Muslims believe that the Shema emphasizes the absolute oneness of God, rejecting any notion of a binitarian understanding of God.

The Shema, which states 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,' is often cited by Muslims to support their belief in the absolute oneness of God. However, Christians argue that this oneness does not exclude the binitarian nature of God as revealed in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, refers to Jesus as 'one Lord' and emphasizes that all things exist through Him, indicating a divine role that aligns with the identity of Yahweh. In 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Paul clearly states that there is one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist. This binitarian understanding is further supported by Colossians 1:15-23, where Paul describes Christ as the agent of creation and redemption, affirming His divine status. The language used by Paul parallels the descriptions of God in the Old Testament, suggesting that Jesus shares in the divine identity. Moreover, the New Testament consistently presents Jesus in a way that aligns with the attributes traditionally ascribed to God. For instance, in Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul speaks of one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, which echoes the Shema's emphasis on God's sovereignty. This indicates that the early Christians understood the oneness of God to encompass a complex unity that includes both the Father and the Son. Thus, while Muslims emphasize the oneness of God, Christians believe that this oneness can coexist with the binitarian understanding of God's nature as revealed in the New Testament, where Jesus is both fully divine and fully human, fulfilling the role of Lord and Savior.