Concept of God according to the Bible and Quran

From: www.muslimbridges.org

By Br. Naser Al-Moghamis

Does God Relax?

What the Bible Says
... for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17) (KJV)
... on the seventh day he (God) rested from all his work. (Genesis 2:2)
What the Qur'an Says
And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days and nothing of fatigue touched Us. So bear with patience (0 Muhammad) all that they say, and glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before setting. And during a part of the night glorify His praises and after the prayers... We are best aware of what they say. And you (0 Muhammad) are not the one to force them (to belief); but warn by the Qur'an him who fears My threat. (Qur'an, 50:38-45)

God's Power

What the Bible Says
Jacob Wrestles with God"! Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but
Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome" (Genesis 32:28)
What the Qur'an Says
They have not estimated Allah His Rightful Estimate Verily Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. (Qur'an, 22:74)

Can God be Seen?

What the Bible Says
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying," It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." (Genesis 32:30)
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel ...(Exodus 24:9,10)
Contradicting Verses from the Bible
But, he (God) said," You cannot see my face, for no-one may see me and live." (Exodus 33:20)
No-one has ever seen God... (1 John 4:12)
What the Qur'an Says
No vision can grasp Him, but He grasps all vision. (Qur'an, 6:103)

God's Description

What the Bible Says
... they trembled because he (God) was angry. Smoke rose from his (God) nostrils; consuming fire came from his (God) mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. (2 Samuel 22:8,9)
[God rides an angel (cherub)]
And he (God) rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. (2Samuel 22:11)(KJV)
What the Qur'an Says
And who can be more unjust than he who invents a lie against Allah. (Qur'an, 6:93)
There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. (Qur'an 42:11)
So invent not similitudes for Allah (as there is nothing similar to Him, nor He resembles anything). Truly, Allah knows and you know not. (Qur'an, 16:74)

Is God Unjust?

What the Bible Says
... Awake, my God; decree justice. (Psalm 7:6)
Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? ... (Job 24:1)
Let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless. (Job 31:6)
then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. Though I cry, 'I've been wronged!' I get no response; though ! call for help, there is no justice. (Job 19:67)
What the Qur'an Says
Truly, Allah wrongs not mankind in aught, but mankind wrong themselves.(Qur'an, 10:44)
Surely, Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom, but if there is any good deed. He doubles it and gives from Him a great reward. (Qur'an, 4:40)
Think not that Allah is unaware of what the wicked do, but He gives them a respite till a Day when eyes will stare in terror. (Qur'an, 14:42)

Does God Sleep

What the Bible Says
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine. (Psalm 78:65)
Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself!... (Psalm 44:23)
What the Qur'an Says
Allah, none has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever Living, the One who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs
whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. (Qur'an, 2:255)

Is God Unhelpful?

What the Bible Says
Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping... (Psalm 39:12)
Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? (Psalm 44:24)
What the Qur'an Says
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then I am indeed close (to them). I respond to the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So, let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (Qur'an, 2:186)
Is not He best Who responds to the soul distressed when it calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there any god with Allah? Little is that you heed! (Qur'an,27:62)

Does God have a Family?

What the Bible Says
... This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son... (Exodus 4:22)
The Lord saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters. (Deuteronomy 32:19)
(God married Jerusalem and his wife became a prostitute!)
This is what the sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem:... I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood ... I made you grow like a plant of the field... Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness... and you became mine.
But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute... At the head of every street you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, offering your body with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by ... You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrians too, because you were insatiable ... Then you increased your promiscuity... You adulterous wife' You prefer strangers to your own husband! (Ezekiel 16:3-32)
What the Qur'an Says
And to warn those (Jews, Christians, and pagans) who say: "Allah has begotten a son." No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. Grievous is the word that comes out of their mouths. They utter nothing but a lie. Perhaps, you would kill yourself (0 Muhammad) in grief, over their footsteps (for their turning away from you), because they believe not in this narration (the Qur'an). (Qur'an, 18:4-6)
And the Jews and the Christians say: "We are the children of Allah and His loved ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?" Nay, you are but human beings of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; and to Him is the return. (Qur'an, 5:18)
And they (Jews, Christians and pagans) say: "Allah has begotten a son." Glory is to Him. Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all surrender with obedience (in worship) to Him. The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it: "Be" and it is. (Qur'an, 2:116-117)
Say (O Muhammad): He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, to whom the creatures turn for their needs; He begets not, nor was He begotten; and there is none like Him. (Qur'an, 112:1-4)