This Is Islam Uncovered

Were the Prophets of the Previous Scriptures Muslims? A Comprehensive Critique

The Islamic claim that all prophets—spanning from Adam to Jesus—were Muslims is a cornerstone of Islamic theology. This assertion rests on the belief that these figures submitted to Allah, preached monotheism, and aligned with the message of Islam as revealed in the Quran. However, a closer examination of historical, theological, and scriptural evidence reveals significant inconsistencies with this claim. This article will critically evaluate why the prophets of the previous scriptures cannot be considered Muslims in the Quranic sense, even under a broader definition of submission to one God.

1. Islam’s Definition of a Muslim

Islamic theology defines a Muslim as someone who:

Submits to the Quran as the final and complete revelation from Allah.
Believes in Allah as described in the Quran.
Acknowledges Muhammad as the final prophet and messenger of Allah.

The prophets of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses) and the New Testament (e.g., John the Baptist, Jesus) fail to meet these criteria:

They did not follow the Quran: The Quran was revealed centuries or millennia after their lifetimes.
They did not acknowledge Muhammad: These prophets had no knowledge of Muhammad, as he came much later in history.
They followed their own revelations: The God they worshiped and the teachings they followed were rooted in their respective scriptures, which differ significantly from the Quran.

Conclusion: By Islam’s own post-Quranic definition, these prophets cannot be classified as Muslims.

2. Adherence to Their Own Covenants

Each prophet adhered to the distinct revelations and covenants given to them, which were tailored to their specific historical and cultural contexts. These covenants and teachings differ fundamentally from Islam.

Abraham

Abraham followed a covenant with YHWH, marked by circumcision as a sign of faith (Genesis 17:9–14).
His practices, including sacrifices, were not part of Islamic rituals.
The name and nature of the God he worshiped—YHWH—are distinct from Allah as described in the Quran.

Moses

Moses delivered the Torah, a comprehensive set of laws, including the Ten Commandments, dietary restrictions, and Sabbath observance (Exodus 20).
These laws formed the basis of Jewish practice and differ significantly from Sharia law.
Moses’ mission focused on leading the Israelites, with no mention of Islam’s global message or Muhammad.

Jesus

Jesus introduced the New Covenant, emphasizing grace, forgiveness, and salvation through His life, death, and resurrection (Matthew 26:28).
His teachings centered on spiritual transformation rather than external legalism.
Concepts like the Trinity (Matthew 28:19) and His divinity (John 1:1) directly conflict with Islamic theology.

Conclusion: These prophets were faithful to their own covenants, not the Quranic message or Islamic teachings.

3. The Flaw in the General Definition of Submission to One God

Islam often broadens the definition of a Muslim to simply mean “one who submits to one God” (monotheism). While this might appear inclusive, it fails upon closer examination for a critical reason:

Submission Depends on the Nature of the God

The understanding of “one God” varies significantly between the Quran and the earlier scriptures:

The God of the Hebrew Bible:
- YHWH: The Hebrew Bible describes God as covenantal and relational, emphasizing personal engagement with His people (e.g., Genesis 12:1–3). This God is tied to specific covenants, such as those with Noah, Abraham, and Moses, and interacts with humanity through these agreements.
- Distinct Nature: This God is not interchangeable with Allah of the Quran, whose portrayal is more transcendent and impersonal.
The God of the New Testament:
- The Trinity: The New Testament describes God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), a doctrine explicitly rejected by Islam (Quran 4:171).
- Jesus as Divine: Jesus is described as God incarnate (John 1:1), a belief Islam denies outright (Quran 5:116).
The God of the Quran:
- Allah: The Quran emphasizes submission and obedience to Allah as a master-servant relationship (Quran 33:36). Allah’s nature is unitarian, and Islam rejects relational or covenantal aspects seen in earlier scriptures.

Implication of the Variance

The general definition of submission to “one God” is insufficient because:

It presumes all prophets worshiped the same God.
The nature, attributes, and relationship with God in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament differ significantly from Allah as portrayed in the Quran.

Conclusion: Even under the broader definition of submission, the prophets cannot be considered Muslims because their understanding of God is fundamentally different.

4. Contradictions Between Islam and Earlier Scriptures

Islam claims that all prophets preached the same message of monotheism and submission to Allah. However, the teachings and attributes of God in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament often contradict the Quran.

Nature of God

The Hebrew Bible and New Testament describe God as relational, covenantal, and Trinitarian (Matthew 28:19). These concepts are absent or explicitly rejected in Islam (Quran 4:171).
The Quran portrays Allah as remote and unitarian, emphasizing submission over relational interaction.

Means of Salvation

Biblical prophets emphasized faith, grace, and, in some cases, sacrificial atonement (e.g., the Passover lamb in Exodus 12).
Islam rejects the need for atonement, focusing instead on deeds and submission to Sharia law.

Role of Prophecy

The New Testament positions Jesus as the culmination of prophetic history (Hebrews 1:1–2), fulfilling Old Testament prophecies through His life, death, and resurrection.
The Quran denies Jesus’ crucifixion and reinterprets His role (Quran 4:157), creating a theological disconnect.

Conclusion: The core teachings of earlier prophets often contradict the Quran, challenging Islam’s claim that they were Muslims.

5. The Prophets Had No Conception of the God of Islam

The God described in the Quran—Allah—is distinct from the God worshiped by the prophets of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament:

Abraham’s God:
Abraham worshiped YHWH, the covenantal God of Israel, who promised him descendants and a specific land (Genesis 15:7–18). The personal and relational nature of YHWH contrasts with Allah’s portrayal in the Quran as transcendent and impersonal.
Moses’ God:
Moses encountered God at the burning bush, where He identified Himself as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). This self-identification reflects a divine nature absent in Islamic theology.
Jesus’ God:
Jesus referred to God as Father, emphasizing an intimate relationship between God and believers (John 17:1–26). This contrasts with Allah’s role as a master to whom submission is demanded without relational intimacy.

These prophets had no conception of Allah as described in the Quran because their understanding of God was rooted in distinct theological frameworks. Attempting to retroactively impose the Quranic view of God onto these figures disregards the historical and theological contexts of their revelations.

Conclusion: The prophets worshiped and served a God who is fundamentally different from Allah, making the Islamic claim theologically incoherent.

Final Analysis

The Islamic claim that all prophets were Muslims fails when scrutinized through historical, theological, and logical lenses. The prophets of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament:

Were not Muslims by Islam’s post-Quranic definition.
Adhered to their own covenants, distinct from the Quranic message.
Taught doctrines that often contradict Islamic theology.
Had no conception of Allah as described in the Quran.
Cannot even be classified as Muslims under a broader definition, as their submission was to a fundamentally different understanding of God.

By retroactively classifying these figures as Muslims, Islam imposes a framework that is inconsistent with their historical and theological realities. This claim, while central to Islamic theology, cannot be reconciled with the evidence of their scriptures or their conception of God.

Further Exploration

For deeper insights, consider examining the differences between the God of the Quran and the God of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. This comparison sheds further light on the theological incompatibilities between Islam and earlier Abrahamic traditions.