Jesus, the Messenger of Allah

 Is it correct that Muslims do not believe in Jesus or other Prophets? A Muslim cannot be a Muslim if he or she does not believe in Jesus (AS). Muslims believe in Jesus and in all of Allah’s prophets. It is a basic element of their faith to believe in all of His prophets and messengers. Muslims respect and revere Jesus (AS) and await his second coming. According to the Qur’an, he was not crucified but was raised into Heaven. Muslims consider Jesus (AS) among the prominent messengers of Allah- but not Allah or the son of Allah. Jesus’ mother, Mary is considered a virtuous and noble woman, and the Qur’an tells us that Jesus was born miraculously without a father:

(Indeed, the example of Jesus with Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.) [3:59]

Many non-Muslims are surprised to find out that Islam considers, Jesus, the son of Mary, to be one of the greatest messengers of Allah. Muslims are taught to love Jesus, and a person cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and in the miracles of Jesus Christ (AS). Muslims believe these things about Jesus not because of the Bible, but because the Qur’an says these things about him. However, Muslims always emphasize that the miracles of Jesus, and of all other prophets, were only possible by “Allah’s permission” and His will. Muslims reject the idea that Allah has a son. The Qur’an stresses emphatically that Allah does not have a “son”. Islam teaches that titles such as “Lord” and “Savior” are for Allah alone. It should be clarified that when Muslims criticize some of the teachings of Christianity, they are not attacking Jesus Christ (AS). Christian doctrines such as the “Trinity” and “Atonement” are criticized by Muslims simply because they did not originate from Jesus (AS). And when they evaluate the Bible they are not referring to “Allah’s word”, but to writings that are claimed to be Allah’s word. Muslims believe that the book known today as “The Bible” only contains remnants of Allah’s original messages, and that it has been tainted by human input and altered through numerous translations. Muslims believe the original Gospel was the words and teachings of Jesus, not those of the ‘disciples’, Paul or other church fathers who strongly influenced Christianity throughout history. Islam actually endorses Jesus (AS) when it insists on the pure monotheism that Jesus himself preached and followed. What does the Qur’an say about Jesus? Jesus (AS) was among the prominent messengers who were mentioned in detail in the Qur’an. In fact, there is a chapter in the Qur’an named Maryam (Mary) that speaks about Mary and her son Jesus (AS). Jesus (AS) is also mentioned in various other places throughout the Qur’an. Here are some of the Qur’anic quotations regarding Mary and Jesus:

(And relate in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She took in seclusion from them a screen. Then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said, ‘Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful [Allah] from you, if you should fear Him.’ He said, ‘I am only the messenger of your Lord, to [announce to] you the gift of a pure son.” She said: “How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?’ He said: ‘Thus [it will be]. Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'” So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, ‘Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten!’ Then [Jesus] called her from beneath her, ‘Grieve not, for your Lord has provided a stream beneath you. And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree: it will let fresh ripe dates fall upon you. So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see any man, say, “I have vowed abstention to the Most Merciful, so this day I will not speak to any human being.’ At length she brought him (Jesus) to her people, carrying him. They said, ‘O Mary, you have done a thing unprecedented. O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil nor was your mother unchaste’. So she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we talk to a child who is [yet] in the cradle?’ [Jesus] said: ‘I am indeed a servant of Allah; He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and enjoined on me prayer and Zakah (charity) as long as I live. And [made me] kind to my mother and not a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised alive.’  That is Jesus the son of Mary, the word of truth about which they dispute. It is not befitting for Allah to take a son. Exalted is He! When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be’, and it is. Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.) [19:16-36]