No Atonement in Islam? Responding to Another Typical Muslim Objection

In dealing with Muslim polemicists, one will often encounter the objection that, in Islam, atonement for the forgiveness of sins is not required. Allah simply forgives anyone who asks without requiring that reparation be made for the person’s transgressions.

I have decided to address this oft-repeated claim in order to show that nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that the Quran repeatedly emphasizes the point that forgiveness is predicated upon Allah making atonement or expiation for the transgressions committed against him:

It is he who sendeth down secure tranquility into the hearts of the true believers, that they may increase in faith, beyond their [former] faith: – The hosts of heaven and earth are God’s; and God is knowing [and] wise: -That he may lead the true believers of both sexes into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever; and may expiate (yukaffira) their evil deeds from them: – This will be great felicity with God: -S. 48:4-5 Sale

The verb kaffara happens to be the Arabic cognate of the Hebrew word kaphar, the term that the Hebrew Scriptures often employ in respect to atonement (https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3722.htm).

In fact, there are a multitude of Quranic verses, which use this particular verb in connection with Allah making atonement/expiation for the sins of those who seek to obey him.

For instance, expiation/atonement will be made for all those who truly believe and fear Allah:

More, if they who have received the scriptures believe, and fear [God], we will surely expiate (lakaffarna) their sins from them, and we will lead them into gardens of pleasure; 5:65 Sale

O true believers, if ye fear God, he will grant you a distinction, and will expiate (wa’yukaffir) your sins from you, and will forgive you; for God is indued with great liberality. S. 8:29 Sale

But he who bringeth the truth, and giveth credit thereto, these are they who fear God; they [shall obtain] whatever they shall desire, in the sight of their Lord: This [shall be] the recompense of the righteous: That God may expiate (Liyukaffira) from them the [very] worst of that which they have wrought, and my render them their reward according to the utmost merit of the good which they have wrought. S. 39:33-35 Sale

This [is] the command of God, which he hath sent down unto you. And whoso feareth God, he will expiate (yukaffir) his evil deeds from him, and will increase his reward. S. 65:5

It is also offered for those who repent sincerely and do what is right:

“O Lord, we have heard a preacher inviting us to the faith, [and saying], believe in your Lord: And we believed. O Lord, forgive us therefore our sins, and expiate (wa’kaffir) our evil deeds from us, and make us to die with the righteous. O Lord, give us also [the reward] which thou hast promised by thy apostles; and cover us not with shame on the day of resurrection; for thou art not contrary to the promise.” So their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other; they, therefore, who fled and were turned out of their homes and persecuted in My way and who fought and were slain, I will most certainly cover (laokaffiranna – “atone for”) their evil deeds, and I will most certainly make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from Allah, and with Allah is yet better reward. S. 3:193-195

Those who believe and do right, we will surely cover (lanukaffiranna) for them, their offences; and we will surely reward them with better than that which they have done. S. 29:7 Palmer

But those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad, for it is the truth from their Lord, He will expiate (kaffara) from them their sins, and will make good their state. S. 47:2 Sale

On a [certain] day he shall assemble you, at the day of the [general] assembly: That [will be] the day of mutual deceit: And whoso shall believe in God, and shall do that which is right, from him will he expiate (yukaffir) his evil deeds, and he will lead him into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to remain therein for ever. This [will be] great felicity. S. 64:9 Sale

O ye who believe! turn repentant to God with sincere repentance; it may be that thy Lord will cover (yukaffira) for you your offences and will bring you into gardens beneath which rivers flow!- the day God will not disgrace the Prophet nor those who believe with him; their light shall run on before them, and at their right hands! they shall say, ‘Our Lord! perfect for us our light and forgive us; verily, Thou art mighty over all!’ S. 66:8 Palmer

Expiation/atonement is even made for anyone who avoids committing the major or great sins:

If ye avoid great sins from which ye are forbidden, we will cover (nukaffir) your offences and make you enter with a noble entrance. S. 4:31 Palmer

Allah further demands that atonement be made for specific sins that the Muslim may commit, such as unintentional manslaughter:

AND IT IS not conceivable that a believer should slay another believer, unless it be by mistake. And upon him who has slain a believer by mistake there is the duty of freeing a believing soul from bondage and paying an indemnity to the victim’s relations, unless they forgo it by way of charity. Now if the slain, while himself a believer, belonged to a people who are at war with you, [the penance shall be confined to] the freeing of a believing soul from bondage; whereas, if he belonged to a people to whom you are bound by a covenant, [it shall consist of] an indemnity to be paid to his relations in addition to the freeing of a believing soul from bondage. And he who does not have the wherewithal shall fast [instead] for two consecutive months. (This is) the atonement (tawbatan) ordained by God: and God is indeed all-knowing, wise. S. 4:92 Muhammad Asad

(Note: Although the word used here is not the one normally used for atonement/expiation, it nonetheless carries the same connotation, as the context makes clear, which is why Muhammad Asad translated it as such.)

Atonement is also required for the breaking of vows and/or oaths,

GOD will not take you to task for oaths which you may have uttered without thought, but He will take you to task for oaths which you have sworn in earnest. Thus, the breaking of an oath must be atoned for (fakaffaratuhu) by feeding ten needy persons with more or less the same food as you are wont to give to your own families, or by clothing them, or by freeing a human being from bondage; and he who has not the wherewithal shall fast for three days [instead]. This shall be the atonement (kaffaratu) for your oaths whenever you have sworn [and broken them]. But be mindful of your oaths! S. 5:89 Asad

As well as for killing animals while in ihram, or the state of ritual purity required for making pilgrimage:

O you who have attained to faith! Kill no game while you are in the state of pilgrimage. And whoever of you kills it intentionally, [shall make] amends in cattle equivalent to what he has killed – with two persons of probity giving their judgment thereon – to be brought as an offering to the Ka’bah; or else he may atone for his sin (kaffaratun) by feeding the needy, or by the equivalent thereof in fasting: [this,] in order that he taste the full gravity of his deed, [while] God shall have effaced the past. But whoever does it again, God will inflict His retribution on him: for God is almighty, an avenger of evil. S. 5:95 Asad

And here is a text that is particularly interesting, seeing that it actually cites an OT passage:

And We ordained for them in that [Torah]: A life for a life, and an eye for an eye, and a nose for a nose, and an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth, and a [similar] retribution for wounds; but he who shall forgo it out of charity will atone (kaffaratun) thereby for SOME of his past sins (lit., ‘it shall be an atonement for him’). And they who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed – they, they are the evildoers! S. 5:45 Asad

The Quran is quoting what is commonly referred to as the lex talionis, which was a command given through Moses to the Israelites (cf. Exodus 21:22-25; Leviticus 24:19-21; Deuteronomy 19:16-21), and adds the caveat that if anyone is willing to pardon the transgressor it will be atonement for him/her.

Moreover, the Islamic scripture recalls the supposed instructions, which Allah gave to the Israelites during the time of Moses (We say supposed since the Allah of the Quran is not the One who revealed himself to Moses, or to any of the other true prophets and apostles of God):

And certainly Allah made a covenant with the children of Israel, and We raised up among them twelve chieftains; and Allah said: Surely I am with you; if you keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and believe in My apostles and assist them and offer to Allah a goodly gift, I will most certainly cover (laokaffiranna – “atone for”) your evil deeds, and I will most certainly cause you to enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, but whoever disbelieves from among you after that, he indeed shall lose the right way. S. 5:12 Shakir

Here we are told that Allah promised the Israelites that he would personally atone for their sins if they were to faithfully do what he commanded them.

This brings us to our next point.

Punishing Jews and Christians in Hell as a Sacrifice for Sins

According to the so-called authentic narrations of Muhammad, Allah will actually sacrifice Jews and Christians in hell as a ransom for all the sins committed by the Muslims!

Superiority of the believers in the Oneness of Allah and the punishment of the Jews and Christians

8) Narrated Abu Musa: Allah’s Messenger said: On the Day of Resurrection, my Ummah (nation) will be gathered into three groups. One sort will enter Paradise without rendering an account (of their deeds). Another sort will be reckoned an easy account and admitted into Paradise. Yet another sort will come bearing on their backs heaps of sins like great mountains. Allah will ask the angels though He knows best about them: Who are these people? They will reply: They are humble slaves of yours. He will say: UNLOAD the sins from them AND PUT THE SAME OVER the Jews and Christians: then let the humble slaves get into Paradise by virtue of My Mercy.

(This Hadith IS SOUND and mentioned in Mustadrak of Hakim). (110 Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith), translated by Syed Masood-ul-Hasan, revision and commentaries by Ibrahim m. Kunna [Darussalam Publishers and Distributors], pp. 19-20; capital and underline emphasis ours)

432. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “On the Day of Rising, Allah will hand over a Jew or a Christian to every Muslim and say, ‘HERE IS YOUR REDEMPTION FROM THE FIRE.” [Muslim]

In another variant from him is that the Prophet said, “Some of the Muslims will be brought on the Day of Rising WITH SINS THE SIZE OF MOUNTAINS and Allah will forgive them.” (Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi, Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous), 51. Chapter: On Hope; capital and italic emphasis ours)

(20) CHAPTER. Disbelievers are sent to Hell as SACRIFICE to the Muslims

1937. Abu Musa narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “When it is the Day of Resurrection, Allah will deliver every Muslim a Jew or Christian and say: ‘THAT IS YOUR SACRIFICE FROM HELL-FIRE.’” (The Translation of the Meanings of Summarized Sahih Muslim (Arabic–English), Compiled by Al-Hafiz Zakiuddin Abdul-Azim Al-Mundhiri [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: February 2000], Volume 2, 62– The Book Of Repentance And Allah’s Great Mercy, pp. 1033-1034; capital emphasis ours)

And here is a different translation of the above hadith, along with a couple of others from Sahih Muslim:

Chapter 8: THROWING OF NON-BELIEVERS IN HELL-FIRE FOR BELIEVERS AS DIVINE GRACE AND MERCY

Abu Musa’ reported that Allah’s Messenger said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your RESCUE from Hell-Fire. (Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6665 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=037&translator=2&start=0&number=6665)

Abu Burda reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Apostle said: No Muslim would die but Allah would admit IN HIS STEAD a Jew or a Christian in Hell-Fire. ‘Umar b. Abd al-‘Aziz took an oath: By One besides Whom there is no god but He, thrice that his father had narrated that to him from Allah’s Messenger. (Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6666)

Abu Burda reported Allah’s Messenger as saying: There would come people amongst the Muslims on the Day of Resurrection with AS HEAVY SINS AS A MOUNTAIN, and Allah would FORGIVE THEM and He would PLACE IN THEIR STEAD the Jews and the Christians. (As far as I think), Abu Raub said: I do not know as to who is in doubt. Abu Burda said: I narrated it to ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, whereupon he said: Was it your father who narrated it to you from Allah’s Apostle? I said: Yes. (Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6668)

Talk about a travesty of justice!

Not only does the Muslim deity demand that atonement/expiation be made for the forgiveness of sins, he even goes as far as to eternally torture Jews and Christians as a ransom for all the transgressions committed by Muslims!

To get an idea of the kind of pain that Jews and Christians will have to endure for the evil and wickedness committed by Muslims, notice how the following verses depict the punishment of hell:

Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise. S. 4:56 Hilali-Khan

In front of him (every obstinate, arrogant dictator) is Hell, and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water. He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die and in front of him, will be a great torment. S. 14:16-17 Hilali-Khan

Imagine that! Jews and Christians will have their skins roasted over and over again, will be forced to drink boiling water, and endure other kinds of sadistic and barbaric tortures forever because of the sins committed by others!

What makes this all the more reprehensible is that, instead of condemning Allah and his messenger for teaching such nonsense, these same Muslim polemicists will go out of their way to justify their god’s barbarity and sadism!

The foregoing shows that, contrary to the assertion made by Muslim apologists, both the Quran and ahadith affirm that the Muhammad’s deity does require atonement/expiation for the forgiveness of sins.

Further Reading

The Problems with the Islamic Doctrine of Atonement https://answeringislam.net/authors/shamoun/rebuttals/zawadi/islamic_atonement3.html

Whom Exactly does Allah Pay a Ransom to? Pt. 1 https://answeringislam.net/authors/shamoun/rebuttals/ally/allah_ransom1.html, Pt. 2 https://answeringislam.net/authors/shamoun/rebuttals/ally/allah_ransom2.html

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/14/no-atonement-in-islam-responding-to-another-typical-muslim-objection/ 

IHS

Abraham as Echad: Addressing a Muslim Objection

 A particular Muslim polemicist raised the following objection in response to the Christian understanding that the Hebrew word echad, which Deuteronomy 6:4 uses to describe the oneness of God, actually points to God being a complex or compound unity, as opposed to existing as a singular or absolute one:

“Both yachid and echad can both be used in the absolute sense and in the compound sense. Just like the word ONE in English. When the Hebrew says Abraham was one (echad) person does this mean Abraham is complex?”

Here are the texts which this particular Muhammadan had in mind:

“Hearken to me, you who pursue deliverance, you who seek the Lord; look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were digged. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one (echad) I called him, and I blessed him and made him many.” Isaiah 51:1-2 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

“Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one (echad), and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.” Ezekiel 33:23-24

It is apparent that neither the Muslim, nor the Jewish polemicists from whom this objection was taken, have bothered to carefully read these texts that describe Abraham as echad, since these passages actually end up supporting the Trinitarian claim. Note carefully what the following reference actually says:

“Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and MULTIPLIED HIM.” Isaiah 51:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Here we see that Abraham, though he was one, ended up becoming many. Now the reader may be wondering how could a man become a multitude if he is simply one.

The answer is found in the following texts:

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of THEE A GREAT NATION, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto THY SEED will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.” Genesis 12:1-7

“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to THEE will I give it, and to THY SEED for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it UNTO THEE. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.” Genesis 13:14-18

“And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give THEE this land to inherit it.  And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know THAT I SHALL INHERIT IT… And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto THY SEED have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” Genesis 15:7-8, 13-21

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and THEE, AND WILL MULTIPLY THEE EXCEEDINGLY. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations OF THEE, and kings shall COME OUT OF THEE. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God… And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people SHALL BE OF HER.” Genesis 17:1-8, 15-16

In all of these passages, God promised to make Abraham a great nation by causing him to multiply exceedingly. God also swore to give Abraham the land, which he settled in as a stranger, as his inheritance forever. He further promised that not only would nations and kings come forth from him, but that he would also make Sarah his wife a mother of nations, from which kings would spring forth. And yet we know that neither Abraham nor Sarah ever inherited the land, but their descendants did so hundreds of years later, which is why God told Abraham that it would be his seed which would be given Canaan as their promised possession forever.

The same promise was given to Jacob:

“And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to THEE will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and THOU SHALT SPREAD ABROAD to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:10-17

Here God tells Jacob that he himself would spread across the east, west, north and south since all of that area would be given to him as his inheritance. This obviously refers to Jacob’s descendants whom God would later cause to spread forth throughout the entire land of Canaan in order to possess it.

What these examples show is that Abraham (and everyone else for that matter) stands in the place of all his offspring that would spring forth from him. Therefore, God could tell Abraham that he himself would inherit the land, or inform Jacob that God would personally spread him abroad throughout the entire region, because God was referring to their descendants that would come forth from their loins. As such, Abraham who, although one, represents a multitude of people that would spring forth from his body.

In other words, Abraham is one in a compound sense, not in a unitary, isolated sense, since he stands in the place of his offspring as their representative. This is why Abraham’s actions could be ascribed to his descendants or the promises, which his offspring were to later receive, could be attributed to him, since the one from whom the many came stands in their behalf as their federal head. This point is brought ought by the inspired author to the Hebrews:

“One might say that Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met Abraham.” Hebrews 7:9-10

Seeing that Abraham stood in the place of his descendants, his act of paying tithes to Melchizedek could be attributed to the Levites as well, since Abraham is their federal head who represented them in all he said and did.

This also explains why even the Muslim scripture itself calls Abraham an UMMA, meaning nation:

Lo! Abraham was A NATION (ommatan) obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the idolaters; S. 16:120 Pickthall

The Quran is merely echoing the Biblical teaching that a person doesn’t merely represent himself, but also his descendants that would spring forth from him. Note, for instance, what the following text says:

On that account: We ordained FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – IT WOULD BE AS IF HE SLEW THE WHOLE PEOPLE: and if any one saved a life, IT WOULD BE AS IF HE SAVED THE LIFE OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. S. 5:32 Y. Ali

Here we see the Islamic scripture recognizing that a person stands in the place of all of his offspring, which is why it is so heinous and evil to unjustly kill a human being since this doesn’t merely end the life of one human soul, but a whole multitude of lives that would have sprung forth from that single individual.

At this point the Quran is parroting the following rabbinic tradition:

We find it said in the case of Cain who murdered his brother, “The voice of thy brother’s bloods crieth” (Gen. 4:10). It is not said here blood in the singular, but bloods in the plural, that is, his own blood AND THE BLOOD OF HIS SEED. Man was created single in order to show that to him who kills a single individual IT SHALL BE RECKONED THAT HE HAS SLAIN THE WHOLE RACE, but to him who preserves the life of a single individual IT IS COUNTED THAT HE HATH PRESERVED THE WHOLE RACE. Mishnah Sanhedrin, 4:5

Thus, according to Jewish tradition, which is itself derived from the teaching of the Holy Bible, and which even the Quran accepts as correct, neither Abraham nor any other person is considered to be absolutely singular since a person doesn’t just represent himself, but also stands in place of those who will descend from him.

How ironic that the very individual whom the Muslims pointed to, e.g., Abraham, in an attempt to refute the Christian position, actually ends up confirming the Trinitarian claim that echad can and does in fact refer to a complex or compound unity!

So much for the Muslim objection.

Related Articles

The Trinity: OT Evidence for a Multi-Personal God http://www.answeringislam.net/God/echad.html

Rabbinic Judaism and the Plurality of God https://badmanna.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/rabbinic-judaism-and-the-plurality-of-god-a-post-by-sam-shamoun/

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/abraham-as-echad-addressing-a-muslim-objection/ 

IHS

Can Christians love the Father as much as they love the Son?

 The following is an objection that Muslim polemicists such as Shabir Ally raise in their attempt of undermining the logical coherence of the Trinity. Ally and his fellow Muhammadans ask, since Christians claim that the Son is the one that died for them, not the Father, how does one avoid loving the Son more than the Father? Could one love the Father as much as s/he loves the Son?

There are two primary responses. First, since the Father is God, the Father is deserving of the unconditional love due to God:

“Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment.’” Mark 12:29-30

“Jesus answered, ‘If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.’” John 8:54

“To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Timothy 1:2

Second, this falsely assumes that since the Father did not die he therefore did not express the same depth of love as the Son did. This is both an unbiblical argument as well as something we all know to be contrary to reality.

For instance, a father’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son in order to save others would be seen as an amazing display of self-sacrificial love. Two illustrations help demonstrate this point more clearly.

My following example takes for granted that God exists, and that Christianity is true. A pastor decides to take his son and his son’s friend boating. All of a sudden, the boat capsizes and neither of the boys know how to swim and therefore start drowning. The pastor is caught in a dilemma since he is unable to save both boys. He can only save one at the expense of the other.

The pastor realizes that there are also eternal consequences involved in his decision. He knows that his son has received the Lord Jesus into his life, whereas the other boy has not. Hence, to save his son means that the other boy will not only die, but also face the possibility of experiencing everlasting separation from Christ. Yet saving the boy means that his son must die.

What does the pastor do? He chooses to save the boy, and allow his own son to die since he is convinced that his son will go to heaven and dwell in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Now tell us. Was this not a selfless act of love? Are we to assume that the father didn’t love the boy as much as his son since the son died and not the father?

The father will continue to remember and suffer the pain of having lost his son for the rest of his earthly life, even though he has faith that he will see his son again in glory. Hence, if anything it is the father that actually suffers greater pain since, unlike the son who is now glorified in Christ’s presence and no longer suffers pain, the father will continue to agonize and grieve till he dies.

Even though this example is not identical to what God the Father and the Son did on behalf of sinners, it serves to illustrate the point.

The other example is found in the Holy Bible and the Quran. It is the example of Abraham’s willingness to kill his one and only beloved son for God. Are we to assume that Abraham didn’t love God as much as his son Isaac since Abraham wasn’t the one who was going to be sacrificed? Or are we to assume that both Abraham and Isaac equally displayed unconditional love for God in their willingness to sacrifice that which was dearest to them; the one his beloved son, and the other his own life?

Both the Holy Bible and the Quran answer this question for us:

“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’ So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ Then he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; FOR NOW I KNOW THAT YOU FEAR GOD, SINCE YOU HAVE NOT WITHHELD YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, FROM ME’… Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’” Genesis 22:1-12,15-18

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his one and only son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” Hebrews 11:17-19

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God.” James 2:21-23

“So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: ‘O my son! I have seen in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!’ (The son) said: ‘O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the steadfast!’ So when they had both submitted (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him ‘O Abraham!… Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!’ – thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was a clear trial – And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:” S. 37:101-107

In a similar manner, God’s willingness to give up his only beloved and eternal Son on behalf of unworthy sinners is just as much an act of self-sacrificial love as Christ’s willingness to die, since God willfully gave up that which is dearest to his heart:

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My BELOVED Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah – because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My BELOVED Son. Hear Him!’” Mark 9:2-7

“No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is in the BOSOM of the Father, he has made him known.” John 1:18

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.” John 5:20

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24

“to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6

Now compare this with the following:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18

{SIDENOTE: This passage and the others that follow all demonstrate that the Son’s death was a voluntary act, and wasn’t forced upon him. The Son freely chose to die for those whom he loves.}

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Romans 8:31-34

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ” Galatians 1:3-4

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. In this way men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord cares for the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

“This is how God showed his love among us: I sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6

The foregoing perfectly illustrates that the Son’s sacrificial death was just as much a display of the Father’s infinite love for his creation as it was of the Son’s love for all the creatures that he himself created.

Yet this now poses a dilemma for Muhammadans like Ally. Since the Quran affirms Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, this means that Abraham showed more love for God than God ever did for Abraham. The reason why this is so is because Muslims deny that God has a Son whom he sent to die for sinners. Hence, as long as they deny this biblical and historical truth, Muslims are left with the picture of a finite creature demonstrating unconditional and sacrificial love while the Creator failed to do likewise.

So much for the blasphemous attempt by Muslim polemicists to pit the Father against the Son in the hearts and minds of all true believers who love and adore the one true eternal Triune God.

Further Reading

Why did the Son Die? (https://answeringislam.net/Shamoun/q_son_died.htm).

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/26/can-christians-love-the-father-as-much-as-they-love-the-son/ 

IHS