How do Muslims respond to C.S. Lewis's "Lord, Liar or Lunatic" argument?

C.S. Lewis's "Lord, Liar, or Lunatic" argument presents the claim that Jesus must be either the Lord he claimed to be, a liar, or a lunatic based on his statements about his divinity. Muslims may respond to this argument by emphasizing the Islamic perspective on Jesus (Isa) and stressing the following points:

Firstly, Muslims believe that Jesus was indeed a prophet and messenger of Allah, but they do not accept the divinity of Jesus as Christians do. In Islam, Jesus is revered as a significant figure who performed miracles and conveyed God's message, yet he is not considered divine. The Qur'an states, And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Why persecute ye me, when ye well know that I am Allah's messenger unto you? So when they went astray Allah sent their hearts astray. And Allah guideth not the evil-living folk. 61:5. This emphasizes that prophets, including Jesus, face rejection and persecution but are ultimately guided by Allah.

Secondly, Muslims argue that the concept of Jesus being either a liar or a lunatic does not apply because, in Islam, Jesus did not claim divinity for himself. Instead, he preached the oneness of God (Tawhid) and called people to worship the one true God. The Qur'an acknowledges his prophetic role without attributing divinity to him, thus reframing the argument away from Lewis's triadic claim.

Moreover, Islamic teachings emphasize the importance of the integrity and truthfulness of all prophets. In the context of the Qur'an, those who lie about God or claim prophethood without divine sanction are seen as severely misguided. The Qur'an states, Who is guilty of more wrong than he who forgeth a lie against Allah, or saith: I am inspired, when he is not inspired in aught; and who saith: I will reveal the like of that which Allah hath revealed? 6:93. This verse underscores the gravity of falsely claiming prophethood or divine inspiration, aligning with the Islamic view that Jesus, as a true messenger, could not have been a liar or lunatic.

In summary, Muslims respond to C.S. Lewis's argument by emphasizing the Islamic understanding of Jesus as a prophet, the rejection of his divinity, and the belief that Jesus preached monotheism, thereby nullifying the categorization of him as a liar or lunatic.