Answering Islam - A Christian-Muslim dialog

The Quran Testifies:

David and Elizabeth Worshiped Jesus as God!

Sam Shamoun

According to the Holy Bible, Jesus proclaimed that the prophet David was inspired by the Holy Spirit to recognize and confess that the Messiah was his Lord whom God exalted to sit enthroned at his right hand:

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘How do they say that Christ is David’s Son? David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “The Lord said to MY LORD, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” David therefore calls Him “Lord.” How is He then His Son?’” Luke 20:41-44

Contrast this with the Markan parallel:

“While Jesus taught in the temple, He said, ‘How can the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David? David himself speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “The Lord said to MY LORD, ‘Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’” David himself calls Him “Lord.” How then is He his Son?’” Mark 12:35-37

The God-breathed Scriptures teach that to be seated at God’s right hand is to sit on God’s heavenly throne alongside him, sharing in his sovereign rule over the entire creation:

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, you His angels, who are mighty, and do His commands, and obey the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you his hosts; you servants who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Psalm 103:19-22

Thus, Jesus is basically claiming to be the sovereign Lord of creation and a co-occupant of God’s own glorious throne.

David wasn’t the only Spirit-filled messenger who worshiped Jesus as his Lord:

“When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke out with a loud voice, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of MY LORD should come to me? Indeed, as soon as the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.’” Luke 1:41-44

Here we have John the Baptist’s mother who, being filled with the Holy Spirit, confesses that the child which Mary had just conceived was her Lord!

Now let us see what the Quran has to say about the phrase “my Lord” and its significance:

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him). S. 3:64 Pickthall

And he commanded you not that ye should take the angels and the prophets for lords. Would he command you to disbelieve after ye had surrendered (to Allah)? S. 3:80 Pickthall

The Islamic scripture clearly prohibits Muslims from taking others such as prophets as Lord. These next passages show why:

And verily We tried Solomon, and set upon his throne a (mere) body. Then did he repent. He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower. S. 38:34-35 Pickthall

A mention of the mercy of thy Lord unto His servant Zachariah. When he cried unto his Lord a cry in secret, Saying: My Lord! Lo! the bones of me wax feeble and my head is shining with grey hair, and I have never been unblest in prayer to Thee, my Lord… He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached infirm old age? He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me, even as I created thee before, when thou wast naught. He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy token is that thou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights. S. 19:1-3, 8-10 Pickthall

Both Solomon, David’s son, and Zechariah, the Baptist’s father and Elizabeth’s husband, are depicted as employing the phrase “my Lord” in reference to Allah. This indicates that the Quran views the expression “my Lord” as a divine title, which can only be ascribed to God Almighty.

The Quran further teaches that Allah does not allow anyone to share in his unique sovereignty over creation with anyone,

He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, He hath chosen no son nor hath He any partner in the Sovereignty. He hath created everything and hath meted out for it a measure. S. 25:2 Pickthall

Therefore, since the Quran claims that all of the biblical prophets were Muslims this means that the only way that the prophet David and Elizabeth, who were both filled with the Holy Spirit, could ever address Christ with the words “my Lord,” and claim that he shares in God’s unique sovereign rule over all things, is if they knew and believed that Jesus is God Incarnate.

This is the conclusion that we would be forced to arrive at if we read the Holy Bible in light of the message of the Quran.

All Scriptural quotations taken from the Modern English Version (MEV) of the Holy Bible.