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Muhammad – Prophet auch für Christen?

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In this article a question is raised if it is possible for Christians to recognize Muhammad as an authentic prophet. From the point of view of religious studies Muhammad is obviously a prophet and Islam is a prophetic religion. Still, in the light of Christian theology that in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, sees the fulfiment of the Old Testament prophecies, recognizing Muhammad as a prophet is highly problematic. Granting Muhammad the prophet status would mean the recognition of the Koran as the authentic Word of God. Meanwhile, the picture of Jesus in the Koran in many places opposes the one presented in the New Testament and the Church Tradition of the Church. It is all the more impossible for Christians to recognize Muhammad as the „seal of the prophets“ and the Koran as the most perfect form of God’s revelation. However, it does not mean that the Koran does not include any elements of good, truth, or holiness. Also to acknowledge Muhammad’s prophecy as a kind of God’s inspiration seems to be perfectly possible. From the point of view of the present Christian theology of religions they can and even should be seen as ‘gifts of God to humanity’ and ‘channels’ of His grace (J. Dupuis). Thanks to the presence of God’s Spirit in religions we can meet authentic witnesses of God’s truth in them. Recognizing Muhammad as a witness of ‘the compassionate and merciful God’, despite of crucial objections, seems to be possible. Thus, the article proposes an open and at the same time critical attitude towards Muhammad and his prophetic claims.