Muhammad Ikhsan Attaftazani

22/502077/PMU/11266

The Oneness of God became an interesting debate among world religions. Some religions try to
adjust and interpret their religious doctrine to fit the religion that has one God. I will explore
more about that, especially in Christian and Islamic traditions that still have relations.

The Christian doctrine of monotheism is kind of ambiguous, if not to say paradox, to decipher
how the trinity could be interpreted as monotheism. There was also some group that said
Christianity and Jewish have the same God, yet this opinion did not vastly accept by Christian.
During the development of Christianity, there were several councils held by the Roman empire
deciding about Jesus, Father, and Holy Spirit. It was important for Christians to get one vision
interpretation of the Trinity. Even though some groups came with a different idea—later they
will be deemed as a heretic—with the majority group. I would argue that the council just want to
legitimate the Roman Empire order with his great power. Some Christian groups that did not
agree with the consensus will be thrown out. Whatever the Christian has discussed the unity or
oneness of God remains unclear hitherto. Every Christian comes up with their interpretation to
explain God. It will be fascinating to know the explanation of monotheism in another religion,
Islam. Islam itself claimed that God is the same as Christian and Jews. It might be perplexed for
the other people. However, Islamic tradition is having lineage with the teaching of the previous
prophet sent by God, also Jesus is considered a prophet. Noteworthy, Islam believes that Jesus is
the Messenger of Allah, the same as Moses, Abraham, and Muhammad. Islam prescribes the
followers to believe, not to be practiced, in the holy book that was revealed before Quran—
Zabur, Torah, and Bible. Islam seems to be the religion as a purifier from such blasphemy from
the teaching of Abraham, the Father of prophets. The concept of the Divine Unity, tawhid in
Islam means that there is no God except Allah. This doctrine, in my opinion, is clear and can be
perceived by the rational mind and there is no paradox about the divine concept. I mention this to
be understood that we will never get the perfect interpretation of religious doctrine because the
right one is on God. I do not justify other religions as unclear because I adhere to Islam.
Meanwhile, Islamic tradition also has a debate among Islamic theology scholars about the God
decree among Jabarites, Qadarites, and Sunni. The attribute of God (sifât) that is embodied in the
Quran as kalâmullah, the word of Allah also becomes a debate between Mutazilites and Sunni.
Nevertheless, orthodox Islam (Sunni) still exists until now as the most adherent Islam.

To conclude, the concept of the Oneness of God in Christian and Muslim traditions is roughly
different, even though has the concept of monotheism. Somehow, the difference between Islam
and Christianity right now, Islam still has the largest follower of the orthodoxy (Sunni) rather
than Christianity which has fewer followers of the orthodox. Thus, I assume that the authentic
doctrine of the Abrahamic religion from the first was revealed in Islam.