Defending the Christian Faith in Conversation with Islam — Sehemu ya 5: Utatu na Shtaka la ShirkiDefending the Christian Faith in Conversation with Islam — Unit 5: The Trinity and the Charge of Shirk

Mstari MkuuKey Verse

"Sikia, Ee Israeli; Bwana, Mungu wetu, Bwana ni mmoja" (Kumbukumbu la Torati 6:4, SUV)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4, NKJV)

Malengo ya KujifunzaLearning Objectives

Utakapomaliza sura hii, unapaswa kuwa na uwezo wa:When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

1. Kueleza mafundisho ya Kiislamu ya tawhidi na dhambi ya shirki kama Mwislamu angeyaeleza.1. Explain the Islamic doctrine of tawhid and the sin of shirk as a Muslim would explain them.

2. Kueleza Kurani 5:73, 5:116, 4:171 na 6:101 zinasema nini kuhusu imani ya Wakristo na zinaonekana kuelezea nini.2. Describe what Qur'an 5:73, 5:116, 4:171 and 6:101 say about Christian belief and what they seem to describe.

3. Kueleza kwa uwazi fundisho la Biblia kuhusu Utatu, kwa kutumia kweli zake tatu za msingi.3. State the biblical doctrine of the Trinity clearly, using its three basic truths.

4. Kujibu shtaka kwamba Wakristo wanaabudu miungu mitatu, kwa Maandiko na kwa hoja iliyo wazi.4. Answer the charge that Christians worship three gods, with Scripture and with clear reasoning.

5. Kuzungumza juu ya Utatu na marafiki Waislamu kwa njia iliyo ya kweli, rahisi na ya upole.5. Speak about the Trinity with Muslim friends in a way that is truthful, simple and gentle.

Utangulizi: Ukuta wa Kwanza katika Mazungumzo MengiIntroduction: The First Wall in Many Conversations

Mkristo anapoanza kuzungumza na rafiki yake Mwislamu kuhusu Mungu, mojawapo ya maswali ya kwanza mara nyingi ni hili: "Unawezaje kusema Mungu ni mmoja ilhali unaabudu miungu mitatu?" Kwa Waislamu wengi, hili si tofauti ndogo. Linagusa kiini cha imani yao. Wamefundishwa tangu utotoni kwamba dhambi kuu kuliko zote ambayo mtu anaweza kutenda ni kumpa Mungu mshirika. Kwao, mafundisho ya Kikristo kuhusu Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu yanasikika kama dhambi hiyo hiyo.When a Christian begins to talk with a Muslim friend about God, one of the first questions is often this: "How can you say that God is one when you worship three gods?" For many Muslims, this is not a small disagreement. It touches the very heart of their faith. They have been taught since childhood that the greatest sin a person can commit is to give God a partner. To them, the Christian teaching about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit sounds like exactly that sin.

Mchungaji anayetaka kuwasaidia watu wake lazima aelewe wasiwasi huu kabla ya kujaribu kuujibu. Mwislamu anayeuliza swali hili mara nyingi ni mnyofu. Hajaribu kutukana. Anaamini anatetea heshima ya Mungu. Tunapaswa kuiheshimu bidii hiyo, hata tunapomwonyesha kwamba Biblia haifundishi miungu mitatu.A pastor who wants to help his people must understand this concern before he tries to answer it. A Muslim who raises this question is often sincere. He is not trying to insult us. He believes he is defending the honour of God. We should respect that zeal, even while we show him that the Bible does not teach three gods.

Sura hii ina sehemu nne. Kwanza, tutajifunza Waislamu wanamaanisha nini kwa tawhidi na shirki. Pili, tutaangalia Kurani inasema nini kuhusu imani ya Wakristo. Tatu, tutaeleza Biblia inafundisha nini hasa kuhusu Mungu mmoja katika Nafsi tatu. Nne, tutajifunza jinsi ya kulijibu shtaka la "miungu mitatu" kwa uwazi na kwa wema.This unit has four parts. First, we will learn what Muslims mean by tawhid and shirk. Second, we will look at what the Qur'an says about Christian belief. Third, we will set out what the Bible actually teaches about one God in three Persons. Fourth, we will learn how to answer the charge of "three gods" clearly and kindly.

Tawhidi: Umoja wa Mungu katika UislamuTawhid: The Oneness of God in Islam

Neno la Kiarabu tawhidi (hutamkwa ta-WHIID) linamaanisha "kufanya kuwa mmoja" au "kutangaza kuwa mmoja." Katika Uislamu ni fundisho kwamba Mungu ni mmoja kabisa. Ndiyo kiini cha imani na ibada ya Waislamu. Kila Mwislamu anaujua ungamo la imani liitwalo shahada: "Hakuna mungu ila Mungu, na Muhammad ni mjumbe wa Mungu." Nusu ya kwanza ya ungamo hili ni kauli ya tawhidi.The Arabic word tawhid (pronounced ta-WHEED) means "making one" or "declaring one." In Islam it is the doctrine that God is absolutely one. It is the centre of Muslim faith and worship. Every Muslim knows the confession of faith called the shahada: "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God." The first half of this confession is a statement of tawhid.

Sura fupi ya Kurani inafupisha imani hii. Sura ni kitabu au sehemu ya Kurani, na aya ni mstari. Sura ya 112, iitwayo al-Ikhlas ("Usafi wa Imani"), husomwa mara nyingi sana na Waislamu. Katika tafsiri ya Pickthall inasema kwamba Allah ni "Mmoja," na kwamba "Hazai wala hakuzaliwa" (Kurani 112:1-3). Inamalizia kwa kusema kwamba hakuna aliye sawa naye (Kurani 112:4).A short chapter of the Qur'an sums up this belief. A chapter of the Qur'an is called a sura, and a verse is called an ayah. Sura 112, called al-Ikhlas ("Sincerity" or "Purity of Faith"), is recited very often by Muslims. In Pickthall's translation it says that Allah is "the One," and that "He begetteth not nor was begotten" (Qur'an 112:1-3). It ends by saying that there is none comparable to Him (Qur'an 112:4).

Kwa Mwislamu, tawhidi inamaanisha mambo matatu angalau:For a Muslim, tawhid means at least three things:

• Mungu ni mmoja katika kuwa kwake. Hagawanywi katika sehemu, na hakuna mungu mwingine kando yake.• God is one in His being. He is not divided into parts, and there is no other god beside Him.

• Mungu peke yake ndiye anayepaswa kuabudiwa. Hakuna nabii, mtakatifu, malaika wala sanamu anayeweza kupokea ibada.• God alone is to be worshipped. No prophet, saint, angel or idol may receive worship.

• Mungu hafanani na viumbe vyake. Hakuna kitu katika ulimwengu ulioumbwa kilicho sawa naye au kinachoshiriki asili yake.• God is unlike His creation. Nothing in the created world is equal to Him or shares His nature.

Wakristo tunakubaliana na mengi ya haya. Sisi pia tunaamini kwamba yuko Mungu mmoja tu. Sisi pia tunaamini kwamba Mungu peke yake ndiye anayepaswa kuabudiwa. Sisi pia tunaamini kwamba Mungu ni Muumba na si sehemu ya viumbe vyake. Tofauti si kama Mungu ni mmoja. Tofauti ni juu ya aina gani ya umoja Mungu anao, na juu ya Yesu ni nani.Christians agree with much of this. We also believe there is only one God. We also believe that God alone must be worshipped. We also believe that God is the Creator and is not part of His creation. The disagreement is not about whether God is one. The disagreement is about what kind of oneness God has, and about who Jesus is.

Shirki: Dhambi IsiyosamehewaShirk: The Unforgivable Sin

Kinyume cha tawhidi ni shirki (hutamkwa SHIRKI). Neno hili linamaanisha "kuunganisha" au "kushirikisha." Katika Uislamu, shirki ni dhambi ya kumshirikisha Mungu na mshirika: kumchukulia kiumbe chochote kama kimungu, au kumpa mtu mwingine ibada inayomstahili Mungu peke yake. Kuabudu sanamu ndio mfano ulio wazi zaidi.The opposite of tawhid is shirk (pronounced SHIRK). The word means "association" or "sharing." In Islam, shirk is the sin of associating a partner with God: treating any created being as if it were divine, or giving to anyone else the worship that belongs to God alone. Idol worship is the clearest example.

Kurani inaichukulia shirki kuwa dhambi mbaya kuliko zote. Pickthall anatafsiri Kurani 4:48 hivi: "Hakika Allah hasamehi kwamba mshirika apewe Yeye." Aya inaendelea kusema kwamba Mungu huwasamehe dhambi nyingine amtakaye. Waislamu wengi wanaelewa hili kumaanisha kwamba mtu anayekufa katika shirki, bila kutubu, hatasamehewa.The Qur'an treats shirk as the gravest of all sins. Pickthall translates Qur'an 4:48 this way: "Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him." The verse goes on to say that God forgives other sins to whom He wills. Many Muslims understand this to mean that a person who dies in shirk, without repenting, will not be forgiven.

Hii inaeleza kwa nini ungamo la Kikristo kwamba Yesu ni Bwana na Mungu ni zito sana kwa Mwislamu. Kama Yesu angekuwa mtu aliyeumbwa tu, kumwabudu kweli kungekuwa shirki. Wakristo wanakubali kwamba kumwabudu kiumbe tu ni ibada ya sanamu. Basi swali halisi ni kama Yesu ni kiumbe kabisa. Biblia inasema siyo. Yeye ni Neno wa milele aliyekuwa pamoja na Mungu na alikuwa Mungu, na aliyefanyika mwili (Yohana 1:1, 14).This explains why the Christian confession that Jesus is Lord and God is so serious to a Muslim. If Jesus were only a created man, then worshipping Him would indeed be shirk. Christians agree that worshipping a mere creature would be idolatry. The real question, then, is whether Jesus is a creature at all. The Bible says He is not. He is the eternal Word who was with God and was God, and who became flesh (John 1:1, 14).

Kurani Inasema Nini Kuhusu Imani ya KikristoWhat the Qur'an Says About Christian Belief

Kurani inasema na Wakristo moja kwa moja mahali pengi. Inawaita Wayahudi na Wakristo "Watu wa Kitabu." Baadhi ya aya zinawazungumzia Wakristo kwa uchangamfu, lakini aya kadhaa zinakataa kile Kurani inachoelewa Wakristo wanachoamini kuhusu Mungu na Yesu. Tutaziangalia nne kati yake.The Qur'an speaks directly to Christians in several places. It calls Jews and Christians the "People of the Book." Some verses speak warmly of Christians, but several verses reject what the Qur'an understands Christians to believe about God and Jesus. We will look at four of them.

Kurani 5:73 — "Wa Tatu wa Watatu"Qur'an 5:73 — "The Third of Three"

Katika tafsiri ya Pickthall, Kurani 5:73 inasema: "Hakika wamekufuru wale wanaosema: Hakika Allah ni wa tatu wa watatu; ilhali hakuna Mungu ila Mungu Mmoja." Aya hii inaonya juu ya adhabu kwa wale wasioacha kusema hivyo.In Pickthall's translation, Qur'an 5:73 says: "They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God." The verse warns of punishment for those who do not stop saying this.

Aya hii inalaani msemo "wa tatu wa watatu" kwa sababu Kurani inasisitiza kwamba Mungu ni mmoja. Wakristo pia wanakana kwamba Mungu ni mmoja wa miungu watatu tofauti; kanisa limekiri daima Mungu mmoja, si watatu. Lakini Waislamu wengi, wakiwemo wafafanuzi wengi Waislamu, wanaisoma aya hii kama inayokataa Utatu wa Kikristo wenyewe, si tu ibada ya miungu watatu tofauti. Kwa hiyo mchungaji aseme, "Tunakubaliana kwamba Mungu ni mmoja, lakini niruhusu nieleze kwa nini Maandiko huwaongoza Wakristo kumkiri Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu." Hilo linajibu tofauti halisi badala ya kuipuuza kama kutoelewana rahisi.The verse condemns the phrase "the third of three" because the Qur'an insists that God is one. Christians also deny that God is one of three separate gods; the church has always confessed one God, not three. But many Muslims, including many Muslim commentators, read the verse as rejecting the Christian Trinity itself, not only the worship of three separate gods. So the pastor should say, "We agree that God is one, but let me explain why Scripture leads Christians to confess the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." That answers the real disagreement instead of brushing it aside as a simple misunderstanding.

Kurani 5:116 — Yesu, Maria na MunguQur'an 5:116 — Jesus, Mary and God

Kurani 5:116 inaelezea tukio ambamo Mungu anamwuliza Yesu katika Siku ya Hukumu. Katika tafsiri ya Pickthall Mungu anauliza: "Ee Yesu, mwana wa Maria! Je, wewe uliwaambia watu: Nichukueni mimi na mama yangu kuwa miungu miwili kando ya Allah?" Yesu anajibu kwamba hakusema jambo kama hilo kamwe.Qur'an 5:116 describes a scene in which God questions Jesus on the Day of Judgment. In Pickthall's translation God asks: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah?" Jesus answers that he never said such a thing.

Aya hii inauliza kama Yesu aliwaambia watu wamchukue yeye na mama yake kuwa miungu miwili kando ya Mungu. Haielezi Utatu wala kumtaja Maria kuwa mmoja wa Nafsi zake, na Waislamu wanaieleza kwa njia tofauti. Hakuna imani ya Kikristo ya kweli iliyowahi kumweka Maria katika Utatu; Nafsi za Utatu ni Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu. Biblia inamheshimu Maria kama mwanamke aliyebarikiwa na mwaminifu, aliyechaguliwa kuwa mama ya Yesu, lakini alikuwa mwanadamu na kiumbe. Hata hivyo aya hii inaleta swali halisi kuhusu ibada Wakristo wanayompa Kristo, na kulijibu kunahitaji zaidi ya kusahihisha picha isiyo sahihi ya Utatu.This verse asks whether Jesus told people to take himself and his mother as two gods beside God. It does not define the Trinity or name Mary as one of its Persons, and Muslims explain it in different ways. No orthodox Christian creed has ever placed Mary in the Trinity; the Persons of the Trinity are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bible honours Mary as a blessed and faithful woman, chosen to be the mother of Jesus, but she was a human being and a creature. The verse still raises a real question about the worship Christians give to Christ, and answering it needs more than correcting a mistaken picture of the Trinity.

Wasomi Waislamu wanaieleza aya hii kwa njia tofauti. Wengine wanasema inaelezea Wakristo waliompa Maria heshima kupita kiasi, si mafundisho rasmi ya kanisa. Wanahistoria wanataja kwamba katika karne za mwanzo kulikuwa na makundi madogo yaliyomwabudu Maria kwa namna fulani; kimoja kiliitwa Wakolliridi, kilichoelezwa na mwandishi wa kanisa Epifanio katika karne ya nne, aliyekilaani. Chochote chanzo cha aya hii, mchungaji anaweza kusema wazi na kwa wema: "Kama mtu anamwabudu Maria kama mungu, Biblia inalaani hilo pia. Lakini hilo si Utatu."Muslim scholars explain this verse in different ways. Some say it describes Christians who gave Mary too much honour, not the official teaching of the church. Historians note that there were small groups in the early centuries that gave Mary a kind of worship; one, called the Collyridians, was described by the church writer Epiphanius in the fourth century, who condemned them. Whatever the reason for the verse, the pastor can say plainly and kindly: "If someone worships Mary as a god, the Bible condemns that too. But that is not the Trinity."

Kurani 4:171 — "Msiseme Watatu"Qur'an 4:171 — "Say Not Three"

Kurani 4:171 inasema na Watu wa Kitabu. Inasema kwamba Masihi, Yesu mwana wa Maria, alikuwa mjumbe wa Allah na "Neno lake" na "roho itokayo kwake." Kisha inasema, kwa maneno ya Pickthall: "msiseme 'Watatu' - Acheni! (ni) bora kwenu! - Allah ni Mungu Mmoja tu." Aya inaongeza kwamba Mungu yuko juu mno kuwa na mwana.Qur'an 4:171 speaks to the People of the Book. It says that the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was a messenger of Allah and "His word" and "a spirit from Him." Then it says, in Pickthall's words: "say not 'Three' - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One God." The verse adds that God is far above having a son.

Kurani 4:171 inawaonya Wakristo wasiseme "Watatu" na inakataa wazo kwamba Mungu ana mwana, huku ikimwita Yesu "neno" la Mungu na "roho itokayo kwake." Mwislamu mwenye fikira anaweza kuichukua aya hii kama inayokataa Utatu wa Kikristo wenyewe, si tu miungu watatu tofauti. Kwa hiyo Wakristo waeleze wanachoamini hasa, Mungu mmoja katika Nafsi tatu tofauti, na waeleze kwa nini Maandiko huwaongoza kufikia hilo. Vyeo Neno na Roho ni mada nzuri ya mazungumzo, lakini hatupaswi kudhani kwamba Kurani inavipa maana ile ile kama Injili ya Yohana. Kama tulivyoona katika Sura ya 4, Wakristo wanaweza kumwuliza rafiki Mwislamu kwa heshima: "Inamaanisha nini kwamba Yesu ni neno la Mungu? Je, Mungu aliwahi kuwa bila neno lake?"Qur'an 4:171 warns Christians not to say "Three" and rejects the idea that God has a son, while also calling Jesus God's "word" and "a spirit from Him." A thoughtful Muslim may take this verse as rejecting the Christian Trinity itself, not only three separate gods. So Christians should state what they actually believe, one God in three distinct Persons, and explain why Scripture leads them to it. The titles Word and Spirit are a good subject for conversation, but we should not assume that the Qur'an gives them the same meaning as John's Gospel. As we saw in Unit 4, Christians can ask a Muslim friend with respect: "What does it mean that Jesus is God's word? Was God ever without His word?"

Kurani 6:101 — "Awezaje Kuwa na Mtoto?"Qur'an 6:101 — "How Can He Have a Child?"

Kurani 6:101 inauliza, katika tafsiri ya Pickthall: "Awezaje kuwa na mtoto, ilhali hana mke?" Aya inatoa hoja kwamba Mungu hawezi kuwa na mwana kwa sababu hana mke.Qur'an 6:101 asks, in Pickthall's translation: "How can He have a child, when there is for Him no consort?" A consort is a wife. The verse reasons that God cannot have a son because He has no wife.

Aya hii inaonyesha Waislamu wengi wanadhani Wakristo wanamaanisha nini wanapomwita Yesu "Mwana wa Mungu." Wanadhani inamaanisha kwamba Mungu alikuwa na mahusiano ya kimwili na mwanamke na kuzaa mtoto, kama miungu ya kipagani ya zamani ilivyosemwa kufanya. Wakristo wanakataa wazo hili kwa nguvu kama Waislamu wanavyofanya. Biblia haifundishi kamwe kwamba Mungu alichukua mke au kwamba Mwana alizaliwa kwa njia ya kimwili.This verse shows what many Muslims think Christians mean when they call Jesus "the Son of God." They think it means that God had physical relations with a woman and produced a child, as the pagan gods of the ancient world were said to do. Christians reject this idea as strongly as Muslims do. The Bible never teaches that God took a wife or that the Son was produced in a physical way.

Hata hivyo kuondoa kutoelewana huku hakumalizi tofauti. Mwislamu makini bado anaweza kukataa Uwana wa milele wa Yesu baada ya kusikia kwamba Mungu hakuchukua mke kamwe. Kwa hiyo eleza fundisho hilo na zungumzia tofauti inayobaki, badala ya kutenda kana kwamba kuondoa kutoelewana kunamaliza swali. Katika mazungumzo mazito, tofauti halisi inayoshughulikiwa kwa uaminifu ni bora kuliko ushindi juu ya hoja ambayo hakuna anayeishikilia.Yet removing this misunderstanding does not end the disagreement. A careful Muslim may still reject the eternal Sonship of Jesus after he hears that God never took a wife. So explain the doctrine and discuss the disagreement that remains, instead of acting as though clearing up the misunderstanding settles the question. In a serious conversation, real disagreement handled honestly is better than a victory over an argument nobody actually holds.

Aya Hizi Zinaonekana Kuelezea NiniWhat These Verses Seem to Describe

Tunapoziweka aya hizi pamoja, picha inajitokeza. Kurani inaonekana kukataa:When we put these verses together, a picture appears. The Qur'an seems to reject:

• Kusema "watatu" kwa njia inayoonekana kumfanya Mungu kuwa chini ya mmoja (4:171; 5:73). Wakristo pia wanakataa miungu watatu, lakini tunakiri Utatu, kwa hiyo tofauti halisi inabaki.• Saying "three" in a way that seems to make God less than one (4:171; 5:73). Christians also reject three gods, but we do confess the Trinity, so a real disagreement remains.

• Kumchukua Yesu na Maria kuwa miungu miwili kando ya Mungu (5:116). Hakuna imani ya Kikristo iliyowahi kumweka Maria katika Utatu.• Taking Jesus and Mary as two gods beside God (5:116). No Christian creed has ever placed Mary in the Trinity.

• Wazo kwamba Mungu alikuwa na mwana kwa kuzaa kimwili kupitia mke.• The idea that God had a son by physical begetting through a wife.

Wakristo wanakataa kumwabudu Maria kama mungu wa kike, wazo la miungu watatu tofauti, na wazo lolote kwamba Mungu alizaa mtoto kwa njia ya kimwili. Lakini Wakristo wanakiri uungu wa Mwana na Utatu, ambao Uislamu unakana. Mkristo mwenye heshima anaweza kusema, "Mimi pia nakataa kuzaa kimwili na miungu watatu tofauti. Je, ungeniruhusu nieleze tunachoamini hasa kuhusu Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu?" Kuondoa kutoelewana kunaifanya tofauti halisi iwe wazi zaidi; hakuifanyi kutoweka.Christians reject the worship of Mary as a goddess, the idea of three separate gods, and any idea that God fathered a child in a physical way. But Christians do confess the deity of the Son and the Trinity, which Islam denies. A respectful Christian can say, "I also reject physical begetting and three separate gods. Would you allow me to explain what we actually believe about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?" Clearing away the misunderstanding makes the real disagreement clearer; it does not make it disappear.

Tofauti halisi inabaki. Uislamu unakana kwamba Yesu ni Mungu na unakana kwamba Mungu yuko kama Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu. Wakristo wanakiri yote mawili. Lakini ni bora zaidi kujadili tofauti halisi kuliko kubishana juu ya imani ambayo upande wowote hauishikilii.The real difference remains. Islam denies that Jesus is God and denies that God exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christians confess both. But it is far better to discuss the real difference than to argue about a belief that neither side holds.

Fundisho la Biblia kuhusu UtatuThe Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity

Neno "Utatu" halipatikani katika Biblia. Waislamu wakati mwingine hulisema hili. Lakini neno si lazima litokee katika Maandiko ili ukweli analolitaja uwemo humo. Neno "tawhidi" pia halipatikani katika Kurani, hata hivyo Waislamu wanasema kwa haki kwamba Kurani inafundisha umoja wa Mungu. Vivyo hivyo, neno "Utatu" ni jina fupi la kile Biblia inachofundisha. Waandishi wa Kikristo walilitumia mapema sana: Theofilo wa Antiokia alitumia umbo la Kigiriki karibu mwaka 180 B.K., na Tertuliani alitumia neno la Kilatini trinitas karibu mwaka 200 B.K., muda mrefu kabla ya mabaraza ya Nikea (325) na Konstantinopoli (381).The word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible. Muslims sometimes point this out. But a word does not have to appear in Scripture for the truth it names to be there. The word "tawhid" is not found in the Qur'an either, yet Muslims rightly say that the Qur'an teaches the oneness of God. In the same way, the word "Trinity" is a short name for what the Bible teaches. Christian writers used it very early: Theophilus of Antioch used a Greek form around AD 180, and Tertullian used the Latin word trinitas around AD 200, long before the councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381).

Fundisho la Utatu linaweza kuelezwa kwa kweli tatu za msingi. Zote tatu zikishikiliwa pamoja, tunakuwa na fundisho la Biblia.The doctrine of the Trinity can be stated in three basic truths. When all three are held together, we have the biblical teaching.

Kweli ya Kwanza: Yuko Mungu Mmoja TuTruth One: There Is Only One God

Biblia ni ya imani ya Mungu mmoja kwa uthabiti. Imani ya Mungu mmoja inamaanisha kuamini Mungu mmoja tu. Mstari wetu mkuu ni ungamo kuu la Israeli: "Sikia, Ee Israeli; Bwana, Mungu wetu, Bwana ni mmoja" (Kumbukumbu la Torati 6:4). Yesu mwenyewe alinukuu aya hii kama amri ya kwanza (Marko 12:29). Kupitia Isaya, Mungu anasema: "Mimi ndimi BWANA, wala hapana mwingine; zaidi yangu mimi hakuna Mungu" (Isaya 45:5). Paulo anaandika kwamba "hapana Mungu ila mmoja" (1 Wakorintho 8:4).The Bible is firmly monotheistic. Monotheism means belief in one God only. Our key verse is the great confession of Israel: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4). Jesus Himself quoted this verse as the first commandment (Mark 12:29). Through Isaiah, God says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me" (Isaiah 45:5). Paul writes that "there is no other God but one" (1 Corinthians 8:4).

Wakristo hawajitoi kidogo kwa Mungu mmoja kuliko Waislamu. Imani ya Kikristo ilikua kutoka katika imani ya Israeli, iliyosimama kwa karne nyingi dhidi ya miungu mingi ya mataifa. Mitume walikuwa Wayahudi ambao wangekufa badala ya kumwabudu mungu wa pili.Christians are not less committed to one God than Muslims are. The Christian faith grew out of the faith of Israel, which had stood against the many gods of the nations for centuries. The apostles were Jews who would have died rather than worship a second god.

Kweli ya Pili: Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu Kila Mmoja Ni Mungu KamiliTruth Two: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Are Each Fully God

Agano Jipya linaonyesha kwamba Baba ni Mungu. Pia linaonyesha kwamba Mwana ni Mungu. Yohana anaandika: "Hapo mwanzo kulikuwako Neno, naye Neno alikuwako kwa Mungu, naye Neno alikuwa Mungu" (Yohana 1:1). Tomaso anamwabudu Yesu aliyefufuka na kumwita "Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu!" (Yohana 20:28). Yesu anasema juu ya utukufu aliokuwa nao pamoja na Baba "kabla ulimwengu haujakuwako" (Yohana 17:5).The New Testament shows that the Father is God. It also shows that the Son is God. John writes: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Thomas worships the risen Jesus and calls Him "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus speaks of the glory He had with the Father "before the world was" (John 17:5).

Biblia pia inaonyesha kwamba Roho Mtakatifu ni Mungu. Anania aliposema uongo kwa Roho Mtakatifu, Petro alimwambia: "hukuwadanganya wanadamu, bali Mungu" (Matendo 5:4). Roho anajua mambo ya ndani ya Mungu (1 Wakorintho 2:10-11), yuko kila mahali (Zaburi 139:7), na huzaa mtu mara ya pili (Yohana 3:5-8). Hizi ni kazi ambazo Mungu peke yake anaweza kuzifanya.The Bible also shows that the Holy Spirit is God. When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, Peter told him: "You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:4). The Spirit knows the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), is everywhere present (Psalm 139:7), and gives new birth (John 3:5-8). These are works only God can do.

Kweli ya Tatu: Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu Ni Nafsi TofautiTruth Three: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Are Distinct Persons

Baba si Mwana, Mwana si Roho, na Roho si Baba. Ni tofauti. Wakati wa ubatizo wa Yesu, Mwana yuko majini, Roho anashuka kama hua, na Baba anasema kutoka mbinguni (Mathayo 3:16-17). Yesu anamwomba Baba (Yohana 17:1). Anaahidi kwamba Baba atamtuma "Msaidizi mwingine," yaani Roho (Yohana 14:16). Watatu wanatajwa pamoja katika agizo la Yesu la kubatiza "kwa jina la Baba, na Mwana, na Roho Mtakatifu" (Mathayo 28:19). Angalia kwamba neno ni "jina," umoja, si "majina."The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father. They are distinct. At the baptism of Jesus, the Son is in the water, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven (Matthew 3:16-17). Jesus prays to the Father (John 17:1). He promises that the Father will send "another Helper," the Spirit (John 14:16). The three are named together in Jesus' command to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Notice that the word is "name," singular, not "names."

Baraka ya Paulo inawataja wote watatu kama chanzo cha neema: "Neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, na pendo la Mungu, na ushirika wa Roho Mtakatifu, na ziwe nanyi nyote" (2 Wakorintho 13:14). Kanisa la kwanza halikubuni Utatu. Lilimkuta Baba, Mwana na Roho tayari katika kurasa za Agano Jipya.Paul's blessing names all three as the source of grace: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14). The early church did not invent the Trinity. It found the Father, the Son and the Spirit already present on the pages of the New Testament.

Kuziweka Kweli Tatu PamojaPutting the Three Truths Together

Tukikana kweli ya kwanza, tunaanguka katika imani ya miungu wengi. Tukikana ya pili, tunawafanya Yesu au Roho kuwa viumbe. Tukikana ya tatu, tunasema kwamba Baba, Mwana na Roho ni vinyago vitatu tu au majukumu matatu ya Nafsi moja. Biblia inafundisha kweli zote tatu pamoja: Mungu mmoja, anayekuwepo milele katika Nafsi tatu tofauti, kila moja ni Mungu kamili.If we deny the first truth, we fall into belief in many gods. If we deny the second, we make Jesus or the Spirit into creatures. If we deny the third, we say that Father, Son and Spirit are only three masks or roles of one Person. The Bible teaches all three truths together: one God, eternally existing as three distinct Persons, each fully God.

Hii ni siri kwa maana ya Biblia: jambo ambalo hatungeweza kuligundua wenyewe, lakini Mungu ameliweka wazi. Siri si mgongano. Tunapaswa kutarajia kwamba Mungu asiye na kikomo ni mkuu kuliko akili zetu zinavyoweza kuelewa kikamilifu. Mwislamu pia anaamini kwamba Mungu yuko juu ya uelewa kamili wa binadamu. Swali si kama Mungu yuko juu yetu, bali Mungu ametuambia nini juu yake mwenyewe.This is a mystery in the biblical sense: something we could not discover by ourselves, but which God has revealed. A mystery is not a contradiction. We should expect that the infinite God will be greater than our minds can fully grasp. A Muslim also believes that God is beyond full human understanding. The question is not whether God is beyond us, but what God has told us about Himself.

Jinsi Mchungaji Anavyoweza Kueleza Utatu kutoka katika MaandikoHow a Pastor Can Explain the Trinity from Scripture

Katika mafundisho yake kuhusu Roho Mtakatifu, Dr. Cook anaanza na jambo la kusaidia. Mara nyingi tunamzungumzia Baba kupitia sifa zake, Mwana kupitia matukio ya huduma yake duniani, na Roho Mtakatifu kupitia kazi yake. Hili halimgawanyi Mungu mmoja kuwa kazi tatu au sehemu tatu. Ni njia tu ya kutambua kile ambacho Maandiko yanaonyesha kuhusu Nafsi tatu: Baba anayetuma, Mwana anayefunua na kukomboa, na Roho anayemshuhudia Mwana na kufanya kazi ndani ya waumini.In his teaching on the Holy Spirit, Dr. Cook begins with a useful observation. We often speak of the Father through His attributes, of the Son through the events of His earthly ministry, and of the Holy Spirit through His work. This does not divide the one God into three jobs or three parts. It is simply a way of noticing what Scripture shows about the three Persons: the Father who sends, the Son who reveals and redeems, and the Spirit who bears witness to the Son and works within believers.

Anza na umoja wa Mungu, si na fumbo la hesabu: "BWANA ni mmoja" (Kumbukumbu la Torati 6:4; Marko 12:29). Kisha uliza kama Biblia inampa Mwana na Roho majina na kazi za Mungu. Yohana anasema Neno alikuwako kwa Mungu na alikuwa Mungu (Yohana 1:1-3, 14). Tomaso anamwita Yesu aliyefufuka "Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu!" (Yohana 20:28). Petro anachukulia kumdanganya Roho Mtakatifu kuwa kumdanganya Mungu (Matendo 5:3-4). Roho hufundisha (Yohana 14:26), hushuhudia (Yohana 15:26), huongoza (Yohana 16:13), hutoa karama kama apendavyo (1 Wakorintho 12:11) na anaweza kuhuzunishwa (Waefeso 4:30). Kwa hiyo Roho si nguvu isiyo na nafsi, wala si mungu mwingine.Begin with the oneness of God, not with a puzzle about numbers: "The LORD is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29). Then ask whether the Bible gives the names and works of God to the Son and to the Spirit. John says the Word was with God and was God (John 1:1-3, 14). Thomas calls the risen Jesus "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Peter treats lying to the Holy Spirit as lying to God (Acts 5:3-4). The Spirit teaches (John 14:26), testifies (John 15:26), guides (John 16:13), gives gifts as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11) and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). So the Spirit is not an impersonal force, and He is not another god.

Kisha geukia ubatizo wa Yesu (Mathayo 3:16-17). Mwana amesimama majini, Roho anashuka, na sauti ya Baba inasikika. Watatu ni tofauti, lakini hawatengani. Yesu anaamuru ubatizo kwa jina moja la Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu (Mathayo 28:19), na Paulo anawataja wote watatu pamoja katika baraka yake (2 Wakorintho 13:14). Mchungaji anapaswa kuweza kupitia vifungu hivi mwenyewe, badala ya kutegemea picha kama maji au yai (angalia "Kuwa Mwangalifu na Mifano" hapa chini).Then turn to the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17). The Son stands in the water, the Spirit comes down, and the Father's voice is heard. The three are distinct, but not separated. Jesus commands baptism in the one name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), and Paul names all three together in his blessing (2 Corinthians 13:14). A pastor should be able to walk through these passages himself, instead of relying on pictures such as water or an egg (see "Be Careful with Comparisons" below).

Kazi ya Roho inamlenga Kristo: humshuhudia Yesu na huuhakikishia ulimwengu (Yohana 15:26; 16:8). Katika mahubiri yake, Dr. Cook analinganisha ugumu wetu wa kumtazama Roho Mtakatifu moja kwa moja na ugumu wa kulitazama jua moja kwa moja: hatulikodolei jua macho, lakini kwa nuru yake tunaona kila kitu kingine. Picha hii inahusu kazi ya Roho ya kumjulisha Kristo; si ufafanuzi wa Mungu ni nini. Maelezo yetu yanapaswa kuwa wazi kiasi kwamba rafiki Mwislamu ajue tunamwabudu Mungu mmoja, na ya kweli kiasi cha kukubali kwamba fundisho hili lina fumbo.The Spirit's work centres on Christ: He testifies of Jesus and convicts the world (John 15:26; 16:8). In his preaching, Dr. Cook compares our difficulty in looking straight at the Holy Spirit with the difficulty of looking straight at the sun: we do not stare at the sun, but by its light we see everything else. This picture is about the Spirit's work of making Christ known; it is not a definition of what God is. Our explanation should be clear enough that a Muslim friend knows we worship one God, and honest enough to admit that the doctrine contains mystery.

Kujibu Shtaka la "Miungu Mitatu"Answering the Charge of "Three Gods"

Sasa tunafika kwenye swali la vitendo. Tunamjibuje rafiki Mwislamu asemaye, "Mnaabudu miungu mitatu"? Hapa kuna majibu kadhaa ya wazi. Tumia yale yanayomfaa mtu huyo na wakati huo.Now we come to the practical question. How do we answer a Muslim friend who says, "You worship three gods"? Here are several clear answers. Use the ones that fit the person and the moment.

Mmoja Ni "Nini" na Watatu Ni "Nani"One What and Three Whos

Fundisho la Utatu halisemi "Mungu mmoja na Miungu watatu," jambo ambalo lingekuwa mgongano. Halisemi "Nafsi moja na Nafsi tatu," ambalo pia lingekuwa mgongano. Linasema Mungu mmoja (kiumbe kimoja) na Nafsi tatu. Hivi ni vitu vya aina tofauti. Mwanaapolojetiki James White alisema kwa urahisi: Mungu ni "Nini" mmoja na "Nani" watatu. Neno kiumbe hujibu swali "Mungu ni nini?" Neno nafsi hujibu swali "Mungu ni nani?"The doctrine of the Trinity does not say "one God and three Gods," which would be a contradiction. It does not say "one Person and three Persons," which would also be a contradiction. It says one God (one being) and three Persons. These are different kinds of things. The apologist James White put it simply: God is one "What" and three "Whos." The word being answers the question "What is God?" The word person answers the question "Who is God?"

Mfano rahisi unasaidia. Mimi ni kiumbe kimoja, na ni nafsi moja. Jiwe ni kiumbe kimoja, lakini si nafsi kamwe. Biblia inafunua kwamba Mungu ni kiumbe kimoja anayekuwepo kama Nafsi tatu. Hilo ni tofauti na kitu chochote katika uumbaji, lakini si mgongano, kwa sababu "moja" na "tatu" vinarejea vitu tofauti.A simple comparison helps. I am one being, and I am one person. A rock is one being, but it is no person at all. The Bible reveals that God is one being who exists as three Persons. That is different from anything in creation, but it is not a contradiction, because "one" and "three" refer to different things.

Kuwa Mwangalifu na MifanoBe Careful with Comparisons

Wahubiri wengi hutumia mifano kama maji (barafu, kimiminika, mvuke), yai (ganda, nyeupe, kiini), au mtu ambaye ni baba, mwana na mume. Hii inaweza kumsaidia mtoto aanze kufikiri, lakini yote hukosea kwa njia muhimu. Maji yanayobadilika umbo yanaashiria Nafsi moja aliyevaa vinyago vitatu. Yai linaashiria kwamba kila Nafsi ni theluthi moja tu ya Mungu. Mtu mwenye majukumu matatu bado ni nafsi moja tu. Ni busara zaidi kueleza kweli za Biblia waziwazi kuliko kutegemea picha inayofundisha kosa.Many preachers use comparisons such as water (ice, liquid, steam), an egg (shell, white, yolk), or a man who is a father, a son and a husband. These may help a child begin to think, but they all fail in important ways. Water that changes form suggests one Person wearing three masks. An egg suggests that each Person is only one-third of God. A man with three roles is still only one person. It is wiser to state the biblical truths plainly than to depend on a picture that teaches error.

"Mwana" Haimaanishi Kuzaliwa Kimwili"Son" Does Not Mean Physical Birth

Rafiki Mwislamu anapopinga "Mwana wa Mungu," eleza cheo hicho hakimaanishi nini. Hakimaanishi kwamba Mungu alikuwa na mke. Hakimaanishi kwamba Mwana alikuwa na mwanzo. Katika Biblia, "mwana wa" mara nyingi huelezea asili au uhusiano, si kuzaliwa kimwili. Mwana wa milele anashiriki asili ya Baba yenyewe na amekuwa daima katika uhusiano kamili naye. Sura ya 112 inaposema "Hazai," Mkristo anaweza kukubali kwamba Mungu hazai kwa njia ya kimwili.When a Muslim friend objects to "Son of God," explain what the title does not mean. It does not mean that God had a wife. It does not mean that the Son had a beginning. In the Bible, "son of" often describes nature or relationship, not physical birth. The eternal Son shares the Father's very nature and has always been in perfect relationship with Him. When Sura 112 says "He begetteth not," a Christian can agree that God does not beget in a physical way.

Neno la Milele la MunguGod's Eternal Word

Waislamu wengi wa Kisunni wanaamini kwamba Kurani ni usemi usioumbwa na wa milele wa Mungu. Katika teolojia yao, usemi wa Mungu ni sifa ya milele iliyokuwepo daima pamoja na Mungu, ilhali Mungu ni mmoja bado. Hili halithibitishi Utatu, lakini linaweza kufungua mlango. Mkristo anaweza kuuliza kwa upole: "Kama usemi wa milele wa Mungu unaweza kuwa pamoja na Mungu tangu milele bila kufanya miungu wawili, kwa nini haiwezekani kwamba Neno la milele la Mungu, ambaye Yohana 1:1 anamzungumzia, yuko pamoja na Mungu na ni Mungu?" Uliza hili kama swali la kufikirisha, si kama silaha.Many Sunni Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the uncreated, eternal speech of God. In their theology, God's speech is an eternal attribute that has always existed with God, yet God is still one. This does not prove the Trinity, but it can open a door. A Christian may gently ask: "If God's eternal speech can be with God from eternity without making two gods, why is it impossible that God's eternal Word, of whom John 1:1 speaks, is with God and is God?" Ask this as a question for thought, not as a weapon.

Upendo Kabla ya UumbajiLove Before Creation

Biblia inasema, "Mungu ni upendo" (1 Yohana 4:8). Upendo unahitaji mtu wa kumpenda. Kama Mungu angekuwa Nafsi moja peke yake tangu milele yote, alimpenda nani kabla ya kuumba ulimwengu? Katika Utatu, Baba amempenda Mwana daima, na Mwana amempenda Baba daima, katika ushirika wa Roho (Yohana 17:24). Mungu hakuhitaji kuumba ili apende. Hii inaonyesha kwamba Utatu si nyongeza ngeni kwa imani yetu. Ni msingi wa kweli ya injili kwamba Mungu ni upendo.The Bible says, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Love needs someone to love. If God were a single Person alone from all eternity, whom did He love before He made the world? In the Trinity, the Father has always loved the Son, and the Son has always loved the Father, in the fellowship of the Spirit (John 17:24). God did not need to create in order to love. This shows that the Trinity is not a strange addition to our faith. It is the foundation of the gospel truth that God is love.

Maelezo kutoka kwa Nabeel QureshiA Note from Nabeel Qureshi

Nabeel Qureshi alikulia katika familia ya Kiislamu ya kujitoa na alifundishwa kwamba Utatu ulikuwa mfano wazi wa shirki. Kupitia miaka ya mabishano ya kirafiki na rafiki yake Mkristo David Wood, alisoma kile Biblia inachosema hasa kuhusu Yesu. Baadaye Qureshi alihoji kwamba Mwislamu hawezi kuhukumu Utatu kwa haki mpaka aelewe Wakristo wanachoamini hasa, na kwamba swali la ndani zaidi ni Yesu ni nani. Kitabu chake No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (2016) kinalinganisha tawhidi na Utatu kwa kina na kinapendekezwa kusomwa kwa sura hii.Nabeel Qureshi grew up in a devout Muslim family and was taught that the Trinity was a clear example of shirk. Through years of friendly debate with his Christian friend David Wood, he studied what the Bible actually says about Jesus. Qureshi argued later that a Muslim cannot fairly judge the Trinity until he understands what Christians really believe, and that the deeper question is who Jesus is. His book No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (2016) compares tawhid and the Trinity in detail and is recommended reading for this unit.

Kuzungumza juu ya Utatu kwa UpoleSpeaking About the Trinity with Gentleness

Fikiria mchungaji aitwaye Samweli katika soko la mjini. Jirani yake Ibrahimu, mwenye duka Mwislamu mwema, anamwambia, "Samweli, wewe ni mtu mwema, lakini unawezaje kuabudu miungu mitatu?" Samweli habishi kwa sauti kubwa. Anatabasamu na kusema, "Ibrahimu, asante kwa kuuliza. Mimi pia naamini Mungu ni mmoja, na sitawahi kumwabudu Maria wala mungu wa pili. Naweza kukueleza Biblia yangu inasema nini?" Kisha anashiriki Kumbukumbu la Torati 6:4 na Yohana 1:1, na anamsikiliza Ibrahimu anayejibu. Mazungumzo hayaishi siku hiyo, lakini urafiki unaimarishwa, na mlango unabaki wazi.Imagine a pastor named Samuel in a town market. His neighbour Ibrahim, a kind Muslim shopkeeper, says to him, "Samuel, you are a good man, but how can you worship three gods?" Samuel does not argue loudly. He smiles and says, "Ibrahim, thank you for asking. I also believe God is one, and I would never worship Mary or a second god. May I tell you what my Bible says?" Then he shares Deuteronomy 6:4 and John 1:1, and he listens to Ibrahim's reply. The conversation does not end that day, but a friendship is strengthened, and the door stays open.

Kisa hiki kidogo kinaonyesha mfumo wa hekima. Hapa kuna miongozo ya vitendo:This small story shows a wise pattern. Here are some practical guidelines:

• Anza na makubaliano: sote tunaamini kuna Mungu mmoja, Muumba, ambaye peke yake anapaswa kuabudiwa.• Begin with agreement: we both believe there is one God, the Creator, who alone must be worshipped.

• Uliza kabla ya kujibu: "Unadhani Wakristo wanaamini nini kuhusu Mungu?" Kisha sahihisha kutoelewana kwa upole.• Ask before you answer: "What do you think Christians believe about God?" Then correct misunderstandings gently.

• Ondoa tusiyoamini: si miungu watatu, si Maria kuwa wa kimungu, si uwana wa kimwili.• Clear away what we do not believe: not three gods, not Mary as divine, not physical sonship.

• Weka lengo kwa Yesu. Utatu unafunuliwa kwa uwazi zaidi kupitia Yesu ni nani na alichofanya.• Keep the focus on Jesus. The Trinity is revealed most clearly through who Jesus is and what He did.

• Tumia Maandiko, kwa ufupi na kwa usahihi, badala ya hoja ndefu za kifalsafa.• Use Scripture, briefly and accurately, rather than long philosophical arguments.

• Kamwe usidhihaki Kurani, Nabii wa Uislamu, wala rafiki yako. Jibu kwa "upole na hofu" (1 Petro 3:15).• Never mock the Qur'an, the Prophet of Islam, or your friend. Answer with "meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

• Mahali ambapo Wakristo ni wachache, kuwa na hekima juu ya wapi na lini unaposema, na epuka ugomvi wa hadharani unaoweza kuleta hatari.• In places where Christians are a minority, be wise about where and when you speak, and avoid public quarrels that could bring danger.

MuhtasariSummary

Tawhidi, fundisho kwamba Mungu ni mmoja kabisa, ni kiini cha Uislamu, na shirki, kumshirikisha Mungu na mshirika, ni dhambi yake mbaya zaidi. Kwa sababu hii, Waislamu wengi wanaamini kwamba Wakristo wanatenda shirki kwa kumwabudu Yesu na kukiri Utatu. Kurani inakataa kusema "watatu" (4:171; 5:73), kumchukua Yesu na Maria kuwa miungu miwili kando ya Mungu (5:116), na mwana aliyezaliwa kwa Mungu kupitia mke (6:101). Wakristo pia wanakataa miungu watatu, ibada ya Maria na kuzaa kimwili kokote, lakini tunakiri Mungu mmoja katika Nafsi tatu, kwa hiyo tofauti halisi inabaki. Biblia inafundisha kwamba yuko Mungu mmoja tu; kwamba Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu kila mmoja ni Mungu kamili; na kwamba ni Nafsi tatu tofauti. Mungu ni kiumbe kimoja katika Nafsi tatu, ambayo ni siri iliyofunuliwa lakini si mgongano. Wachungaji wanaweza kujibu shtaka la "miungu mitatu" kwa kuondoa kutoelewana, kueleza tofauti kati ya kiumbe na nafsi, kuonyesha kwamba "Mwana" haimaanishi kuzaliwa kimwili, na kuelekeza kwa Yesu, daima kwa upole na heshima.Tawhid, the doctrine that God is absolutely one, is the centre of Islam, and shirk, associating a partner with God, is its gravest sin. For this reason, many Muslims believe that Christians commit shirk by worshipping Jesus and confessing the Trinity. The Qur'an rejects saying "three" (4:171; 5:73), taking Jesus and Mary as two gods beside God (5:116), and a son born to God through a wife (6:101). Christians also reject three gods, the worship of Mary and any physical begetting, but we do confess one God in three Persons, so a real difference remains. The Bible teaches that there is only one God; that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each fully God; and that they are three distinct Persons. God is one being in three Persons, which is a revealed mystery but not a contradiction. Pastors can answer the charge of "three gods" by clearing away misunderstandings, explaining the difference between being and person, showing that "Son" does not mean physical birth, and pointing to Jesus, always with gentleness and respect.

Maswali ya KutafakariQuestions for Reflection

1. Kwa nini shtaka la shirki ni zito sana kwa Mwislamu, na hilo linapaswa kuathirije jinsi unavyolijibu?1. Why is the charge of shirk so serious to a Muslim, and how should that shape the way you respond to it?

2. Ni maelezo gani ya Kurani kuhusu imani ya Kikristo uliyoyasikia kutoka kwa majirani Waislamu, na ungeondoaje kutoelewana huko?2. Which of the Qur'an's descriptions of Christian belief have you heard from Muslim neighbours, and how would you clear up the misunderstanding?

3. Ungeelezaje tofauti kati ya "kiumbe kimoja" na "Nafsi tatu" kwa mshiriki wa kanisa lako kwa maneno yako mwenyewe?3. How would you explain the difference between "one being" and "three Persons" to a member of your congregation in your own words?

4. Kwa nini mifano ya kawaida kama maji au yai haisaidii, na ungesema nini badala yake?4. Why are common comparisons such as water or an egg unhelpful, and what would you say instead?

5. Kweli kwamba "Mungu ni upendo" inakusaidiaje kuonyesha kwamba Utatu ni habari njema na si fumbo tu?5. How does the truth that "God is love" help you show that the Trinity is good news and not only a puzzle?

6. Kanisa lako linaweza kuchukua hatua gani kuzungumza juu ya Utatu na majirani Waislamu kwa hekima na usalama?6. What steps can your congregation take to speak about the Trinity with Muslim neighbours wisely and safely?

7. Eleza Utatu kutoka Mathayo 3:16-17 na Yohana 14-16 bila kutumia mfano wowote wa maji, mayai au majukumu ya kibinadamu.7. Explain the Trinity from Matthew 3:16-17 and John 14-16 without using any comparison from water, eggs or human roles.

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