The Personal Website of Mark W. Dawson

The God of Abraham, The God of Jesus,
and The God of Muhammad

In Judaism, the God of Abraham is characterized by monotheism, as the singular, all-powerful deity who establishes a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Additionally, God is seen as just, caring for humanity, and merciful, as demonstrated by his willingness to spare the righteous in Sodom. In Judaism, the relationship between God and humans is grounded in the belief that humans are created in the image of God, implying a capacity for morality and a unique connection to the divine. Judaism emphasizes that there is only one God, who is incorporeal and engages with humanity through acts of love and moral guidance.

In Christianity, God the Father is portrayed as a loving, protective figure who provides guidance, comfort, and discipline to His children. He is also seen as a creator, a faithful promise-keeper, and one who desires a personal relationship with believers, often referred to as "Abba Father." The term "Abba Father" is an Aramaic expression meaning "Father" or "Daddy," reflecting an intimate, personal relationship with God, as used by Jesus and the apostle Paul in the New Testament. It signifies a close, affectionate bond, emphasizing God's role as a loving, approachable parent. Christianity emphasizes a communal relationship with God through Jesus, not just a personal one. This relationship is fostered within the church community, where believers support and grow together in faith.

In Islamic theology, the attributes of Allah (known as ṣifāt) are qualities that describe His nature and essence. They are typically categorized into two main types: attributes of His Self (Dhātiyyah), which are intrinsic and unchanging, and attributes of His actions (Fi’liyyah), which relate to His will and actions in the world. Additionally, Allah is often viewed as a remote figure, with personal relationships less emphasized than in the more relational God of Judaism and Christianity. In Islam, the relationship between God (Allah) and humans is characterized by a profound spiritual bond. Allah is seen as the creator and sustainer of the universe, and humans are expected to submit to His will through worship and ethical living. This connection is maintained through practices such as prayer and remembrance, which emphasize God's mercy and guidance in believers' lives.

But beliefs are one thing; actions are another. Jews and Christians believe that adopting their faith requires personal acceptance of its beliefs and tenets. Muslims, on the other hand, believe that conquest and subjugation are acceptable means of conversion. Also, in modern Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, their actions speak louder than their words. Modern Jews and Christians are characterized by tolerance of other religions, societies, and cultures, whereas modern Muslims' actions are often marked by intolerance and the subjugation or persecution of non-Muslims. It is also true that violence and terrorism in the name of Allah are tolerated in Islamic societies, but such actions are not allowed in Judeo-Christian societies. Another significant difference lies in their views on Free Will and Natural Rights.

The Judeo-Christian concept of Free Will, as I have examined it in my Chirp on "04/13/26 Free Will", is notably absent in Islam, which means "submission" to the will of God (Allah). Free will is the ability to make choices voluntarily and independently of prior causes or divine intervention. It is closely linked to moral responsibility and to the concepts of praise, blame, and moral desert. Philosophers debate whether free will exists and what its implications are, with some arguing it is incompatible with determinism, while others believe it can coexist. In Judeo-Christian beliefs, a person has unlimited Free Will, whereas in Islam, free will is constrained to the will of Allah.

The ideas of Natural Rights, as I have examined in my Chirp on “04/14/26 Natural Rights”, sprang from the Judeo-Christian religion, while Islam does not support Natural Rights. As is typical for most people discussing Natural Rights (myself included), they conflate the ideas of natural law and natural rights into the term Natural Rights. Though these two ideas are closely related, they are not the same. Natural law is inherent and fundamental in a society of sentient beings who wish to survive and thrive in their interactions with one another. Natural rights are those rights derived from natural law that establish a zone of liberty and freedom for an individual that no other person, group of persons, or government can violate. The issues and concerns of philosophers, theologians, legal scholars, and others involved in this epistemology are to determine what the natural laws are and what the natural rights derived from these natural laws are. As I have examined in my article on “The Problems of Islam”, Islamic law and culture place little emphasis on Natural Rights, and they often violate the Natural Rights of their believers. Thus, if Natural Rights come from God, and Islam has a different viewpoint on Natural Rights, then the Judeo-Christian God is different than Allah.

Consequently, the God of Abraham and the God of Jesus differ considerably from the God of Muhammad in their actions and in their beliefs about Free Will and Natural Rights. While Muslims trace their lineage to Abraham and Jesus, their different actions and this disparity in beliefs about Free Will and Natural Rights raise the question of whether they believe in the same God. Regrettably, I have concluded that they are not the same God and that Muslims should not be accorded the same religious regard as believers in the God of Abraham and the God of Jesus.