by Sandy » Wed Oct 26, 2016 2:29 pm
Interesting that in a discussion of whether or not Allah of Islam is the same God as that of the Bible, no one has referenced the Koran. It certainly makes it clear that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is also the God of Issac and Ishmael (one reference) and the God of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael and Jacob (a second reference). I don't doubt that Mohammed's monotheism, or his use of the name "Allah" to describe who he believed was the same as the God of Abraham. The case for the name being the same, and the concept of a monotheistic, omnicient, omnipotent, omnipresent God being the same can easily be made.
As far as the essence of the character of Allah and Jehovah, or Yahweh, goes, if you ran a comparison of descriptions of the nature, character, and actions of God in the Old Testament, and the Muslim concept of Allah, you would find a lot of similarity. And while the New Testament doesn't change the nature or character of God, it does emphasize attributes and characteristic that are much different than the OT emphasis. Clearly, Mohammed was influenced greatly by the image of a wrathful, vengeful God who destroyed the enemies of the people who had gained his favor.
Are they the same God? Allah is not a genuine revelation of God, but is a creation of a god from the mind of a man who fancied himself to be his "prophet," discounting any of the other individuals who claimed to be prophets. Mohammed designed a god that was to his own benefit, who could be used to gain power by fear, different in that he more reflects the character and attitude of his creator than the God of the Bible, who possesses eternal power and divine nature. So I would say they have similar origins, but are not the same God.