Creation
Suran 32: 4-9

The reader of the Qur'an will find many things familiar to the Bible.

4. It is God who created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, in six spans, then assumed all authority. You have no protector other than Him, nor any intercessor. Will you not be warned even then?

5. He regulates all affairs from high to low, then they rise to perfection step by step in a (heavenly) day whose measure is a thousand years of your reckoning.

6. Such is (He) the knower of the unknown and the known, the mighty and the merciful,

7. Who made all things He created excellent; and first fashioned man from clay,

8. Then made his offspring from the extract of base fluid,

9. Then proportioned and breathed into him His spirit, and gave you the senses of hearing, sight and feeling. And yet how little are the thanks you offer!

The Religion of Abraham
Surah 2: 127-135

Islam, the Qur'an asserts, is nothing but the "religion of Abraham," the biblical patriarch who was thefirst "submitter" (muslim) to the One True God.

127. And Abraham prayed: "Accept this from us, 0 Lord, for You hear and know everything; 128. And make us submit, 0 Lord, to Your will, and make our progeny a people submissive to You. Teach us the way of worship and forgive our trespasses, for You are compassionate and merciful;

129. And send to them, 0 Lord, an apostle from among them to impart Your messages to them, and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and correct them in every way; for indeed You are mighty and wise."

130. Who will turn away from the creed of Abraham but one dull of soul? We made him the chosen one here in the world, and one of the best in the world to come,

131. (For) when his Lord said to him, "Obey," he replied: "I submit (aslamtu) to the Lord of all the worlds."

132. And Abraham left this legacy to his sons, and to Jacob, and said: "0 my sons, God has chosen this as the faith for you. Do not die but as those who have submitted to God (muslimun)." 133. Were you present at the hour of Jacob's death? "What will you worship after me?" he asked his sons, and they answered: "We shall worship your God and the God of your fathers, of Abraham and Ismael and Isaac, the one and only God, and to Him we submit."

134. Those were the people, and they have passed away. Theirs the reward for what they did, and yours will be for what you do. You will not be questioned about their deeds.

135. They say: "Become Jews or become Christians, and find the right way." Say: "No, we follow the way of Abraham, the upright, who was not an idolater."

The Death of Jesus
Surah 4: 157

One thing that separates Christians from Muslims is the Qur'an's account of the apparent death of Jesus.

157. And (the Jews were punished) for saying: "We killed the Christ, Jesus, son of Mary, who was an apostle (messenger) of God;" but they neither killed nor crucified him, though it so appeared to them. Those who disagree in the matter are only lost in doubt. They have no knowledge about it other than conjecture, for surely they did not kill him.

A History of Revelation
Surah 5: 44,46,48

Muhammad is part, although the last and crowning part, of a continuing history of God's revelations to humankind. It is once again God who is speaking.

44. We sent down the Torah which contains guidance and light, in accordance with which the prophets who were obedient (to God) gave instructions to the Jews, as did the rabbis and priests, for they were the custodians and witnesses of God's writ.

46. Later in the train (of the prophets), We sent Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah which had been (sent down) before him,

Adapted fromHazel Greenberg, ed. Spotlight on The Muslim Middle East: Issues of Identity. (NY: The American Forum for Global Education, 1995) p. 9.

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