Islamic Teachings

1. Islam’s Origins and Shared Abrahamic Heritage

• Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, is rooted in the Abrahamic tradition. Islam as part of the broader narrative of God’s engagement with humanity, tracesits origins to a shared monotheistic faith in the God of Abraham.
• In this context, Islam is seen as an effort to affirm the sovereignty of the one God (Allah) and to establish a community (ummah) devoted to God’s justice and mercy. We can acknowledge Islam’s emphasis on submission to God’s will as a response to divine revelation.

2. Relationship to Christianity

• Christianity, Judaism, and Islam as siblings within the family of Abrahamic faiths. Their relationship as one of both continuity and tension, shaped by their differing understandings of God’s revelation and purposes.
• Central to Christian theology is Christology—the belief in Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word of God and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. This distinguishes Christianity from Islam, which regards Jesus (Isa) as a prophet but not as divine. We may respect this difference while holding firmly to the Christian confession of Christ as the center of God’s self-revelation.

3. Islamic Teachings Through a Christian Lens

• We do not need to dismiss Islamic teachings but see them as reflecting a genuine encounter with the divine. We may affirm aspects of Islam that resonate with Christian values, such as monotheism, social justice, care for the poor, and the emphasis on prayer and community.
• At the same time, we might critique the absence of a Trinitarian understanding of God in Islam, seeing this as a limitation in the Islamic conception of God’s relational and self-giving nature.

4. Dialogue and Mutual Understanding

• Interfaith dialogue is essential to the importance of Christians and Muslims seeking to understand one another in humility and love, recognizing their shared humanity and divine calling.
• Dialogue, is not about erasing differences but about building bridges of understanding and cooperation. This is a part of the church’s mission in a pluralistic world.

5. Eschatology and the Hope for Reconciliation

• Eschatological theology provides a hopeful vision for the ultimate reconciliation of all peoples and religions. God’s redemptive purposes extend to all creation and  the future kingdom of God will be a space where divisions between religions are transcended.
• In this vision, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are united not through the erasure of their distinct identities but through their participation in the fullness of God’s love and justice.

6. Critique of Religious Violence

• We should be critical of any religious expression—Christian, Muslim, or otherwise—that justifies violence or exclusion. We are to challenge interpretations of Islam (or Christianity) that lead to fundamentalism, emphasizing instead the transformative power of love, forgiveness, and peace.

Conclusion

We are to approach Islam with respect and openness, seeing it as part of God’s broader engagement with humanity. While affirming the distinctiveness of Christianity—particularly its Christocentric vision—we advocate for dialogue, mutual understanding, and a shared hope for the future reconciliation of all faiths under God’s kingdom. This reflects a broader theological commitments to love, justice, and eschatological hope.