Jesus Christ- In Islam.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Assalam alaikum to one and all. The reason why I wish to throw some light upon this topic on the basis of the Holy Qur’an is a talk I had with a friend lately. It instigated me to put forth what we  as Muslims acknowledge and believe about Christ, the son of Mary (Peace be upon him).

The Qur'an, most emphatically tells us about the life of Jesus Christ (pbuh) and his teachings. God brings into focus his[Jesus's] miraculous birth and the miracles he performed by God's permission, and his life as a respected and honored Prophet of God through the verses reveled to the last and final messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w). Nevertheless it is repeated and reminded to all that Jesus Christ (pbuh) was a human Prophet sent by God and not God!

The Holy Qur’an narrates the Birth of Jesus(pbuh) in a beautiful manner in Chapter 3-

 Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee 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 of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.                              

 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a matter, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!”

[Al-Qur’an 3:45-47]

In one of the verses God almighty describes the creation of Jesus Christ(pbuh) as that of Adam(pbuh).

Be! And it is!

Furthermore, the position of this mighty messenger of God is very clear. It is obligatory on every Muslim to believe in Jesus Christ(pbuh) and his miraculous birth. We believe that he performed miracles like the other Prophets did but by God’s permission. e.g Moses (pbuh) parted the seas by God’s permission.

We already know that many prophets were sent to warn people of every nation. One of those, was Jesus Christ(pbuh). Refer to my note-Prophets in Islam.

Int the following verse from the 5th chapter, God almighty says-

"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!"

[Al-Qur’an 5:75]

Now one may ask, why the statement- “They had both to eat their (daily) food” ??

This is because God wants us to know that He doesn’t require eating. Instead, He is the one who provides us all to eat. The one, who eats, needs to digest and as a matter of fact needs to attend the call of nature. This isn’t a quality of God, He is free of all wants!  This verse is a logical, simple answer to those claiming Jesus Christ and His saintly mother to be divine.

The Holy Qur’an also talks about Jesus’s (pbuh) first miracle. He spoke to the jews questioning his Mother when he was in his cradle.                                                        

"He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (He) hath 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) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is." [Al-Qur’an 19:30-35].

Jesus (pbuh) was in fact a humble prophet of God almighty. He was sent to the children of Israel (Jews) with the message of God as they had forsaken the right path. But they denied him bitterly and charged him of blasphemy that Jesus (pbuh) claimed divinity.

   "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 besides God?' He will say: ‘Glorified are 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'" [Al-Qur’an  5:116-117].

It is absolutely clear that the Holy Qur’an exalts the position of Jesus Christ (pbuh) who is popularly known as Isaa in Arabic. His name is mentioned among the 25 Prophets spoken about in the Holy Book.  When we further analyze the teachings of Jesus Christ (pbuh) we realize that he never preached anything else but what was ordained unto him and the other Prophets by God almighty.

It is mentioned in the Bible that Jesus Christ (pbuh) when asked about the first commandment by the scribes said the following statement-

  "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." [Mark 12:29]

We Muslims believe in Christ as the Messiah (anointed one) and accept his teachings.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know."

[Acts 2:22]

Lastly I would like to explain what the term Muslim means-

A Muslim in Arabic means the one who submits his will to God almighty. In simple words- A person who follows the will of His Creator, God by obeying His commandments.  So anyone who does this is a Muslim or is fit to be called so.  Jesus Christ (pbuh) is recorded to have said the following statement in the Gospel of John-

" I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father (God) which hath sent me." [John 5:30]

Alhamdulillah.