What are common Muslim questions and their answers? Introduction In various dialogues between Christian and Muslim communities, a number of recurring questions arise. These questions often relate to the core doctrines of faith and the reliability of the biblical message. Below is a thorough topical entry addressing common questions and providing responses using background from Scripture, historical evidence, and relevant contextual details. All Bible quotations below are taken from the Berean Standard Bible. 1. Questions About the Nature of God 1.1 “Is God One or Three?” Many ask how Christians can speak of “one God” while also referring to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While both Christians and Muslims believe in the oneness of God, the Christian view of God’s oneness includes the distinction of Persons within that one divine essence. In the Bible, God’s singularity is clearly affirmed: • “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) At the same time, Scripture consistently reveals the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as distinct yet all sharing the same divine nature: • Jesus instructs believers to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) • The Holy Spirit is also described as God: “Now the Lord is the Spirit...” (2 Corinthians 3:17) This unity in diversity has been presented historically as the doctrine of the Trinity. It upholds strict monotheism (“the LORD is One”), while interpreting passages where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each carry divine authority, intellect, and will. 2. Questions About Jesus 2.1 “Is Jesus Merely a Prophet?” Muslim teachings often revere Jesus as a prophet but deny His divinity. In the Christian Scriptures, Jesus is not only described as a prophet (Matthew 21:10–11) but also shown as the “Word of God” (John 1:1) who made promises that only God can fulfill, such as granting eternal life: • “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” (John 10:28) The New Testament repeatedly calls Him “Son of God,” emphasizing His unique relationship and equality with God the Father: • “The high priest asked Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus.” (Mark 14:61–62) The historical data reflected by eyewitness testimony and early manuscripts—such as the substantial collection of manuscript evidence (codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus from the 4th century AD, among others)—shows consistent references to Jesus’s deity. This challenges the notion that Jesus was merely a prophet. 2.2 “Did Jesus Really Die on the Cross?” One of the most significant historical facts in Christian belief is the crucifixion of Jesus, which some Islamic views question by suggesting a substitute or denying the event. However, the biblical testimony confirms His death on the cross: • “When they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.” (John 19:33) Multiple ancient sources outside the New Testament—including Tacitus (Annals 15.44) and Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 18.3)—corroborate Jesus’s crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. Archaeological findings also support the Roman practice of crucifixion around the same historical timeframe. 2.3 “What About the Resurrection?” The Christian faith hinges on the bodily resurrection of Jesus as proof of His divine authority (1 Corinthians 15:14). Eyewitness accounts in the Gospels and epistles point to an empty tomb and multiple encounters with the risen Christ: • “He was seen by Cephas and then by the Twelve. After that He was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once...” (1 Corinthians 15:5–6) Contemporary historical scholars often note the rapid growth of the early Christian community, which testified unanimously to the resurrection. Early preaching, martyrdom of Jesus’s followers, and abundant manuscript evidence (both papyri and later codices) further support that this event is rooted in history rather than myth. 3. Questions About the Reliability of the Bible 3.1 “Has the Bible Been Corrupted?” A common question is whether the Scriptures have been altered over time, especially when comparing them to the Qur’an. The manuscript evidence for the Old and New Testaments is extensive. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century demonstrated the remarkable preservation of the Hebrew text over centuries. Comparing modern translations with these ancient scrolls shows a high degree of continuity in the transmission. New Testament reliability is upheld by over 5,000 Greek manuscripts, with the earliest fragments dating very close to the original writing. Textual variants that do exist are statistically minor and do not affect key doctrines such as the deity of Christ, the crucifixion, or salvation by grace (as confirmed by thorough studies and comparisons of these texts). 3.2 “What About Conflicts with the Qur’an?” Muslims often observe differences in the biblical stories—for example, the account of Ishmael and Isaac or the question of who was almost sacrificed by Abraham. The Bible itself has internal consistency on these details: • “Then God said [to Abraham], ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.’” (Genesis 22:2) Archaeological and textual evidence works in harmony with the biblical accounts, as demonstrated by various ancient Near Eastern studies and inscriptions referencing Israel’s presence in the region. When narratives diverge from Islamic tradition, Christians rely on the broad manuscript tradition and archaeological corroborations to affirm the biblical record. 4. Questions About Salvation 4.1 “How Is a Person Saved?” Questions arise about the Christian teaching that salvation is found in Christ alone. The biblical position is that fallen humanity cannot be reconciled to God by personal efforts or good deeds, but only by faith in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus: • “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) This message contrasts with notions of earning God’s favor through legal compliance or personal merit. Instead, a believer’s transformed life stems from gratitude for that free gift of salvation. 4.2 “Why the Cross?” In many discussions, the idea of a divine sacrifice is difficult to comprehend. The Bible teaches that God is perfectly just and cannot overlook sin. At the same time, He is perfectly loving and desires to save. In bringing both justice and mercy together, Jesus took humanity’s penalty on the cross: • “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24) Christ’s sacrificial death is presented as the definitive means of reconciling people to God. This is why the cross remains central to Christian teaching on salvation. 5. Questions About Creation and Intelligent Design 5.1 “Why Believe in a Creator?” Many from Islamic and Christian backgrounds share the premise that God is the Creator of all things. Scientific evidences of complexity in living systems, the fine-tuning of universal constants, and the sudden appearance of diverse life forms in the fossil record are put forth to show the intentional design behind creation. • In Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” there is a clear statement that all reality originates from a divine source. • The early chapters of Genesis reinforce the notion of an organized creation, reflecting order and design consistent with modern discoveries about information-rich DNA and the complexity of biological systems. 5.2 “How Does This Align with a Young Earth Understanding?” Some hold to a timeline in line with genealogical data from Scripture spanning a few thousand years since creation. While diverse Christian views exist regarding the age of the earth, those who favor a young-earth perspective often cite genealogies from the Book of Genesis (e.g., Genesis 5 and 11) and archaeological timelines that attempt to align major geological events (e.g., evidence for widespread flood deposits) with the biblical Flood narrative in Genesis 6–9. 6. Questions About Biblical Figures in Islamic Tradition 6.1 “What About Prophets Like Abraham, Moses, or David?” Muslims and Christians both honor figures like Abraham and Moses. However, biblical teaching unveils these figures as part of a continuous promise leading to Jesus: • Abraham is shown to be the recipient of God’s promise that “all nations will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) • Moses speaks of a greater prophet to come, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate mission. (Deuteronomy 18:15) David, known as one of the greatest kings in the Old Testament, also delivers Messianic prophecies: • “The LORD said to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” (Psalm 110:1) These prophecies and covenants progressively point to Jesus as Messiah. 6.2 “How Do These Figures Support the Christian Message?” Detailed manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in Qumran, contain extensive segments of the Hebrew Bible that align well with our modern versions. They verify the continuity of prophecies tied to Christ. For instance, the Scroll of Isaiah (dated around the 2nd century BC) includes clear references to the “suffering servant” (Isaiah 53) that Christians interpret as Jesus’s sacrificial role, underscoring both historical and textual consistency. 7. Questions About the Role of Works vs. Faith 7.1 “Isn’t It Unjust That Good Deeds Don’t Guarantee Salvation?” A frequent concern is whether Christianity upholds justice if faith in Christ, not solely moral living, leads to salvation. The biblical answer holds that works do matter (James 2:17), but they follow from genuine faith rather than earning salvation in themselves. • “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12) God’s justice is upheld by Christ’s payment for sin. Because Jesus bore the penalty, people can stand free from condemnation if they believe, and a new life of righteous behavior follows as a fruit of gratitude and the Holy Spirit’s transforming power. 8. Questions About the Afterlife and Assurance 8.1 “How Can We Be Certain of Paradise?” In the biblical witness, assurance rests on Christ’s promises, not personal uncertainty: • “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13) The concept of assurance comes from trusting fully in God’s promise rather than fluctuating with personal merit or daily spiritual highs and lows. 8.2 “What Happens at Judgment?” Scripture teaches that all will face judgment: • “It is appointed for men to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) Believers receive the righteousness of Christ by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21). This righteousness is credited, ensuring that at judgment, believers are counted blameless because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 4:24–25). Conclusion Addressing common Muslim questions involves clarifying the core teachings of the Bible—God’s unity, Jesus’s divinity, the crucifixion and resurrection, and the reliability of Scripture. Evidence from historical documents and archaeological findings underscores the consistent message preserved through the centuries. The biblical message of salvation by grace through faith centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ, as foretold by the prophets of old and recorded in the manuscripts of the New Testament. This central message asserts that one finds hope, purpose, and eternal life through Him, and that this truth stands as a timeless invitation to all who seek God in sincerity and truth. |
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