PROPHET JESUS (pbuh): A PROPHET, NOT A SON, OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

Islam and Christianity, the world's two largest Divine religions, have many beliefs in common, such as God's absolute existence, His eternal existence, His creation of the universe from nothing, and His control of all matter through His infinite might. Muslims and Christians oppose the same intellectual errors; struggle against atheism, racism, fascism, and moral degeneration; and use very similar methods to communicate the message of God's existence. Their common aim is to help all people know God so that they can build a world full of justice, one in which they can live in peace and tolerance. They act out of fear, respect, and love for God; follow the path of His messengers, and abide by His revelation.
There is also great harmony in terms of moral values. A human model that thinks only of its own interests, is without love, ruthless, selfish, self-interested and lacking in honesty is the exact opposite of the religious moral values espoused by Muslims and Christians alike. Christians also long for a world governed by love, honesty, compassion, devotion, justice, humility, and fraternity, and endeavor to bring such a world about. They also strive against the behavior forbidden by our Lord, such as prostitution, homosexuality, drug abuse, violence, and exploitation.
Both Christians and Muslims harbor a deep love of and respect for Prophet Jesus (pbuh), God's chosen messenger who was introduced to us in the Qur'an and made superior to the worlds: He [Jesus] is, "of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near" (Surah Al 'Imran: 45). He is a most valuable servant, one honored by God with various miracles and superior moral values.
This book concentrates on the false belief in the trinity, which does not form part of true Christianity (defined as the message revealed to Prophet Jesus [pbuh]) and which only emerged long after he had been raised to God's presence. We shall examine, in the light of both Christian sources and the Qur'an, the monotheistic belief on which true Christianity is based, and analyze how belief in the trinity, based on the concept of the son of God (God is surely beyond that!), came into being.
However, before doing so, we wish to declare that we consider that both our Lord and Prophet Jesus (pbuh) are free of all of the expressions we shall be using to describe this belief in the trinity. In addition, throughout the book, several changes have been made to Biblical passages: the word Father has been replaced by God-Lord, and Son by Prophet-messenger. Wherever the name Jesus (pbuh), the Prophet of God, appears, the word "Prophet" has been appended as a mark of respect.
Another important matter that needs to be emphasized is that Muslims, who believe in all of the prophets and books sent by God, respect the beliefs and values of both Christians and Jews. The Qur'an considers Judaism's Torah and the Psalms as well as Christianity's New Testament to be divine books, and regards Jews and Christians as People of the Book. The Qur'an describes Muslims as "those who believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you." (Surat al-Baqara: 4)
Say: "We believe in God and what has been sent down to us; what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, JacoMKb, and the Tribes; what Moses and Jesus were given; and what all of the Prophets were given by their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them. We are Muslims submitted to Him." (Surat al-Baqara: 136)
The phrase "what was sent down before you" is a reference to the Pages of Prophet Abraham (pbuh), the Torah of Prophet Moses (pbuh), the Book of Psalms of Prophet David (pbuh), and the Gospels of Prophet Jesus (pbuh). God's revelation to Prophet Abraham (pbuh) no longer exists. The other texts have come down to us, but only in corrupted forms, for they contain statements and interpretations that are far removed from God's true religion. Nonetheless, sections compatible with the Qur'an regarding faith in God and His prophets; the love, fear, and respect of God; proper moral values and the like have survived to the present day. (God knows best.) God revealed these books as guides to the humanity: "He has sent down the Book to you with truth, confirming what was there before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel previously, as guidance for humanity" (Surah Al 'Imran: 3-4). In another verse, God says of the Torah:
We sent down the Torah containing guidance and light, and the Prophets who had submitted themselves gave judgment by it for the Jews – as did their scholars and their rabbis – by what they had been allowed to preserve of God's Book to which they were witnesses. (Surat Al-Ma'ida: 44)
The Qur'an also reveals that some Jewish religious figures "distort words from their proper meanings" (Surat al-Ma'ida: 41) and write the Book with their own hands and then say: 'This is from God' to sell it for a paltry price" (Surat al-Baqara: 79). In other words, they have corrupted God's revelation to Prophet Moses (pbuh). Christians, on the other hand, have fallen into a grave error: the trinity (Surat an-Nisa': 171).
In the Qur'an, God provides a great deal of important information about the theological or moral errors of some members of People of the Book. This does not mean, however, that all of them have gone astray, as the following verses state:
They are not all the same. There is a community among the People of the Book who are upright. They recite God's Signs throughout the night, and they prostrate. They believe in God and the Last Day, enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and compete in doing good. They are among the righteous. You will not be denied the reward for any good thing you do. God knows those who guard against evil. (Surah Al 'Imran: 113-15)
Among the People of the Book are some who believe in God, what has been sent down to you and what was sent down to them, and who are humble before God. They do not sell God's Signs for a paltry price. Such people will have their reward with their Lord. And God is swift at reckoning. (Surah Al 'Imran: 199)
Exemplary Muslims live their lives according to the Qur'an, for it determines their value judgments, moral characteristics, and perspectives on life and other people. The same thing applies to their attitude toward the People of the Book, for they always approach them on a basis of tolerance, justice, and love. Thus, Muslims regard them not as the opposition, but as devoted believers in God. Anything else would be a violation of the Qur'an, since many of them have a sincere belief in God and may therefore hope for salvation. All of the reminders presented in this book have been written with that in mind and with the intention of fulfilling God's order to "command what is good and avoid what is evil." Our goal is to show the erroneous nature of belief in the trinity and to help Christians see the truth, so that they will realize this error and abandon all beliefs that are incompatible with faith in the one God.

CHRISTIANS’ ERRORS REGARDING THE TRINITY

CHRISTIANS’ ERRORS REGARDING THE TRINITY

Throughout history, God has sent prophets to lead their people out of their mistaken beliefs and to the path of true monotheistic belief by relaying God's revelation to them. Although each religion contains different stipulations, observances, and practices, their essence is always the same: tawhid, which the Qur'an defines as "to believe in God as the One and Only Deity." Someone who believes in tawhid knows that Almighty God is the Lord of the worlds, that all people are totally dependent upon Him, and that all beings have submitted to Him. To put it another way, Christianity and Judaism, despite their corrupted forms, are built on the foundation of absolute monotheism.
All members of these three religions who believe in God's existence and oneness abide by the religion that our Lord revealed to Prophet Abraham (pbuh). According to the Qur'an, his religion is a haneef (pure natural belief) religion, and our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) was commanded to abide by it:
Then We revealed to you: "Follow the religion of Abraham, a man of pure natural belief [haneef]. He was not one of the idolaters." (Surat an-Nahl: 123)
The word haneef means someone who believes in and serves only God. This is the attribute of Prophet Abraham (pbuh) that the Qur'an emphasizes as being haneef, for this great servant of God distanced himself from his tribe's superstitious beliefs and turned solely to God. He also encouraged his tribe to abandon their pagan beliefs and idolatry. (For details, see Harun Yahya, Prophet Abraham and Prophet Lot [Istanbul: Global Publishing, 2005].)
The divine religion revealed to Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was maintained by sincere believers among his progeny:
Who would deliberately renounce the religion of Abraham except someone who reveals himself to be a fool? We chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the righteous. When his Lord said to him: "Become a Muslim," he [Abraham] said: "I am a Muslim who has submitted to the Lord of all the worlds." Abraham directed his sons to this, as did Jacob: "My sons. God has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as Muslims." Or were you present when death came to Jacob and he asked his sons: "What will you worship when I have gone?" They said: "We will worship your God, the God of your forefathers Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac – one God. We are Muslims submitted to Him." (Surah Al 'Imran: 130-133)
As we have seen, Prophet Abraham's (pbuh) haneef religion is common to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Jews regard him as the prophet of all Jews and say that they are following his path. Like them, Christians also regard Prophet Abraham (pbuh) as one of their prophets. Faith, love, and respect for this great prophet are as important to Jews and Christians as they are to Muslims:
Who could have a better religion than someone who submits himself completely to God, is a good-doer, and follows the religion of Abraham, a man of pure natural belief? God took Abraham as an intimate friend. (Surat an-Nisa': 125)
As commanded by our Lord, Muslims believe in what was revealed to all of the prophets and make no distinction between them:
Say: "We believe in God and what has been sent down to us; what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes; what Moses and Jesus were given; and what all the Prophets were given by their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them. We are Muslims submitted to Him." (Surat al-Baqara: 136)
However, those who are closest to Prophet Abraham (pbuh), who is a role model for all believers with his joyous faith in and deep love of God, his submission and obedience to all of our Lord's commands, and his superior moral values, are those who abide by those moral values and follow the path of monotheism. Our Lord reveals that:
The people with the strongest claim to Abraham are those who follow him and this Prophet, and those who believe. God is the Protector of the believers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 68)
For this reason, Christians and Jews who sincerely believe in God must, like Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and those who follow him, turn solely to God and adopt his moral values, sincerity, and depth of faith. Like his followers, they must be devout believers in God's oneness and ascribe no partners to Him. However, the Christians have left this path due to their belief in the trinity, which has, in effect, given God two partners: Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and the Holy Spirit (God is surely beyond that!).
What does the error of the trinity mean for Christians?
Christianity was born among the Jews living in Palestine. Almost all of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) people, including his followers, were Jews who lived by the Mosaic law. The most fundamental characteristic of Judaism was its uncompromising monotheism.
However, after Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) ascension to God's presence, Christianity began to assume a very different form as it moved out of the Jewish world and into the pagan one. Its traditional monotheism, the basis of the Mosaic law, underwent a great change: Due to the belief in the trinity, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) began to be regarded as divine. (Surely God is beyond all such misguided beliefs and expressions.)
People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making clear to you much of the Book that you have kept concealed, and passing over a lot. A Light has come to you from God and a Clear Book. (Surat Al-Ma'ida: 15)
By it, God guides those who follow what pleases Him to the ways of peace. He will bring them from the darkness to the light by His permission, and guide them to a straight path. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 16)
The concept of the trinity, the culmination of a long process, refers to belief in a three-part God consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It has become one of traditional Christianity's most important elements of faith, despite its contradiction of monotheistic belief in our Almighty Lord as the One and Only. It may be described as follows:
* According to the belief in the trinity, God revealed Himself in three distinct identities, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and yet they are the same thing. In other words, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are God Himself, or God exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. According to this irrational and mistaken belief, each of the three components of the trinity is God, and thus possesses the same power and capacity. (Surely God is beyond that!)
* It is believed that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is the son of God, and therefore possesses the same nature as God. This belief, known as homoousian, states that the Father and the Son have the same essence.
* It is believed that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was not created, but came from eternity as the son of God, was made flesh and became a human being, and descended from heaven to bring salvation to humanity through his crucifixion. This belief is known as incarnation.
The belief in the trinity, which is a mistaken one seeing our Almighty Lord through a superstitious eye, ascribes divinity to Prophet Jesus (pbuh), sent by God as a prophet to his people. However, despite its many internal contradictions and anti-monotheistic nature, it still occupies a very important place in Christian belief. In fact, some Christians consider it a "litmus test" for those who consider themselves to be Christian.
However, history shows that those people and communities who rejected this erroneous belief and maintained that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was merely a human being and prophet of God have been dealt with harshly. The evidence that such people produced from the New Testament and the life of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was always ignored, and people were forbidden to discuss such matters. As we shall see in the following chapters, opponents of belief in the trinity claimed that its proponents openly ascribed partners to God. As a result, church authorities branded them and their followers as unbelievers, heretics, or enemies of the faith. Some were exiled, and others were hanged or burnt alive by the Inquisition's courts. Yet this did not reduce their numbers or prevent the spread of their ideas. Nonetheless, the proponents of the trinity were always in the majority.
Even impartial researchers have determined that true Christianity is that muwahhid (monotheistic) Christianity that was oppressed during Europe's Dark and Middle Ages. Many Biblical scholars, especially those beginning with the eighteenth century, have concluded that the trinity, atonement for sins, and similar beliefs are nowhere to be found in the New Testament or other early Christian scriptures that did not make it into the New Testament.
As a result, some contemporary Christian denominations reject the trinity. The Unitarian Church, for example, is a large denomination that rejects this belief. Although there may be differences of opinion among them, such congregations deny that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is the son of God and say that true Christianity commands one to believe in God as the One and Only. Many of them also emphasize the erroneous belief that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was crucified to atone for humanity's sins. Today, one can find anti-trinitarian Christians throughout the Christian world under different names and different ecclesiastical organizations. In the United States in particular, "opponents of the trinity" are growing stronger every day, and there is a great increase in the number of people openly expressing the truth in the Christian world. Among these, The Worldwide Church of God is particularly noteworthy. The founder of this church, Herbert W. Armstrong, maintains that belief in the trinity is a superstition that emerged under the influence of pagan cultures.
On the other hand, it is a fact that some anti-trinitarian views emerged within various Christian churches but that they were suppressed. For instance, the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist movement, which was born in the nineteenth century and stresses that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will soon return, actually built their denomination on Arian foundations (Arius a young deacon in the Alexandrian church, was an important Christian of the third century who rejected the trinity and the divine nature ascribed to Prophet Jesus [pbuh]) However, the charges of deviation from Christianity leveled at this denomination by other churches led to its abandonment of Arianism and subsequent adoption of the trinity. This interesting volte-face is today admitted by members of that church.1One of the most noteworthy aspects of this subject is that trinitarian belief does not appear in the Bible itself. It appears neither in the Old Testament, the holy book of the Jews, nor in the New Testament, the Christian holy text. Rather, it is based on misinterpretations of a few New Testament passages, and the word itself was only used for the first time by Theophilus of Antioch at the end of the second century. Acceptance of the belief took place much later. Given these facts, Biblical researchers and scholars, as well as opponents of the trinity, ask such questions as: If this belief were really true, did Prophet Jesus (pbuh) not state it unequivocally? And why is trinitarian belief not openly stated in the Bible? Their answers are unambiguous: No belief that is not clearly present in the New Testament, and which was thus unknown to the early Christians, can represent the basis of Christianity. This is an error that came about after Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and under the influence of the established Greek [pagan] culture.

THE QUR’AN REJECTS BELIEF IN THE TRINITY

THE QUR’AN REJECTS BELIEF IN THE TRINITY

The New Testament frequently emphasizes God's infinite power and might, and describes Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as a messenger of God with human characteristics. Those few expressions that purportedly support belief in the trinity, as we will show below, clearly contradict the New Testament as a whole. All of this evidence reveals that trinitarian belief emerged long after Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was raised to God's presence. However, first we need to look at how the Qur'an, the only source from which people can obtain totally accurate information about Christianity and Prophet Jesus (pbuh), treats this belief.
The Qur'an states that the Gospel was revealed as a confirmation of the Torah:
And We sent Jesus son of Mary following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 46)
As for those who believe in God and hold fast to Him, He will admit them into mercy and favor from Him and will guide them to Him on a straight path. (Surat an-Nisa': 175)
By proclaiming this revelation, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) corrected the errors that had crept into the Torah. The Qur'an, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), states that both the Gospel and the Torah are true, but that their original forms have been corrupted. One of its verses reveals that the Qur'an confirms and conserves:
And We have sent down the Book to you with truth, confirming and conserving the previous Books. So judge between them by what God has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires, deviating from the Truth that has come to you. We have appointed a law and a practice for every one of you. Had God willed, He would have made you a single community. But He wanted to test you regarding what has come to you. So compete with each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to God, and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 48)
The quality of the Qur'an revealed in the above verse is of the greatest importance. Not only does the Qur'an confirm the original purity of the revelations sent to Prophet Moses (pbuh) and Prophet Jesus (pbuh), it also conserves them. Revealing their subsequent corruption and then calling Jews and Christians to the true path is a manifestation of that attribute.
Christianity's place is very different at this point, because our Lord reveals that:
…You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe [Muslims] are those who say: "We are Christians." That is because some of them are priests and monks, and because they are not arrogant. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 82)
The truth of this verse has been seen throughout the history of Islam. The close relationship between Christians and Muslims began in the earliest days of Islam, and was further reinforced when some of the first Muslims sought refuge from Makkan persecution in Christian Ethiopia. Christians living in Muslim lands have always lived in peace, tolerance, and justice. (For detailed information, see Harun Yahya, A Call for Unity [Istanbul: Global Publishing, 2004])
Our Lord states that the Gospel was sent down as "guidance and light… and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil" (Surat al-Ma'ida: 46) and "as guidance" (Surah Al 'Imran: 4) to Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) people. Some verses actually invite Christians to abide by the truth revealed in the Gospel:
The people of the Gospel should judge by what God sent down in it. Those who do not judge by what God has sent down are deviators. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 47)
Say: "O People of the Book. You have nothing to stand on until you implement the Torah and the Gospel and what has been sent down to you from your Lord..." (Surat al-Ma'ida: 68)
We have only sent down the Book to you so that you can make clear to them the things about which they differ, and as a guidance and a mercy to people who believe.(Surat an-Nahl: 64)
Other verses extend a very warm welcome to Christians. In fact, the Qur'an praises Christian moral values and invites those who possess them to become even more godly. Several verses also reveal the error of believing in the trinity. For example:
People of the Book. Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing but the truth about God. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God and His Word, which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers. Do not say: "Three." It is better that you stop. God is only One God. He is too glorious to have a son! Everything in the heavens and in Earth belongs to Him. God suffices as a Guardian. The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant to God, nor would the angels near to Him. If any disdain to worship Him and grow arrogant, He will, in any case, gather them all to Him. (Surat an-Nisa': 171-72)
With these words, our Lord reveals just how mistaken belief in the trinity is and warns its proponents that they will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment.
The belief that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is God is also clearly rejected in the verses. (Surely God is beyond that!) Our Lord reveals that those who hold such a belief have become unbelievers:
Those who say that the Messiah, son of Mary, is God are unbelievers. The Messiah said: "Tribe of Israel. Worship God, my Lord and your Lord. If anyone associates anything with God, God has forbidden him the Garden and his refuge will be the Fire." The wrongdoers will have no helpers. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 72)
As revealed in this verse, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is a servant created by God, a prophet who has submitted to God, possesses superior moral values, and is made superior to the worlds. In telling people of the true religion, he spoke of our Lord's infinite might and power and stated that he was His servant. Another verse reveals that those who ascribe divinity to Prophet Jesus (pbuh) do not fully appreciate God and His might:
Those who say: "God is the Messiah, son of Mary," do not believe. Say: "Who possesses any power at all over God if He desires to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone else on Earth?" The kingdom of the heavens and Earth, and everything between them, belongs to God. He creates whatever He wills. God has power over all things. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 17)
As revealed in the verse, everyone is helpless and needy in our Lord's presence. God, Who created everything from nothing, possesses absolute power and dominion over all animate and inanimate entities. Thus, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is the servant and messenger of God, a human being created by and submitted to Him.
It is also revealed in Surat al-Ma'ida that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) himself rejected all claims concerning his supposed "divinity":
And when God asks: "Jesus son of Mary! Did you say to people: 'Take me and my mother as deities besides God?'" he will respond: "Glory be to You! It is not for me to say what I have no right to say! If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my self, but I do not know what is in Your Self. You are the Knower of all unseen things." (Surat al-Ma'ida: 116)
God says: "Do not take two deities. He is only One God. So fear [and respect] Me alone."(Surat an-Nahl: 51)
Other verses reveal the true message that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) imparted to his people:
He said: "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am and directed me to perform prayer and give the alms as long as I live…" (Surah Maryam: 30-31)
I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So have fear of [and respect for] God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path. (Surah Al 'Imran: 50-51)
Another verse reveals the essence of the message imparted by the prophets:
It is not right for any human being that God should give him the Book and Judgment and Prophethood, and then that he should say to people: "Worship me rather than God." Rather, he will say: "Be people of the Lord because of your knowledge of the Book, and because you study." (Surah Al 'Imran: 79)
Our Lord is unsullied by these erroneous beliefs, and the Qur'an reveals some of His titles:
Say: "He is God, Absolute Oneness; God, the Everlasting Sustainer of all. He has not given birth and was not born. And no one is comparable to Him." (Surat al-Ikhlas: 1-4)
This is the truth. God is One and Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is His servant and prophet, as were Prophet Abraham (pbuh), Prophet Moses (pbuh), Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), and all of the other prophets (peace be upon them all).
In the following chapters, all aspects of belief associated with the trinity will be set out in detail based upon the Qur'an, the Bible, and other Christian sources.

BELIEF IN THE TRINITY EMERGED CENTURIES AFTER PROPHET JESUS (PBUH)

BELIEF IN THE TRINITY EMERGED CENTURIES AFTER PROPHET JESUS (PBUH)

Christians believe in the Holy Bible, which consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Although these texts have been corrupted, one can still find in them some facts about Christianity, rules about how they are to live, and examples of Christian moral values. However, no Biblical passage mentions belief in the trinity, and neither this word nor one similar to it appears in the New Testament. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states that the trinity was unknown to the first Christians and only assumed this form in the fourth century:
It is difficult, in the second half of the 20th century, to offer a clear, objective, and straightforward account of the revelation, … and the theological elaboration of the mystery of the Trinity. Trinitarian discussion, Roman Catholic as well as other, present a somewhat unsteady silhouette… There is recognition on the part of exegetist and Biblical theologians, including a constantly growing number of Roman Catholics, that one should not speak of Trinitarianism in the New Testament without serious qualification. There is also the closely parallel recognition - that when one does speak of unqualified Trinitarianism, one has moved from the period of Christian origins to say, the last quadrant of the 4th century. It was only then that what might be called the definitive Trinitarian dogma 'one God in three persons' became thoroughly assimilated into Christian life and thought. 2
Trinitarianism only became Church dogma in the fourth century. Before that time, there had been lengthy debates between its proponents and its detractors. These debates came to a head at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
The Council of Nicaea (325), the largest gathering of Church officials until that time, brought together more than 300 clergy members from Rome, Asia Minor, Syria, Phoenicia, Palestine, and Egypt. It was called by Roman Emperor Constantine I, who wanted to end this divisive debate for the sake of Byzantium's future and security. At this Council, the belief that constituted the basis of Christianity would be defined for the security of the Empire, according to a decision to be taken by human beings. Saint Gregory of Nyssa describes the ensuing debates in these terms (Surely God is beyond the expressions employed in this extract):
Every corner of Constantinople was full of their discussions: the streets, the market place, the shops of the money-changers, the victuallers. Ask a tradesman how many obols he wants for some article in his shop, and he replies with the disquisition on generated and ungenerated being. Ask the price of bread today and the baker tells you: "The son is subordinate to the father." Ask your servant if the bath is ready and he makes an answer: "The son arose out of nothing." "Great is the only Begotten," declared the Catholics, and the Arians rejoined: "But greater is He that begot."3
Constantine permitted the Empire's Christians considerable freedom of belief and worship, despite the fact that he was not a Christian and continued to protect Rome's traditional pagan beliefs. In his quest to further the empire's interests, he worked for a compromise between, or even a coming together of, all of its various religions, particularly between the cult of Sol Invictus, based on Sun worship, and Christianity. Concerned over how the Christians had embarked on an internal theological debate just when he was trying to bring the religions together, he convened this council. One side were those who believed that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was God made flesh on Earth. (Surely God is beyond that!) The leader of this group was Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. On the other side was the celebrated Egyptian priest Arius.
Arius was the son of an Egyptian family of Libyan origins who grew up in Alexandria, one of the most important cities of the time, and joined the Church, becoming a priest in 312. Arius believed in God's oneness and preached that the current Church view of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as God was mistaken. He said that the title the Son of God used to describe Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was a metaphor and had nothing to do with his supposed divinity. To prove this, he pointed to: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). He emphasized that this title applied to everyone who behaved according to God's wishes, and thus could not be limited to Prophet Jesus (pbuh). In one of his works, Arius wrote: "We can all become the sons of God."4 He also pointed to the prayers of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in the New Testament, which began with "My God," and said that such prayers showed that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was devoted to God and, like other people, His helpless servant. Arius also noted that in the New Testament Prophet Jesus (pbuh) frequently referred to himself as the son of man, and emphasized that this indicated Prophet Jesus' human nature.
As the priest in residence at Baucalis, a district of Alexandria, Arius communicated these ideas to a wide audience. Due to the consistence and convincing nature of what he said, and also to his modest and simple lifestyle, those who listened to him easily accepted his ideas. However Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, who was loyal to the Church in Rome which regarded Prophet Jesus as the son of God, not in the metaphorical sense, but as a true deity (Surely God is beyond that), became uneasy with such ideas. After failing to convince Arius to alter his opinions, he initiated a fierce assault against him. He described this in his own writings:
This movement has spread ever wider, to all of Egypt, Libya and Upper Thebes. At this, we too met with the bishops of Egypt and Libya, and cursed this movement and all its followers at an assembly of around a hundred people…5
The condemnation was not solely verbal. In 318, Arius and his followers were excommunicated. Arius, his two closest assistants (Bishop Theonas and Secundus), and 12 priests were exiled to Palestine. Before going into exile in Palestine, Arius collected his ideas in a lyrical book called Thalia.
However, here too Arius found sympathizers. And so his movement, which strongly opposed many of the ideas of the Roman Church, continued to spread. When reports of this reached Constantine, who had taken the Church of Rome under his protection in order to build religious unity, he realized that he was dealing with a major problem: internal division of the Church. He therefore decided to re-establish unity without further loss of time. This was why he convened the Council of Nicaea, one of Christianity's major turning points.
The Council of Nicaea
Constantine first sought to resolve the conflict by sending letters to both sides explaining that unity was more important than anything else. When he saw that his letters were not having the desired effect, he decided, at the suggestion of Bishop Hosius, to call a World Church Council, or synod, at Nicaea to give an exact definition of the trinity. Those who rejected this belief were declared heretics.
Although the council members sought to give the impression of a democratic forum, in reality the emperor brought enormous pressure to bear on the participants. Not surprisingly, the side that he supported, the Church of Rome, emerged victorious. Of the 300 or so participating priests, only around 20 were close to Arius. One reason that there were so few priests from the Arian-influenced Eastern Church, was that the council was moved to Nicaea, instead of held in Ankara as originally planned, which was further to the north-west.6 In addition, the council took place in the emperor's summer palace located in Nicaea. For that reason, the emperor attended all of the council sessions, and his authority was naturally reflected in the decisions taken.
The Nicene Creed, the clearest and most concrete expression of the alleged deification of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), says: (Surely God is beyond all the expressions follow!):
We believe… in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, that is, of the substance [ek tes ousias] of the Father, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of the same substance with the Father [homoousion to patri], through whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth; who for us men and our salvation descended, was incarnate, and was made man, suffered and rose again the third day, ascended into heaven and cometh to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Spirit.
Those who say: There was a time when He was not, and He was not before He was begotten; and that He was made out of nothing (ex ouk onton); or who maintain that He is of another hypostasis or another substance [than the Father], or that the Son of God is created, or mutable, or subject to change, [them] the Catholic Church anathematizes.7
The first paragraph clearly denies Arianism. The Church of Rome, which awarded itself the title of Catholic (Universal) Church, declared the Arians and those who shared the same views to be heretics.
From this time on, the Nicene Creed became the basis of the Christian faith, and those who opposed it were considered heretics. The Roman Catholic Church declared that "God has manifested His will in this council" for which reason the Nicene Creed was regarded as a sacred and infallible text, just like a revelation. But in reality, this was nothing more than the Church of Rome asserting its will.
Following the council, the Arianis came under great pressure, and supporters of Arius who refused to sign the Nicene Creed were anathematized. However, they held out for another 50 years or so, before gradually withdrawing from the stage of history toward the end of the fourth century due to continued Church repression. Yet objections to the official Nicene Creed continued, which meant that more councils had to be held to debate the new ideas being put forward. Despite all of the arguments, however, the superstitious belief in One in Three and Three in One was never attacked. (This superstitious belief referred to God having three different identities, all of which were equal, infinite and in common.) During Constantine's reign, not only were such beliefs as the Nicene Creed expanded, but the New Testament also assumed its current form. No complete version of the New Testament in our possession today is any older than the time of Constantine.8
Throughout the 50 years that followed the Council of Nicaea, Athanasius defended and further developed the Nicene formula, because the belief in the trinity had not yet assumed its final form. The third member of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, remained vague. In the fourth century, a second general council chaired by Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, met in the city (modern-day Istanbul). At its conclusion, the council declared that the Holy Spirit was the third member of the trinity, and that all three members were equal in terms of greatness.9 (Surely God is beyond all that!) Therefore, trinitarianism assumed its final form only four centuries after Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was raised to God's presence. At this council, another belief not found in the Bible was put forward: homoousion, that the trinity's three members had the same essence and equal powers. (Surely God is beyond that!)
Another important matter is how belief in the trinity was first put forward.
Among Christians, belief in the trinity is generally seen as being difficult to comprehend and impossible to understand, but one that must absolutely be accepted. The reason for this is that the proponents of the trinity also claim to be monotheists. Yet it is clear that no Christian has ever been able to explain how trinitarianism and monotheism can exist together. The questions arising in people's minds have not been satisfactorily answered. Neither is it possible for them to be. Therefore, they maintain that the trinity is an article of faith that does not need to be thought about or understood, for it must be accepted as it stands.10 For hundreds of years, this has prevented any serious discussion on this belief's clear errors and inconsistencies. To summarize: Belief in the trinity is a matter of blind faith concerning which any debate or discussion is prohibited.
Many Biblical scholars describe the period between Prophet Jesus (pbuh) being raised to God's presence and the Council of Constantinople as the deification of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), the messenger of God. This theological concept went through a number of specific stages, at the end of which it was assumed that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was divine. (Surely God is beyond that!) This process will be examined in more detail in later chapters.

PROPHET JESUS (PBUH) IS GOD’S PROPHET, NOT HIS SON

PROPHET JESUS (PBUH) IS GOD’S PROPHET, NOT HIS SON

All prophets preached monotheism and had superior moral values and sincere faith. God reveals that His messengers were entrusted with calling their people to monotheism:
We sent a Messenger among every people saying: "Worship God and keep clear of all false deities…" (Surat an-Nahl: 36)
After the prophets, however, monotheism was gradually corrupted and altered by human beings. Thus, God would send a new messenger to recite His verses, warn them of the Day of Judgment and unite them again under monotheism. Following the corruption of the revelation brought by Prophet Moses (pbuh), Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was sent to call his people to God's oneness and to depart from their bigoted traditions, abandon their superstitions, and submit solely to God. For example:
And when Jesus came with the Clear Signs, he said: "I have come to you with wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differed. Therefore have fear [and respect] of God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 63-64)
I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So have fear [and respect] of God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." (Surah Al 'Imran: 50-51)
When Prophet Jesus (pbuh) began to lead his people and their religious leaders, many of whom had departed from the Mosaic Law, invented their own ideas of what was lawful and prohibited, and developed a formalist and bigoted form of religion, they mocked him and became hostile:
When an example is made of the son of Mary, your people laugh uproariously. They retort: "Who is better, then, our deities or him?" They only say this to you for argument's sake. They are indeed a disputatious people. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 57-58)
Despite mounting obstacles, the number of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) followers rose rapidly, especially among the poor. In order to put an end to Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and his message, the local Roman administrators and several Jewish religious leaders set a trap for Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and eventually decided to crucify him. The Qur'an records our Lord's response to this move:
They [the unbelievers] plotted and God plotted. But God is the best of plotters. (Surah Al 'Imran: 54)
Just as our Lord saved Prophet Abraham (pbuh) from the fire, He rescued Prophet Jesus (pbuh) from this trap by raising him to His presence:
And their saying: "We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Messenger of God." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him, but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him." (Surat an-Nisa': 157)
Clearly, those who sought to kill Prophet Jesus (pbuh) failed. As is revealed in other verses of the Qur'an, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) did not die but is alive in God's presence. God has revealed that He foiled the plot against Prophet Jesus (pbuh), which serves as important evidence that the prophet is alive in His presence. Our Lord foiled the plot intended to kill Prophet Jesus (pbuh). The claims made by those who maintain that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was killed consist of nothing more than speculation. The Romans, imagining that they were crucifying Prophet Jesus (pbuh), actually crucified someone else. (For more details concerning his life and ascent to God's presence, see Harun Yahya, Jesus (pbuh) Did Not Die [Istanbul:Global Publishing, 2005]
After his ascent, however, Christianity gradually degenerated with the belief in the trinity. However, we can learn about the monotheistic revelation that he brought, part of what he experienced during his time on Earth, and his elevation into the sight of God from the Qur'an, which was sent to mankind by means of the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) and is valid until the Day of Judgment. It must not be forgotten that the Qur'an is a divine book whose words cannot be changed unless God wills them to be changed: "The Words of your Lord are perfect in truthfulness and justice. No one can change His Words. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." (Surat al-An'am: 115)
Several verses state that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is not the son of God (Surely God is beyond that!), but only one of His prophets. Some of these verses are as follows:
Our Lord Has No Son
The basic logic behind trinitarianism is that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is the son of God. However, God's names invalidate these claims, for in His capacity as the Lord of the Worlds, He is far removed from such comparisons ignorantly made by human beings. He is unsullied by any flaw or deficiency. The Qur'an reveals:
It is not fitting for God to have a son. Glory be to Him! When He decides on something, He just says to it: "Be!" and it is." (Surah Maryam: 35)
They say: "God has a son." Glory be to Him! He is the Rich beyond Need. Everything in the heavens and everything on Earth belongs to Him. Have you authority to say this, or are you saying about God that which you do not know? (Surah Yunus: 68)
It is enough for our Lord to say Be! for something to come into existence. All entities are His property and His creations. All things have bowed their heads to Him and surrendered to His infinite power and might:
…Everything in the heavens and Earth, willingly or unwillingly, submits to Him… (Surah Al 'Imran: 83)
God is free of all causes, because He created whatever exists and happens, as well as their underlying causes. Everything happens in accordance with specific causes. For example, birth, death, learning, and ageing happen as the result of specific causes, such as time and space. Human beings live dependent on time and space. But our Lord is independent of time and space. He, Himself created time and space. It is our Lord Who created fatherhood, being a son, and having children, which are features peculiar to human life. Therefore, those who say that "God has a son" (Surely God is beyond that!) forget our Lord's incomparable names and think within the bounds of their own limited human perceptions. However, such claims are a huge lie in the sight of God. The Qur'an reveals that:
… and to warn those who say: "God has a son." They have no knowledge of this, neither they nor their fathers. It is a monstrous utterance that has issued from their mouths. What they say is nothing but a lie. (Surat al-Kahf: 4-5)
In another verse, our Lord reveals that "If God had desired to have a son, He would have chosen whatever He wished from what He has created. Glory be to Him! He is God, the One, the All-Conquering" (Surat az-Zumar: 4). In this verse, our Almighty Lord reveals that He has the power to create everything in the form that He wills. God's response to people's misguided belief in the trinity, which is founded on baseless human comparisons, is emphasized in the verses given below:
They say: "God has a son." Glory be to Him! No, everything in the heavens and Earth belongs to Him. Everything is obedient to Him, the Originator of the heavens and Earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat al-Baqara: 116-117)
They say: "The All-Merciful has a son." They have devised a monstrous thing. The heavens are all but rent apart, Earth split open, and the mountains brought crashing down at their ascription of a son to the All-Merciful! It is not fitting for the All-Merciful to have a son. There is no one in the heavens and Earth who will not come to the All-Merciful as a servant. He has counted them and numbered them precisely. Each of them will come to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone." (Surah Maryam: 88-95)
As stated in the verses, this concept is a monstrous thing. Our Lord, the Lord of all in heaven and Earth, is unsullied by such fabrications.
Believers in the trinity also make another deviant assertion saying that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) has the same powers as God. The verse "…He has no partner in the Kingdom. He created everything and determined it most exactly" (Surat al-Furqan: 2) unequivocally denies this claim. Given that He is the absolute ruler of the universe, He has no need of any partner or helpmate. As one verse states:
And say: "Praise be to God, Who has had no son and no partner in His Kingdom, and Who needs no one to protect Him from abasement." And proclaim His Greatness repeatedly! (Surat al-Isra': 111)
God commanded Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) to tell those who believe in the trinity:
Say: "If the All-Merciful had a son, I would be the first to worship him". (Surat az-Zukhruf: 81) This response in the verse shows that the proponents of the trinity are in grave error. In the continuation of the above verse God reveals:
Glory be to the Lord of the heavens and Earth, the Lord of the Throne, beyond what they describe. So leave them to plunge and play around until they meet their Day, which they are promised. He is God in heaven and God on Earth. He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 82-84)
In these verses, God draws attention to the fact that believers in the trinity do not properly appreciate God's grandeur. They are depicted as people who play and plunge, heedless of the Hereafter's existence.
All of creation belongs to God and needs Him
According to the trinitarian belief, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is described as being uncreated and having powers equal to those of God. (Surely God is beyond that!) The fact is, however, that this false concept is a terrible slander in the face of the monotheistic faith revealed by our Lord to the prophets. As the Qur'an states:
God, there is no deity but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and Earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and Earth, and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (Surat al-Baqara: 255)
Our Lord is the only deity and ruler. All the universe, everything, living or not, in the heavens and Earth, animals, plants and inanimate objects, all belong to Him, for He is the One Who created them. Everything acts in accordance with His decree and exists for as long as He wills. He feeds and nourishes all living things, turns the night dark, makes the Sun bright, and creates the seasons. He created all human beings that have lived and that will ever live, and so they all owe their existence to God and depend upon Him totally. The prophets that He sent to humanity are also servants created by Him to guide their people and follow His decree so that they may serve as models to humanity. Among them is Prophet Jesus (pbuh), a servant created by God, a worthy messenger of high esteem (Surah Al 'Imran: 45). Indeed, God says this of Prophet Jesus (pbuh):
The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant to God, nor would the angels near to Him. If any do disdain to worship Him and grow arrogant, He will in any case gather them all to Him. (Surat an-Nisa': 172)
As revealed in the verse, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is a very devout individual who is proud to fulfill his duty of service to God and submit to Him fully. All references to his supposed divinity were produced long after he was raised to God's presence. Our Almighty Lord possesses complete dominion over all beings. Everything apart from Him needs our Lord to exist and to survive.
God created the universe from nothing. All living things are born and die, and everything has an allotted life span. There is nothing in the universe that will not come to an end one day, nor any living thing that will not finally die. As the Qur'an reveals, however, "God is the First and Last" (Surat al-Hadid: 3). In other words, He has no beginning and no end. He existed before everything and will continue to exist after everything. Before the universe and its contents were created, there was only God; after the universe and its contents cease to exist, there will be only God. God, the Creator of life and time, is independent of all features of matter.
God created the concepts of space and time, and thus decrees that human beings should be bound by them. No person can know what will happen a day or even an hour later. When He decrees a thing, however, He knows what its end result will be, regardless of how far in the future it will occur. Therefore, His decrees are always the truest, the best, and the wisest.
All things in the universe will one day cease to exist. A human being is born, lives, and inevitably dies at the end of his or her limited lifespan in this world. This is also true for all members of the animal and plant kingdoms. Every living thing will die and will return to the ground. Our Lord, however, is Everlasting and exists at all times. Eternity belongs to Him alone.
Human beings need constant care and interest throughout their lives. They spend much of their lives looking after their own bodies, making sure that they are clean, fed, and get enough sleep. God, on the other hand, has no such worries. As the Creator of all living and non-living things, He is Everlasting, Omniscient, and Almighty. He has no need of anything; rather, He gave various needs to those things He created and then told them to be aware of these needs, serve only Him, and seek everything from Him. A person's duty is to turn to God in the knowledge that he or she can continue to live and have his or her needs met only if He so wills. God reveals, with examples of the greatest wisdom, that He is the one God:
Everyone in the heavens and Earth belongs to Him. Those in His presence do not consider themselves too great to worship Him and do not grow tired of it. They glorify Him by night and day, without ever flagging. Or have they taken deities out of the earth who can bring the dead to life? If there had been any deities besides God in heaven or Earth, they would both be ruined. Glory be to God, Lord of the Throne, beyond what they describe! He will not be questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. Or have they taken other deities besides Him? Say: "Produce your proof! This is the message of those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they turn away. (Surat al-Anbiya': 19-24)
The fact is that We have given them the truth and they are liars. God has no son and is accompanied by no other deity, for then each deity would have gone off with what he or she created, and one of them would have been exalted above the other. Glory be to God above what they describe, Knower of the Unseen and the Visible! May He be exalted above all they associate with Him! (Surat al-Muminun: 90-92)
Prophet Jesus (pbuh), a devout human being who believed fully in Our Lord's attributes, also believed in God's infinite might and ascribed no partners to Him. It is revealed in the Qur'an that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is the servant of God:
He [Jesus] said: "I am the servant of God, He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet." (Surah Maryam: 30)
It is revealed in another verse that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is mortal, and that like all other human beings He will be resurrected in the Hereafter:
Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised up again alive." (Surah Maryam: 33)
God created him, gave him an allotted span on Earth to preach monotheism, and then raised him to His presence to save him from those who plotted against him. When the time appointed by God comes, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will return to Earth and, in the manner decreed by God, complete his duties as messenger, for God has shaped his entire destiny, just as He has done for all people. God created every miracle performed by Prophet Jesus (pbuh), and allowed him to display them through His mercy. Throughout his earthly life, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) expressed his deep faith in God and called people to His straight path, as the following verse states:
God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path. (Surah Maryam: 36)
Prophet John's (pbuh) birth was also a miracle from God
One of trinitarianism's alleged foundations is the miracles in the life of Prophet Jesus (pbuh). Our Lord imparted a blessing by giving Prophet Jesus (pbuh) extraordinary miracles. His life was full of miracles, from his birth until his elevation to God's presence. One of these miracles was that he was born of a virgin. The birth of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is truly a great miracle of our Lord. The Qur'an describes how Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary as a handsome, well-built man and informed her of God's will for her: although no man had ever touched her, by the will of God she became with child with Prophet Jesus (pbuh). Her pregnancy took place in a miraculous manner, independent of any earthly cause:
She asked: "How can I have a son when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?" He [Gabriel] said: "It will be so. Your Lord says: 'That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.' It is a matter already decreed." So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. (Surah Maryam: 20-22)
As can be seen from the clear language in this verse, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) came into the world by means of a creation outside the known causes, without a father. Before he was born, God had the angels inform Mary of many his attributes and that He was sending him as a blessing to his people:
He [Gabriel] said: "I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure son" ... We can make him a Sign for humanity and a mercy from Us." (Surah Maryam: 19-21)
This miraculous creation is one of the so-called proofs for belief in the trinity. Although the extraordinary nature of this birth is plain to see, the birth of Prophet John (pbuh) was also miraculous. His father, Prophet Zachariah (pbuh), had prayed for an inheritor with the following words:
Remember your Lord's mercy to His servant Zachariah, when he called on his Lord in secret and said: "My Lord, my bones have lost their strength and my head is crowned with white. But in calling on You, My Lord, I have never been disappointed. I fear my relatives when I am gone, and my wife is barren. So give me an heir from You to be my inheritor and the inheritor of the family of Jacob, and make him, my Lord, pleasing to You." (Surah Maryam: 2-6)
Then and there, Zachariah called on his Lord, saying: "O Lord, grant me, by Your favor, an upright child. You are the Hearer of Prayer." (Surah Al 'Imran: 38)
Apparently, Prophet Zachariah (pbuh) and his wife could not have a son under normal conditions. Yet he prayed with a sincere heart to our Lord for a helpmate and an inheritor. And, our Lord answered his prayer:
Zachariah! We give you the good news of a boy named John, a name we have given to no one else before. (Surah Maryam: 7)
The angels called out to him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber: "God gives you the good news of John, who will come to confirm a Word from God. He will be a leader and a chaste, a Prophet and one of the righteous." (Surah Al 'Imran: 39)
Our Lord gave Prophet Zachariah (pbuh) the glad tiding he would have a son called John (pbuh). Like the birth of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), this too is a miraculous state of affairs—since on account of their age and health, it appeared impossible for Prophet Zachariah (pbuh) and his wife to have children. Prophet Zachariah (pbuh) said the following when he learned of the impending miracle: "My Lord! How can I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached advanced old age?" (Surah Maryam: 8). But our Lord, Who created the entire universe from nothing and can do whatever He wills, told him:
He [God] said: "It will be so. Your Lord says: 'That is easy for me to do. I created you before, when you were nothing.'" (Surah Maryam: 9)
He [Zachariah] asked: "My Lord, how can I possibly have a son when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" He [God] said: "It will be so. God does whatever He wills." (Surah Al 'Imran: 40)
The New Testament contains a similar account:
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped by fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you are to name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the holy spirit even from birth. He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Zechariah asked the angel: "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."(Luke 1:11-18)
The Originator of the heavens and earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, 'Be!' and it is. (Surat al-Baqara: 117)
Our Lord presented Prophet Zachariah (pbuh) and his wife with Prophet John (pbuh), a miracle from His presence, and endowed him with obedience, wisdom, love, sensitivity, and cleanliness right from childhood. The following is said of Prophet John (pbuh):
…he had fear of God – and devotion to his parents – he was not insolent or disobedient. Peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised up again alive. (Surah Maryam: 13-15)
As these verses reveal, Prophet John's (pbuh) birth was a great miracle. Independently of earthly causes, God answered Prophet Zachariah's (pbuh) prayer for a son and an inheritor in the person of Prophet John (pbuh). This great news was imparted by means of an angel, just as Mary was informed of her impending pregnancy. Given that Prophet Zachariah's (pbuh) wife was too old to become pregnant, we can see a great similarity in the birth of these two great prophets. This shows just how invalid this particular claim of the trinitarians is.
The creation of Prophet Adam (pbuh)
The extraordinary creation of Prophet John (pbuh) and Prophet Adam (pbuh) are proof that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was not created to be part of a triune God. According to the Qur'an, Prophet Adam (pbuh) was also created in a miraculous manner.
… when your Lord said to the angels: "I am creating a human being out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud. When I have formed him and breathed My Spirit into him, fall down in prostration in front of him." (Surat al-Hijr: 28-29)
These verses point to a most extraordinary creation: Prophet Adam (pbuh) had no parents, for he was created out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud. Other verses regarding creation from mud and the like read as follows:
O humanity. If you are in any doubt about the Resurrection, know that We created you from dust, then from a drop of sperm, then from a clot of blood, and then from a lump of flesh, formed yet unformed, so We may make things clear to you. (Surat al-Hajj: 5)
Among His Signs is that He created you from dust and here you are now, widespread human beings. (Surat ar-Rum: 20)
God created you from dust, and then from a drop of sperm, and then made you into pairs. No female becomes pregnant or gives birth except with His knowledge. And no living thing lives long or has its life cut short without that being in a Book. That is easy for God. (Surah Fatir: 11)
The creation of Prophet Adam (pbuh) is also similar to that of Prophet Jesus (pbuh):
The likeness of Jesus in God's sight is the same as that of Adam. He created him from earth and then He said to him "Be!" and he was. It is the truth from your Lord, so do not be among the doubters. (Surah Al 'Imran: 59-60)
In these verses, God reveals that He created Prophet Adam (pbuh) and Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in a similar manner: Prophet Adam (pbuh) was created out of clay and had no ancestors, and Prophet Jesus (pbuh) had no father. Both of them were created through God's command of Be! This great truth, which leaves no room for doubt, makes it clear that both prophets were God's servants who, despite their exalted status, were still completely dependent upon Him to meet all of their needs.
As revealed in the Qur'an, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is fully human
[God] of the East and West–there is no deity but Him–so take Him as your Guardian.(Surat al-Muzzammil: 9)
In the Qur'an, God reveals to our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) that the other prophets before him were all human:
We never sent any Messengers before you who did not eat food and walk in the market-place. But We have made some of you a trial for others, to see if you will be steadfast. Your Lord sees everything. Those who do not expect to meet Us ask: "Why have angels not been sent down to us? Why do we not see our Lord?" They have become arrogant about themselves and are excessively insolent. (Surat al-Furqan: 20-21)
In other verses our Lord states:
We have only sent before you men who were given Revelation. Ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know. We did not give them bodies that did not eat food, nor were they immortal. But We kept Our promise to them and rescued them and those We willed, and destroyed the profligate. (Surat al-Anbiya': 7-9)
All of the prophets' human characteristics are described in the Qur'an through numerous examples. Mary conceived Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in a miraculous manner. However, the stages of his birth and Mary's birth-related experiences clearly reveal that his stages of birth were the same as those of all other human beings. It is not possible to interpret the Qur'anic account of his birth in any other way:
So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. The pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She exclaimed: "Oh, if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!" A voice called out to her from under her: "Do not grieve. Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm toward you, and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes. If you should see anyone at all, just say: "I have made a vow of abstinence to the All-Merciful, and today I will not speak to any human being." She brought him to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary, you have done an unthinkable thing! Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!" (Surah Maryam: 22-28)
God created Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and blessed him with various miracles, such as raising the dead, making a bird from mud and breathing life into it, and curing the blind from birth and lepers. Such events, together with his miraculous birth without a father, are outside the laws of life to which we are subject in this world. In the Qur'an, our Lord refers to other prophets' miracles. For example, He states that Prophet Adam (pbuh) was created from dried mud without a father, and that Prophet Salih, Prophet Abraham, and Prophet Moses (peace be upon them all) performed many miracles. When Prophet Moses (pbuh) encountered Pharaoh's sorcerers, our Lord turned his staff into a serpent (Surah Ta Ha: 69). Prophet Moses (pbuh) and his people were able to cross the Red Sea, which divided so that they could escape Pharaoh and his army, all of whom drowned (Surah Ta Ha: 77-78). Like the birth of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), this too is a miraculous state of affairs—since on account of their age and health, it appeared impossible for Prophet Zachariah (pbuh) and his wife to have children.
In Surat al-Isra' God reveals that He carried our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) to the place upon which Al-Aqsa mosque now stands in a single night and showing it to him (Surat al-Isra':1). It is God, the Lord of the worlds, Who enabled such miracles to take place. The fact that the prophets were able to perform such miracles does not imply that they enjoyed divine status. (Surely God is beyond that!) In fact, all of them knew that they could perform these miracles only because God willed them:
Remember when God said: "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the holy spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay by My will, and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My will; and healed the blind and the leper by My will; and when you brought forth the dead by My will; and when I held back the tribe of Israel from you, when you brought them the Clear Signs and those of them who did not believe said: 'This is nothing but downright magic." (Surat al-Ma'ida: 110)
The Qur'an also refutes all claims regarding the supposed divinity of Mary and Prophet Jesus (pbuh):
The Messiah, the son of Mary, was only a Messenger, before whom other Messengers came and went. His mother was a woman of truth. Both of them ate food. See how We make the Signs clear to them! Then see how they are perverted! (Surat al-Ma'ida: 75)
The reference to eating is particularly wise, because eating, hunger, thirst, and the need to sleep are all characteristics of living things and expressions of helplessness. Given this, it is a grave error to ascribe divine status to Prophet Jesus (pbuh), who possessed all of the human characteristics mentioned in the verse. With his title of the Provider (al-Razzaq), God, the Lord of all, nourishes and imparts blessings to all living things. He is the One Who has need of nothing and nobody. However, all living things stand in need of our Lord in order to exist and survive.
Another piece of wisdom connected to this matter may be the information provided about the angels who appeared to Prophet Abraham (pbuh) in human form (God knows best!) and did not eat any food:
Has the account reached you of the honored guests of Abraham? When they entered his dwelling and said: "Peace." he replied: "Peace to people we do not know." So he slipped off to his household and brought a fattened calf. He offered it to them and then asked: "Do you not then eat?" He felt afraid of them, but they said: "Do not be afraid," and gave him the good news of a son imbued with knowledge. (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 24-28)
Our messengers brought the good news to Abraham. They said: "Peace," and he also said: "Peace" and brought in a roasted calf without delay. When he saw that their hands were not reaching for it, he suspected them and felt afraid. They said: "Have no fear. We have been sent to the people of Lot." (Surah Hud: 69-70)
God warns those who believe in the trinity and who ascribe divine status to Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in various ways in several verses, among them the following:
Those who say: "God is the Messiah, son of Mary" do not believe. Ask: "Who possesses any power at all over God if He desires to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone else on Earth?" The kingdom of the heavens and Earth, and everything between them, belongs to God. He creates whatever He wills. God has power over all things. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 17)
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is no more than a helpless and needy servant created by God, despite his being someone beloved of, honored, and chosen by God. The Qur'an says that those who deify him are unbelievers:
Those who say that the Messiah, son of Mary, is God are unbelievers. The Messiah said: "O Tribe of Israel. Worship God, my Lord and your Lord. If anyone associates anything with God, God has forbidden him the Garden and his refuge will be the Fire." The wrongdoers will have no helpers. Those who say that God is the third of three are unbelievers. There is no deity but the One God. If they do not stop saying what they say, a painful punishment will afflict those among them who do not believe. Why do they not turn to God and ask for His forgiveness? God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Ma'ida; 72-74)
Thus, as God is the sole Lord of all things, no other power can delay or turn a thing back that He wills to happen. The Qur'an reveals the following about those who say that there is another deity apart from God or that God has a son:
We sent no Messenger before you without revealing to him: "There is no god but Me, so worship Me." They say: "The All-Merciful has a son." Glory be to Him! No, they are honored servants! They do not precede Him in speech and they act on His command. He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them. They only intercede on behalf of those with whom He is pleased, and even they are apprehensive out of fear [and respect] of Him. Were any of them to say: "I am a deity apart from Him," We would repay him with Hell. That is how We repay wrongdoers." (Surat al-Anbiya': 25-29)
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is only a prophet
The Qur'an mentions many subjects, such as the birth of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), some events in his life, his family, and the people around him. He is depicted as the Messiah, son of Mary and prophet of God. For example, he told the Children of Israel that he was sent for the following reason:
I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So have fear [and respect] of God, and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path. (Surah Al 'Imran: 50-51)
A few disciples heeded his call and are referred to in the following terms:
We are God's helpers. We believe in God. Bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and have followed the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses. (Surah Al 'Imran: 52-53)
Throughout his life, Prophet Jesus (pbuh), sent to lead a community that had gone astray to the true path, called on his people to have sincere faith and submit themselves to God. It also appears, from various verses of the Qur'an that he acted as a guide to those who had fallen into religious disagreements. Certain New Testament passages indicate that he primarily called on hypocritical, insincere religious figures and those who deceived the public behind a mask of devotion to cease what they were doing and believe in God. The Qur'an reveals this in the following terms:
And when Jesus came with the Clear Signs, he said: "I have come to you with Wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differed. Therefore, have fear [and respect] of God and obey me." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 63)
If they see every Sign, they will not believe in it. If they see the way of right guidance, they will not take it as a way. But if they see the way of error, they will take that as a way. That is because they denied Our Signs and paid no attention to them. (Surat al-A'raf: 146)
Like all of the prophets, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) targeted moral degeneration and atheism. He told people to abandon their injustice, immorality, and superstitions; to live by God's ordained moral values and for His good pleasure alone; to fear [and respect], love, and submit to God; and to turn away from superstitious laws and hollow traditions, to worship only God, and to turn to Him at all times. The miracles that he performed revealed that God had chosen him as His messenger, and that He supported him with knowledge and power. His depth of faith, high moral values, superior understanding, and wise explanations inspired great admiration among his people.
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) displayed great patience with his opponents, put his trust in God and continued to inform his people of God's revelation despite the hostile environment in which he was living. Although he had very few helpers, he endeavored to restore his people's religion to its essence and cleanse it of all meaningless rituals and superstitious practices. Thanks to his superior understanding and wisdom vouchsafed to him by our Lord, he made highly affective addresses to the Children of Israel and told them very wise parables.
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) confirmed the Torah and issued his commands according to the Gospel, sent by God as a guide and advice:
And We sent Jesus son of Mary following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. The people of the Gospel should judge by what God sent down in it. Those who do not judge by what God has sent down are deviators. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 46-47)
At first, only a few people responded to his call, for it demanded the end of privilege for the priestly class, who made a living out of nonsense and tradition, and for the ruling class, who denied God's sovereignty. With the spread of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) message and his growing number of followers, the cunning snares and plans laid by his opponents also increased. All of the prophets have encountered such plots, for as the Qur'an relates, the people to whom they are sent have the following attitude:
Why then, whenever a Messenger came to you with something your lower selves did not desire, did you grow arrogant, deny some of them, and murder others? (Surat al-Baqara: 87)
Gradually, a division began to emerge in society between the followers and the opponents of Prophet Jesus (pbuh). On the one hand was God's messenger, who described the true religion and called on people to believe in the one God; on the other was a group who was determined not to believe, no matter what miracles or evidence they were shown. The enemies of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) made themselves apparent. It is likely that some unbelievers also had initially listened to and supported him. Indeed, God reveals that: The various factions among them differed..." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 65). For that reason, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) described those who had faith and who he could trust:
When Jesus sensed unbelief on their part, he asked: "Who will be my helpers to God?" The disciples said: "We are God's helpers. We believe in God. Bear witness that we are Muslims." (Surah Al 'Imran: 52)
The Qur'an reveals that the unbelievers plotted to kill Prophet Jesus (pbuh). According to the New Testament, several bigoted religious leaders convinced one of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) disciples to betray him, after which they would have him arrested and delivered up to the Romans. According to that same source, these leaders could not carry out a death sentence and so prepared a trap to incite the Roman authorities, known for their cruelty and sensitivity in this matter to do it for them: They depicted Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as being an opponent of Rome:
They planned and God planned. But God is the best planners. (Surah Al 'Imran: 54)
Thus, his opponents sought to kill him. But they failed to do so, for God foiled their plot, raised him to His presence and caused someone else to be killed in his place. Yet the erroneous belief that the Romans crucified and killed Prophet Jesus (pbuh) remains the fundamental essence of Christianity. A large part of the Christian world accepts this, but believes that he was resurrected and then ascended to heaven. When we look at the Qur'an, however, we see that this is not the case:
… and their saying: "We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Messenger of God." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him, but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. (Surat an-Nisa': 157)
In the continuation of this verse the situation of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is revealed thus:
God raised him up to Himself. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat an-Nisa': 158)
Their Messengers said to them: "We are nothing but human beings like yourselves. But God shows favor to any of His servants He wills. It is not for us to bring you an authority, except by God's permission. So let the believers put their trust in God." (Surah Ibrahim: 11)
The truth revealed in the Qur'an is clear. Incited by the Jews, the Romans sought to kill Prophet Jesus (pbuh) but failed to do so. The expression "but it was made to seem so to them" makes their failure to do so crystal clear. God showed people someone who resembled Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and then raised him to His presence. Furthermore, our Lord also states that those who claim that he actually died have no knowledge of the truth of the matter. (For details, see Harun Yahya, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) Did Not Die, Istanbul: Global Publishing, 2005]
In the early years of Christianity, several ideas emerged regarding the crucifixion. It is known that, just as revealed in the Qur'an, some Christian sects believed that he was not crucified at all.
From what we know of his life, message, and prayers, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was a prophet of God, a guide to the true path, and a messenger sent down by God to warn his people. This is confirmed by He said: "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet" (Surah Maryam: 30), as well as the following verses:
And when Jesus son of Mary said: "O Tribe of Israel, I am the Messenger of God to you, confirming the Torah that came before me and giving you the good news of a Messenger after me, whose name is Ahmad." When he brought them the Clear Signs, they said: "This is downright magic." (Surat as-Saff: 6)
It is not right for any human being that God should give him the Book and Judgment and Prophethood, and then that he should say to people: "Worship me rather than God." Rather he will say: "Be people of the Lord, because of your knowledge of the Book and because you study." (Surah Al 'Imran: 79)
The Qur'an and the hadiths of our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) make it very clear that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) did not die and was not killed, but that he was raised to God's presence and will one day return to Earth. In fact, the hadith literature contains a great many signs regarding his second coming. (For more details regarding the second coming of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) see Harun Yahya, The Signs of Jesus' Second Coming [Istanbul: Global Publishing, 2004].)

TRUE CHRISTIANITY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

TRUE CHRISTIANITY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Many phrases in the New Testament leave no room for belief in the trinity. In fact, they actually support the monotheistic belief of God as the One and Only. Indeed, groups opposed to the trinity have drawn attention to these down the ages, while proponents of the trinity have offered interpretations based on no evidence at all.
Trinitarian belief ascribes the same divine status to Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as to God (Surely God is beyond that!), although the New Testament describes God's oneness and eternal sovereignty over all things in great detail. People are called to monotheistic faith in both the message of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) to his people and followers, and in the words of his disciples. In addition, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) constantly makes it clear that everything he does is the result of God's infinite power and might, that it is God Who causes him to say everything he says, and that he performs these miracles only because God wills them to occur. He also invites those who elevate him to elevate God, remember His infinite might, and submit to Him. We shall look at this in the pages that follow.
Several Qur'anic verses reveal the kind of message communicated by Prophet Jesus (pbuh). For example:
And when God asks: "Jesus son of Mary. Did you say to people: 'Take me and my mother as deities besides God?'" he will exclaim: "Glory be to You! It is not for me to say what I have no right to say! If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my self, but I do not know what is in Your Self. You are the Knower of all unseen things. I said to them nothing but what You ordered me to say: 'Worship God, my Lord and your Lord.' I was a witness against them as long as I remained among them, but when You took me back to You, You were the One watching over them. You are Witness of all things. If You punish them, they are Your servants. If you forgive them, You are the Almighty, the All-Wise." (Surat al-Ma'ida: 116-18)
As is revealed in the verses, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) called on his people to believe in God alone and live for Him. Monotheism constitutes the basis of true Christianity, just as it does of Islam. (The word Father in the extracts from the New Testament in this chapter has been changed to God, the word Son to prophet –messenger, and the title Lord used to address Prophet Jesus (pbuh) to teacher.)
Monotheism in the Old Testament
The mistaken belief in the son of God, which emerged 30-40 years after Prophet Jesus (pbuh) had been raised to God's presence, gradually began to spread. However, this concept could not be clearly defined for a long time. Some interpreted it as a metaphorical concept referring to his honored position in God's sight and continued to believe in His oneness, while others deified Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and began to consider him the actual son of God.

As we know, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was a Jew who was sent to the Children of Israel, who had been monotheists for the last two centuries. Our Lord sent His revelation to them through a long series of prophets, beginning with Prophet Abraham (pbuh), all of whom had warned the Jews to abide scrupulously by His revelation. They had known the Torah, "a guidance and light" (Surat al-Ma'ida: 44), ever since the time of Prophet Moses (pbuh). Prophet Jesus (pbuh) came to confirm the Torah, which is also accepted by Christians. The Torah and other books of the Old Testament contained reports concerning his coming.
This fact reveals just how mistaken the belief in the trinity, which was accepted by majority vote at the Council of Nicaea, actually is. Nowhere in the Torah or the New Testament is this doctrine even mentioned. All of the prophets of Israel called on their people to believe in God as the One and Only, and none of their statement can possibly be equated with trinitarian belief. No such statement was ever heard from Prophet Abraham (pbuh), nor Prophet Moses (pbuh) nor any of the other prophets. All of the prophets taught only one message: know that God is the One and Only and take no other deity but Him. The following passage from the Torah, most frequently repeated by the Jews, says: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4).
This same truth is also emphasized in the Old Testament:
The LORD is God; besides Him there is no other… Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on Earth below. There is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:35-39)
The LORD our God, the LORD is One. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
Given the above statements from the Old Testament, our Lord's infinite might and power, as well as His dominion over the universe, is a basic truth of Judaism.
Anyone who reads the Old Testament can clearly see that it refers only to a single deity: God, the Lord of the worlds. Nowhere is there any mention of the trinity.
Given these facts, the trinity is a mistaken belief that somehow found its way into the Divine religion at a later date.
The New Testament is based on belief in the One and Only God
The Qur'an reveals that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) called on his people in the following manner:
…O Tribe of Israel. Worship God, my Lord and your Lord… (Surat al-Ma'ida: 72)
Such statements by Prophet Jesus (pbuh) calling people to belief in the one God are still to be found in the otherwise corrupted Gospels of the New Testament. For instance, according to the Gospel of Saint Mark, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) gave the following reply to a Jew who asked him which commandment was the most important:
"The most important one,"answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' (Mark 12:29-30)

Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: "I am free of everything you worship, except for Him Who brought me into being, Who will certainly guide me." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 26-27)
He made it an on-going word among his descendants so that, perhaps, they might turn back. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 28)
Another passage in the Gospel of Saint Mark shows that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) objected to being praised, let alone deified:
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God. (Mark 10:17-18)
This passage alone is sufficient to show that doctrine of the trinity violates the most basic teaching of Christianity. In rejecting praise and stressing that God is the only One worthy of praise, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is clearly stating that he is a servant of God.
The truth that he related to the people of Israel is the same truth related by all prophets since the beginning of time: Our Lord, Almighty God, created the universe from nothing, creates flawlessly in the most beautiful manner, is the great and superior, knows the inner face and secret aspects of all things, is the first and the last, was not born, is unsullied by any imperfection, is the Omniscient and All-powerful, the Glorious, the Ruler, the Beneficent, and the Forgiver. Everything in heaven and Earth has submitted to Him.
Say: "God speaks the truth, so follow the religion of Abraham, a man of pure natural belief. He was not one of the idolaters." (Surah Al 'Imran: 95)
Indeed, the "oneness of God" appears as an essential article of faith in the New Testament -both in the four Gospels and in the writings and letters of the apostles, which condemns all forms of polytheism, trinitarianism, and paganism, as does the Old Testament. Those who think that there are other deities besides God are called to monotheism throughout the New Testament. Some of these passages read as follows:
... [Jesus said to him:] "The Lord our God, the Lord is One." "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is One and there is no other but Him. (Mark 12:29-32)
… God is One. (Galatians 3:20)
[They] exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles…They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator, Who is forever praised. (Romans 1:23-25)
… for us there is but One God, from Whom all things came and for Whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:6)
We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but One.. (1 Corinthians 8:4)
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One Who is and Who was ... (Revelation 11:16-17)
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. (1 Timothy 1:17)
There is one God. (1 Timothy 2:5)
You believe that there is One God. Good! (James 2:19)
To the only God our Savior be glory … (Jude 24)
How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? (John 5:44)
Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
Exalted be God, the King, the Real. There is no deity but Him, Lord of the Noble Throne. Whoever calls on another deity together with God has no grounds for doing so at all, and his reckoning is with his Lord. Truly, the disbelievers have no success.(Surat al-Muminun: 116-117)
The New Testament contains many other statements that describe God as the One and Only. For example, consider the messages communicated by Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) disciples. Following his ascension, Christians traveled throughout the region to report his words and call on the people to surrender to God. The New Testament reports that they called on those whom they addressed to become Christians believing in the One and Only God:
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, Who made heaven and Earth and sea and everything in them… He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (Acts 14:14-17)
The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and Earth, and does not live in temples built by hands. He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole Earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him …though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:24-28)
God possesses infinite power and might
According to trinitarian belief, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was not created; rather, he has always existed and has the same powers and abilities as God. (Surely God is beyond that!) This is a grave error. Those who believe in the trinity believe that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will save them and answer their prayers, thanks to which they will be freed from all of their sins. (The misguided belief in the atonement for sins will be examined in detail in due course.) This deception, which the Qur'an describes in detail, is not supported by any of the New Testament's passages. On the contrary, it is rejected.
Trinitarians offer several pieces of "evidence" for this belief fromzz the New Testament. Heading this list is the miracles performed by Prophet Jesus (pbuh). However, this is no proof at all of his supposed divinity, for all of the miracles associated with him (e.g., being born without a father, speaking from the cradle, and curing the sick and blind, which are facts separately set out in the Qur'an) were no more than a blessing from our Almighty Lord, the ruler of the universe, and the expression of His will. God also willed Prophets Moses, Solomon, Abraham, and Zachariah (peace be upon them all), among many other prophets, and our Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) to perform miracles. The proponents of the belief in the trinity, however, point to their own view of these miracles in ascribing alleged divinity to Prophet Jesus (pbuh). Yet this claim is in open contradiction to these and many other statements in the New Testament.
As the New Testament records, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) always praised God and stated that all power belonged to Him. For example, he stated that I do exactly what God has commanded me (John 14:31), The words I say to you are not just my own (John 14:10), and I tell you the truth, the apostle can do nothing by himself (John 5:19).
Other passages refer to God's infinite might and power:
… from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. (Romans 11:36)
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Luke 12:6-7)
Jesus looked at them and said: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."(Matthew 19:26)
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! (Romans 11:33)
Fear [and respect] God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him Who made the heavens and Earth, the sea and the springs of water. (Revelation 14:7)
Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear [and respect] You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation15:3-4)
Everything comes from God. (1 Corinthians 11:12)
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are His judgments… For our Lord God Almighty reigns. (Revelation 19:1-6)
There is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)
It is written: "As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God."(Romans 14:11)
… our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone is immortal and Who lives in unapproachable light, Whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)
Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before people, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Lord in heaven… But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Lord, Who is unseen. Then your Lord, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Lord knows what you need before you ask him… And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil … for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. (Matthew 6:1-8, 13)
These facts revealed in the New Testament are in complete harmony with those revealed in the Qur'an, and are expressions of the absolute truths taught by all of God's prophets since the beginning of history down to the present day: God created time, space, human beings, all the worlds, and all that exists within them. Our Lord, Who is unsullied by any imperfection or deficiency, is the Superior and Great. Everything takes place according to His will and with His permission. As the Qur'an reveals, not a leaf falls to the ground unless He wills it to do so, and no female conceives and no living thing gives birth without His knowledge. God knows everything, whether secret or open, and is Almighty. God has the power to do whatever He wills, for He is the Lord of infinite might and power. It is sufficient for Him to say, Be! for a thing to come into being. Nothing is impossible in His sight, for He is the sole authority and sole Lord of might in the universe.
The New Testament proclaims His absolute dominion over the universe through examples indicating that God, the Lord of the Worlds, gives human beings all of their powers and abilities, creates everything that happens, and gives life to all living things.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One Who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Lord. (Matthew 10:28-29)
A person can receive only what is given to him from heaven. (John 3:27)
It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Lord, Who gives you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but rather the Spirit of your Lord speaking through you. (Matthew 10:19-20)
…to Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy… (Jude 24-25)
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven. (Matthew 24:36)
…Who alone is immortal… Whom no one has seen or can see … (1 Timothy 6:16)
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9)
All of these passages from the New Testament clearly show that true Christian belief is a sincere one directed only toward God. However, the misguided belief in the trinity was added to these true beliefs, and this corrupted Christianity itself.