The Trinity
Allah is all-knowing and does not change His mind, as stated in the Quran.
Quick answer
The Christian response highlights that the Quran contains verses suggesting Allah's uncertainty and the use of the term 'perhaps' indicates a lack of omniscience. This contrasts with the Biblical portrayal of God as fully sovereign and all-knowing.
Full argument
In the Quran, several verses use the term 'perhaps' (laallahum), which implies uncertainty and suggests that Allah does not possess complete knowledge of the future. For example, in Surah 2:186, Allah states that He is near to answer prayers, but the use of 'perhaps' indicates that there is no guarantee of a response. This pattern continues in other verses, such as Surah 6:51 and Surah 7:168, where the hope for people to turn to Allah is expressed with the same uncertainty. Such language raises questions about the nature of Allah's knowledge and whether He truly knows the outcomes of human actions. In contrast, the Christian understanding of God is that He is omniscient and sovereign, as affirmed in scriptures like John 1:1, which states that the Word (Christ) was with God and was God, emphasizing His divine nature and knowledge. Thus, the portrayal of Allah in the Quran does not align with the traditional Christian view of an all-knowing deity.
Key verses
John 1:1bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Isaiah 46:10bible
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
Psalm 139:4bible
Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely.
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- Allah created men and jinn to be fuel for the fire of hell, predestining their fate to either be saved or punished.
- The Quran describes Allah with physical attributes such as a face, hands, and a shin, which implies that Allah has a physical form like humans.
- How can Allah be sovereign if both His throne and Satan's throne are said to be upon the water?
- Muslims might argue that hell was created for all humanity, and that God's justice requires punishment for all who sin.