How to Talk to Muslims About Jesus

January 5, 2026 January 5, 2026

Dr. Mikel Del Rosario

Respectful Muslim Engagement

Something that many Christians struggle with but rarely talk about is how to begin conversations about Jesus with our Muslim friends, neighbors, or co-workers. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to start, you’re not alone.

I recently spoke with Abdu Murray, a former Muslim turned Christian apologist, on the Apologetics Guy Show. He shared a number of insights that can help you begin respectful conversations and engage with both courage and compassion. Here are 5 quick insights from our conversation.

1. The Gospel Can Be Hard to Accept

Abdu’s journey from Islam to Christ took nine years, even though he found convincing answers within the first two. Why the delay? His hesitancy to accept the Gospel wasn’t intellectual. For him, it was mostly emotional and relational. He told me:

“The truth is not hard to find, but the truth is hard to accept.”

I like just how he said that. This is key when talking to anyone with a deeply held worldview, whether it’s Islam, atheism, or something else. People aren’t just processing facts. We are not just logic machines. When we discover new information that's hard to accept, we'll find ourselves weighing what accepting those facts would mean for us personally––for our family, community, and identity.

So, step one is understanding that your Muslim friend’s hesitation to accept what the Bible says about Jesus may not be about the historical data at all. Rather, it may well be about the cost of believing in Jesus as Scripture teaches. Yes, we need the courage to engage, but compassion goes a long way to maintaining that relationship as we show how the gospel challenges their worldview.

2. God’s Greatness is Common Ground

One of the most powerful ways to begin a conversation with Muslim friends is by recognizing shared values: A respect for Jesus; a belief in one God.Abdu reminded me that Islam emphasizes God’s incomparable greatness, often expressed as Allahu Akbar—“God is greater.” He explains:

“God’s greatness is so important in Islam...God is greater than anything we can possibly conceive.”

This reminded me of Anselm of Canterbury writing that "God is a being than which noe greater can be conceived." So, Christians share this belief in God’s greatness. But by starting here, you can establish a kind of common ground that gives you a good platform to talk about Jesus. Using God’s greatness as a conversational anchor can help keep discussions grounded in respect rather than debate.

3. Jesus Speaks Differently Than We Might Expect

Many Muslim friends challenge Christians to find a Bible verse where Jesus says, “I am God. Worship me,” in those exact words. The implication is that if no such verse exists, Jesus must never have claimed to be God. But Jesus says things that a virtual equivalents. And we shouldn't confuse the existence of a claim with the directness of a claim. Still, I like how Abdu responds to this:

“Does God have to say it your way? If God is the master of communication… can God say what he wants to say the way he wants to say it?”

In other words, God communicates truth in ways that fit the culture, context, and purpose of the revelation. The Bible shows Jesus implicitly claiming divinity through both words and actions. I enjoyed talking with Abu about how Jesus assumes divine prerogatives like forging sins and claims to be the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2). We need to appreciate how implicit claims work in the Gospels. But Abdu brought up John 5, where Jesus heals on the Sabbath and says this:

“For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him" (John 5:22-23),

This seems more explicit. Jesus is claiming to be the eschatological judge and saying that if you don't honor him in the same way that you honor God the Father, then you're not really honoring the Father at all. And how is the Father honored? He is worshipped.

Yes, Jesus didn't say things the way many people today think he should have. Still, his divine claims are revealed through his words and actions--all understood in his Jewish context.

4. Take the Challenges Head-On

While many people are hesitant to accept the truth of Scripture, some Muslims say Bible was corrupted and the Quran corrects it. But Abdu highlights a Muslim dilemma which considers this challenge in light of God's greatness:

“God is the greatest possible being… If the Bible… became corrupted, then either God couldn’t protect it, or God wouldn’t protect it. In either instance, He’s not great.”

The historical evidence shows God did protect His Word. For example, we can use textual criticism to get back to the original readings of the New Testament. Historical studies like my own work Did Jesus Really ay He Was God? Making Sense of His Historical Claims shows the trustworthiness of Scripture––we can trust Gospel reports about Jesus' divine claims. But bringing conversations back to God’s greatness and trustworthiness, your can highlight the dilemma and challenge your Muslim to friend to consider the truth of the Bible.

5. The Incarnation Shows God’s Greatness

Talking about Jesus' incarnation isn't just something we discuss around Christmas (although it WAS around Christmas time when we recorded the interview). The idea that God took on a human nature is a difficult for many people to accept, but it's different Muslims. While Atheists or agnostics reject supernatural claims, Muslims often reject Jesus' deity because it seems to challenge God's greatness.

That's why I appreciate how Abdu showed me how God's greatness can be "a way in" to a discussion of the incarnation. Why? Because it respects the value many Muslims place on God's greatness and starts from that common space.

“The greatest possible way for God to reveal Himself to a human being is to encounter that human being directly… The incarnation of Christ actually is a revelation of who God is in a way that I think is the greatest possible way.”

God didn’t just send prophets or inspire books. Jesus is literally "God with Us." Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection reveal God’s glory in ways a book alone cannot.

Watch the full episode

Quick Tips for Talking to Muslim Friends

So how do you put all of this into practice? Here’s a few lessons from Abdu:

“Often times Muslims are hesitant to consider even the credibility of the gospel, not because the gospel is not credible, but because the gospel is costly.”

Abdu reminds us why courage must be coupled with compassion––especially in difficult spiritual conversations:

Don't make assumptions. Labels don’t tell you someone’s knowledge or openness. One Muslim may be devout, another more skeptical, and yet both can benefit from a thoughtful conversation.
Ask thoughtful questions. Start with curiosity: “What do you think of Jesus, and why?” or “Why do you trust the Quran’s message?” Let their answers guide your discussion.
Stay anchored in God’s greatness. Whenever the conversation drifts into details, bring it back: “If there’s an explanation that shows God is great and Scripture is trustworthy, shouldn’t we consider it?”
Address the cost of belief . Accept that your friend may face relational or social challenges if they follow Christ. Discussing this openly can remove barriers to the Gospel.
Show, don’t just tell. Share your own story, point to historical evidence, and highlight Jesus’ life and teachings.

Closing Thoughts

Engaging respectfully with Muslim friends isn’t about winning a debate—it’s about pointing to truth in a way that honors both God and the person you’re talking to. Start from common ground, speak truth with clarity, and remember that Jesus reveals God’s greatness in the best way.

Let's approach conversations with courage and compassion. Listen first, then speak. And above all, let God’s greatness—and the person of Jesus—shine through in every encounter.

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