The Islamic Claim About Previous Prophets Being "Muslims" Is Untenable

The Islamic theology makes the definitive claim that all the prophets who came before the Prophet Muhammad, such as those in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, were essentially "Muslims" - followers of the same monotheistic faith and submission to Allah as outlined in the Quran. However, a rigorous examination of the historical, theological, and scriptural evidence reveals that this claim is simply untenable.

Failing to Meet Islam's Own Criteria for Being Muslim

The core criteria for being considered a Muslim in Islamic theology are: 1) Submitting to Allah as described in the Quran, 2) Acknowledging Muhammad as the final prophet and messenger of Allah, and 3) Following the Quran as the final and complete revelation from Allah.

The prophets of the earlier scriptures, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, clearly fail to meet these requirements. They lived centuries or millennia before the Quran was revealed, and thus had no knowledge of Muhammad or the teachings of Islam. Additionally, they followed their own distinct revelations and religious frameworks, which differ significantly from the Quran.

Adherence to Their Own Unique Covenants and Teachings

Each of the biblical prophets was given their own specific revelations, covenants, and teachings that were tailored to their historical and cultural contexts. For example, Abraham's covenant with YHWH included the practice of circumcision, which is not part of Islamic rituals. Moses delivered the comprehensive legal system of the Torah, which forms the basis of Jewish practice and differs from Sharia law. Jesus established a new covenant focused on grace, forgiveness, and spiritual transformation - concepts that directly conflict with Islamic theology.

These prophets were faithful to the distinct revelations and religious frameworks given to them, rather than adhering to the message of the Quran. Their own scriptural and theological contexts demonstrate that they were not "Muslims" in the sense defined by Islam.

Contradictions Between Islam and Earlier Scriptures

A closer examination reveals fundamental contradictions between the teachings and attributes of God presented in the earlier scriptures versus the Quran. The God of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament is described as relational, covenantal, and in some cases, Trinitarian - characteristics that are explicitly rejected in Islamic theology. The means of salvation emphasized by the biblical prophets, such as faith, grace, and sacrificial atonement, also stand in stark contrast to Islam's focus on deeds and submission to Sharia law.

Additionally, the Quran's denial of Jesus' crucifixion and its reinterpretation of His role create a significant theological disconnect with the New Testament's portrayal of Jesus as the culmination of prophetic history.

Incompatible Conceptions of the Divine

The God worshipped by the biblical prophets, whether YHWH, the Trinitarian God, or the relational Father, is fundamentally different from the portrayal of Allah in the Quran. The personal, covenantal, and interactive nature of the divine in the earlier scriptures is at odds with the more transcendent, unitarian, and master-servant depiction of Allah.

This profound divergence in the very nature and attributes of the God that the prophets served and submitted to makes the Islamic claim theologically incoherent. They were worshipping and following a divine being whose characteristics and relationship with humanity differ significantly from the Quranic conception of Allah.

Conclusion: The Islamic Claim is Untenable

In light of the substantial historical, theological, and scriptural inconsistencies outlined above, the Islamic claim that the prophets of the earlier scriptures were essentially "Muslims" cannot be sustained. These figures did not meet the core criteria for being considered Muslims according to Islamic theology, nor did their own religious beliefs and practices align with the fundamental tenets of Islam.

The preponderance of evidence clearly demonstrates that the prophets of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament cannot be accurately classified as "Muslims" in the Quranic sense. Their own unique revelations, covenants, and theological frameworks were distinct from the message and teachings of Islam, rendering the Islamic position on this matter untenable.