A Simple Comparison of the Islamic God vs the Christian God
A Simple Comparison of the Islamic God vs the Christian God
by Alice DN
We are used to a certain concept of God. We tend to think of this supreme power as having wisdom and greatness. We think of this flawless deity that resembles us in no way. We think that this concept of God is supported by the scriptures or is it? Well, not all scriptures represent such a concept. It is shocking to find out how the biblical God is depicted. On the contrary, the Qur’an presents a totally opposite notion. This article is going to examine how the bible describes God and compare this description with that in the Qur’an.
God in the bible is one who falls asleep:
Psalms 78:65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine.
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep – literally, as one sleeping; that is, as one who is asleep suddenly arouses himself. The Lord seemed to have slept, or to have been inattentive to what was occurring. Suddenly he aroused himself to inflict vengeance on the enemies of his people
This verse shows God suddenly realized what was going on and was shaken by it. We ask is this an appropriate analogy befitting of God’s majesty? If God is all knowing, how come he was inattentive and suddenly decided to avenge his people?
In the Qur’an, Allah is the all knower, is always aware, and is control of everything:
The Noble Qur’an 2: 255 Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
للَّهُ لَآ إِلَـهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لحَىُّ لقَيُّومُ لَا تَأخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَومٌ لَّهُ مَا فِى لسَّمَـوَتِ وَمَا فِى لأَرضِ مَن ذَا لَّذِى يَشفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذنِهِ يَعلَمُ مَا بَينَ أَيدِيهِم وَمَا خَلفَهُم وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىءٍ مِّن عِلمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ وَسِعَ كُرسِيُّهُ لسَّمَـوَتِ وَلأَرضَ وَلَا يَـُودُهُ حِفظُهُمَا وَهُوَ لعَلِىُّ لعَظِيمُ
The Noble Qur’an 19:64 “…And your Lord is not forgetful.”
وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمرِ رَبِّكَ لَهُ مَا بَينَ أَيدِينَا وَمَا خَلفَنَا وَمَا بَينَ ذَلِكَ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا
Once we can find a verse showing how God “awoke”, we can easily find another showing how God rested after creation:
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
Genesis 2:2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.
According to Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible:
On the Seventh day God ended, etc. – It is the general voice of Scripture that God finished the whole of the creation in six days, and rested the seventh! Giving us an example that we might labor six days, and rest the seventh from all manual exercises.
Usually, humans are the ones that get weary after working. They are the ones that need to “rest” after labor. So, whoever’s giving them the example to rest should be tired as well. In that case it was God. We ask, why did the biblical God have to rest after he was finished with his work? Was the creation of this world too much?! If the idea to be conveyed was that God finished his work and stopped after it, the verse would have said so. Instead, the word “rest” was used. How can someone grasp the idea that God Almighty took a break?
The Qur’an strips such characteristics of weariness away from Allah (swt).
The Noble Qur’an 50:38 And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days and nothing of fatigue touched Us.
وَلَقَد خَلَقنَا لسَّمَـوَتِ وَلأَرضَ وَمَا بَينَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ
This verse is Simple and clear. It had no linguistic problems or confusions. It eloquently expresses the grandeur of Allah and his power.
A Biblical God that has to rest or Allah, the mighty?
Surprisingly, this is not the only instant in the Bible where God is not all powerful. Apparently, he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots!?
Judges 1:19 And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.
Let’s shed some light through a commentary of that verse:
Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible:
Strange! were the iron chariots too strong for Omnipotence? The whole of this verse is improperly rendered. The first clause, The Lord was with Judah should terminate the 18th verse, and this gives the reason for the success of this tribe:The Lord was with Judah, and therefore he slew the Canaanites that inhabitedZephath, part of the verse either refers to a different time, or to the rebellion of Judah against the Lord, which caused him to withdraw his support. Therefore the Lord was with Judah, and these were the effects of his protection; but afterwards, when the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, God was no longer with them, and their enemies were left to be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their side, as God himself had said.
Adam Clarke was surprised by how demeaning this verse made God look; so he desperately tried to find a solution to his conundrum. What he came up with is a suggestion to how this verse should have been written. A minor adjustment would not harm anyone… after all it’s not uncommon to find scribes editing the bible. Is this true scripture? Or the hands of man trying to cover up a fault of the ChristianGod?
Do you think the Qur’an would depict God in that disturbing way? Of course not.
The Noble Qur’an 59:23 Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah. (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.
هُوَ للَّهُ لَّذِى لَآ إِلَـهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لمَلِكُ لقُدُّوسُ لسَّلَـمُ لمُؤمِنُ لمُهَيمِنُ لعَزِيزُ لجَبَّارُ لمُتََبِّرُ سُبحَـنَ للَّهِ عَمَّا يُشرُِونَ
The Biblical God changes his mind. Not only that, He grieves over what he has done.
1 Samuel 15:35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Exodus 32:14 So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.
Genesis 6:7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
Changing mind and regretting are definitely human attributes. Who would imagine these being associated with God? In addition, these traits again portray that the Biblical God is not all- knowing, or else he would have predicted that man would have sinned …
Below are other verses that express the opposite notion:
The Noble Qur’an 41:47 Unto Him is referred (all) knowledge of the Hour. And no fruits burst forth from their sheaths, and no female carrieth or bringeth forth but with His knowledge. And on the day when He calleth unto them: Where are now My partners? they will say: We confess unto Thee, not one of us is a witness (for them)
إِلَيهِ يُرَدُّ عِلمُ لسَّاعَةِ وَمَا تَخرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَتٍ مِّن أَكمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحمِلُ مِن أُنثَى وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلمِهِ وَيَومَ يُنَادِيہِم أَينَ شُرََآءِى قَالُواْ ءَاذَنَّـكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَہِيدٍ
The Noble Qur’an 3:5 From Allah, verily nothing is hidden on earth or in the heavens.
إِنَّ للَّهَ لَا يَخفَى عَلَيهِ شَىءٌ فِى لأَرضِ وَلَا فِى لسَّمَآءِ
