Jesus and Islam

Why Muslims Cannot Be “More Christian than Christians”

Muslims sometimes claim to love Jesus more than Christians do—and some, like Zakir Naik, even go further: “Muslims are more Christian than the Christians.” The evidence cited usually includes circumcision, fasting, and dietary restrictions. At first glance, these may appear as signs of piety.

But following Jesus goes far beyond ritual observance. True discipleship requires full alignment with His teachings, His life, and His authority. When measured against the teachings of Christ, the claim that Muslims are “more Christian than Christians” collapses under scrutiny.

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The Heart of the Issue: Ritual vs. Discipleship

Ritual observance alone does not make one a follower of Jesus. Circumcision, fasting, and abstaining from pork are external markers, whereas Jesus’ teachings emphasize internal transformation, love, and obedience.

Consider what Jesus taught:

• Prayer and relationship with God: “Abba, Father…not My will, but Yours be done” (Mark 14:36)

• Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)

• Love for enemies: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)

Islamic theology cannot accommodate these teachings without contradiction. Muslims cannot emulate Jesus’ relational, ethical, or divine claims while remaining orthodox in Islamic belief.

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30 Core Teachings of Jesus Muslims Do Not Follow

#	Teaching	Reference	Why Muslims Cannot Follow
1	Jesus expected people to call Him Lord	Luke 6:46	Islam denies His lordship
2	Fasting & prayer should be done in secret	Matthew 6:1–18	Rituals are public or formulaic in Islam
3	Marriage is monogamous	Matthew 19:4–6	Islam allows polygamy
4	Divorce is limited	Matthew 19:7–10	Islamic divorce laws are broader
5	No way to God except through Him	John 14:6	Islam denies exclusivity of Christ
6	Call God “Father”	Matthew 6:9	Quran forbids addressing Allah as Father
7	All foods are clean	Mark 7:18–19	Islam prohibits pork, alcohol
8	Pray for enemies	Matthew 5:44	Quran restricts prayer for non-Muslims
9	Pray to Him directly	John 14:13–14	Muslims pray only to Allah
10	Forgive sins	Matthew 9:1–8	Only Allah forgives sins
11	Forgive adulterers	John 8:1–11	Islam prescribes stoning for adultery
12	Claims dominion over heaven and earth	Matthew 28:18	Islam claims Allah alone holds dominion
13	Final judge on Judgment Day	Matthew 25	Allah alone judges
14	Trinity & singular name	Matthew 28:19	Islam rejects the Trinity
15	Predicts His death & resurrection	Mark 8:31	Islam denies crucifixion
16	Death & resurrection for sins	Luke 24:46–47	Islam denies salvific nature
17	Observance of Holy Communion	Luke 22:19–20	Islam has no equivalent sacrament
18	Affirmed Torah as Scripture	Matthew 22:29–32	Islam claims Torah is corrupted
19	Endorsed Paul as Apostle	Acts 9:15–16	Islam denies apostolic authority
20	Endorsed Paul’s message	Acts 18:9–11	Islam rejects New Testament authority
21	Received worship from followers	Luke 24:52	Islam forbids worship of Jesus
22	Claimed to be Son of God	John 3:16	Islam denies divinity
23	Followers gather in His name	Matthew 18:20	Islamic worship is only for Allah
24	Female disciples	Luke 8:1–3	Islam prohibits female prophets
25	Did not deem women deficient	Luke 10:38–42	Islamic texts present gender hierarchy
26	Sang a hymn	Matthew 26:30	Music often haram in Islam
27	Drank wine	Matthew 11:19	Alcohol prohibited
28	Offers eternal life	John 10:27–28	Islam offers afterlife through deeds only
29	All scripture points to Him	John 5:39	Quran denies Christ as fulfillment
30	Seeing Him is seeing God	John 14:9	Islam rejects divine incarnation

Quick takeaway: Even a superficial adherence to these 30 teachings reveals that Muslims cannot claim to follow Jesus authentically.

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Why Rituals Are Not Enough

Many Muslims argue: “Jesus submitted to God, therefore He was a Muslim.” This is logically and theologically flawed:

1. Jesus’ submission was to God as Father, acknowledging His own authority.

2. Rituals like circumcision, fasting, and abstinence are cultural or covenantal, not the essence of discipleship.

3. Divinity and lordship are core to Christ’s identity—denied in Islam.

4. Ethical principles, such as loving enemies and forgiving sins, cannot be replicated while adhering to Sharia law.

In short: Submission in Islam is not the same as submission to the Father as Jesus taught.

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Ethical and Moral Divergence

Jesus’ ethical radicalism diverges sharply from Islamic practice:

• Marriage & Divorce: Islam allows polygamy; Jesus commands monogamy.

• Forgiveness: Jesus forgave sins; Islam prescribes legal punishment.

• Love for Enemies: Islam restricts prayers and interactions with non-Muslims in some contexts.

Ritual compliance cannot substitute for living according to Christ’s moral framework.

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Christological Incompatibility

Jesus’ divinity, authority, and role as judge and redeemer are central to His mission. Muslims cannot acknowledge these truths without violating core Islamic tenets:

• Forgiveness of sins is Jesus’ prerogative; in Islam, only Allah forgives.

• Resurrection and salvation are essential to faith in Jesus; Islam denies the crucifixion.

• Worship of Jesus is central to Christianity; Islam forbids worship of any prophet.

The gap between Islam and true discipleship of Christ is irreconcilable.

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Practical Implications for Dialogue

For Christians:

• Recognize the distinction between external observance and true discipleship.

• Be prepared to defend Jesus’ claims and teachings without minimizing differences.

For Muslims:

• Following Jesus authentically requires abandoning core Islamic doctrines, which few are willing to do.

• Claims of being “more Christian than Christians” are rhetorical, not doctrinal.

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Conclusion

The claim that Muslims are “more Christian than Christians” is a myth, based on superficial ritual imitation rather than genuine discipleship. Jesus was, is, and can never be a Muslim, because His teachings, mission, and identity are incompatible with Islamic theology.

True discipleship requires internal alignment with Jesus’ teachings, worship, and ethical life—not external compliance to ritual practices. Until Muslims reconcile these irreconcilable differences, any claim to follow Christ more faithfully than Christians remains demonstrably false.

Final verdict: There is one Jesus, one gospel, and one set of teachings. Rituals alone cannot replace discipleship. Claims of being “more Christian than Christians” are not reality—they are mythology.