Islam Agrees – Jesus Has No Beginning!
How Muslim Reasoning Leads to the Belief in the Uncreated Christ
Introduction
One of the core beliefs in Sunni Islam is that the Quran is uncreated and has existed eternally as the speech of Allah. The reasoning behind this belief is that the speech of Allah comes directly from Him and, therefore, cannot be a created entity. The implications of this doctrine are profound, particularly when we apply the same reasoning to Jesus Christ, whom the Quran explicitly identifies as the Word of Allah and a Spirit from Him. If the Muslim theological framework maintains that whatever comes from Allah is uncreated, then by their own logic, Jesus must also be uncreated.
This article explores how Islamic theology inadvertently supports the divinity and eternal pre-existence of Christ by using its own principles. If Muslims were to apply consistent reasoning, they would be compelled to acknowledge Jesus as divine and eternal, just as Christians affirm.
The Islamic Doctrine of the Uncreated Quran
Orthodox Sunni Islam holds that the Quran is the eternal, uncreated speech of Allah. Muslim scholars argue that since Allah’s attributes are intrinsic to His being, His speech cannot be created. The following quote from Imam Malik, a major Sunni scholar, succinctly summarizes this doctrine:
"The Qur'an is the Speech of Allah, the Speech of Allah comes from Him, and nothing created comes from Allah Most High." — Narrated by al-Dhahabi in Siyar A`lam al-Nubala’ (7:416).
This doctrine is of utmost importance in Islamic theology because affirming that the Quran is created would imply that it had a beginning and is not eternal, which contradicts the nature of Allah’s attributes.
Now, let’s apply this reasoning to Jesus, who is called the Word of Allah in the Quran.
Jesus as the Word of Allah in the Quran
The Quran explicitly refers to Jesus as the Word of Allah in multiple verses:
"O People of the Book! Do not exceed the bounds in your religion, and do not say anything about God except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was indeed God’s Messenger, and His Word (kalimatuhu), which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him (roohun minhu). So believe in God and His Messengers, and do not say ‘Three.’ Cease! It is better for you. God is indeed One. Exalted is He above having a son!" (Quran 4:171)
"The angels said, ‘Mary, God gives you news of a Word from Him (kalimatim minhu), whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be held in honor in this world and the next, and who will be among those brought near to God.’" (Quran 3:45)
In these verses, Jesus is directly called a Word from Allah. This is crucial because, according to Islamic logic regarding the Quran, Allah’s Word is uncreated and eternal. If the Quran is uncreated because it is the Word of Allah, then consistency demands that Jesus, being explicitly called the Word of Allah, must also be uncreated.
The Implication: Jesus Must Be Eternal
Let’s analyze the logical consequences of this argument:
Muslims affirm that Allah’s Speech/Word is uncreated.
The Quran explicitly calls Jesus the Word of Allah.
According to Islamic reasoning, whatever comes directly from Allah is uncreated.
Therefore, Jesus must be uncreated and eternal.
This conclusion is unavoidable if one follows Islamic theological principles consistently. The challenge for Muslims is that while they are comfortable with asserting the eternal nature of the Quran, they resist applying the same reasoning to Jesus, despite the Quran explicitly calling Him the Word of Allah.
Jesus as the Spirit and Mercy from Allah
In addition to being the Word of Allah, Jesus is also described as a Spirit from Him:
"And Mary, the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her from Our Spirit, and she confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Scriptures and was one of the devoutly obedient." (Quran 66:12)
"He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us (wa-rahmatan minna), and it is a thing ordained." (Quran 19:21)
Again, using Islamic theological reasoning:
Muslims argue that Allah’s attributes—such as His Spirit—are uncreated.
Jesus is explicitly called a “Spirit from Him” (roohun minhu).
If the Spirit of Allah is uncreated, then Jesus, as a Spirit from Him, must also be uncreated.
Moreover, Jesus is also called a Mercy from Allah, which further supports the argument that He originates directly from Allah’s essence, making Him eternal and divine.
The Inconsistency in Islamic Theology
Muslim scholars attempt to avoid this conclusion by asserting that Jesus is merely a created being, a servant of Allah. However, the Quran’s own descriptions contradict this assertion:
"Jesus is no more than a servant whom we favored, and proposed as an instance of divine power to the Children of Israel." (Quran 43:59)
This is where the contradiction arises. If Jesus is merely a created servant, then why is he given titles that directly associate him with Allah’s eternal attributes (His Word, Spirit, and Mercy)—attributes that are uncreated according to Islamic theology?
Muslims need to answer: Why does their theology affirm that the Quran, as the Word of Allah, is uncreated, yet deny the same for Jesus, despite the Quran explicitly calling him the Word of Allah?
Conclusion: The Unavoidable Reality of Jesus’ Divinity
When Islamic reasoning is applied consistently, the Quran inadvertently affirms the eternal and divine nature of Jesus Christ. He is:
The Word of Allah (which, by Islamic reasoning, is uncreated).
A Spirit from Allah (which, by Islamic reasoning, is uncreated).
A Mercy from Allah (which, by Islamic reasoning, is uncreated).
By refusing to acknowledge Jesus’ eternal pre-existence, Muslims are forced into theological inconsistency. However, if they were to accept the full implications of their own doctrine, they would be compelled to recognize Jesus not merely as a prophet, but as the eternal, divine Word of God.
Now the real question is whether Muslims will be consistent or not. If they are, they will have no choice but to embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will lead them to the truth and bring them to acknowledge that Jesus is the eternal Word of God, uncreated and divine, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
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