Are Christians who reject the Trinity closer to Islam?

In their belief in the One God they are closer to Islam, and they deserve respect. In the beginning such Christians were even the majority, and the disciples of Jesus (as) were among them.

In the early history of Christianity, the Christians who believed in the oneness of God were by far the majority. All the disciples whom Jesus (as) had taught himself were among them. They held on to the Torah and lived their faith as a continuation of the faith of Israel. The only new thing for them was that the promised Messiah had come.

Jesus (as) had not abolished the law. He only criticised the habit of following it outwardly while forgetting its spirit. A law without love for God and for people is like beautiful packaging with nothing inside. Later, some misunderstood this criticism and threw away the form altogether. Yet the contents need a vessel, just as milk needs a jug.

The first Christians did not leave Judaism of their own accord. They were pushed out of the synagogues because the religious leaders saw them as a threat. When the Roman Empire later backed the side of the Trinity, the Christians who believed in only one God had little chance left. Many of them eventually accepted Islam when it reached them, because they found in it their own belief in the One God.

The Christians who reject the Trinity today are only a small group. Their belief in the oneness of God is not in every respect as strict as that of Muslims. Even so, they are closer to Islam on this important point and deserve respect. The Holy Qur’an invites all the People of the Book to a common word, namely to worship none but God. Whoever takes that word seriously is on a good path.