David Stewart, Jr.
Latter-day Saints recognize Muslims as brothers and
sisters, children of our Heavenly Father, with whom we can find much common
ground. LDS Prophet and Apostle Gordon
B. Hinckley stated: “we value our Muslim neighbors across the world.” Latter-day Saints respect the strong family
values and moral accomplishments of Muslims as well as Islamic contributions to
science, literature, history, philosophy, medicine, and the arts. While there are many differences between
Muslims and Latter-day Saints in doctrine and practice, we acknowledge these
differences with respect rather than criticism.
Latter-day Saints extend a hand of friendship to Muslims everywhere.
Muhammad and Revelation
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints believe that Muhammad was an inspired teacher raised up by God to teach
His word. The Book of Mormon teaches: 'For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all
nations, of their own tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he
seeth fit that they should have; therefore, we see that the Lord doth counsel
in wisdom, according to that which is just and true' (Alma 29:8). In a letter written on February 15, 1978, the
First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declared:
“Based upon ancient and modern revelation, The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints gladly teaches and declares the Christian doctrine that all
men and women are brothers and sisters, not only by blood relationship from
common mortal progenitors but also as literal spirit children of an Eternal
Father. The great religious leaders of the world such as Muhammad, Confucius,
and the Reformers...received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given
to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of
understanding to individuals.... Consistent with these truths, we believe that
God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on
their way to eternal salvation, either in this life or in the life to come... Our message therefore is one of special love
and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of
religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and
sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.”[1]
LDS Apostle George Q. Cannon stated: “I believe myself
that Mahomed, whom the Christians deride and call a false prophet and
stigmatize with a great many epithets --I believe that he was a man raised up
by the Almighty, and inspired to a certain extent by Him to effect the reforms
which he did in his land, and in the nations surrounding. He attacked idolatry,
and restored the great and crowning idea that there is but one God. He taught
that idea to his people, and reclaimed them from polytheism and from the
heathenish practices into which they had fallen. I believe many men were
inspired who lived after him and before him, who, nevertheless, did not have
the Holy Priesthood, but were led by the Spirit of God to strive for a better
condition of affairs and to live a purer and higher life than those by whom
they were surrounded were living. But while this was the case, it was the
Spirit of God that did it.”[2] Latter-day Saints accept all truth, wherever
it may be found, as part of our religion -- whether in the Quran or in other
good books.
God
Latter-day Saints and Muslims believe that God is
just, merciful, all-knowing and all-powerful.
Latter-day Saints recognize the terms God and Allah to refer to the same
being in different languages. The Quran teaches: “Allah is He Who created seven
Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. Through the midst of them (all)
descends His Command: that ye may know that Allah has power over all things,
and that Allah comprehends all things in (His) Knowledge” (Quran 65:12, Yusuf
Ali edition). The Book of Mormon
teaches: “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things,
both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both
in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things
which the Lord can comprehend“ (Mosiah 4:9).
Christ and Muhammad
The Quran teaches that Jesus (Isa) was a great teacher
and prophet sent by God. Latter-day
Saints worship Jesus Christ as the son of God and Savior of the world. The Quran testifies that Allah sent Isa to
teach truth: “And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming
the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance
and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and
an admonition to those who fear Allah” (Quran 5:46).
The Quran teaches that Jesus should be revered:
“Behold! the angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word
from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in
this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah’”
(Quran 3:45). It testifies of the many
miracles performed by Jesus. Sura
3:47-51 states:
“She said: ‘O my Lord! How
shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?’ He said: ‘Even so: Allah
createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it,
'Be,' and it is! And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the
Gospel, And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this
message): 'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for
you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it
becomes a bird by Allah’s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers,
and I quicken the dead, by Allah’s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and
what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did
believe; (I have come to you), to attest
the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was
(Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So
fear Allah, and obey me. It is Allah Who
is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"
God strengthened Jesus by the Holy Spirit and gave
Jesus power to perform miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead. The Quran states: “Then will Allah say:
"O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favour to thee and to thy mother.
Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to
the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and
Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold!… thou healest those born blind, and
the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave.
And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when
thou didst show them the clear Signs...” (Quran 5:110). Muhammad never claimed to have performed any
miracles.
The Quran further states of Jesus: “He said: ‘I am
indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer
and Charity as long as I live; (He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not
overbearing or miserable; So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I
die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again).’ Such (was) Jesus
the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly)
dispute” (Quran 19:30-34).
The Quran teaches that Jesus was taken up to heaven,
where he dwells with God: “Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is
Exalted in Power, Wise” (Quran 4:158).
Muhammad’s grave is in
Faith, Works, and Judgment
God will return to judge the world “When the earth is
pounded to powder, And thy Lord cometh, and His angels, rank upon rank. ”
(Quran 89:21-22). The Book of Mormon
teaches that all men will one day “stand before God to be judged according to
the deeds which have been done in the mortal body” (
Both Muhammad and Christ taught that even after doing
good works, the grace of God is still necessary. The Quran teaches: “If Allah were to punish men
for their wrong-doing, He would not leave, on the (earth), a single living
creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term: When their Term expires,
they would not be able to delay (the punishment) for a single hour, just as
they would not be able to anticipate it (for a single hour)” (Quran 16:61) It continues: “One Day every soul will come
up struggling for itself, and every soul will be recompensed (fully) for all
its actions, and none will be unjustly dealt with. But verily thy Lord, to
those who do wrong in ignorance, but who thereafter repent and make amends, thy
Lord, after all this, is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran 16:111,119). The Bible teaches that "God is a
merciful God" (Deuteronomy 4:31).
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi writes: “it is by grace we are saved,
after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).
The Quran and the Book of Mormon teach that God looks
upon our actions and our intentions. The
Quran states, “Seest thou one who denies the Judgment (to come)? Then such is
the (man) who repulses the orphan (with harshness), and encourages not the
feeding of the indigent. So woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their
prayers, those who (want but) to be seen (of men), but refuse (to supply)
(even) neighbourly needs” (Quran 107:1-7).
The Book of Mormon teaches, “For behold, if a man being evil giveth a
gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if
he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. And likewise also is it counted evil unto a
man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth
him nothing, for God receiveth none such” (Moroni 7:8-9).
The Quran, Bible, and Book of Mormon all warn against
placing our hearts on riches. The Quran
teaches that God’s chastisement comes “because they love the life of this world
better than the Hereafter: and Allah will not guide those who reject Faith”
(Quran 16:107). The Bible teaches, “Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
The Quran teaches: “Who can be better in religion than
one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of
Abraham the true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend” (Quran
4:125). Jesus taught, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
(Matthew 22:37-40).
The Quran and the Book of Mormon both teach the
importance of obeying God’s laws. The
Quran teaches, “Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy,
Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. But he whose balance (of
good deeds) will be (found) light, Will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit”
(Quran 101:6-9). The Quran states that “those who believe in Allah and work
righteousness, He will admit to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, to dwell
therein for ever: Allah has indeed granted for them a most excellent Provision”
(Quran 65:11) The Book of Mormon teaches: “And moreover, I would desire that ye
should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the
commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal
and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into
heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending
happiness” (Mosiah 2:41).
The Pillars of Islam
Similarities can be found between the “Five Pillars of
Islam” and LDS beliefs. Latter-day
Saints and Muslims believe that there is one God, and that we must have no
other gods before Him. Second, Muslims
pray five times daily toward the holy city of
The Christian Apostasy
Muslims and Latter-day Saints both recognize that
after the coming of Jesus, divisions and
apostasy arose in the Christian church.
The Quran teaches: “Those apostles We endowed with gifts, some above
others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to
Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy
spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought
among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to
wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they
would not have fought each other; but Allah Fulfilleth His plan” (2:253). Latter-day Saints recognize the departure of
many Christians from the teachings of the Apostles and the loss of divine authority
in the Church, as well as the restoration of God’s church through the prophet
Joseph Smith.
Latter-day Saints and Muslims acknowledge that
writings in the Bible, while inspired and truthful, underwent some changes as
they passed through the hands of careless scribes and translators and conniving
priests. Latter-day Saints and Muslims
also recognize that many doctrines of non-LDS Christianity come not from the
Bible, but from various creeds and non-apostolic works of the so-called 'early
church fathers,' as well as from pagan Greek and Roman traditions. Latter-day Saints do not accept the
non-biblical creeds widely regarded by other Christian faiths.
The Divine Light and Revelation
Latter-day Saints receive guidance through ongoing
revelation from living prophets and apostles today. While Jews accept the holy writings
constituting the Old Testament and sectarian Christians claim to believe both
the Old and New Testaments, Muslims recognize the Old and the New Testament and
the Quran as inspired. In each case, a certain amount of revelation is
accepted, but no more. Each group draws a line cutting themselves off from
ongoing, contemporary revelation. This diverges from the Lord's pattern of
constant, ongoing revelation to His people throughout all of recorded
scripture. Latter-day Saints differ from Jews, Sectarian Christians, and
Muslims in that we accept not only the Lord's ancient words in the Bible and
the Book of Mormon, but we accept the words and instruction that the Lord
continues to give through living prophets and apostles in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord states: “because
that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another;
for my work is not yet finished” (2 Nephi 29:9).
God
is eternal and unchanging, and He loves his children as much today as in the
time of Abraham or Muhammad. He revealed to Abraham and Muhammad many
particulars relating to even seemingly small aspects of daily life. Yet we face
challenges today that did not exist at the time of Abraham or Muhammad. Would
God withhold counsel from us today in great matters, when he taught Abraham and
Muhammad even in small ones? Latter-day Saints believe that God in his wisdom
has provided living prophets on earth today, in whom the divine light dwells, to
provide us with direction. God also provides a way in which all those who live
worthily and receive authorized ordinances can receive within themselves the
divine light.
God sends the Holy Spirit to help us to identify
truth. The Quran teaches: “Say, the Holy
Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to
strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims”
(Quran 16:102). God promises that if we
study, pray, and ask God sincerely, the power of the Holy Ghost can help us to
know that the Book of Mormon is true (Moroni 10:3-5).
Divine Authority
The Quran teaches: “Those who dispute about the signs
of Allah without any authority bestowed on them, there is nothing in their
breasts but (the quest of) greatness, which they shall never attain to: seek
refuge, then, in Allah. It is He Who hears and sees (all things)” (Quran
40:56) The Bible teaches that ministers
of God must be called and ordained by authorized leaders with divine authority:
“And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as
was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4). The divine
authority held in ancient times by apostles and prophets was restored in modern
times through the prophet Joseph Smith.
The Book of Mormon
Like the Prophet Muhammad, Book of Mormon prophets
like
Practical Religion
For Muslims and Latter-day Saints, religion is not
simply a philosophy, but a way of life. Latter-day Saints believe that gospel
principles must govern daily conduct.
The fruits of faith in the lives of Latter-day Saints are easily
identified. Latter-day Saints and
Muslims share in common a strong focus on the family. The family is recognized
as the fundamental unit of society and as ordained by God. While lackadaisical
attitudes towards morality and divorce are held by many non-LDS Christians,
observant Latter-day Saints and Muslims highly value chastity, fidelity in
marriage, and familial responsibility. Latter-day Saints are commanded by the
Lord to “bring up children in light and truth” (D&C 93:40).
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints hold their Muslim neighbors around the world in high regard. Latter-day Saints extend an invitation to all
people to learn of God, of His son Jesus Christ, and of His restored gospel, so
that others may also share in the blessings of the gospel in this life and in
the next.
[1] Apocryphal Writings and the Latter-day Saints, ed. C. Wilfred Griggs, p.29
[2] George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses 24:371
[3] Top, Brent L, and Bruce A. Chadwick. “Helping Teens Stay Strong.” Ensign. March. 1999, p. 27.
[4] Enstrom, James E., "Health Practices and Mortality
among Active