by Hesham A. Hassaballa

Created on: February 16, 2007   Last Updated: February 18, 2008

I was once on a cable television program during which I discussed with a Christian minister (an ex-Muslim) and another Christian whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God. The minister answered that question unabashedly in the negative: Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God.

I both agree and disagree: If by "God" the minister means Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), then no, Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God. If, on the other hand, the "God" to which he was referring is the Deity to whom Christ himself directed his pleas in the Bible, then I strongly disagree. Muslims, Christians, and Jews most definitely worship the same God.

This God is the God of Abraham, Noah, Moses, Aaron, and of Jesus Christ himself. It is the God to whom Jesus refers in this passage in the New Testament:

"And it came to pass, that, as he [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he [Jesus] said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil." (Luke 11:1-4)

The One whom Jesus called "Our Father" is the God Whom I worship. When a "certain ruler" came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18), Jesus replied: "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God" (Luke 18:19). The "only thing that is good" according to Jesus is the God Whom I worship. When, according to the Gospel account in Mark, Jesus was on the cross, he cried out, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). The "El" on Whom Jesus called is the God that I worship.

The overwhelming majority of Muslims call this God by the Arabic name "Allah." This has prompted some to claim (absurdly) that this "Allah" is the pagan moon god, to which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) wanted his followers to pray. "Allah" is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, the God of Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and Jesus. He is the "Elohim" of the Old Testament, and "Eloi" in the New Testament. The word Allah comes from the same root word that forms

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