3.4 Bible–Quran Similarities
Monotheism (Tawheed)
Section titled “Monotheism (Tawheed)”Both the Bible and the Quran contain strong monotheistic language: God is one and uniquely worthy of worship.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
Deuteronomy 6:4–5
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall have no other gods beside me... I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God."
Exodus 20:1–5
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.'"
Mark 12:29
وَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ
"Your God is only One God. There is no god worthy of worship except Him, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful."
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:163
Shared Practices
Section titled “Shared Practices”| Practice | Bible | Quran |
|---|---|---|
| Prostration (Sujud) | “He fell with his face to the ground and prayed” (Matt. 26:39) | “Prostrate to Allah and worship Him!” (53:62) |
| Pilgrimage (Hajj) | “As they pass through the Valley of Baka” (Psalm 84:5–6) | “The first House of worship is at Bakkah” (3:96) |
| Greeting | ”Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36) | “Peace be upon you!” (6:54) |
| Alcohol prohibition | ”Wine is a mocker; whoever is led astray is not wise” (Prov. 20:1) | “Intoxicants are evil of Satan’s handiwork. Shun them” (5:90) |
| Pork prohibition | ”The pig is unclean for you” (Lev. 11:7–8) | “He has forbidden you swine” (2:173) |
| Fasting | Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29 | Quran 2:183 |
| Head covering (women) | 1 Corinthians 11:5–6 | Quran 24:31 |
| Charity (Zakah) | I Peter 4:8 | Quran 9:60 |
| Adultery prohibition | Matthew 5:27–28 | Quran 17:32 |
| Honesty in business | Various | Quran 107:1–7 |
Jesus Was Sent Only to Israel
Section titled “Jesus Was Sent Only to Israel”"Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."
Matthew 10:5–6
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
Matthew 15:24
Islam teaches that earlier prophets were sent to specific communities, while Muhammad was sent as a final message to all humanity.
Quran 3:49
Biblical Terms Explained
Section titled “Biblical Terms Explained”This section argues that terms like “son of God” can be used figuratively in the Bible for righteous people, not only in a literal sense:
"Happy are those who strive for peace, they shall be called the sons of God."
Matthew 5:9
"The sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose."
Genesis 6:1–2
"I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
John 20:17
Jesus Prophesied a Successor
Section titled “Jesus Prophesied a Successor”Some interpreters argue that Jesus prophesied a later human messenger through the “Spirit of Truth” passages:
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
John 16:13
"But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you."
John 16:7
"Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, 'Please read this.' And he will say, 'I cannot read.'"
Isaiah 29:12
This is then linked, by that interpretation, to the first revelation account in Islam:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
"Read, O Prophet, in the Name of your Lord Who created."
Surah Al-Alaq 96:1