Shaykh Uthman Tells Christian Jesus Isn’t God TWICE & Fails!

In a thought-provoking discussion, Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq attempted to refute the claim that Jesus is God. The exchange began when a young Christian man asserted that Jesus Himself claimed to be divine. 

What followed was a back-and-forth between Scriptural evidence and philosophical reasoning. But as we examine the dialogue more closely, we find that the Bible offers a clear and compelling case for Jesus’ divinity.

Honoring the Son as We Honor the Father

The first major Scripture brought into the conversation was John 5:23:

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” – John 5:23

This statement by Jesus is monumental. In Jewish understanding, honoring someone as you honor God is considered blasphemous—unless that person is, in fact, God.

Jesus wasn’t merely asking for respect. He was commanding the same level of reverence due to God the Father.

Imagine telling people to honor your son in the same way they honor God.

No Muslim would ever accept this because it would be an affront to God’s uniqueness. Yet Jesus makes this claim without hesitation, because He and the Father are one (John 10:30).

The “I Am” Statement in John 8:58

Shaykh Uthman then challenged the idea that Jesus explicitly said He is God. The Christian replied with one of the clearest declarations of divinity in the New Testament:

“Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.'” – John 8:58

At first glance, this might sound like an odd grammatical statement. But in context, it’s a direct reference to Exodus 3:14:

“And God said unto Moses, ‘I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.'” – Exodus 3:14

Jesus uses the same phrase—”I am” (Greek: ego eimi)—to describe Himself. The Jewish crowd understood exactly what He meant, which is why they picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy (John 8:59).

Their reaction confirms that Jesus was not speaking metaphorically. He was claiming to be the eternal God.

Shaykh Uthman attempted to argue that the phrase ego eimi is used elsewhere in Scripture by people who were clearly not divine—such as the blind man in John 9:9:

“Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.'” John 9:9

However, context is everything. When the blind man says “I am,” he’s merely identifying himself. There is no reference to pre-existence, divinity, or Old Testament allusions.

In contrast, when Jesus says “Before Abraham was, I am,” He is:

• Referring to His pre-existence
  
• Alluding to Exodus 3:14
  
• Prompting an immediate reaction of attempted stoning

This difference is critical. Words derive meaning from context.

For example, if someone says, “I’ll be back,” most people today would associate that with Arnold Schwarzenegger—not because the words are inherently meaningful, but because of the cultural context.

The same applies here. Jesus’ use of “I am” in the middle of a conversation about Abraham, eternity, and His identity is a deliberate divine claim.

Why the Argument Fails

Shaykh Uthman repeatedly tried to equate Jesus’ use of “I am” with casual references by others in Scripture. But this comparison collapses under scrutiny.

The blind man wasn’t claiming to exist before Abraham. He wasn’t referencing the burning bush. He wasn’t nearly stoned for his words.

Jesus, on the other hand, makes a declaration that only makes sense if He is eternal and divine. The Jews present understood this—and reacted accordingly.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

From start to finish, the Gospel of John is built on the foundation that Jesus is God in the flesh.

The Case for Christ’s Divinity Remains Strong

Despite Shaykh Uthman’s attempts to dismantle the Christian argument, the Biblical evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of Jesus’ divinity.

He was honored as God, declared Himself to be the eternal “I AM,” and was understood by His contemporaries as making divine claims.

Context matters. And in the case of Jesus, the context of His words makes His identity unmistakable.

If you want to see another debate with Shaykh Uthman, check out this video on what happened when he tried to trap a Christian woman—but it backfired. God bless.

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