Short answer
Muslims love Jesus. They honour him as one of the greatest messengers of God (﷾), and belief in him is part of a Muslim's faith. The Qur'an says he was born of the virgin Mary by God's (﷾) word "Be". It calls him the Messiah, a Word from God (﷾) and a spirit from Him. He spoke as a baby in the cradle. By God's (﷾) leave he healed the blind and raised the dead. He brought the Injil (the Gospel Jesus preached) to the Children of Israel. He was not crucified. God (﷾) raised him up, and he will come back before the end of the world. He is not God, and he never told anyone to worship him. He said, "It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him". Islam's answer is to worship the God (﷾) that Jesus worshipped.
Full explanation
His mother and his birth
The Qur'an says God (﷾) chose Mary above the women of all nations. It names a whole chapter after her. The angels brought her news of a son, "a Word from Him", whose name would be the Messiah (God's (﷾) chosen, anointed one). She asked how this could be, when no man had touched her. She was told that God (﷾) only says "Be", and it is. The Qur'an compares his birth to Adam's. Adam had neither father nor mother.
“Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee- chosen thee above the women of all nations.”
“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;”
“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 plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!”
“She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"”
“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.”
His miracles, by God's (﷾) leave
As a baby in the cradle, Jesus spoke to defend his mother. His first words were that he was a servant of Allah (﷾) and a prophet. The Qur'an says he healed the blind and the lepers (people with a serious skin disease). It says he raised the dead, and made a bird of clay that came to life. Each time it adds "by Allah's leave". The power was God's (﷾).
“But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"”
“He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;”
“"And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;”
“Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.'”
His titles and his mission
The Qur'an calls Jesus al-Masih, the Messiah, eleven times. It also calls him a Word from God (﷾) and a spirit from Him. He is a sign to mankind and a mercy, and a messenger to the Children of Israel. God (﷾) gave him the Injil, "guidance and light", confirming the Law of Moses (the Torah). He also foretold a messenger to come after him. The Injil is the message Jesus himself preached. Muslims do not take it to be the four New Testament Gospels, written about him later.
“O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: 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 Allah as a Disposer of affairs.”
“He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, '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."”
“And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!"”
“And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.”
His message: worship Allah (﷾), my Lord and your Lord
The Qur'an records Jesus telling his people that Allah (﷾) is his Lord and theirs. He told them to worship Him alone. On the Day of Judgement he will say he never told anyone to worship him or his mother. The Qur'an rejects the claim that Allah (﷾) is Christ. It also gives a plain sign that Jesus is not God: he and his mother ate food.
“"'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"”
“And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. "Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things.”
“They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.”
“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 Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!”
John's Gospel records the same message
In John's Gospel, on the morning Christians call the resurrection, Jesus sends word that he is going "to my God, and your God". In the Qur'an he says "my Lord and your Lord". On the question that matters most, the Qur'an and the Gospel of John give Jesus almost the same words. A person who has a God, and the same God (﷾) as his disciples, is not God. The church answers that he spoke only as a man. But the Bible never says that Jesus has a God in one nature and is God in another. The one "I" who speaks has one God (﷾), the same God (﷾) as his disciples.
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
“They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.”
Not crucified, raised up, and coming back
The Qur'an says his enemies did not kill him or crucify him. It was made to appear so to them. God (﷾) raised him up to Himself. The Qur'an calls him a sign of the coming Hour (the Last Day). The Prophet (ﷺ) said that the son of Mary will descend again as a just ruler.
“That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-”
“Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-”
“And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.”
Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) swore that the son of Mary will soon descend among the Muslims as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the swine and end the jizya, and wealth will be so plentiful that no one will accept it. Abu Huraira then recited Qur'an 4:159: none of the People of the Book but will believe in him before his death.
What Christians hold in common with Muslims
The New Testament Gospels also record the virgin birth and call Jesus the Messiah (the Christ). The Book of Acts promises his return. Christians go further. They hold that Jesus is God the Son, and that he was put to death on the cross. Those two claims are where the Qur'an parts company with the church.
“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
| Question | The Qur'an | The church |
|---|---|---|
| Born of the virgin Mary? | Yes | Yes |
| The Messiah? | Yes | Yes |
| Miracles? | Yes, by God's (﷾) leave | Yes |
| Will he return? | Yes, as a just ruler | Yes |
| Crucified? | No: God (﷾) raised him up to Himself | Yes |
| Is he divine? | No: a servant and messenger of God (﷾) | Yes: God the Son |
Muslims and Christians agree on most of who Jesus was. They part on the last two rows.
Why Muslims criticise the Bible
When Muslims criticise the Bible or the church's teaching, they are not attacking Jesus. They are defending him. They are also defending the Injil God (﷾) gave him, against what other men later wrote about him.
“And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.”
“They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.”
Belief in Jesus is part of a Muslim's faith
The Prophet (ﷺ) named belief in Jesus alongside the testimony of faith. This is the statement that there is no god but Allah (﷾), and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His messenger. He promised Paradise to whoever bears witness to these truths. There is no god but Allah (﷾) alone, with no partner. Muhammad (ﷺ) is His servant and messenger. Jesus is Allah's (﷾) servant and messenger, His Word bestowed on Mary and a spirit from Him. Paradise and Hell are real. The Qur'an states plainly his virgin birth, his miracles and his prophethood. Of the birth it says God (﷾) "but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!". Of the miracles, Jesus says "I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave". Of his prophethood, he says "He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet". To deny what the Qur'an plainly says is to deny the Qur'an itself. And of those who believe in some of God's (﷾) messengers but reject others, it says: "They are in truth (equally) unbelievers". So anyone who knowingly denies these things about Jesus is not a Muslim. To believe in Jesus as he truly was is part of Islam itself.
Ubada reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: whoever bears witness that none is worthy of worship but Allah alone, without partner, that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, and that Jesus is Allah's servant and messenger, His Word bestowed on Mary and a spirit from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are real, Allah will admit him to Paradise, with whatever deeds he had done, even if they were few.
“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 plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!”
“"And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;”
“He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;”
“Those who deny Allah and His messengers, and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His messengers, saying: "We believe in some but reject others": And (those who) wish to take a course midway,- They are in truth (equally) unbelievers; and we have prepared for unbelievers a humiliating punishment.”
Perspectives
Jewish: Jesus was not the Messiah, and no man is God
Jewish tradition holds that Jesus was neither the Messiah nor God. Maimonides teaches that the Messiah is a king of David's line who rebuilds the Temple and gathers the exiles, and the Shema declares that the Lord is one.
The Messiah is a king of David's line who rebuilds the Temple and gathers the exiles. One who fails is not the Messiah the Torah promised.
Rebuttal
Islam does not claim that Jesus is the king Maimonides describes. The Qur'an gives al-Masih as God's (﷾) own name for him. And the Hebrew Bible gives mashiach, "anointed", to a priest and even to Cyrus, a Persian king.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; no man is God.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees fully: Jesus is not God. He told his people that God (﷾) is his Lord and theirs, so worship Him. Islam honours Jesus as what God (﷾) made him: a messenger born of a virgin by His command.
Mainstream Christian
Christians share the belief in the virgin birth, the miracles, the title Messiah and the return of Jesus. They also believe that he is God the Son. They hold that he was put to death on the cross for the sins of the world, and that he rose again.
Luke records that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit without a human father.
Rebuttal
Granted: Luke says it, and the Qur'an says it too. Mary bore Jesus without a man's touch, by God's (﷾) word "Be". But Adam was made with no father or mother, and no one calls Adam God.
The New Testament Gospels call Jesus the Messiah, the Christ.
Rebuttal
Granted: the Qur'an calls him the Messiah too. The title means the one God (﷾) has anointed, a chosen servant. The Qur'an says the Messiah was no more than a messenger, and that he and his mother ate food.
Acts records the promise that Jesus will come again as he was taken up.
Rebuttal
Granted: Islam also teaches that Jesus will return, as a just ruler. He returns as God's (﷾) servant, as he called himself in the cradle. His return does not make him God.
Christians read John 1:1 as teaching that Jesus, the Word, is God.
Rebuttal
Granted: many Bibles print "the Word was God". But the Word was "with God", and in this Gospel Jesus calls the Father "the only true God". The Greek marks the difference: "the God" for the Father, plain "God" for the Word, which Goodspeed and Moffatt rendered "divine".
The Islamic perspective
Jesus is a mighty messenger of God (﷾), the Messiah, born of a virgin and given miracles, taken up alive and coming back. Muslims love him and defend him. What they reject are the doctrines added about him later, such as his divinity, which he never taught. The Prophet (ﷺ) named belief in Jesus among the things a Muslim bears witness to.
The Qur'an teaches that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary by God's (﷾) command "Be". Adam too was created that way, without father or mother.
The Qur'an teaches that Jesus worked miracles, including raising the dead, by God's (﷾) leave.
The Qur'an calls Jesus the Messiah, a Word from God (﷾) and a spirit from Him. He was a messenger who brought the Injil.
The Qur'an teaches that Jesus was not crucified, but raised up to God (﷾). He is a sign of the coming Hour.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said that Jesus will descend again as a just ruler.
The Qur'an teaches that Jesus is not God. He told his people to worship Allah (﷾), his Lord and theirs.
In John's Gospel, too, Jesus speaks of "my God, and your God", after what Christians call his resurrection.