Addressing One Muslim Dawagandist’s Denials
Muslim writer and polemicist Ali Ataie, in an attempt to refute any notion that the Lord Jesus claimed Divinity, makes the following assertions concerning John 14:6:
The Christian may inform you that Jesus claimed to be "the truth," or al-Haqq in Arabic, which is one of the Divine attributes of God mentioned in the Qur’an. "He is using a divine attribute to refer to himself, an attribute found in your scripture," he will say. Inform him that the words Ra’uf and Rahim, mean Kind and Merciful respectively, are also attributed to God in the Qur’an. However, Allah reveals in Surah Tawbah, verse 128: "Now hath come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers he is most kind and merciful" (Qur’an 9:128). The words Allah used to describe the character of his Beloved are Ra’uf and Rahim, two of the divine attributes! Does this make Muhammad God? Certainly not. He simply embodies many of the sacred attributes at a much smaller, human level. By the same token, we can say that Muhammad is Great, Noble, Generous, and Truth He is not, however, "The Creator," or "The Giver of Life and Death." These attributes are solely for God and nowhere does Jesus ever claim to be these things.
You may also want to mention to the Christian the story of the Sufi mystic known as al-Hallaj, who in a state of spiritual realization of his Lord exclaimed, "Ana al Haqq," or "I am the Truth!" This is a level of Taqwa (divine awareness) that the Christian is vastly ignorant of. (In Defense of Islam – Confronting the Christians With Their Own Scriptures, pp. 17-18; source)
Ataie’s comments show that he is either ignorant of Islamic theology or is simply using deception in order to conceal (1, 2, 3) from his readers what his own religious sources actually teach concerning attributing God’s names and/or qualities to a creature.
In the first place, citing verses where divine characteristics are attributed to Muhammad doesn’t refute the Christian claim but only compounds the problem for Ataie. His example merely shows that the Quran has elevated Muhammad to the level of deity by ascribing to him certain divine names which belong exclusively to Allah. Note, after all, what the following Muslim writer says concerning Allah’s names:
The Essence of Shirk in Tawheed al-Asma wa-Sifaat:
Shirk in Tawheed al-Asma wa-Sifaat is to give other than Allah, the qualities (Attributes), which are specific of Allah Alone. For example, amongst the Attributes of Allah is that He is the Knower of the Unseen (Ghayb) and He alone knows what the heart conceals. Allah says:
"Say, ‘None in the Heavens and the earth know the Ghayb (Unseen) except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected."Therefore, to consider someone other than Allah to have the knowledge of the past, future or the Unseen is Shirk (associating partners with Allah).
This concept of Tawheed distinguishes Islam from many other religions. Those who have studied comparative religion can very easily realize that, while the Jews made their Creator like the creation, the Christians make the creation like the Creator.
(Sajid Abdul Kayum, The Jamaa'at Tableegh and the Deobandis, Chapter 2: The Islamic Concept of Tawheed (Monotheism); source; bold emphasis ours)
And:
Ibn al-Qayyim has listed some of the types of ilhad to include:
- To deny (tatil) or distort (tawil) their meanings, or claim that they have no meaning (tafwid)
- To consider them as human attributes (anthropomorphism)
- To derive names for Allah that are not befitting Him (e.g. ‘Father’)
- To name idols or other beings with the names of Allah or their derivates (e.g. al-Uzza, al-Manat)
May Allah (SWT) guide us all. Ameen. (What is Tawheed Asma wa al-Siffat? July, 2007; source; bold emphasis ours)
Pay careful attention to the bold parts – naming any being with the names of Allah or their derivatives is a clear violation of this category of Tawhid. Hence, for Ataie to bring up a passage where a name of Allah is given to Muhammad only proves that the Quran has transformed his prophet into a god.
This wouldn’t be the only example of the Quran deifying Muhammad since there are countless number of verses and Islamic narratives that clearly ascribe god-like qualities to him. For additional info we recommend the following articles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Secondly, Ataie’s statements grossly misrepresent the Muslim position concerning the names and attributes of Allah. Islamic theology doesn’t merely state that Allah’s characteristics such as mercy should not and cannot be ascribed to creatures, but that such qualities cannot be attributed to a creature in their definite forms.
In other words a Muslim is forbidden from ascribing the definite forms of these attributes or names to creatures, e.g. a Muslim is allowed to describe a person as being merciful but s/he is forbidden from calling that individual THE Merciful (AR-Rahman). Or one can speak of someone being Ra’uf (kind) but cannot address the person in question as AR-Ra’uf (THE Most Kind).(1)
As renowned Salafi scholar Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips puts it:
5. Maintaining the unity of Allaah’s names also means that Allaah’s names in the definite form cannot be given to His creation unless preceded by the prefix meaning ‘Abd "slave of" or "servant of". Many of the Divine names in their indefinite form like Ra’oof and Raheem are allowable names for men because Allaah has used some of them in their indefinite forms to refer to the Prophet …
"A messenger has come to you from among yourselves to whom anything which burdens you is grievous. He is full of concern for you and is full of pity (Ra’oof) and full of mercy (Raheem)."
But ar-Ra’oof (the One Most Full of Pity) and ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful) can only be used to refer to men if they are preceded by ‘Abd as in ‘Abdur-Ra’oof or ‘Abdur-Raheem, since the definite form they represent a level of perfection which only belongs to God. Similarly, names like ‘Abdur-Rasool (slave of the messenger), ‘Abdun-Nabee (slave of the Prophet), ‘Abdul-Husayn (slave of Husayn), etc., where people name themselves slaves to other than Allaah are also forbidden. Based on this principle, the Prophet forbade Muslims from referring to those put under their charge as ‘Abdee (my slave) or Amatee (my slave girl).(2) (Philips, The Fundamentals of Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism) [Islamic Book Service, New Delhi, India, Reprint Edition: 2004], 1. Chapter on the Categories of Tawheed, pp. 14-15)
For those interested in downloading and reading Dr. Philip’s book on Tawhid for free please go here.
Interestingly, even though he refers to al-Hallaj Ataie conveniently fails to tell his readers what happened to this Sufi saint for claiming to be the truth. Dr. Philips, beginning at the 30 minute mark of a lecture which he gave concerning the foundations of Islam, made the following comments concerning this particular Muslim who was condemned for applying Allah’s attributes to himself:
"The statement of al-Hallaj, you know, saying Ana al-Haqq, you know, ‘I am the embodiment of truth,’ you know, as Allah said, describing himself wahu al-Haqq. He describes himself as being al-Haqq. For any Muslim to say Ana al-Haqq he is basically saying ‘I am Allah.’ So he is giving Allah’s attribute of being the, uh, embodiment of truth to himself. This becomes shirk by deification." (Philips, Foundations of Islamic Studies, Part 3; source)
Ana al-Haqq means "I am the Truth," the very statement that the Lord Jesus attributed to himself. Philips goes on to say around the 50 minute mark that:
"And it becomes the justification for al-Hallaj who we spoke about earlier - you know he was from the, uh, 10th century - who claimed Ana al-Haqq. You know, he was a Sufi, uh, he became what they call among the Sufi saints, whose put in the hierarchy of saints and people will call on him, ‘al-Hallaj.’ He was known for this famous statement, Ana al-Haqq. When the Muslim judges brought him before them, you know, and asked him to retract this statement, because of its implications, he stood up in the court and he opened up his cloak and said, ‘There is nothing inside this cloak except Allah.’ So he removed from them any doubts about what he intended. At that point the only thing left to do was to execute him, so they cut off his head. Of course, the Sufis in their books they write that when his head was cut off and it hit the ground rolling it kept on saying, ‘Ana al-Haqq, Ana al-Haqq, Ana al-Haqq.’…"
With the foregoing in mind we now proceed to examine the words of the Lord Jesus in light of certain attributes and functions that the Quran ascribes to Allah. We will also include specific OT passages for good measure. This will help us establish the fact that Jesus did indeed claim to be God without having to use those exact words.
The Truth, the Resurrection and the Life
Yahweh
"loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:20
"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." Deuteronomy 32:39
Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth." Psalm 31:5 NASB
"Then they said to Jeremiah, ‘May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to us." Jeremiah 42:5
Allah
That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who is Able to do all things. And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it, and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves. S. 22:6-7 Hilali-Khan
Wherefore let God be exalted, the King, the Truth (al-haqqu)! There is no god but He! Lord of the stately throne! S. 23:116 Rodwell
Look, therefore, at the prints of Allah's mercy (in creation): how He quickeneth the earth after her death. Lo! He verily is the Quickener of the Dead, and He is Able to do all things. S. 30:50 Pickthall
Jesus
"Jesus said to her, ‘I am THE resurrection and THE life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’" John 11:25-27
"Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’" John 14:6; cf. Colossians 3:3-4
"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.’" Revelation 3:14
The Living One
Yahweh
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;" Daniel 4:34
"I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end." Daniel 6:26
Allah
And trust thou in the Living One Who dieth not, and hymn His praise. He sufficeth as the Knower of His bondmen's sins, S. 25:58 Pickthall
He is the Living (One): There is no god but He: Call upon Him, giving Him sincere devotion. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds! S. 40:65 Y. Ali
Jesus
"and THE living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." Revelation 1:18
It is rather amusing to find Ataie claiming that Jesus never said he is the Giver of life and death in light of the foregoing verses where the Lord emphatically claims to be THE Resurrection and THE Life, the One who gives eternal life and has complete power over death and hades (the netherworld or the place where disembodied spirits dwell)!
The King, the Peace, the Holy and Righteous One
Yahweh
"Then I would still have this consolation — my joy in unrelenting pain — that I had not denied the words of the Holy One." Job 6:10
"The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land." Psalm 10:16
"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." Psalm 22:3
"The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:10-11
"From the ends of the earth we hear singing: ‘Glory to the Righteous One.’ But I said, ‘I waste away, I waste away! Woe to me! The treacherous betray! With treachery the treacherous betray!’" Isaiah 24:16
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:20
"Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 15:4
"And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, ‘Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!’ And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!’" Revelation 16:5-7
Allah
God is He, than Whom there is no other god; - the Sovereign/King (al-maliku), the Holy One (al-quddoosu), the Peace/Source of Peace (al-salamu), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to God! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him. S. 59:23
Jesus
"Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’" Mark 1:23-24
"Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’" John 6:68-69; cf. Acts 3:14, 7:52, 22:14
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.’" Revelation 3:7
"Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’" John 18:36-37
What makes Jesus’ statements all the more astonishing is that he expressly says that he is a king whose kingdom is from another place, with that place being heaven:
"Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’" Mark 14:61b-62
Jesus is basically claiming to be the King of heaven, the very place from where Yahweh rules over the entire creation:
"Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?" Psalm 113:5-6
"I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven." Psalm 123:1
The only way for Christ to make such an astonishing assertion is if he thought of himself and was convinced that he is God, the One who rules from heaven! No wonder Jesus identifies himself as the King of kings and Lord of lords to John in the Revelation which he gave to him:
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." Revelation 1:1-6 NIV
"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Revelation 17:14; cf. 19:16
The First and the Last
Yahweh
"Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he." Isaiah 41:4
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.’" Isaiah 44:6
"Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last." Isaiah 48:12
"And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.’" Revelation 21:6-7
Allah
And to God belongs the First and the Last. S. 53:25 Arberry
He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things. S. 57:3 Pickthall
and to Us belong the Last and the First. S. 92:13 Arberry
Jesus
"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’" Revelation 1:7-8
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’" Revelation 1:17-18
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.’" Revelation 2:8
"‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end… I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ … He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:12-13, 16, 20
The Light
Yahweh
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended." Isaiah 60:19-20
Allah
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things. S. 24:35 Pickthall
Jesus
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am THE light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" John 8:12
"We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am THE light of the world." John 9:4-5
The Lord who comes with the clouds
Yahweh
"An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them." Isaiah 19:1
"Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him." Zechariah 14:1-5
"The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary." Psalm 68:17
The reference to the thousands upon thousands which God rides as his chariots refer to his angelic host:
"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened." Daniel 7:9-10
"But you have come to Mount Zion. You have come to the Jerusalem in heaven. It is the city of the living God. You have come to a joyful gathering of angels. There are thousands and thousands of them." Hebrews 12:22 NIV
"Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands," Revelation 5:11
Allah
What do they look for, but that God shall come to them in the cloud -- shadows, and the angels? The matter is determined, and unto God all matters are returned. S. 2:210 Arberry
Upon the day that heaven is split asunder with the clouds and the angels are sent down in majesty, the Kingdom that day, the true Kingdom, shall belong to the All-merciful and it shall be a day harsh for the unbelievers. S. 25:25-26 Arberry
No indeed! When the earth is ground to powder, and thy Lord comes, and the angels rank on rank, S. 89:21-22 Arberry
Jesus
"And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." Mark 13:26-27
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" Matthew 25:31-40
Concluding Remarks
Our examination here has conclusively shown that, contrary to Ataie’s assertions, the Lord Jesus did claim to be Deity since he ascribes to himself the very unique and exclusive titles and attributes which belong solely to God. Christ spoke in a manner which no true prophet would dare to speak since all of the inspired spokespersons of God were mere mortals and not divine. Jesus, however, is different in that he wasn’t merely human but is actually God who chose to become a man. This accounts for why he spoke the way he did, saying things about himself which only God could say.
All Scriptural citations from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Holy Bible, unless stated otherwise.
Endnotes
(1) The Quran fails to uphold this principle of Tawhid since it dares to ascribe the definite form of Allah’s names to specific creatures. For example, the Quran says that one of Allah’s names is al-Aziz:
Allah made it not but as a message of good news for you and as an assurance to your hearts. And there is no victory except from Allah, the All-Mighty (al-Aziz), the All-Wise. S. 3:126 Hilali-Khan
He is Allah than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty (al-Aziz), the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. S. 59:23 Hilali-Khan
Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah, the King (of everything), the Holy, the All-Mighty (al-Aziz), the All-Wise. S. 62:1 Hilali-Khan
A title which the Muslim scripture attributes to Potiphar, the Egyptian who took the prophet Joseph in as his slave:
And women in the city said: "The wife of Al-'Aziz is seeking to seduce her (slave) young man, indeed she loves him violently; verily we see her in plain error." S. 12:30 Hilali-Khan
(The King) said (to the women): "What was your affair when you did seek to seduce Yusuf (Joseph)?" The women said: "Allah forbid! No evil know we against him!" The wife of Al-'Aziz said: "Now the truth is manifest (to all), it was I who sought to seduce him, and he is surely of the truthful." S. 12:51 Hilali-Khan
What makes this example all the more amusing is that this erroneously applies an Arabic title to an Egyptian who lived long before the time of Moses and who didn’t even speak Arabic! (Cf. this article)
(2) It is curious to find Jesus referring to his disciples as his servants/slaves:
"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." John 12:26
Jesus further informs his followers that they will be persecuted as he had been persecuted since, as his servants, they will undergo similar trials to their master:
"When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.’" John 13:12-16
"Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." John 15:20
Interestingly, Jesus’ disciples went so far as to identify themselves as slaves/servants of God AND OF Christ:
"James, a servant (doulos – slave/bondservant) of God AND OF the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:" James 1:1
In other places they simply called themselves the slaves of Jesus:
"Paul, a servant (doulos) of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God," Romans 1:1
"Simeon Peter, a servant (doulos) and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:" 2 Peter 1:1
"Jude, a servant (doulos) of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:" Jude 1:1
Thus, if Islam is correct that a person cannot be called a slave of another then this provides further attestation that Jesus claimed for himself the very prerogatives and privileges which belong exclusively to God.
Rebuttals to Ali Ataie
Articles by Sam Shamoun
Answering Islam Home Page