Shabir Ally
Here are a few comments by the popular Muslim apologist, Shabir Ally, on the law and my following comments about legalism.
Islam has a lower view of God’s Law and a lower view of sin [the violation of the Law] and its sinfulness.
If Christians have left the impression that “the law is not so important anymore…” (2:14), then we have a lot of discipleship to do (Matthew 28:19-20)!
The Law has always been central to following the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In fact, the Law was housed in the holy of holies and in the New Covenant it is written on the heart of believers.
Shabir Ally misunderstands Paul’s teaching about the Law, thinking that Paul teaches something different about the Law than Jesus (2:08-2:35). Part of Shabir’s misunderstanding goes back to the Quran’s teaching about a fictitious book from heaven revealed to Jesus, the Injeel.1To learn more see What every Muslim should know about the Bible.
Paul does not teach anything contrary to Jesus or the Old Testament. Rather, he taught that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law. 2The Gospel is Jesus Christ’s fulfillment of the Law for the righteousness of all who believe in Him, “In one word: the law is the incomplete Gospel, the Gospel is the completed law; the Gospel was contained in the law as the tree is in the seed, as the full head of grain is in the seed” (Herman Bavinck, The Law-Gospel Distinction). Paul taught that we are not able to keep the righteous requirements of the Law for our justification. We must trust in Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Law alone for our righteous standing before God. A careful study of Paul will reveal that he has a higher view of the Law than Islam.
A low view of law leads to legalism in religion; a high view of law makes a man a seeker after grace. (J. Gresham Machen, The Origin of Paul’s Religion, p. 179).
A careful study of Islam will reveal that it has a lower view of sin than Christianity. A lower view of sin means it has a lower view of God’s Law and God’s holiness and justice. A low view of sin blinds Muslims—as it blinded the Pharisees in Jesus’ day—of their need for a Redeemer.
Here is a helpful video (Paul Blackham, “Why Good Isn’t Good Enough for God”) explaining that the problem is not with the Law, but with our sin.
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To learn more about the Muslim view of sin be sure and read:
The Covenant Verse and Day of Alastu is why Muslims have a different concept of sin and righteousness (Quran 7:172)
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