Muslim: Do you believe that ʿĪsā (Jesus) is God?
Christian: Yes. Jesus, the son of Mary, is God.
Muslim: Can we agree that there is only one Creator, the God of Nūḥ (Noah), Ibrāhīm (Abraham), Mūsā (Moses) and the other prophets, who all worshipped the same God?
Christian: Yes. There is no doubt that there is only one God.
Muslim: Can we agree that this Creator is eternal and His nature does not change? He has attributes unique to Him, including being all-powerful, all-wise, all-holy and all-knowing. He possesses these attributes at all times, eternally, and will never be the opposite of His unchanging nature, even for a moment.
Christian: Agreed.
Muslim: If someone claimed to be God but was ignorant for even one second, this would contradict the claim, because God is all-knowing at all times. It would be clear proof that the claimant cannot be God.
Christian: Yes, I agree. The opposites of such attributes are not divine.
Muslim: Jesus says in Matthew 24:36:
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” (New Living Translation, Matthew 24:36.)
If Jesus were God, how could he have been ignorant of the Hour?
Christian: This is because he put his attributes aside to die for our sins.
Muslim: That contradicts what we agreed: God possesses His attributes at all times. Are you saying that His unchanging nature, being all-powerful, all-wise, all-holy and all-knowing, changes?
Christian: I see.
Muslim: As a Muslim, I respect and revere ʿĪsā ؑ as a prophet of Islam and await his return. We believe that he was a prophet and messenger of Allah, His servant, sent to the Children of Israel. Allah says in the Qurʾān:
وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ
“But the Messiah said: ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Verily, whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode.” [Q 5:72] (excerpt)
This is something to contemplate and reflect upon.
References
Qurʾān, 5:72.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Matthew 24:36, Tyndale House Foundation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015.
