Muslims believe that God is one, that there are no gods except the God. They may contend that even though Christians claim to be monotheists, they actually believe in more than one God. Since Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, they therefore err like other people of ancient or modern times who have believed in a plurality of gods or the sons and daughters of God.
So often Muslim-Christian religious discussion breaks on the topic of Jesus' Sonship. The Christian affirms that Jesus is the Son of God; the Muslim denies that Jesus is the Son of God. Both simply agree to disagree, each convinced that he is right and the other is wrong, as they go their separate ways.
But is there another alternative? In suggesting that there is, the following questions are proposed: Has the Christian truly understood what Jesus' Sonship means to the Muslim and why the Muslim rejects it? Has the Muslim truly understood what Jesus Sonship means to the Christian and why the Christian affirms it? On this topic, which for centuries has been notorious for generating more heat than light, could both agree to explain their relative positions more fully and to listen to one another more intently and courteously?
The intention of this essay is to help both Muslims and Christians to penetrate a little deeper into the Biblical concept of Jesus as the Son of God and the significance of this idea for Christians. At the same time, it is hoped that this essay, as it unfolds, demonstrates at least some sensitivity towards a truly Muslim position on this vital topic. Where it needs correction or amplification, gladly let Muslim friends provide it.
Biblical Meaning of "Son"
To understand the Biblical meaning of Jesus as "the Son of God", first we must examine the Biblical use of the word "son". In the Bible, "son" is a term expressing an intimate relationship with someone or something; basically, it indicates origin, but it is also used to express close association or identification with persons or things. Even when indicating origin, this term does not limit oneself to one's father and mother. One may be called the "son" of the following: his father and mother, his family, his tribe, his people, his place of birth (city or country), and the time or circumstance of his birth. The if "father-son" terminology is also used in connection with kings and their vassals or subjects, masters and servants, teachers and disciples, and almost any situation in which someone is subordinate to or dependent on someone else. The basic requirement of the "son" is to honour and obey his "father", but he should also love him and emulate him.
The term "son" is used in many other ways in the Bible, some of which are connected with origin but others of which mainly express some sort of association with or resemblance to persons or things. A large, somehow homogeneous group may be called "sons" (occupational and ethnic groups especially). Sometimes characteristics or qualities themselves are personified and regarded as having "sons" - those who possess that same characteristic or quality. Still also other uses of the term "son" in the Bible reflect the versatile and imaginative use of this term especially in the Hebrew language.
A complete list of the various uses of the term "son" in the Bible would be too long for this essay. A few of its more idiomatic uses are listed below, with their literal meanings and the translations of the Holy Bible, New International Version (or The New English Bible or Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version).
Old Testament
Reference: Expression (as literally in the original text)
-- Meaning (as found in the translation)
Genesis 5:32: "son of five hundred years"
-- "five hundred years old"
Genesis 15:3: "a son of my house"
-- "a servant in my household"
Deuteronomy 25:2: "a son of stripes"
-- "deserves to be beaten"
Judges 19:22: "sons of Belial"
-- "wicked men"
I Samuel 20:31: "a son of death"
-- "he must die"
I Kings 20:35: "sons of the prophets"
-- "a company of prophets" (NEB)
II Kings 14:14: "sons of pledging"
-- "hostages"
Job 41:28: "son of a bow"
-- "arrow" (NEB)
Isaiah 60: 10: "sons of a foreign land"
-- "foreigners"
Lamentations 3:13: "sons of a quiver"
-- "arrows from his quivers"
Joel 3:6: "sons of the Grecians"
-- "the Greeks"
Zechariah 4:14: "sons of oil"
-- "anointed"
New Testament
Matthew 9:15: "sons of the bridegroom"
-- "the guests of the bridegroom"
Matthew 12:27: "your sons"
-- "your people"
Luke 10:6: "a son of peace"
-- "a man of peace"
Luke 16:8: "the sons of this age"
-- "the people of this world";
"the sons of lights"
-- "the people of the light"
John 17:12: "the son of destruction"
-- "the one doomed to destruction"
Acts 13:26: "sons of the family of Abraham"
-- "you who come of the stock of Abraham" (NEB)
Galatians 3:7: "those who believe are children of Abraham"
Ephesians 2:2: "the sons of disobedience"
-- "those who are disobedient"
The above are only a few of the many uses of the term "son(s)" in the Holy Bible. The most common uses, which are usually translated literally, have been omitted. However, one such group might be illustrated here: personal, yet non-physical, Father-son" relationships:
Father Son(s)
I Samuel 3:6 Eli Samuel
I Samuel 24:16 Saul David
I Samuel 25:8 Nabal David
Proverbs 1:8, etc. Solomon the reader
II Kings 2: 12 Elijah Elisha
II Kings 8:9 Elisha King Ben-Hadad
II Kings 5:13 Naaman his servants
Judges 18:19 the priest the people
Genesis 4:20f. first musician all musicians, etc
Matthew 9:2 Jesus the paralytic
I Timothy 1:2, etc. Paul Timothy
Titus 1:4 Paul Titus
Philemon 10 Paul Philemon
I Peter 5: 13 Peter Mark
Other languages also use the term "son" in a variety of ways. Thus, in the Arabic language of the Qur'an "son" need not mean only a direct male issue or descendant. A familiar example is ibnu's sabil ("son of the road"), which means "a traveller". Another example with which many are familiar is "the son of Satan" a vivid descriptive for any mischief-maker (cf. also Acts 13:10). Obviously Satan does not have a wife in order to have a son! The name implies that the mischief maker is like Satan, an embodiment of Satan, a "Satan with us". Worthy of remembrance is also the Arabic term ummu'l kitab (literally "the mother of the book") the heavenly Scripture from which all Scripture with us on earth is derived, as if each Scripture were her child.