Calling God Father

Christians often ask followers of the Quran whether they object to using the term "Father" for God, aiming to highlight a perceived inconsistency between the portrayal of Jesus in the Gospels and the Quran. They argue that Jesus' use of "Father" in the Gospels suggests a theological divergence from the Quranic depiction of Jesus as a submitter to God.

Given that "Father" was a common term for God in Koine Greek, it would have been natural for early Christians to use this term in their writings. Similarly, in Arabic, the term for God is "Allah," a term still used by Christians in Egypt today. However, Christians who do not speak Arabic typically do not refer to God as "Allah" due to the term's specific cultural and religious connotations today despite this also being the term Jesus used when speaking Aramaic.

It is also worth emphasizing the linguistic and cultural context of Jesus' ministry. Jesus primarily addressed a Jewish audience and likely spoke Aramaic, the common language among Jews at that time, or Hebrew when quoting scripture, the language of the Old Testament. The Gospels were later written in Koine Greek, the lingua franca of the Eastern Mediterranean, to reach a broader audience, especially Gentiles who adopted Pauline Christianity. Thus, the term "Father" in the Greek texts is a translation of what Jesus might have originally said in Aramaic or Hebrew.

Additionally, there is an obvious theological bias for the New Testament to use the term Father for God so frequently compared to the infrequent use in the Old Testament. This is most likely an attempt to align the writings of the New Testament with the concept of the Trinity. Therefore, using "Father" to refer to God in English today is problematic, not because the term is inherently inappropriate, but because of the theological implications it has acquired.

The Quran commands believers to use the correct utterances.

[33:70] O you who believe, reverence GOD and utter only the correct utterances.

(٧٠) يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا

The Quran also provides the following example of using terms that eliminate misunderstandings. This is seen in the recommendation to say "Unzurna (watch over us) instead of the term "Raa'ena" (be our shepherd). Even though there is nothing inherently wrong with stating "Raa'ena," since some Hebrew-speaking individuals twisted the word to sound like a dirty word, the Quran recommends stating "Unzurna" instead to eliminate this connotation.

[2:104] O you who believe, do not say, "Raa'ena"* (be our shepherd). Instead, you should say, "Unzurna" (watch over us), and listen. The disbelievers have incurred a painful retribution.

(١٠٤) يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

[4:46] Among those who are Jewish, some distort the words beyond the truth, and they say, "We hear, but we disobey," and "Your words are falling on deaf ears," and "Raa'ena* (be our shepherd)," as they twist their tongues to mock the religion. Had they said, "We hear, and we obey," and "We hear you," and "Unzurna (watch over us)," it would have been better for them, and more righteous. Instead, they have incurred condemnation from GOD due to their disbelief. Consequently, the majority of them cannot believe.

(٤٦) مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Therefore, while "Father" was appropriate in the context of Koine Greek of its time, its use in modern English today carries theological connotations that conflict with the teachings of the Quran. So, even if we assume that this was the actual expression that Jesus and his followers used when they were alive, after the proliferation of the Trinity doctrine, believers in God alone should be cautious when using this term for God in the chance that it may appear that they are offering any support for the blasphemous doctrine of the Trinity.

[5:73] Pagans indeed are those who say that GOD is a third in a trinity. There is no god except the one god. Unless they refrain from saying this, those who disbelieve among them will incur a painful retribution.

(٧٣) لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّآ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُوا۟ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

[4:171] O people of the scripture, do not transgress the limits of your religion, and do not say about GOD except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was a messenger of GOD, and His word that He had sent to Mary, and a revelation from Him. Therefore, you shall believe in GOD and His messengers. You shall not say, "Trinity." You shall refrain from this for your own good. GOD is only one god. Be He glorified; He is much too glorious to have a son. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. GOD suffices as Lord and Master.

(١٧١) يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا