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[al faqeer]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

JESUS in the QURAN

The Islamic view of Jesus lies between two extremes. The Jews , who rejected Jesus as a Prophet of God, called him an impostor. The Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus to be one of the great prophets of God and respects him as much as Ibrahim (Abraham), Moses, and Mohammed. (Peace Be Upon Them) This is conformity with the Islamic view of the oneness of God, the oneness of Divine guidance, and the complementary role of the subsequent mission of God's messengers.

The essence of Islam - willing submission to the will of God - was revealed to Adam, who was passed it on to his children. All following revelations to Noah, Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus, and finally Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Them) were conformity with that message, with some elaboration to define the revelation between man and God, man and man, man and instructions. Thus, any contradictions among revealed religions is viewed by Islam as a man-made element introduced into these religions. The position of Jesus in the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - should not be an exception.

Although the Quran does not present a detailed life-story of Jesus, it highlights the important aspects of his birth, his mission, his ascension to heaven, and passes judgements on the Christian beliefs concerning him. The Quranic account of Jesus starts with the conception of his mother, Mary, whose mother, the wife of Imran, vowed to dedicate her child to the service of God in the temple. When Mary became a woman, the Holy Spirit (the Archangel Gabriel) appeared to her as a man bringing her news of a son. We read the following dialogue in the Quran between Mary and the Angel:

"When the angel said, "Mary, god gives you a good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, -high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be, "lord" said Mary "How shall I have a son, seeing no mortal has touched me? "Even so, he said "God creates what He will".

When he decrees a thing He but say to it, "Be", and it is. (Al-Imran 3:45-47)

In a chapter (Surah) entitled "Maryam" (Mary), the Quran tells us how Mary gave birth to her son, and how the Jesus accused her when she brought the child home:

"Then she brought the child to her folk, carrying him, and they said, "Mary, you have surely committed a monstrous thing. Sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked man, nor your mother a woman unchaste. Mary pointed to the child; but they said, 'Hoe shall we speak to one who still in the cradle, a little child. And he said, 'Lo, I am God's servant, God has given me the Book and made me a Prophet Blessed He has made me ,wherever/may be; and hi has enjoined me to prayer, and to give the alms so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother; He has not made me arrogant and wicked. Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up a live. "Maryam 19:29-33)

in the same chapter, following the above quotation, God assures Mohammed (PBUH) and through him the whole world, that what is told above is the TRUTH about Jesus (PBUH), although Christians might not accept it. Jesus is NOT the son of God: He was obviously enough, the son of Mary. The verses continue: "That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him, He nut says to it, 'Be, and it is. (Maryam 19:34-35)

After this strong statement about the nature of Jesus, God directed Mohammed (PBUH) to call the Christians to worship the one God: "Surely God is my God, and your God, so surely serve him. This is the straight path". (Maryam 19:36)

The rejection of the very idea of God having a son is restated later in the same chapter with even stronger words: "And they say, The All-merciful has taken unto Himself a son. You have indeed advanced something hideous. As if the skies are about to burst, the earth to split asunder and its mountain to fall down in the utter ruin for that they have attributed to the All-merciful a son; and behaves not the All-merciful to take a son. None there in the heavens and earth but comes to the All-merciful as a servant" (Maryam 19:88-93)

The Quran recognizes the fact that Jesus had no human father, but this does not make him the son of God, or God himself. By this criterion, Adam would have been more entitled more entitled to be the son of God, because he had neither a father nor a mother, so the Quran draws attention to the miraculous creation of both in the following verses; " truly the likeness of Jesus, in God's sight is as Adam's likeness; He created him of dust, then He said upon him, 'Be' and hi was. (Al-Imran 3:59)

The Quran rejects the concept of Trinity God the Father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit - as strongly as it rejects the concept of Jesus as the son of God. This is because GOD IS ONE. Three cannot be one. The Quran addresses Christians in the following verses from the Surrah entitled "An-Nisaa" (The Women)

People of the Book, do not go beyond the bounds in your religion, and say nought as to God but the Truth. The messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the messenger of God, and his word (Fulfilment of his word (Fulfilment of His command, through the word "Be", for the creation of Jesus) that he committed to Mary, and a spirit originating from Him (was given life by God). So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not 'Three'. Refrain, better is for you. God is only one God. Glory be to him-that He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the Heavens and in the Earth; God suffices for a guardian.

The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of God, neither the Angels who are close to Him. Whosoever disdains to serve Him and walks proud, He will assuredly muster them to Him, all of them.

As for the believers, who do deeds of righteousness, we will pay them their rewards in full, and He will give them more, of His bounty; as for them who disdain and walks proud, then He will punish with a severe punishment, and they shall not find for them, apart from God, a friend or helper." (An-Nissa 4:171-173)

The denial of Jesus's divinity (and. For the matter, of Mary's divinity) is presented in the Quran in the form of a dialogue, at the Day of Judgement, between the Almighty Jesus. All the Messengers and their nations will gather before God and He will ask the Messengers how they were received by their people and what they said to them. Among those who will be questioned is Jesus:

"And when God said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say unto men, "Take me and my mother as gods, apart from God"? He said, 'To you be glory! It is not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it, you would have known it, knowing what is within my heart, though I do not know your knowledge; you know the things unseen. I only said to them what you did commands me: "Serve God, my God and your God." (Al-Maida 5-116)

Given that the Quran denies the Trinity and the son ship of Jesus, what, according to the Quran, was the real mission of Jesus? The answer is that Jesus was a link in a long chain of Prophets and Messengers sent by God to various nations and societies whenever they needed guidance or deviated from his teachings of Moses and other Messengers. As he was miraculously supported by numerous miracles to prove that he was a Messengers from God. However, the majority of the Jews rejected his ministry.

In another verse of the Quran, Jesus confirmed the validity of the Torah which was revealed to Moses, and also conveyed he glad tidings of a final Messenger who follow him: "And when Jesus son of Mary said, 'Children of israel, I am indeed the Messenger to you, confirming the Torah that is before me, and giving good tiding of a Messenger who shall be the praised one."(As-Saff 61:6)

Note that "praised one" is a translation of "Ahmad" - The Prophet Mohammed's name. Careful study of the New Testament shows that Jesus refers to the same Prophet in John 14:16-17: "And I will give you another Counsellor (ThProphet Mohammed). To be with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth."

The usual explanation of this Prophecy is that the counsellor referred to is the Holy Spirit, but this explanation is excluded by a previous verse in John: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you."

The characteristics of this counsellor, as can be derived from the prophecy, are that he will stay forever with the believers, he will glorify Jesus; and he will speak that he hears form God. All four characteristics apply to the Prophet Mohammed. He came six centuries after Jesus. He came six centuries after Jesus. He came with a universal and everlasting message, fulfilling the prophecy that the counsellor will stay forever with the faithful. He glorified Jesus as a great Prophet. The Quran attributes to Jesus miracles not mentioned in the Bible's Old and New Testaments, as well as specific verses in the Quran show how the Prophet Mohammad is rejected by Jews and Christians out of prejudice and misunderstanding, rather that carefully study the Bible.

It is a sad fact of history that not many are following the "straight path" to which people were called by Jesus. He was only followed by a few disciples inspired by God to support him. The non-believers plotted - as they would against Mohammed, six centuries later - to kill Jesus. But God had better plan for him and his followers, as the Quran tells us:

"And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said 'Who will be my helpers in the cause of God? The apostles said, 'we are Gods helpers. We believe in God; so bear witness of our submission God, we believe in that you have sent down, and we follow the Messenger. Inscribe us therefore with those who bear witness. 'And they devised, and God devised, and God devised, and God is the best of divisors. When God said, 'Jesus, I will take you to Me and will raise you to Me, and I will purify you (of the falsehoods) of those who do not believe. I will make your followers above the unbelievers till the Resurrection Day."(Al-Imran 3:52-55)

As the above verses indicate, Jesus was taken and raised to heaven. He was not crucified. It was certainly the plan of the enemies of Jesus to put him to death on the cross, but God saved him and someone else was crucified:

"And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a grave false charge, and for their saying, 'We killed the messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah of God"…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him are surely in doubt the following of conjecture; and they did not kill him of certainty…no indeed; God raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, Allwise. There is not one of the people of the book but will assuredly believe him before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them." (An-Nissa 4:156-159)

The Quran does not explain who was the person crucified instead of Jesus, nor elaborate on the Second Coming of Jesus. However, explanators of the Quran have always interpreted the last verse of the above quotation to mean that Jesus will believe in him before he dies. This understanding is supported by authentic sayings (Hadith) of the Prophet Mohammed may the peace and blessings of Allah him and upon all His Messengers.

[azeem_fun]

Nice post!!!

[IslamIsTheSolution]

brother very informative.

[leechingrabbit]

You would have no idea how many "muslims" I know that refuse to believe that Islam considers Jesus Christ the messiah.

[al faqeer]

leechingrabbit hi there

A muslim has to believe in the Prophets Of Allah SWT it one of what muslims call the Pillars of Faith , and Not believeing Prophet Eisa PBUH is the messiah then he is denying what the Quran says .

and no muslim is a muslim if he denies a word of he Quran .

Thank u .

[Aburafay]

You would have no idea how many "muslims" I know that refuse to believe that Islam considers Jesus Christ the messiah.

Peace leechingrabbit!

As Brother Al Faqeer has written, belief in Jesus (on him be peace), including his miraculous birth, his being a Messenger and a Prophet, etc., are Pillars of Faith. Any Muslim who does not accept these is doing it either out of ignorance or in denial of the Qur'an. Both are wrong, with the latter having graver effect.

Peace out

[leechingrabbit]

That is what I tell them.

[PrayerPartner]

I am christian , i belive mohammed was a great prophet just as you believe jesus is. i belive that most of you in this forum are enlightened as are most of the Islamic ppl i hae met. Basically though i say that we agree to disagree. But let us have a better understanding of each other. i pray for you all and hope the best for each and every one of you. may God/Allah bless all of you. and also may he bring you closer to him..

[open]

Peace from our Lord,

Jesus (on him be peace)

This is something I don't understand.

According to the first posting here, Muslims do believe that our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. From what follows that he has peace.

Is it a mistranslation of "on whom is peace", or why do you pray for something that already has happened?

[al faqeer]

Peace from our Lord,

This is something I don't understand.

According to the first posting here, Muslims do believe that our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. From what follows that he has peace.

Is it a mistranslation of "on whom is peace", or why do you pray for something that already has happened?

Muslims say " Peace be Up Him " For all Prophets of God Almighty Including Eisa peace be upon him .

[Sakinah-Muslimah]

Assalaamu Alaikum

Awesome post bro! Jazakallahu khair for sharing.

[Sia]

Masha'Allah very informative indeed.

for sharing it with us.

Now i think this is related to the subject.

What is this about Isaa Alayhis Salam being crucified etc etc. Is this true or not? I am not saying it is from the Quraan to the best of my knowledge, but it was on a review. I t has deeply troubled me. Please shed some light on it if you can.

Wa alaykumus salam

[Ahsan]

What is this about Isaa Alayhis Salam being crucified etc etc. Is this true or not?

I think the post initiated by the brother covers all relevent aspects about hazrat Issa(peace be upon him). I happened to listen to a lecture by a scholar in which he explained the difference between a simple prophet and a Rasool. A prophet when designated by Allah Almighty as Rasool cannot be killed by his enemies. If you go into the Islamic history, you will find that Rasools ( peace upon them) were always saved by the Allah Almighty alongwith those, who followed their path. In Holy Quran, frequently you will find details, as how the enemies of Rasools were destroyed.

As muslims we have to believe firmly that Hazrat Issa (peace upon him) was neither killed nor crucified, instead he was ascended to heavens by the Will of Allah Almighty. This is the verdict of Holy Quran. About the actual happening of the incident, details have not been given in the Holy Quran. Infact some details are contained in the Bible of Barnabas, but we the muslims cant take it as authority cz source of the information doesn't originate from Holy Quran and Hadiths by our prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him).

Edited by Ahsan, 12 August 2006 - 11:29 PM.

[Serafin]

In the faint hope of clearing out a number of misconceptions.

I will here limit myself to discuss mainstream christianity (f.ex. Catholic or Lutheran C.)

Jesus the son of God

Christians do not believe that Jesus is the son of God in a litteral sense.
It is a manner of speaking (f.ex. "We are all God's children").

Christians believe that Jesus is the "embodyment of God's word" or as it is written: "God's word made flesh".

The Trinty

The trinity means exactly a threefold unity.
Now, of course one can take the simpleton stance that:

Three cannot be one

But allready here we are off track - the trinity does not concern "numerals" but instead "unity".

F.ex.
A Father, a mother and their children are one familly,

God (the father), the word of God, and Jesus (the word of God in flesh) are one divinity.

Christians promote the trinity inorder to claim strict oneness of God (strict monoteismen), something that would otherwise be logically impossible since christians (and jews) operate with the concept of the "word of God".

The Prophecy
With out heading into a tedious discussion, I think it's fair to say that the majority view by secular experts on John 14:16, is that it refers to The spirit of thruth, aka The holy spirit, aka God's word. The christian enterpretation of the entire passage is that christians are the keepers and carriers of God's word, spoken to them by Jesus.

[abd_ar_Rahmaan]

in the name of allaah, the most merciful, the bestower of mercy; may the peace and blessings be upon our prophet muhammad, his family, his companions and all of those who follow him in righteousness until the last day.


to further one's reading, whether he be christian, muslim, jew, etc. about jesus, upon him be peace, then please refer to this book by shaykh rabee' bin hadee al-madkhalee:

(www.)"http://[img]masjidtawheedchicago#####/books/status_of_jesus_in_islam.pdf"]the status of jesus in islaam[/url]


walhamdulillaahi rabbil 'aalameen.

[binibaby]

Wish we had the luxury of bein able tog o round conversin with christians! The ones i know are great people. The real work is in giving dawah' to peeps who are spiritually lost! in my dawah adventures dats the case anywayz!!

[JCBeliever]

Wish we had the luxury of bein able tog o round conversin with christians! The ones i know are great people. The real work is in giving dawah' to peeps who are spiritually lost! in my dawah adventures dats the case anywayz!!

It's interesting how Muslims are concerned that Christians are a lost people when you guys just don't understand the Trinity, or Jesus's death and ressurection. I'm not convinced the Quran presents a full understanding of these doctrines either, no offense. The Trinity does not in any way make God less united, less All-Powerful, less Omnipotent, so forth. All of your 99 Names can still be held strong by the Christian concept of God as your concept of God. If Christians believe that Jesus was a preexistent divine personality of God, does that mean we are blasphemous? If we love God above all things as commanded of us and we believe in an united, all powerful God who is no less powerful, no less almighty than the Islamic God. God is merely more personal in Christianity, because of Jesus. I believe He is enhanced, better than before, instead of negated or reduced.

[Prosperity]

brothers and sisters in Islam

All of your 99 Names can still be held strong by the Christian concept of God as your concept of God.

Including Al-Wahid- The One?

[dilud]

It's interesting how Muslims are concerned that Christians are a lost people when you guys just don't understand the Trinity, or Jesus's death and ressurection. I'm not convinced the Quran presents a full understanding of these doctrines either, no offense. The Trinity does not in any way make God less united, less All-Powerful, less Omnipotent, so forth. All of your 99 Names can still be held strong by the Christian concept of God as your concept of God. If Christians believe that Jesus was a preexistent divine personality of God, does that mean we are blasphemous? If we love God above all things as commanded of us and we believe in an united, all powerful God who is no less powerful, no less almighty than the Islamic God. God is merely more personal in Christianity, because of Jesus. I believe He is enhanced, better than before, instead of negated or reduced.

Peace to all!!

It's not just that Muslims think Christians are a lost people, but also that Christians do feel this way too with the Trinity. It is confusing and hence could lead 1 to not believe in anything. The question is if the Trinity is divine? Did it come from God or man made and if from God, then why would God cause to confuse his followers when believing in Him and worshipping Him and bringing oneself closer to Him should not be confusing but rather a peaceful and contented experience? Nontheless, there is a post for the Trinity.

[JCBeliever]

Peace everyone,

Do you know what it all comes down to? Is God and His Plan for us uncomplicated, or complicated. That is what differentiates Christians and Muslims. Christians believe God is a complicated being, one God, but how is a being unconstrained to a body and form like us supposed to exist as? God could be a Trinity. Christians also believe that there is more to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He was to be the Seal of the Prophets, because Messiah is a much much higher rank than Prophet. He was also supposed to be our salvation, as Prophets of the past have foretold the Messiah would be. The salvation for mankind, our way to the Kingdom of God. He's not this simple figure who calls for the worship of God and that's it. That's the vibe I'm getting from searching through the Quran, keyword "Isa". I don't think the Quran tells enough about Jesus, not even any of His parables or anything.