Do we worship the same God?

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dulcissima

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In my Bible study class yesterday someone made the comment that Muslims do not worship the same god that Jews and Christians do. I don’t see how this could be possible since God is the only god. It just seems like we have a different perspective on God. What does the Catholic Church say about this and what does Islamic teaching say?
 
The Pope said we both worship the God of Abraham.

I think the Muslims got a lot wrong however, so their perception of God is wrong and therefore their actions are sometimes misguided.
 
Muslims Worship the One True God
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					 [Only Their ‘Receiving Apparatus’ Is Defective](http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0301fea4.asp)
In recent years many self-styled “traditionalist” Catholics have expressed shock that Pope John Paul II has stated on various occasions—usually during his apostolic journeys to nations with a strong Muslim presence—that the followers of Islam, together with Christians, worship “the one true God.” But the Holy Father has done nothing more than restate the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, which said, “The Church also views with esteem the Muslims, who worship the one and only God, living and subsistent, merciful and omnipotent, the Creator of heaven and earth” (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions 2).

Some “traditionalist” Catholics cite these statements of the Council and the Pope as evidence for the sedevacantist position, which holds that the See of Peter is vacant, i.e., that there has been no true pope since Vatican II. Their thinking is that since Allah is a false god, the statements of Paul VI and John Paul II to the contrary constitute public heresy—even apostasy and idolatry—which is incompatible with their being true popes.

These people use this issue as a litmus test for determining who is Catholic and who isn’t. Simply ask a professing Catholic, they say, whether Muslims worship the one true God (as John Paul II says they do). If the person answers yes, then you can know without further ado that he has already reached “the end of the road”—total apostasy.

I have long been in public discourse with sedevacantists via letters and articles in various publications. (See, for example, “White Smoke, Valid Pope,” This Rock, March 2001.) I am on record agreeing with Pope John Paul II that it can be said truly that the Muslims “worship the one true God” even though they deny his trinitarian character. At the same time, I believe unequivocally in the revealed mystery of the most blessed Trinity—as does John Paul II along with all his predecessors.

As for the sedevacantists’ litmus test concerning Allah as the one true God, they err by confusing two distinct questions: whether one person or two separate persons are being referred to in a given situation; and what the qualities or attributes of a given person are. Let me explain.

more…
 
Peace

“And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islam with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong, and say (to them): “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you; our Ilâh (God) and your Ilâh (God) is One (i.e. Allâh), and to Him we have submitted (as Muslims).” (Qur’an 29:46)

Our God who sent Muhammad pbuh is the same God who sent Jesus, John the Baptist, David, Suleiman, Moses, Aaron, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, Abraham, Noah, etc…… . All the prophets where sent with same message, and that is to submit to the will of the One true God.

The means of communication between God and the messengers occurs in three ways: 1- Direct communication for e.g. when God spoke to Moses pbuh; God also spoke to Prophet Adam pbuh. 2- Through dreams, and that almost happened with all prophets. 3- Inspiration through the Holy Spirit (Angel Gabriel- Jibreal pbuh).

All Prophets from Adam to Muhammad submitted to the will of the One true God, with no exception.

The Christians at one point in history deviated from that message. The messenger (Jesus pbuh) became God, and the medium of Inspiration (the Holy Spirit) also became God. Ending up with three Gods contradicts all the revelations that came before and after Jesus pbuh. To solve this issue, the Christians claim that although there is God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit, they are not three Gods but they are actually one God (and it’s a mystery that cannot be explained), but at least this will fall in the same line with previous revelations and that is the Concept of One God. No Prophet ever preached trinity, and if it was a true faith, God would’ve sent Jesus the first Prophet even before Adam pbuh with this message, so that all humanity would worship the trinity.

Islam came to bring back the religion of Prophet Abraham pbuh, to remind the Christians of the original message of Jesus pbuh; to remind the Jews of the favors that Allah (swt) bestowed upon them when they where persecuted, so that they don’t carry out more mischief on earth; and of course to the Arab pagans who worshiped the Idols instead of their Creator.

“O Children of Israel! Remember My Favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill (your obligations to) My Covenant (with you) so that I fulfill (My Obligations to) your covenant (with Me), and fear none but Me.” (Qur’an 2:40)

“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: “Allâh is the third of the three (in a Trinity).” But there is no Ilâh (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilâh (God -Allâh). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. Will they not repent to Allâh and ask His Forgiveness? For Allâh is OftForgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur’an 5:73-74)

Our God is the God of All-mankind (believers and unbelievers). But in the case of the Christians the opposite isn’t true.
 
Many in the west somehow confuse islam with other pagan faiths and think we have some odd strange perception of God. Ofcourse this is simply due to ignorance of Islam and Muslims have to do their part in educating non-muslims about what Islam.

The most beautiful aspect of Islam is its belief system. The Creed of Islam emphasizes singling out Almighty God in three aspects:
  1. Lordship - to single out God in understanding His Actions, like His creating, sustaining, decreeing, providing, bringing of life and death, and keeping order in all affairs.
  2. Worship- to single out God within the actions of the servant. This includes all actions of the servant in which he seeks to draw closer to God, such as supplication, fear, hope, awe, longing, trust, seeking general assistance, seeking dire assistance, sacrifice, and taking oaths. Thus, all acts of obedience and worship are strictly done for God alone, associating no partners with Him in them.
  3. His Names and Attributes- to single out God in the Names & Attributes He has affirmed for himself in the scripture.
As muslims we believe to be a true believer in God, one must have faith in and act upon all these categories.
 
NO. We do not worship the same God. You can judge but its fruits.
 
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cute2904:
NO. We do not worship the same God. You can judge but its fruits.
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We worship the creator of the heavens and the earth. the major difference however is we do not believe in the trinity, thus we dont believe in the divinity and connection to God of Jesus or the holy spirit.
 
Hashi Al-Eritre:
however is we do not believe in the trinity, thus we dont believe in the divinity and connection to God of Jesus or the holy spirit.
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Thus, you just confirmed we worship different God.
 
Hashi Al-Eritre:
We worship the creator of the heavens and the earth. the major difference however is we do not believe in the trinity, thus we dont believe in the divinity and connection to God of Jesus or the holy spirit.
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So,you worship the creater of the heavens and the earth(who has little confussion in his calculation). Please read.

Heavens/Earth came together at creation. (Surah 41:11)

Heavens/Earth were ripped apart at creation. (Surah 21:30)

Earth created first. (Surah 2:29)

Heavens created first. (Surah 70:27-30)

In Christ,
selvaraj
 
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cute2904:
NO. We do not worship the same God. You can judge but its fruits.
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How do you respond to the fact that both the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church assert that we do indeed worship the same God?
 
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atsheeran:
How do you respond to the fact that both the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church assert that we do indeed worship the same God?
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I have free will to interpret my own opinion here. It doesnt mean I’m against Vatican Council though. Its my personal belief. I hope it is not againts Catholicism.
 
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selvaraj:
So,you worship the creater of the heavens and the earth(who has little confussion in his calculation). Please read.

Heavens/Earth came together at creation. (Surah 41:11)

Heavens/Earth were ripped apart at creation. (Surah 21:30)

Earth created first. (Surah 2:29)

Heavens created first. (Surah 70:27-30)

In Christ,
selvaraj
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Peace

Heavens/Earth came together at creation. (Surah 41:11)

” Then He Istawâ (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: “Come both of you willingly or unwillingly.” They both said: “We come, willingly.” (Qur’an 41:11)

When Allah (swt) rose over towards the heaven, He had already created the Heavens and the Earth. Then He told them to come to him willingly or unwillingly (i.e. to obey him). This verse doesn’t talk about creation my friend.

Heavens/Earth were ripped apart at creation. (Surah 21:30)

“Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” (Qur’an 21:30)

This verse talks about creation, and actually, this is one of the many scientific miracles in the Qur’an (that reach over 1000 verses). In this verse alone there are two scientific miracles that where just discovered in the recent decades. Yet the Qur’an said it more than 1400 years ago. First, Allah (swt) tells us that the Heavens and the Earth were joined together as one united piece, and then He parted them. The Science now confirms that indeed the Heavens and the Earth where one unit, then after the big bang they where ripped apart. In the second part of the verse, Allah (swt) tells us the He made from water every living thing. Just recently that science confirms that life originated from water. Here are some links if you don’t know it.

chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/Exobiology/sites.html

sln.fi.edu/qa97/biology/biopoint2.html

biocab.org/Ecology_1.html

resa.net/nasa/origins_life.htm
Earth created first. (Surah 2:29)

“He it is Who created for you all that is on earth. Then He Istawâ (rose over) towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of everything.” (Qur’an 2:29)

Ok this is true, Allah (swt) created the earth first, and then the heavens.

Heavens created first. (Surah 70:27-30)

Here I have to correct you, because you made a mistake, it’s not surah 70, it’s surah 79. no problem. Here is what it says:

“Are you more difficult to create, or is the heaven that He constructed? He raised its height, and He has equally ordered it, Its night He covers with darkness, and its forenoon He brings out (with light). And after that He spread the earth; And brought forth therefrom its water and its pasture; And the mountains He has fixed firmly; (To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle.” (Qur’an 79:27-33)

You know, I’ll not blame you, if you get confused, although if you paid just a little bit more attention (I’m assuming that you read the verses of course) you’d notice that Allah (swt) didn’t create or made the earth after the heaven; but He “spread” the earth and brought forth from it its water and its pasture after he had created the heavens, so the earth was already created, but it was just molten rock, nothing on it, no water, no mountains.

So to explain it, Allah (swt) first created the Earth (“The planet has no oxygen in its atmosphere and no ozone layer, so poisonous ultraviolet rays from the sun hit the surface directly. The molten centre of the planet is still extremely hot”), After that Allah (swt) created the Heavens. After the creation of Heavens, Allah (swt) spread the earth and brought forth from it the water, pastures, and constructed the mountains.

My brother, this is again another scientific miracle from the Qur’an because this is same order of creation which science now think took place. You where trying to show that Allah (swt) confused in his calculation, yet the only thing this may prove is that the Qur’an is the true word of God.

In case someone will try to be smart and say oh the Devil taught Muhammad pbuh all this, the Qur’an answers with this verse :

“I (Allâh) made them (Iblîs (Satan) and his offspring) not to witness (nor took their help in) the creation of the heavens and the earth and not (even) their own creation, nor was I (Allâh) to take the misleaders as helpers.” (Qur’an 18:51)

Peace
 
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cute2904:
Thus, you just confirmed we worship different God.
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IF, and thats a pretty big IF, Islam had come along prior to Christ’s Incarnation then I could possibly believe the argument for a same God. But, we have seen the True Light , we have received the Heavenly kingdom and we know the true Faith and we as Christians know that any religion that comes after Christ claiming a divinity of faith is a false belief, an apostacy and a cult.

StMarkEofE
 
I thought it might be nice to post part of the Old Testament reading for mass tomorrow. To me, it seems related to the topic:

I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.

Just for clarity, the LORD is talking to King Cyrus so that explains the part about “arm”. It is from Isaiah 45.
 
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Pug:
I thought it might be nice to post part of the Old Testament reading for mass tomorrow. To me, it seems related to the topic:

I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.
.
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This is exactly what is preached and emphasized throughout the Quran.
 
I didn’t grow up a Catholic. I grew up a Baptist. I never quite understood Jesus as a child. The Baptists to me seemed to talk about Jesus too much, like they were ignoring God or Jesus was more important. I did not understand that Jesus was one in being with the Father. I did not understand that Jesus has always been there, another facet of the one God. I didn’t understand that God loves us so much, that He would become human and suffer as we suffer. This is why I feel so close to God and know that I am loved in the most difficult and painful of times.

As a child, I always wondered why my best friend, Shirin, who was a Muslim seemed more like a good Christian than Laura, who was a Baptist.

Now, I think it might be because, if you know God, you know Jesus, since He is one with God the Father. He always has been. Whether you understand the Trinity or not, if you truly do know God, you will also know Jesus, whether you know Him by name or not. This is what I believe.

Also, isn’t faith a gift from God? Who am I to belittle anyone’s faith?
 
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StMarkEofE:
IF, and thats a pretty big IF, Islam had come along prior to Christ’s Incarnation then I could possibly believe the argument for a same God. But, we have seen the True Light , we have received the Heavenly kingdom and we know the true Faith and we as Christians know that any religion that comes after Christ claiming a divinity of faith is a false belief, an apostacy and a cult.

StMarkEofE
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and I dont think my statement againts yours. 🙂
 
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StMarkEofE:
IF, and thats a pretty big IF, Islam had come along prior to Christ’s Incarnation then I could possibly believe the argument for a same God. But, we have seen the True Light , we have received the Heavenly kingdom and we know the true Faith and we as Christians know that any religion that comes after Christ claiming a divinity of faith is a false belief, an apostacy and a cult.

StMarkEofE
Click to expand...
Galatians 1:7-9 Actually, there is no other gospel, but I say this because there are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you may he be condemned to hell! We have said it before, and now I say it again; if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may be condemned to hell!

In Christ,
selvaraj
 
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selvaraj:
Galatians 1:7-9 Actually, there is no other gospel, but I say this because there are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you may he be condemned to hell! We have said it before, and now I say it again; if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may be condemned to hell!

In Christ,
selvaraj
Click to expand...
Qur’an 5:46-48 “And in their footsteps, We sent 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), confirming the Taurât (Torah) that had come before him, and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel), in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Taurât (Torah) that had come before it, a guidance and an admonition for Al-Muttaqûn (the pious). Let the people of the Injeel (Gospel) judge by what Allâh has revealed therein And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed (then) such (people) are the Fâsiqûn (the rebellious ie disobedient (of a lesser degree) to Allâh. And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’ân) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohayminan (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures) So judge between them by what Allâh has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you. To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way If Allâh willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so strive as in a race in good deeds The return of you (all) is to Allâh; then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ”

Peace
 
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