By Derrick Danso

One of the most common objections I hear from my Muslim friends here in Ghana—especially during Muslim dawah and debates—is this:
“How can 1+1+1 equal 1?”
Or, “You Christians say you worship one God, but it’s actually three—how does that even make sense?”

Let’s be clear—complexity is not the same as contradiction. And not fully understanding something doesn’t make it false. If that were true, then most of us would have to reject electricity, the internet, and yes—even God Himself.

Logic and Oneness: Is the Trinity a Contradiction?

If Christians taught that God is one and three at the same time in the same way, that would indeed be illogical. Thankfully, the Bible doesn’t teach this, and Christians do not believe or teach that either.

There is one nature called God, but within this one divine nature are three distinct persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One what, three whos. There’s no contradiction here, just a divine mystery revealed.

Muslims often ask, “How can God be three?” But let’s turn the question around.

In Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4), we read:
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him. (Yusuf Ali)

This passage says Allah is unique—unlike His creation. But that also means human logic cannot be the measure of God’s nature. So why insist the Trinity must fit human categories like math equations?

According to Islam, the Qur’an is uncreated and therefore eternal, yet it was revealed within time and written down on physical pages. That’s a deep and complex belief—yet Muslims accept it without hesitation.

So complexity alone is not a reason to reject the Trinity.

The Triune Nature of God in the Old Testament

Let’s look at what the Bible says. Even before Jesus came, God’s nature was hinted at.

Isaiah 48:16 (NKJV) says:
Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
From the time that it was, I was there.
And now the Lord God [YHWH Elohim] and His Spirit
Have sent Me.

Three are clearly mentioned:

• “The Lord GOD” (the Father)

• “Me” (the Servant, speaking with divine authority)

• “His Spirit.”

Also, in Genesis 1:26 (NASB):
Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

Why does God use “Us” and “Our” if He’s absolutely one in person? This makes no sense unless God is more complex than Islamic Tawheed allows.

The New Testament makes the Trinity crystal clear. At Jesus’ baptism:
“…he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”—Matthew 3:16–17 (NASB)

All three persons of the Godhead appear at once—no confusion, no contradiction.

Misconceptions Muslims Have (And Why They Miss the Point)

Many Muslims I’ve spoken with think the Trinity means God married Mary and had a son.

But this is not Christianity—it’s a misunderstanding repeated in the Qur’an:
“And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind:
Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah?” —Surah 5:116 (Pickthall)

No, Jesus never said that—and no Christian believes Mary is part of the Trinity.

The Bible clearly says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
—John 1:1 (NASB)
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…”
—John 1:14 (NASB)

The Son is not created—He is the eternal Word who entered creation.

Muslims believe Allah can do all things. So, why is it impossible for God to enter His own creation?

In fact, during my debate in Kumasi, my Muslim opponent said, “God can enter creation, but only through His power.” I asked, “Is God’s Word not His power?” That moment, he paused. It struck him.

Analogies and Refutations

Let’s fix the math: The Trinity isn’t 1+1+1 = 3.

• Human nature is one, distinct from animal nature, yet within humanity we have male and female—two distinct persons sharing the same human nature.

• The sun produces light, heat, and radiation—three distinct expressions, yet all coming from one source.

• The Ghanaian government operates through executive, legislative, and judicial branches—different roles, but one unified authority.

These are imperfect, yes, but they show that complex unity exists—even in nature and society.

And if human beings—made in God’s image—can love, communicate, and relate, doesn’t it make sense that God Himself exists in eternal relationship?

Conclusion

The Trinity is not a contradiction. It’s God’s self-revelation. It’s not irrational—it’s supra-rational. And it’s the only way we can say God is eternally loving, personal, and relational—even before creation.

So to my Muslim friends: Instead of rejecting the Trinity because of misconceptions, why not ask, “What if this is how God truly revealed Himself?”

As Jesus said:
“I and the Father are one.” —John 10:30 (NASB)

That’s not a claim of confusion—that’s a declaration of divine unity.

And that, my friends, is not illogical—it’s eternal truth.