What to do if your Muslim acquaintance tells you that Jesus ("Issa" in their book, Yeshua in reality) was Muslim because he submitted to 'god'; and therefore, so should you?
Your answer: "Submit to who?" And you will be urged to submit to 'god'; you must ask who is this 'god' they mean. It is "Allah" of course.
But you not only 'submit' to Yahweh through Yeshua the Messiah, but are indwelt by his Holy Spirit and follow Messiah. You don't need a fake, made-up god when the creator has brought you into his kingdom through Messiah.
This will possibly lead to a discussion about your terms. But pursue the discussion. How does your acquaintance know that this 'Allah' is the creator and redeemer of fallen mankind?
Does the Quran help? Does Muhammad help?
You will need convincing historical evidence of both, not just vague claims.
But here's the clanger: Muslims are told to submit to Muhammad, not Allah; or is Muhammad actually Allah?
See Quran 39:53 -- Muhammad speaking to his 'followers'.
Say : “ O my Servants who Have transgressed against their souls ! Despair not of the Mercy Of God : for God forgives All sins : for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
So the Muslims are Muhammad's slaves ( servants is perhaps euphemistic); it reads as though Muhammad is equal to Allah!
But beside all this; we have the Torah and the Gospel and all the prophets! They are our revelation, not yours.
And the Quran shows us that Issa is greater than Muhammad and more than a man!
Quran 3:45
Behold! the angels said “O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus the son of Mary held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God.
The 'word' is a person: Allah's word is eternal: Issa ( Yeshua/Jesus) is an eternal being!
Quran 4:171
O people of the Book! commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of God aught but truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an Apostle of God and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His Apostles. Say not “Trinity”: desist: it will be better for you: for God is One God: glory be to him: (for Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs.
This passage not only shows that "Issa" is word of god and spirit proceeding from god but reveals Islam's misunderstanding of the Trinity in the same verse as a trinity is described! That is Allah, the word of Allah and the Spirit from Allah! You couldn't make this up.
BUT THEN
To submit to Allah, you in fact submit to Muhammad!
Surah 4:65
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muḥammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
