Introduction:

Both Muslims and Christians believe in one God — the Creator of the heavens and the earth.However, the understanding of God’s nature differs sharply between the two faiths.Christians describe God as a Trinity: one being in three persons — the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.Islam, on the other hand, teaches Tawheed: that Allah is absolutely One, with no partners, equals, or divisions.This article will explore both beliefs, explain the Islamic perspective, and show why pure monotheism (Tawheed) is the original and unchanging message of all prophets.

The Christian Concept:

The TrinityThe doctrine of the Trinity teaches:> “There is one God who exists eternally as three distinct persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — co-equal and co-eternal.”Although the word Trinity does not appear anywhere in the Bible, this belief developed through later Church councils — such as Nicaea (325 CE) and Constantinople (381 CE).According to Christian theology:The Father is God.The Son (Jesus) is God.The Holy Spirit is God.Yet, there are not three gods, but one God.Many Christians accept this as a mystery of faith, not fully understandable by reason.

The Islamic Concept:

Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)In Islam, Tawheed is the foundation of all belief — the purest form of monotheism.> “Say: He is Allah, One.Allah, the Eternal Refuge.He neither begets nor is born,Nor is there to Him any equal.”— Surah Al-Ikhlāṣ (112:1–4)

The Meaning of Tawheed:

1. Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah — Oneness of Lordship:Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Controller of the universe.

2. Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah — Oneness of Worship:Only Allah deserves worship, prayer, and devotion.

3. Tawheed al-Asma wa Sifat — Oneness of Names and Attributes:Allah’s attributes (such as mercy, knowledge, power) are unique and not shared by any creature.Islam rejects the idea of any partners, intermediaries, or incarnations in God’s essence.

What the Qur’an Say About the Trinity:

The Qur’an addresses the Christian belief in the Trinity with clarity and respect: “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.’And there is no god except one God.”— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:73)And also: “The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger;many were the messengers that passed away before him.His mother was a woman of truth.They both ate food.”— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:75)Eating, needing rest, and human limitations prove that neither Jesus nor Mary can be divine. Both were noble servants of Allah — not partners in His divinity.

What Jesus Himself Taught:

Even in the Bible, Jesus emphasized the oneness of God:> “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”— Mark 12:29He also said:> “My Father is greater than I.”— John 14:28These verses confirm that Jesus distinguished himself from God, never claiming equality or partnership.In fact, throughout the Gospels, Jesus prayed to God, submitted to His will, and acknowledged His dependence — all signs of servanthood, not divinity.

The Origin of the Trinity Doctrine:

The concept of the Trinity was not taught by Jesus or his early disciples.It evolved gradually through Greek philosophical influence and Church politics after Jesus’s time.Early Christian groups like the Ebionites and Nazarenes — who followed Jesus’s original teachings — believed in one God and saw Jesus as a prophet and messenger, not God Himself.It was only later that Roman councils, influenced by Emperor Constantine, formalized the doctrine of the Trinity.

Islam’s Respectful View of Jesus (Peace be upon him):

Islam deeply honors Jesus as:A mighty messenger of Allah,Born miraculously to Mary (Maryam عليها السلام),A prophet sent to guide the Children of Israel,A servant and worshipper of Allah, not divine.> “The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary, and a spirit from Him.”— Surah An-Nisa (4:171)Thus, Islam restores Jesus’s true position — noble, pure, and human — without elevating him to godhood or lowering him to disbelief.

Reason and Revelation Agree:

It is both rational and scriptural to believe in one indivisible God:Reason tells us that two or more infinite beings cannot exist simultaneously.Revelation tells us that Allah has no partners or equals.True monotheism (Tawheed) is consistent, simple, and universal — the same message preached by Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).

A Call to Reflect:

The Qur’an invites sincere Christians to return to the shared foundation of faith:> “Say, O People of the Book, come to a word that is common between us and you — that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him.”— Surah Aal ‘Imran (3:64)Islam does not reject Jesus — it reaffirms his true mission:to call people to the worship of the One True God, not himself.

Conclusion:

The Trinity divides God into three persons, a concept that Jesus never taught and which reason cannot explain.The Tawheed of Islam preserves the absolute oneness and perfection of God — free from partners, sons, or divisions.In essence:Trinity = three persons, one being (philosophical paradox)Tawheed = one God, one essence, one worship (pure monotheism)The call of Islam is to worship Allah alone, the same God whom Jesus, Moses, and all prophets worshiped.> “And your God is One God. There is no deity except Him, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:163)—

References:

1. Qur’an 112:1–4, 4:171, 5:73–75, 3:64, 2:163

2. Gospel of Mark 12:29

3. Gospel of John 14:28

4. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3445

5. “The History of Christian Doctrines,” Alister E. McGrath

6. “Islamic Monotheism (Tawheed),” Dr. Bilal Philips—