Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?
No. Muslims deny that Jesus is God, and Allah is different in character and nature from the God of the Bible.
No. Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God. Muslims deny that Jesus is God, and Allah is different in character and nature from the God of the Bible.
Maybe you have Muslim friends, coworkers, or family, and you've heard people say, "We all worship the same God, just in different ways." It sounds kind and unifying. But the question that matters most is who Jesus is.
What the Bible says
1. Jesus is God. Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58 ESV), using the same name God gave Moses at the burning bush. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1 ESV). Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet but not God and denies that He died on the cross. That's not a small difference. It's the heart of the Christian faith.
2. You can't have the Father without the Son. "No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:23 ESV). Jesus said, "If you knew me, you would know my Father also" (John 8:19 ESV).
3. Jesus said no one comes to God without going through Him. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 ESV). Jesus didn't say He was one way among many. Peter preached the same thing: "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 ESV). In Islam, there is no Savior. A person submits to Allah, does good works and hopes for His mercy on the day of judgment. The gospel says we could never do enough, so God came to us. "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5–6 ESV). Take away the cross, and you take away the only way to the Father.
4. Allah is different in character and nature. The God of the Bible is one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Islam rejects the Trinity and teaches that God has no son (Quran 4:171; 112:3). The God of the Bible invites us to call Him Father: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1 ESV). In Islam, people relate to Allah as servants to a master, not as children to a father. And the God of the Bible loves first: "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 ESV). The Quran says Allah loves those who obey and does not love those who reject Him (Quran 3:31–32). The God of the Bible doesn't wait for us to get it together. He comes after us while we're still running.
You might be thinking…
"Isn't that intolerant?" Saying we disagree isn't the same as being hateful. In fact, honestly naming our differences respects what Muslims actually believe. They don't think we worship the same God either.
"How should I treat my Muslim friends?" With love, honor and kindness. Every person is made in God's image. Jesus called us to love our neighbors, and Paul said, "My heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" (Romans 10:1 ESV). Be a great friend, and be ready to share why you follow Jesus.
Next step
If you have a Muslim friend, ask them about their faith this week, and really listen. Then look for a chance to share who Jesus really is.
Related questions
John 1:1–3, 14; John 8:19, 58; John 14:6–9; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 1 John 2:22–23; 1 John 3:1; Matthew 28:19; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:1