I am somewhat surprised that you were studying about “Isah” in Sunday School, for the Bible does not mention this at all. Instead, Isah is found in the Islamic scriptures (the Quran/Koran). Isah (or Isa) is the Arabic name for Jesus. Muslims believe that Jesus/Isah was a Muslim prophet rather than the Son of God or God incarnate. This is a direct contradiction of the Bible, for we read in John 1:1 & 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” These two verses prove that Jesus was indeed “the Son of God” and that He was also “God incarnate” (for He, being God, “became flesh and dwelt among us”). The Muslims will say they are “honoring Jesus as a prophet,” but in truth they are dishonoring Him by putting Him on the same level as any human prophet (such as their prophet, Mohammed). In the Koran it reads, “O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, WAS BUT A MESSENGER OF ALLAH…so believe in Allah and His messengers” (sura 4, ayat 171).  Jesus Himself said to those who were seeking to kill Him for calling God His Father (see John 5:16-18), “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does…For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that ALL SHOULD HONOR THE SON JUST AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER. HE WHO DOES NOT HONOR THE SON DOES NOT HONOR THE FATHER WHO SENT HIM” (verses 20-23).

Because the Islamic religion denies that Jesus is the Son of God and that He became a true human being, Christians should not be studying their so-called “sacred scriptures.” We are told in 1st John 4:1-3, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” Their religion “has been tested” and they have been found to be “deniers of Christ” by teaching “He is not the Son of God” and that “He has not come in the flesh.” They are “not of God” and they have “the spirit of the Antichrist” and as such we should reject their so-called scriptures. We could go on citing other false teachings of the Islamic religion (for they also teach that  salvation is NOT based on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for man’s sins, but by good works), but it is enough to know that they deny that Jesus is God and that He became flesh and dwelt among us.

In closing, though we should reject their teachings, we should still LOVE THEM, and PRAY FOR THEM, and PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO THEM if the opportunity arises. They do show some respect for the Bible so they may be willing to listen to the “holy scriptures” that you could read (or quote) to them. We should have full confidence in God’s Word to reach their hearts, knowing that “the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It can reach into their hearts and “convict them of sin,” which can then prepare their hearts to hear the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1st Timothy 1:15). Let’s be like the apostle Paul who could say, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).   (DO)  (507.5)