Muslims universally affirm that Islam is the highest and only non-corrupted religion. Some Muslims emphasize the “higher jihad,” which is nonviolent and focuses on the internal struggle within the individual to live in purity. Islam generally embraces the honor of martyrdom and affirms that integral to Islamic faithfulness is a struggle (jihad) against idolatry and unbelief. Throughout the Qur’an several of the Ten Commandments are repeated, including the commands to “serve no other gods” (24:55), refrain from making idols (4:116), not covet (4:32), not murder (6:151), and honor one’s father and mother (6:151). In the Qur’an one can read about such familiar OT stories as Noah building the ark and preaching judgment to his generation (11:25-49; 23:23-32); Joseph being betrayed by his brothers, sold to a caravan of travelers, and brought to Egypt (12:7-21); King David’s adultery with Bathsheba (38:21-25); the queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon (27:22-44); and Jonah being swallowed by the great fish (37:139-148). There are times, however, when the Qur’anic version has surprising departures, historically and theologically, from the biblical account.

Based on revered Islamic traditions known as Hadith, some Muslims believe that Allah grants Muhammad the honor of interceding for the entire Islamic community at the final judgment, allowing all Muslims to be saved. Since Muslims do not accept the doctrine of the fall or of a subsequent sin nature, there is no need of redemption. Christianity teaches that there is one God, known in three eternal persons. Most famous people opt for some sort of marker or headstone, but occasionally one (or their family) bucks the trend and selects an unmarked plot. She helps people by the truth of her power of chastity. The municipality of Anchorage is just fine with people transporting canines via car — as long as the animal is inside the vehicle, that is. The Qur’an asserts that there should be “no compulsion in religion” (2:256) and peacefully calls or invites (dawah) people to follow Islam (16:125). The Qur’an also permits the use of violence in certain circumstances (8:38, 39; 47:4), and two texts in particular have sometimes been cited as justification for violence against unbelievers (9:5, 29). Historically, the Islamic caliphate extended protected status (dhimmi) to other monotheistic religions and prohibited the exercise of violence against them as long as a special tax, known as jizyah, was paid.

Plantinga calls this the sensus divinitatis, using a term of Calvin’s. In case you’re wondering, churches with an episcopal form of government also have a cathedral, which serves as “the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop’s throne.” But in nonepiscopal denominations this term can also refer to an important church. For example, temple is used by Buddhists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and ancient belief systems, such as those of the Romans and Greeks. And because of the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ, we able now to apply His name (the name of God) once and forevermore to remove all of our sins. Many Muslims believe the first revelation to Muhammad was the command to “Recite in the Name of Thy Lord” (96:1). These revelations continued until Muhammad’s death in A.D. The first is jahiliyyah, meaning those in a “state of ignorance” (5:50) who do not have a monotheistic revelation and have not yet heard Muhammad’s message.

Instead, men and women have the innate capacity to believe and submit to the Islamic revelation. Learners will develop the skills and context to read the text themselves, while also being introduced to some of the issues classical and contemporary interpreters have addressed. The emergence of Islam and the Qur’an can be properly understood only within the larger context of the Bible and the monotheism of Islam’s two main predecessors, Judaism and Christianity. Christianity and Judaism are accorded some respect as monotheistic religions flowing from the Abrahamic tradition (29:46). All other religions are generally regarded as expressions of human ignorance and an unwillingness to submit to Allah. 37:100-111), and Jesus Christ is not accorded his full status. Indeed, some passages in the Qur’an seem to deliberately contradict the biblical proclamation about Jesus Christ. Absolute monotheism is distinct from the Trinitarian monotheism of Christianity in that the Qur’an permits no distinctions within God.