I have much respect for Joseph Cumming, and I have learned a lot from him. He is great example of what it means to take Christ seriously and respect Muslims at the same time (that sentence, written in that way, makes it look like those two things–taking Christ seriously and respecting Muslims–don’t go together. But they do, and they must!).
Joseph Cumming and Nabeel Qureshi discuss the question in the title of this post on this podcast on the topic of Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?
Perhaps you are not familiar with this controversy and wonder if it makes any difference. And the picture I have posted complicates that question. It shows a store in Paterson, NJ that sells “spiritual paraphernalia”. The owners of that store have tried to appropriate Christianity, Islam and a number of other spiritual traditions into a non-secular narrative.
I am not advocating the approach taken by the Botanica shop owner. Still, without blending the traditions in that way, I think Christ matters, Muslims matter, Islam matters and Christianity matters. So you might not be surprised when I say that I think this debate makes a big difference, and not only on a “spiritual” or “philosophical level. It makes a practical difference. The debate itself affects the world we live in, and shapes relations between people.
It has made a big difference in the lives of a number of people over the last few months in the United States.
The different responses to the question in the title of this post has mattered in the lives of institutions like Wheaton College and CAIR (the Council on American Islamic Relations), in the lives of professors and other professors and students at Wheaton, particularly in the life of Professor Larycia Hawkins and in a unique way in the life of one Muslim leader. Another Muslim posted on her Facebook page that, even though she was “sacrificing her career still she is in support of humanity and solidarity . This is the true purpose and sense of religion which she has in her.”
So, this means that to take Christ seriously is consequential. It also means that such seriousness about Christ combined with trusting Muslims when they say they worship the same God is also consequential. It made a difference for Larycia Hawkins, and also for Muslims who have paid attention.
What difference does it make for you?
HALLSHIGHLIGHTS 
.well, belief in certain prophets who God chose to relay His message to humans is a required article of Islamic faith. Hence it must be the same God who chose Christ (pbuh)and Muhammad (s.a.w.).
The single most important message of all prophets to their people was to worship God alone and none else and to follow His teachings. All of them, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Jesus, Muhammad and others, in addition to those we do not know – invited people to worship God and shun false gods.
Moses declared: “Hear, O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
This was repeated 1500 years later by Jesus, when he said: “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.’” (Mark 12:29).
Finally, the call of Muhammad some 600 years later reverberated across the hills of Mecca:
“And your God is One God: there is no god but He…” (Quran 2:163)
The Holy Quran states this fact clearly:
“And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying): ‘none has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.’” (Quran 21:25)…
(http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/37/belief-in-prophets/)
Also, according to the Qur’an, Jesus is the only individual born of a virgin (http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=3&verse=54&to=54)
(3:45) And when the angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah gives you the glad tidings of a command from Him: his name shall be Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. He shall be highly honoured in this world and in the Next, and shall be one of those near stationed to Allah.
وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِى الۡمَهۡدِ وَكَهۡلًا وَّمِنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ
(3:46) And he shall speak to men in the cradle and also later when he grows to maturity and shall indeed be among the righteous.’
قَالَتۡ رَبِّ اَنّٰى يَكُوۡنُ لِىۡ وَلَدٌ وَّلَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِىۡ بَشَرٌ ؕ قَالَ كَذٰلِكِ اللّٰهُ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ؕ اِذَا قَضٰٓى اَمۡرًا فَاِنَّمَا يَقُوۡلُ لَهٗ كُنۡ فَيَكُوۡنُ
(3:47) She said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has ever touched me?’ The angel answered: Thus shall it be.44 Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides something, He merely says: “Be” and it is.
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Thank you Zumrut for your thoughts about Jesus. What difference does taking Christ seriously make in how you live?
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