The Illusion of a New Religion
Why Submission Was Never a New Invention
Introduction
We often view history as a series of disconnected chapters. We assume that every major system of belief must be a novel invention of its era. This focus on “the new” often obscures a far older and deeper reality. This truth is not defined by a specific century; it is woven into the fundamental nature of existence itself.
Consider the physical cosmos. From vast galaxies to the smallest cell, the universe operates according to precise laws. Nothing resists them. Every orbiting planet, every grain of dust, every beating heart functions in quiet submission to its Creator. This submission is not voluntary. It is built into the fabric of existence.
Human beings are equally bound by this physical reality. From the formation of the foetus to the rhythm of the heart, our bodies follow a biological design. We did not author this system, nor can we suspend it. It is within this framework of universal order that the concept of ultimate submission—the literal translation of the word ‘Islam’—must be understood.
While many assume that Islam emerged in the seventh century as an entirely new religion, this view overlooks the deeper continuity of history. Submission to the Creator has been a constant across civilisations. It existed long before the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It represents the conscious choice to align human volition with the same divine laws that already govern the stars. The universe submits by necessity; human beings are granted the unique ability to submit by choice.
The Qur’an itself affirms that this submission existed long before the advent of what we recognise as formal, seventh-century ‘Islam’. It emphasises the act rather than the label:
“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a devoted monotheist — one who submitted himself to God (Muslim).” (Qur’an 3:67)
The Muslim testimony of faith declares: “There is no god but Allah (The Only Deity), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” For earlier communities, the same affirmation would have recognised their own prophets in their respective declaration of faiths: Moses in his time, and Jesus in his. The core message remained unchanged. Only the messenger differed.
The Linguistic Reality of the Divine Name
Another factor contributing to the perception of Islam as entirely separate is linguistic. In many Western contexts, the word “Allah” is treated as the name of a distinct, foreign deity. Historically, this distinction did not exist. It is an illusion of translation.
Jesus (peace be upon him) did not speak English or Latin. His native language was Aramaic. In that tongue, the word for God was Alaha (or Elaha). This is closely related to the Hebrew Eloah and the Arabic Allah. These are not different gods. They are cognate terms from the same linguistic family.
Over centuries, translation and cultural distance created the impression of difference where there was none.
The Preservation of the Law
Before examining specific practices, an important theological question arises: Did Jesus abolish the earlier law of the prophets?
Many Christian traditions understand Jesus’ mission as transforming that law. They often emphasise an era of grace over strict legal observance. Yet the Gospel accounts preserve statements that strongly affirm continuity:
“Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18)
Whatever one’s interpretation, this statement underscores a vital point. Jesus did not present himself as the author of a disconnected religion. He stood firmly within an existing prophetic tradition.
Core Theological Principles
The Prohibition of Idolatry
Modern observers often associate strict aniconism—the rejection of religious images—primarily with Islam. Yet the biblical tradition contains the same uncompromising command:
“You shall not make for yourself an image… You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” (Exodus 20:4–5)
This emphasis directs worship toward an unseen Creator rather than material representations. It is a principle preserved with absolute rigour in Islam.
Individual Moral Responsibility
Islam teaches that each person is accountable for their own actions. While doctrines of inherited sin are central to many traditions, the Hebrew Bible also emphasises personal responsibility:
“The one who sins is the one who will die… The child will not share the guilt of the parent.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
This principle of individual accountability presents a direct scriptural challenge to the doctrines of original sin and vicarious atonement. If the ‘child will not share the guilt of the parent,’ then the very foundation of inherited ancestral guilt collapses. Without that inherited debt, the logical necessity for a sacrificial mediator to pay it is also dismantled. In this framework, salvation is not a communal inheritance. It is a direct result of individual conduct and personal alignment with divine law.
The Humanity of Jesus
The Gospels record several statements in which Jesus (peace be upon him) speaks of himself as subordinate to the Divine order:
“By myself I can do nothing…” (John 5:30) and “The Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)
These passages highlight a prophetic model of obedience. They resonate strongly with the Islamic understanding of Jesus as a messenger of God. In this framework, the prophet is not the object of worship, but the ultimate example of submission to the one God.
Rituals of Worship: The Physical Geometry
The physical expression of worship demonstrates the most striking parallels. Scripture repeatedly depicts the prophets in states of total prostration. This is the exact posture preserved uniquely in Islamic practice today:
Abraham fell on his face (Genesis 17:3).
Moses bowed to the ground (Exodus 34:8).
Joshua fell on his face and worshipped (Joshua 5:14).
Jesus (peace be upon him) fell with his face to the ground in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39).
This act of placing the forehead to the earth is not a seventh-century innovation. It is the primordial posture of the prophets. It represents a logical alignment of the human body with the Divine order.
Other structured devotional practices show similar continuity:
Structured Prayer: Prayer at specific times (Acts 3:1).
Ablution: Ritual washing before worship (Exodus 40:31–32).
Removing Shoes: Standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5).
Sacred Space: Calling places of worship “houses of prayer” (Matthew 21:13).
Dietary and Social Continuity
Continuity is equally evident in daily conduct and social identity. These practices were not “added” by Islam; they were maintained as part of the original prophetic directive:
Fasting: Practised by Jesus for forty days (Matthew 4:2).
Dietary Laws: Prohibitions against pork (Leviticus 11:7–8) and warnings against intoxication (Proverbs 20:1).
Economic Ethics: The explicit condemnation of usury (Exodus 22:25).
Circumcision: Established as a perpetual covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:10–12), formalised in the Law through Moses (Leviticus 12:3), and practised by Jesus himself (Luke 2:21).
Modesty: The use of veils and head coverings (Genesis 24:65; 1 Corinthians 11:6).
The Beard: The instruction to maintain the beard (Leviticus 19:27).
Polygyny: Practised by several biblical patriarchs and regulated rather than prohibited (Exodus 21:10).
Everyday Expressions of Faith
Even common phrases reveal a profound continuity in social and spiritual etiquette. Jesus (peace be upon him) greeted his disciples with words of peace:
“Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
This is an exact linguistic and functional parallel to the Islamic greeting Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you). Similarly, the practice of acknowledging Divine providence when planning for the future is explicitly recorded in the New Testament:
“You ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will…’” (James 4:15)
This directive aligns precisely with the Qur’anic exhortation to utilise the phrase In-sha-Allah (if God wills). This standard of speech remains a hallmark of Muslim identity today. It reinforces the concept that human volition is always subordinate to the Divine decree.
The Unbroken Thread
Across beliefs, laws, rituals, and daily life, a consistent pattern emerges. The prophets did not present unrelated religions competing for allegiance. They delivered chapters of a single directive.
A strictly materialist reading of history tends toward fragmentation. It views the development of faith as a series of isolated cultural shifts. However, a systemic analysis suggests a more coherent design. It points toward a single, unbroken continuity.
From Abraham to Moses to Jesus to Muhammad (peace be upon them all), the call remains the same: to recognise the Creator and willingly align one’s life with His will. True submission is not the adoption of something novel. It is the conscious harmonisation of human freedom with the timeless, unified rhythm that governs the universe.
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