Jesus in
Islam
Q. What does Islam say about Jesus?
In the Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
(called 'Isa in Arabic) are abundant. The Qur'an recalls his
miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by God's
permission, and his life as a respected prophet of God.
The Qur'an also repeatedly reminds that Jesus was a human prophet sent
by God, not part of God Himself. For more detailed information about
what Muslims believe about Jesus, please visit the FAQ index page. Below
are some direct quotations from the Qur'an regarding his life and
teachings.
"Behold! the angels said, 'Oh Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word
from Him. His name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour
in this world and the Hereafter, and in (the company of) those nearest
to God. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. He
shall be (in the company) of the righteous... And God will teach him the
Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel'" (3:45-48).
"He [Jesus] said: 'I am indeed a servant of God. He has given me
revelation and made me a prophet; He has made me blessed wheresoever I
be; and He has enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I live. He
has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable. So
peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that
I shall be raised up to life (again)!' Such was Jesus the son of Mary.
It is a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. It is not
befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be
to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it
is" (19:30-35).
"When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: 'Now I have come to you with
Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which
you dispute. Therefore, fear God and obey me. God, He is my Lord and
your Lord, so worship Him -- this is a Straight Way.' But sects from
among themselves fell into disagreement. So woe to the wrongdoers, from
the penalty of a Grievous Day!" (43:63-65)
"And behold! God will say [i.e. on the Day of Judgment]: 'Oh Jesus, the
son of Mary! Did you say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in
derogation of God?' He will say: 'Glory to Thee! Never could I say what
I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would indeed have
known it. You know what is in my heart, though I know not what is in
Yours. For You know in full all that is hidden. Never did I say to them
anything except what You commanded me to say: 'Worship God, my Lord and
your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I lived among them. When
You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a witness to
all things'" (5:116-117).
"Christ, the son of Mary, was no more than a messenger; many were the
messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth.
They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how God makes His signs
clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the
truth!" (5:75).
Q. What does Islam say about Christians?
In the Qur'an, Christians are often referred to as among the "People of
the Book," i.e. people who have received and believed in previous
revelation from God's prophets. There are verses that highlight the
commonalities between Christians and Muslims, and other verses that warn
Christians against sliding towards polytheism in their worship of Jesus
Christ.
Commonalities:
"Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians,
and the Sabians -- whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does
good, they shall have their reward from their Lord.
And there will be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve" (2:62, 5:69,
and many other verses).
"...and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those
who say, 'We are Christians,' because amongst these are men devoted to
learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not
arrogant" (5:82).
"O you who believe! Be helpers of God -- as Jesus the son of Mary said
to the Disciples, 'Who will be my helpers in (the work of) God?' Said
the disciples, 'We are God's helpers!' Then a portion of the Children of
Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved. But We gave power to those
who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that
prevailed" (61:14).
Warnings:
"If only they [i.e. Christians] had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel,
and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would
have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party
on the right course, but many of them follow a course that is evil"
(5:66).
"Oh People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion, nor say of
God anything but the truth. Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, was (no more
than) a messenger of God, and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a
spirit proceeding from Him. So believe in God and His messengers. Say
not, 'Trinity.' Desist! It will be better for you, for God is One God,
Glory be to Him! (Far 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" (4:171).
"The Jews call 'Uzair a son of God, and the Christians call Christ the
son of God. That is but a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but
imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. God's curse be on them;
how they are deluded away from the Truth! They take their priests and
their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of God, and (they take
as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary. Yet they were commanded to
worship but One God: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him!
(Far is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)"
(9:30-31).
Q. Do Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?
Muslims believe that Jesus (called 'Isa in Arabic) was the son of
Mary, and was conceived without the intervention of a human father. The
Qur'an describes that an angel appeared to Mary, to announce to her the
"gift of a holy son" (19:19).
She was astonished at the news, and asked: "How shall I have a son,
seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" (19:20). When
the angel explained to her that she had been chosen for the service of
God, and that God had ordained the matter, she devoutly submitted
herself to His will.
In the Qur'an and other Islamic sources, there is no mention of Joseph
the carpenter, nor any recollection of the inn and manger legend. On the
contrary, the Qur'an describes that Mary retreated from her people
(outside the city), and gave birth to Jesus underneath a remote date
palm tree. The tree miraculously provided nourishment for her during
labor and birth. (See Chapter 19 of the Qur'an for the entire story. The
chapter has aptly been named "The Chapter of Mary.")
However, the Qur'an repeatedly reminds us that Adam, the first human
being, was born with neither a human mother nor a human father.
Therefore, Jesus' miraculous birth affords him no higher standing or
presumed partnership with God. When God ordains a matter, He merely
says, "Be" and it is so. "The similitude of Jesus before God is as that
of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be!" And he was"
(3:59). In Islam, Jesus is regarded as a human prophet and messenger of
God, not part of God Himself.
Q. What does Islam
say about Mary, the mother of Jesus?
The Qur'an speaks of Mary (called Miriam in Arabic) not only as
the mother of Jesus, but as a righteous woman in her own right. There is
even a chapter of the Qur'an named for her (the 19th chapter of the
Qur'an). For more information about Muslim beliefs regarding Jesus,
please visit the FAQ Index.
Below are some direct quotations from the Qur'an regarding Mary.
"Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her
family to a place in the East. She placed a screen (to screen herself)
from them. Then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a
man in all respects. She said, 'I seek refuge from you to God Most
Gracious! Do not come near me, if you fear God!' He said, 'No, I am only
a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy
son.' She said, 'How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched
me, and I am not unchaste?' He said, 'So (it will be). Your Lord says,
'That is easy for Me, and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men,
and a Mercy from Us. It is a matter (so) decreed'" (19:16-21, the
Chapter of Mary)
"Behold! The angels said, 'Oh Mary! God has chosen you and purified you,
chosen you above the women of all nations. Oh Mary! Worship your Lord
devoutly. Prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who
bow down'" (3:42-43).
"And (remember) she who guarded her chastity. We breathed into her of
Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples (21:91).
[While describing people who were good examples for others] "...And
Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity. And We breathed
into (her body) of Our spirit. She testified to the truth of the words
of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout
(servants)" (66:12).
"Christ, the son of Mary, was no more than a messenger; many were the
messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth.
They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how God makes His signs
clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the
truth!" (5:75). |