Jesus Is God ONLY in Johns Gospel. What about Mark, Matthew & Luke? | Ali Ataie

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This talk was delivered at the Muslim Community Center - East Bay (MCC East Bay) in Pleasanton, California on January 10, 2026.
Ustadh Ali Ataie is a perennial student and researcher who has been involved in interfaith activities for over two decades. He holds a Master's in biblical studies, with a focus on New Testament and biblical languages. He also has a PhD in cultural and historical religious studies from the Graduate Theological Union. His doctoral work focused on Muslim hermeneutics of biblical texts, especially the Gospel of John. He lives in San Ramon, California, with his wife, Roya, and three daughters. Learn more about him at
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The "Islamic dilemma" is a name given to a specific apologetic argument used in Christian-Muslim discourse. The argument posits a logical inconsistency in the Islamic view of previous scriptures (the Torah and the Gospel).
The Core Argument
The dilemma, often presented by Christian apologists, can be summarized as follows: the Quran affirms the divine origin, authority, and preservation of the earlier scriptures (the Torah and the Gospel/Injil). This leads to two possible scenarios, both of which, according to the argument's proponents, suggest that Islam is false:
- Scenario 1: The previous scriptures are authentic. If the Torah and the Gospels (Injil) in Christian and Jewish hands are the inspired, preserved Word of God, then Islam is false because it contradicts the core doctrines found within them (e.g., the Trinity, the divinity, death, and resurrection of Jesus).
- Scenario 2: The previous scriptures are corrupted. If the Torah and the Gospels are corrupted (a common position held by many Muslims), Islam is still considered false by the argument's proponents because the Quran itself affirms their authority and commands people to judge by what is revealed in them (e.g., Surah 5:47, Surah 10:94).
Therefore, proponents argue, the Quran's claims about previous scriptures create a self-defeating contradiction.
Muslim Responses and Counterarguments
Muslim scholars and apologists have responded to this argument, stating that it falls short and is based on a misunderstanding of the Quranic position. Common counterarguments include:
- The Quran as a "supreme authority": The Quran describes itself as a "guardian" or "supreme authority" (muhaymin) over previous scriptures, meaning it is the final criterion by which truth is separated from falsehood in earlier texts, not that every single word in existing Bibles is affirmed.
- Corruption of teachings, not necessarily the text: Early Muslim scholars often suggested that the corruption (tahrif) was of the meaning or interpretation of the texts, or involved a small group of people hiding or twisting words, not a total, worldwide corruption of the entire physical text itself.
- "Injil" is not the New Testament Gospels: Some argue that the "Injil" mentioned in the Quran is a specific, single, uncorrupted book of revelation given to Jesus that is now lost, distinct from the four canonical Gospels written by different authors.
- Historical Context: The Qur'an's commands to the People of the Book to follow their scriptures were aimed at the communities in Muhammad's time, perhaps referring to the laws and general guidance within those scriptures that were still considered valid at that point.
The "Islamic dilemma" remains a common point of debate and discussion in interfaith dialogue between some Christian and Muslim communities
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