It is not uncommon to find Muslims explaining John 14:6 in light of Islamic theology. The reason being is that to allow John 14:6 to speak for itself would refute the Muslim claims that there are no explicit references made by Jesus in the New Testament where he claims to be God. The passage itself reads:
Muslims assert that there is nothing explicit in Jesus' statement. For instance, Muslims claim that all prophets were the way, the truth and the life since they conveyed the only true religion from God to men. Hence, they were the only way to God since any other message that contradicted theirs would be false. Typical of such a view is Dr. Jamal Badawi. In one of his programs, Badawi claims:
In light of Badawi's claims we will examine John 14:6 and ask the following questions. Is it true that Jesus' statement simply meant that he conveyed God's truth to man like the other true prophets of God? Does any other prophet apply these specific titles to describe himself the way Jesus did? Did Muhammad believe or claim to be an infallible guide like Jesus, and hence it can be said that he also was the way, the truth and the life?
First, it must be stated that Jesus' words do not simply mean that he pointed the way to heaven and conveyed God's true religion to man. Jesus was making claims that only God could make and which no other prophet would dare claim. For instance, Jesus claimed to be the Life, a quality which is predicated to God alone throughout the Holy Bible:
"And Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Per'izzites, the Gir'gashites, the Amorites, and the Jeb'usites." Joshua 3:10
"For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light." Psalm 36:9
"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27
"But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Jeremiah 10:10
According to the scriptures, Yahweh is the only source of life and is the only true God. Yet, both Jesus and his followers claimed that Christ is the source of life and that he is the true God:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself...... Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." John 5:25-26, 28-29
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:23-26
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." Acts 3:14-15
"When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4
"The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:15-17
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20
Hence, Jesus does not simply point one to life, but he is the very eternal life itself that came from heaven to become man for our salvation. It is only through him that one inherits this life.
Furthermore, not only is God the source of life but he himself is the truth according to the Bible:
"...... they cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?" Revelation 6:10
Interestingly, this is precisely how Jesus describes himself in the revelation the Apostle John received from Christ:
"And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation." Revelation 3:14
We are told that early in Islamic history, one Sufi named Al-Hallaj (858-922 A.D.) made similar claims by saying, "I am the Truth." In 922 A.D. Muslims crucified and branded him a heretic for this claim. The reason that motivated the killing was based on the fact that one of Allah's 99 names is Al-Haqq (The Truth), with another being Al-Hayy (The Living):
Muslims realized that Al-Hallaj's claim of being the Truth was the same as claiming to be God. Hence, for Jesus to claim to be both the Truth and the Life is equivalent to saying that he is God.
Furthermore, in the hadith we discover that Muhammad consistently applied these titles to God alone. One never finds these titles applied to Muhammad:
The Prophet used to invoke Allah at night, saying, "O Allah: All the Praises are for You: You are the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth. All the Praises are for You; You are the Maintainer of the Heaven and the Earth and whatever is in them. All the Praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. Your Word is the Truth, and Your Promise is the Truth, and the Meeting with You is the Truth, and Paradise is the Truth, and the (Hell) Fire is the Truth, and the Hour is the Truth. O Allah! I surrender myself to You, and I believe in You and I depend upon You, and I repent to You and with You (Your evidences) I stand against my opponents, and to you I leave the judgment (for those who refuse my message). O Allah! Forgive me my sins that I did in the past or will do in the future, and also the sins I did in secret or in public. You are my only God (Whom I worship) and there is no other God for me (i.e. I worship none but You)." (Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 482)
Narrated Sufyan:
(regarding the above narration) that the Prophet added, "You are the Truth, and Your Word is the Truth." (Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 483)
Muhammad claims that God and his Word are the truth. Furthermore, Muhammad affirms that God is both the Sustainer of the universe and the One who can forgive sins, especially Muhammad's sins. In stark contrast to Muhammad, Jesus never asked for forgiveness but claimed that he is the One that forgives sinners as well as the One who holds the entire universe together. That Jesus was clearly aware that he was sinless becomes apparent from the following passages:
"And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him...Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?" John 8:29, 46
Since Jesus is the only one without sin, he alone is qualified to be the Savior from sin:
And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"- he said to the paralytic- "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Mark 2:1-12
The scribes rightly surmised that only God could forgive sins. If Jesus was not God, he was obligated to clarify his meaning and correct them for misunderstanding his point. Instead, he reinforces their claim by healing the paralytic, something that clearly affirmed his authority to forgive sins.
"If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." John 12:47
"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:14
"And Jesus came and said to them, `All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me...... and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.'" Matthew 28:18, 20
The fact that all authority in heaven and earth belongs to Christ implies that Jesus sovereignly controls the entire universe:
"He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high......" Hebrews 1:3
Muhammad also denied being the way since he himself prayed to God to constantly guide him on the true path:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment, Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path (Ihdinas Siraatal Mustaqiim), The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray. Pickthall
Muhammad, as do all Muslims, always began his prayer with this chapter, Surat ul-Faitha. The phrase, "Show us the straight path" has been translated differently by various Islamicists:
"Guide us to the straight path ..." N.J. Dawood
"Guide us the straight way ..." Muhammad Asad
"Guide us to the Straight Way." Hillali-Khan
"Guide Thou us on the straight path ..." J.M. Rodwell
"Guide us along the Straight Road ..." T.B. Irving
"Keep us on the right path." Shakir
These are very harsh words and seem to assert that Muhammad was uncertain about his role at times.
That Muhammad was uncertain about his destiny, having doubts about his own calling, is further highlighted by the following verses:
And if thou (Muhammad) ART IN DOUBT concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers. And be not thou of those who deny the revelations of Allah, FOR THEN WERT THOU OF THE LOSERS. S. 10:94-95 Pickthall
Say: "I am no bringer of new-fangled doctrine among the messengers, NOR DO I KNOW WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH ME OR WITH YOU. I follow but that which is revealed to me by inspiration; I am but a Warner open and clear." S. 46:9
Muhammmad couldn't guarantee his own salvation, let alone the salvation of others, a point reiterated in the following hadiths:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.) They (the Prophet's companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Apostle?' He said, "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me." So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah." (Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 70, Number 577)
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the (Hell) Fire)." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)." (Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 470)
Narrated 'Um al-'Ala:
An Ansari woman who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet that the Ansar drew lots concerning the dwelling of the Emigrants. 'Uthman bin Maz'un was decided to dwell with them (i.e. Um al-'Ala's family), 'Uthman fell ill and I nursed him till he died, and we covered him with his clothes. Then the Prophet came to us and I (addressing the dead body) said, "O Abu As-Sa'ib, may Allah's Mercy be on you! I bear witness that Allah has honored you." On that the Prophet said, "How do you know that Allah has honored him?" I replied, "I do not know. May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah's Apostle! But who else is worthy of it (if not 'Uthman)?" He said, "As to him, by Allah, death has overtaken him, and I hope the best for him. By Allah, though I am the Apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me," By Allah, I will never assert the piety of anyone after him. That made me sad, and when I slept I saw in a dream a flowing stream for 'Uthman bin Maz'un. I went to Allah's Apostle and told him of it. He remarked, "That symbolizes his (good) deeds." (Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 266)
And Muhammad is no more than an apostle; the apostles have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful. S. 3:144 Shakir
Say: If I err, I err only against my own soul, and if I follow a right direction, it's because of what my Lord reveals to me; surely He is Hearing, Nigh. S. 34:50 Shakir
Interestingly, the Quran provides examples of Muhammad erring and having to repent as a result of it:
Allah forgive thee (O Muhammad)! Wherefor didst thou grant them leave ere those who told the truth were manifest to thee and thou didst know the liars? S. 9:43 Pickthall
Then have patience (O Muhammad). Lo! the promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness of thy sin, and hymn the praise of thy Lord at fall of night and in the early hours. S. 40:55 Pickthall
So know (O Muhammad) that there is no Allah save Allah, and ask forgiveness FOR THY SIN and for believing men and believing women. Allah knoweth (both) your place of turmoil and your place of rest. S. 47:19 Pickthall
Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory, That Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come, and may perfect His favour unto thee, and may guide thee on a right path, S. 48:1-2 Pickthall
It is little wonder that Muhammad specifically stated that he could save no one from God's punishment:
When Allah revealed the Verse: "Warn your nearest kinsmen," Allah's Apostle got up and said, "O people of Quraish (or said similar words)! Buy (i.e. save) yourselves (from the Hellfire) as I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Bani Abd Manaf! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment, O Safiya, the Aunt of Allah's Apostle! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Fatima bint Muhammad! Ask me anything from my wealth, but I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment." (Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 51, Number 16)
Muhammad was simply an ordinary sinful mortal like the rest of us:
Muhammad cannot benefit himself nor does he have knowledge of the unseen. In fact, Muhammad constantly prayed for his own salvation, and the Quran commands Muslims to pray for his salvation and well-being:
Allah's Prophet used to say, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and geriatric old age, and seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave, and I seek refuge with You from the afflictions of life and death." (Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 378)
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet used to say, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from laziness from geriatric old age, from being in debt, and from committing sins. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the Fire, the afflictions of the grave, the punishment in the grave, and the evil of the affliction of poverty and from the evil of the affliction caused by Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal. O Allah! Wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart from the sins as a white garment is cleansed of filth, and let there be a far away distance between me and my sins as You have set far away the East and the West from each other." (Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 386)
"Lo! Allah and his angels pray (Arabic- yasalluuna) for the Prophet. O ye that believe! Pray for him (salluu alayhi) and salute him with all respect (sallimuu tasliimaa)." S. 33:56
We must ask how can Muhammad possibly benefit believers in the way Jesus does seeing that he constantly needs the prayers of his followers? Christians do not pray for Jesus, but pray to Jesus:
The Quran goes on to say:
Say: I am only a mortal like you; it is revealed to me that your god is one God, therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join any one in the service of his Lord. 18:110 Shakir
And they say: Why are not signs sent down upon him from his Lord? Say: The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner. Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Most surely there is mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe. 29:50-51 Shakir
Since he was simply human, he eventually had to die like all men. In fact, Muhammad's death caused much shock and trauma to those who loved him:
(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Apostle died while Abu Bakr was at a place called As-Sunah (Al-'Aliya) 'Umar stood up and said, "By Allah! Allah's Apostle is not dead!" 'Umar (later on) said, "By Allah! Nothing occurred to my mind except that." He said, "Verily! Allah will resurrect him and he will cut the hands and legs of some men." Then Abu Bakr came and uncovered the face of Allah's Apostle, kissed him and said, "Let my mother and father be sacrificed for you, (O Allah's Apostle), you are good in life and in death. By Allah in Whose Hands my life is, Allah will never make you taste death twice." Then he went out and said, "O oath-taker! Don't be hasty." When Abu Bakr spoke, 'Umar sat down. Abu Bakr praised and glorified Allah and said, No doubt! Whoever worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die." Then he recited Allah's Statement.:-- "(O Muhammad) Verily you will die, and they also will die." (39.30) He also recited:-- "Muhammad is no more than an Apostle; and indeed many Apostles have passed away, before him, If he dies Or is killed, will you then Turn back on your heels? And he who turns back On his heels, not the least Harm will he do to Allah And Allah will give reward to those Who are grateful." (3.144)... Then Abu Bakr led the people to True Guidance and acquainted them with the right path they were to follow so that they went out reciting:- "Muhammad is no more than an Apostle and indeed many Apostles have passed away before him." (3.144) (Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 19)
Again, we see a major difference between Jesus and Muhammad. Since Muhammad is dead, he cannot benefit anyone. Yet, as Abu Bakr rightly concluded, only the Living One is worthy of worship. According to the NT, Jesus is the Living One:
Since Muhammad clearly denied that he could benefit anyone and also denied being the door for believers to enter through, he cannot be the way and the truth and the life. This honor belongs to Christ alone:
Jesus is both the door to salvation and the source of abundant life. In relation to the OT prophets none of them claimed to be the source of life or the door of salvation. In fact, the OT prophets all died in the expectation that the One who was to bring salvation to all flesh would shortly come into the world for all to see. This was the One in whom they awaited and were trusting in for their salvation:
"You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39-40
"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me." John 5:45-46
"Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." John 8:56
"The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." 1 Peter 1:10-12
A Muslim might claim that Muhammad's requests to be guided on the right path or to be spared from wrath does not prove that he was uncertain of salvation. Rather, it simply points to his humbleness. The problem with this claim is that other prophets who were more humble than him never prayed to be guided on the right path since they knew that they were already on it. Furthermore, the fact that he would request to be guided aright implies that he did not trust God enough to know that the latter had called him to be his prophet and therefore assured his salvation. This is not humbleness, but blasphemy!
In summary, we discovered that Jesus' statement that he is the way and the truth and the life does not simply mean that he points men to God's truth like the other prophets before him. We also discovered that no prophet ever applied the titles that Christ applied to himself, since had they done so this would have implied that they were claiming to be God. Finally, we saw that Muhammad's own words affirm that he could not have been the way, the truth and the life but was in need of the One who is the Life of all flesh. He, like the rest of us, needed the Savior whose name is Jesus Christ the Lord.
Articles by Sam Shamoun
Answering Islam Home Page