāh except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allāh and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allāh and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allāh is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.Qur’an 4:171 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source, Saheeh International:

O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allāh except the truth.

The verse tells the People of the Book not to exaggerate, names Jesus as a messenger and a word and a soul from God, and says do not say “Three.” God is one God. A Muslim who presses this is reading that verse and hearing Christians appear to deny it.

“Son of God,” in that hearing, sounds like biology: a consort, a child, a second god. The verse is not answered until that picture is denied.

The Christian Claim

Christians do not confess that God took a wife or that the Father and the Son are two deities who signed a pact. “Begotten” in the creed is the church’s old word for the Son’s relation to the Father, and it was chosen in part to deny that the Son was made as creatures are made. It is not a claim about a divine mother.

What Christians do confess is in the Trinity. John 10:30John 10:30 · King James VersionI and my Father are one.John 10:30 · King James VersionOpen the Source (“I and my Father are one”) is quoted by both sides. Muslims and Jehovah’s Witnesses often hear unity of purpose. Nicene Christians hear more. The pronoun does not settle it. The conflict around the verse includes the charge of blasphemy that follows.

Mark 12:29Mark 12:29 · King James VersionAnd Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:Mark 12:29 · King James VersionOpen the Source is Jesus himself reciting the ShemaDeuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionHear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source.

Passages

• Qur’an 112Qur’an 112:1-4 · Saheeh International¹ Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One, ² Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. ³ He neither begets nor is born, ⁴ Nor is there to Him any equivalent."Qur’an 112:1-4 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source, the whole surah.
• Qur’an 4:171Qur’an 4:171 · Saheeh InternationalO People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allāh except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allāh and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allāh and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allāh is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.Qur’an 4:171 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source.
• Deuteronomy 6:4Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionHear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Mark 12:28–34Mark 12:28–34 · King James Version^12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? ^12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ^12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ^12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ^12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: ^12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. ^12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.Mark 12:28–34 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
• John 10:22–39John 10:22–39 · King James Version^10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. ^10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. ^10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. ^10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. ^10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. ^10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ^10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ^10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. ^10:30 I and my Father are one. ^10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. ^10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? ^10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. ^10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? ^10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; ^10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? ^10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. ^10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. ^10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,John 10:22–39 · King James VersionOpen the Source, not John 10:30John 10:30 · King James VersionI and my Father are one.John 10:30 · King James VersionOpen the Source alone.

Keep Reading

• The Islamic dilemma
• The Trinity
• Do Muslims Believe in Jesus?
• What Is the Deity of Christ?
• Can God Have a Son?
• Why Does Allah Say “We” in the Qur’an?
• What Do the 99 Names of Allah Mean?