Were they all “the First Muslim”?

Another meme came to my desk, this time from a Muslim. It reads: “Adam was the first Muslim (Quran 20:115), Moses was the first Muslim (Quran 7:143), Abraham was the first Muslim (Quran 2:132), Muhammad was the first Muslim. (Quran 39:12).” Sounds legit on Muslims’ view, but the claim does not hold up logically or historically. Here’s why…

1. “Muslim” is being redefined. These verses don’t talk about “Islam” as a faith from the beginning. The Quran uses the Arabic word for submission, islām. It is not a fully formed religion called Islam. Islam as a religion includes, Muhammad as the last prophet, the Quran, five pillars, and Shariah law. None of these existed in the time of Adam, Abraham, or Moses. It is wrong to call them Muslims because that is a 7th-century religion that was applied to earlier people.

2. “First” cannot always mean the same thing. If Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad were all “the first Muslim,” then the word first loses its meaning. Only one person can be first in a true sense. So, either Muslims means follower of Muhammad, then, Adam, Abraham, and Moses were not Muslims. OR, Muslim means surrender, then, Muhammed was not the first. Both cannot be true.

3. History exposes the problem. Islam was commonly called Mohammedanism for centuries because the religion is based on Muhammad’s revelations, teachings, and example. A religion tied so close to one man cannot exist before that man lived. Adam, Abraham, and Moses never knew Muhammad, they never read the Quran, nor practiced Islam.

4. The Bible never calls these men Muslims. The Word of God clearly defines who these men are:

  • Adam lived before nations or organized religion (Genesis 1-3)
  • Abraham was justified by faith, not by religious submission (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3)
  • Moses taught the law of God, ceremonial sacrifices, priesthood, and a coming Messiah, not Islam. (Exodus–Deuteronomy)
  • None prayed toward Mecca, followed Islamic Law, or knew of Muhammad.

The Bible never rewrites history by renaming earlier believers after later religions.

In short, Adam, Abraham, and Moses were not Muslims. Islam came about in the 7th century and is completely based on Muhammad.

The meme only works when it changes definitions, not when it changes facts.

“God is not the author of confusion.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Truth is truth!

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