Is Allah, the god of Islam, the same as the God of Christianity and Judaism?

[7_Sorrows]

“Like Arab Muslims, Arab Christians refer to God as Allah, as an Arabic word for “God”. The use of the term Allah in Arab Christian churches predates Islam by several centuries.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Christians

That would be true that Arab Christians were using Allah for God before Muslims. Thanks for sharing that point. I had not thought of that before.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

From the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, solemnly promulgated by His Holiness, the now-Blessed Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964:
16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God. In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh. On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues. But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things, and as Saviour wills that all men be saved. Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel /…/
The vote of the Council Fathers for the document and its contents was 2,151 to 5.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I do not understand your question. The document is clear and I have no idea who you are saying has misunderstood it.

 

[Beryllos]

I believe Father Ruggero was answering the original question, “Is Allah, the god of Islam, the same as the God of Christianity and Judaism?” and the answer appears to be “Yes.”

 

[meltzerboy]

I know the roots of Christianity are in Judaism, but the Jewish people believe in one
God also. There are many scriptures in the Old Testament that point to Christ, but if we use the Trinity, both Judaism and Islam believe in one God and see Jesus as only a prophet.

Islam is closer to Christianity than is Judaism in the sense that Judaism does NOT believe that Jesus is a prophet but rather a rabbi. In other ways, Judaism is closer to Christianity. Nonetheless, I would say that all three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–believe in the same G-d. Of course, we have important doctrinal differences, as do Catholics and Protestants.

It is somewhat like Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in that all three political parties believe in democratic government but we have different means of achieving it and different ideologies.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

If there is a problem in understanding Lumen Gentium, let us try Nostra Aetate:

*3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting. *

 

[7_Sorrows]

Islam is closer to Christianity than is Judaism in the sense that Judaism does NOT believe that Jesus is a prophet but rather a rabbi. In other ways, Judaism is closer to Christianity. Nonetheless, I would say that all three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–believe in the same G-d. Of course, we have important doctrinal differences, as do Catholics and Protestants.

It is somewhat like Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in that all three political parties believe in democratic government but we have different means of achieving it and different ideologies.

Thanks for the correction. And, of course, Judaism has no acknowledgment of Mary whereas Mary is mentioned in Islam.
Your analogy of political parties is good.

 

[Rhubarb]

Christians and Muslims worship the same god in the same sense that Jews and Christians do.

All three of these religions have the same roots, and, understand that they worship the god of Abraham. But each religion ascribes God different properties. There are clear distinctions between how Muslims and Christians view god, but at the same time there are clear distinctions between how Jews and Christians view God. And so between how Jews and Muslims view God. But if you ask a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim what they worship, they’ll all three respond the Abrahamic God. And each one will say they have the right view of that god.

 

[Rhubarb]

As I recall, there’s fairly good evidence that Muhammad worshipped the Abrahamic God before the birth of Islam. According to the stories, he didn’t buy into Arab paganism that was all the rage. That was why he was invited to Medina to act as a judge as the Jews of the town thought he would be more impartial due to his religion being closer to theirs.

 

[thephilosopher6]

Islam is closer to Christianity than is Judaism in the sense that Judaism does NOT believe that Jesus is a prophet but rather a rabbi. In other ways, Judaism is closer to Christianity. Nonetheless, I would say that all three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–believe in the same G-d. Of course, we have important doctrinal differences, as do Catholics and Protestants.

It is somewhat like Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in that all three political parties believe in democratic government but we have different means of achieving it and different ideologies.

I think when it comes to things like following specified laws like kosher and halal and circumcision and such, as well as how the unity of God works, Judaism and Islam are closer in those respects.

In principle though, I would say Judaism and Christianity are closer. We view Gods relationship with Israel as a central and key moment in world history that even continues today rather than it just being a time and place in history when God was sending a lot of prophets like Islam would be inclined to say. We also hold a similar kind of importance and attachment to the divine name of YHWH that Muslims simply do not have.

On top of that, we have the same exact Hebrew scriptures with the same stories and with no spins or twists on them like Islam does. Islam even discards them as scripture in favor of the Qur’an.

We also place a similar importance on things like the priesthood and sacrifice, and although our views of them may be different and how we practice them today are different, our beliefs about them have the same roots. This is something Islam does not have. Islam would even say having something like a priesthood hinders our relationship with God whereas Christians and Jews would say it is beneficial.

And most of all, our histories are very much intertwined. Jesus was a Jew. All of his early followers were Jewish. Christianity was a Jewish sect for the first 50-100 years of its beginnings.Early Christians worshiped in Synagogues and went to the temple and even kept the law of Moses which sparked debate among early Christian communities. Christianity rose out of the context of Second Temple Judaism. Muhammad and Islam, on the other hand, seemingly arose out of nowhere in the 7th century neither breaking from Christianity or Judaism. Muhammad wasn’t even a Jew or a Christian before he started Islam. He was a pagan who belonged to the Quraysh tribe.

Now when it comes to Jesus, Islam is a middle ground between Judaism and Christianity. Jews may simply see Jesus as no more than a rabbi, and Christians obviously see him as the Messiah and Son of God. Muslims on the other hand raise him up as “higher” than just a rabbi bestowing prophethood on him and Messiahship on him but do not consider him the incarnate Son of God and thus still keep him “lower” than in Christianity.

 

[meltzerboy]

I think when it comes to things like following specified laws like kosher and halal and circumcision and such, as well as how the unity of God works, Judaism and Islam are closer in those respects.

In principle though, I would say Judaism and Christianity are closer. We view Gods relationship with Israel as a central and key moment in world history that even continues today rather than it just being a time and place in history when God was sending a lot of prophets like Islam would be inclined to say. We also hold a similar kind of importance and attachment to the divine name of YHWH that Muslims simply do not have.

On top of that, we have the same exact Hebrew scriptures with the same stories and with no spins or twists on them like Islam does. Islam even discards them as scripture in favor of the Qur’an.

We also place a similar importance on things like the priesthood and sacrifice, and although our views of them may be different and how we practice them today are different, our beliefs about them have the same roots. This is something Islam does not have. Islam would even say having something like a priesthood hinders our relationship with God whereas Christians and Jews would say it is beneficial.

And most of all, our histories are very much intertwined. Jesus was a Jew. All of his early followers were Jewish. Christianity was a Jewish sect for the first 50-100 years of its beginnings.Early Christians worshiped in Synagogues and went to the temple and even kept the law of Moses which sparked debate among early Christian communities. Christianity rose out of the context of Second Temple Judaism. Muhammad and Islam, on the other hand, seemingly arose out of nowhere in the 7th century neither breaking from Christianity or Judaism. Muhammad wasn’t even a Jew or a Christian before he started Islam. He was a pagan who belonged to the Quraysh tribe.

Now when it comes to Jesus, Islam is a middle ground between Judaism and Christianity. Jews may simply see Jesus as no more than a rabbi, and Christians obviously see him as the Messiah and Son of God. Muslims on the other hand raise him up as “higher” than just a rabbi bestowing prophethood on him and Messiahship on him but do not consider him the incarnate Son of God and thus still keep him “lower” than in Christianity.

I think this is a nice summary of the similarities and differences between the three religions. And, to reiterate, we do all worship the same G-d despite the differences.

 

[Perplexity]

Approaching this question from the perspective of a polytheist, I find it difficult to answer. Are YHWH and Allah identified entirely because of monotheist theories, or at least in part because of actual religious experience? I guess I’m tentatively inclined to say the former, in which case there would be no reason for a polytheist to identify the two with one another.

 

[PopePiusXIISupp]

The Jews worship God, but in a false manner. From the summa on whether there can be anything pernicious in the worship of the true God?
As Augustine states (Cont. Mendac. xiv), “a most pernicious lie is that which is uttered in matters pertaining to Christian religion.” Now it is a lie if one signify outwardly that which is contrary to the truth. But just as a thing is signified by word, so it is by deed: and it is in this signification by deed that the outward worship of religion consists, as shown above (II-II:81:07). Consequently, if anything false is signified by outward worship, this worship will be pernicious.

Now this happens in two ways. On the first place, it happens on the part of the thing signified, through the worship signifying something discordant therefrom: and in this way, at the time of the New Law, the mysteries of Christ being already accomplished, it is pernicious to make use of the ceremonies of the Old Law whereby the mysteries of Christ were foreshadowed as things to come: just as it would be pernicious for anyone to declare that Christ has yet to suffer. On the second place, falsehood in outward worship occurs on the part of the worshiper, and especially in common worship which is offered by ministers impersonating the whole Church. For even as he would be guilty of falsehood who would, in the name of another person, proffer things that are not committed to him, so too does a man incur the guilt of falsehood who, on the part of the Church, gives worship to God contrary to the manner established by the Church or divine authority, and according to ecclesiastical custom. Hence Ambrose [Comment. in 1 ad Cor. 11:27, quoted in the gloss of Peter Lombard] says: “He is unworthy who celebrates the mystery otherwise than Christ delivered it.” For this reason, too, a gloss on Colossians 2:23 says that superstition is “the use of human observances under the name of religion.”

The Muslims profess the God of Abraham, but do not worship the same God. This is what we do have in common. Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind.

Now I am kinda stuck that they don’t worship the same God as Christianity as the psalms do say that all the gods of the Gentiles are devils. Any false religion is false worship of God or worship of demons. I would say that the muslims worship God, but in a false manner.

This is what St. Thomas Aquinas says about Islam
"Mohammed seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh urges us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected; he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom. Indeed, the truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrines of the greatest falsity.

“He did not bring forth any signs produced in a supernatural way, which alone fittingly gives witness to divine inspiration; for a visible action that can be only divine reveals an invisibly inspired teacher of truth. On the contrary, Mohammed said that he was sent in the power of his arms – which are signs not lacking even to robbers and tyrants. What is more, no wise men, men trained in things divine and human, believed in him from the beginning. Those who believed in him were brutal men and desert wanderers, utterly ignorant of all divine teaching, through whose numbers Mohammed forced others to become his followers by the violence of his arms. Nor do divine pronouncements on the part of preceding prophets offer him any witness. On the contrary, he perverts almost all the testimony of the Old and the New Testaments by making them into a fabrication of his own, as can be seen by anyone who examines his law. It was, therefore, a shrewd decision on his part to forbid his followers to read the Old and New Testaments, lest these books convict him of falsity. It is thus clear that those who place faith in his words believe foolishly.”

Summa Contra Gentiles, Book 1, Chapter 16, Art. 4, Footnote 1

Please feel free to disagree with me as this topic does intrigue me.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

The Jews worship God, but in a false manner. From the summa on whether there can be anything pernicious in the worship of the true God?
As Augustine states (Cont. Mendac. xiv), “a most pernicious lie is that which is uttered in matters pertaining to Christian religion.” Now it is a lie if one signify outwardly that which is contrary to the truth. But just as a thing is signified by word, so it is by deed: and it is in this signification by deed that the outward worship of religion consists, as shown above (II-II:81:07). Consequently, if anything false is signified by outward worship, this worship will be pernicious.

Now this happens in two ways. On the first place, it happens on the part of the thing signified, through the worship signifying something discordant therefrom: and in this way, at the time of the New Law, the mysteries of Christ being already accomplished, it is pernicious to make use of the ceremonies of the Old Law whereby the mysteries of Christ were foreshadowed as things to come: just as it would be pernicious for anyone to declare that Christ has yet to suffer. On the second place, falsehood in outward worship occurs on the part of the worshiper, and especially in common worship which is offered by ministers impersonating the whole Church. For even as he would be guilty of falsehood who would, in the name of another person, proffer things that are not committed to him, so too does a man incur the guilt of falsehood who, on the part of the Church, gives worship to God contrary to the manner established by the Church or divine authority, and according to ecclesiastical custom. Hence Ambrose [Comment. in 1 ad Cor. 11:27, quoted in the gloss of Peter Lombard] says: “He is unworthy who celebrates the mystery otherwise than Christ delivered it.” For this reason, too, a gloss on Colossians 2:23 says that superstition is “the use of human observances under the name of religion.”

The Muslims profess the God of Abraham, but do not worship the same God. This is what we do have in common. Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind.

Now I am kinda stuck that they don’t worship the same God as Christianity as the psalms do say that all the gods of the Gentiles are devils. Any false religion is false worship of God or worship of demons. I would say that the muslims worship God, but in a false manner.

This is what St. Thomas Aquinas says about Islam
"Mohammed seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh urges us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected; he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom. Indeed, the truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrines of the greatest falsity.

“He did not bring forth any signs produced in a supernatural way, which alone fittingly gives witness to divine inspiration; for a visible action that can be only divine reveals an invisibly inspired teacher of truth. On the contrary, Mohammed said that he was sent in the power of his arms – which are signs not lacking even to robbers and tyrants. What is more, no wise men, men trained in things divine and human, believed in him from the beginning. Those who believed in him were brutal men and desert wanderers, utterly ignorant of all divine teaching, through whose numbers Mohammed forced others to become his followers by the violence of his arms. Nor do divine pronouncements on the part of preceding prophets offer him any witness. On the contrary, he perverts almost all the testimony of the Old and the New Testaments by making them into a fabrication of his own, as can be seen by anyone who examines his law. It was, therefore, a shrewd decision on his part to forbid his followers to read the Old and New Testaments, lest these books convict him of falsity. It is thus clear that those who place faith in his words believe foolishly.”

Summa Contra Gentiles, Book 1, Chapter 16, Art. 4, Footnote 1

Please feel free to disagree with me as this topic does intrigue me.

No. This is not held by the Magisterium…as has been made clear.

The teachings of even Saints and Doctors must be conformed to the Magisterium, for the Church’s living Magisterium guards and elaborates the Deposit of the Faith. Even ones such as Augustine and Aquinas have had to have their teachings altered in order to be faithful to the Magisterium.

 

[Crusaderbear]

The same God? Yes. It’s in the details we disagree, Like Jesus and his place in the heirarchy…

 

[Eric_Hyom]

You do a tremendous injustice if you say that muslims can be saved as is, because that is an insinuation that the Gospel is not necessary.

The teacher of the law asked Jesus, what must I do to earn eternal salvation, and Jesus replied by giving the parable of the Good Samaritan. Would the Good Samaritan find salvation?

 

[tower_of_babel]

nope, allah is just a copied version of the Judaeo-Christian God. A figment of the warlord Muhammads imagination , to help him conquer new lands

 

[Lenten_ashes]

There are a lot of different opinions about this issue. The Qur’an says, in surah 112, that Allah is “The One”. The arabic word for “one” is “ahad”. One of Allah’s names is Al-Ahad, which means that He is a single Divine Person. Muslims are Unitarians and christians are Trinitarians, so for that reason, I believe we worship two different Gods.

Another difference is that the God of Islam does not show any sign of jealousy, but in Christianity, we know that God does show jealousy; this is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Muslims worship a false god and they need Jesus to be saved. They need more than just to passively believe that He existed-- they need to believe that actually was crucified for their sins, was resurrected and they must surrender to Him. They must accept the finished work of Christ to be saved.

I know based on the Christian Scriptures that many muslims are in Hell right now. They need the finished work of Christ. It’s not enough to claim to follow the God of Abraham. We must share the Gospel with them because that is their only hope. The Jesus of Islam is not personal in any way. He’s a Jesus who can’t save anyone.

The “Jesus” in Islam is essentially a powerless talking baby, imo.

 

[arthra]

If you check the origin of “Allah” it goes back in my view to the “El” of Hebrew noted in scripture and is also related to the Aramaic “Alaha” the name for God used by the Lord Jesus…

Check Strong’s Concordance here:

blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H430&t=RSV

also:

Cognates of the name “Allāh” exist in other Semitic languages, including Hebrew and Aramaic.[19] The corresponding Aramaic form is Elah (אלה), but its emphatic state is Elaha (אלהא). It is written as ܐܠܗܐ (ʼĔlāhā) in Biblical Aramaic and ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ (ʼAlâhâ) in Syriac as used by the Assyrian Church, both meaning simply “God”.[20] Biblical Hebrew mostly uses the plural (but functional singular) form Elohim (אלהים), but more rarely it also uses the singular form Eloah (אלוהּ).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah

 

[arthra]

The “Jesus” in Islam is essentially a powerless talking baby, imo.

The following Ayah (verses) can be found in the Holy Qur’an:

Qur’an 3:45-51 * Surah Ale-'Imran (The Family of 'Imran)

*Behold! the angels said "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ (Maseeh) Jesus the son of Mary held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.
For more see:

cyberistan.org/islamic/jesusq.htm