by Dr. Ali Shehata
Jesus in Islam
Another unfortunate misconception prevalent especially among Christians is the idea that Islam is in some way equivalent to "turning your back on Jesus," or "denying him," causing them ultimately to turn away from learning more about Islam. Such people have regrettably not realized that only in Islam, Jesus pbuh has been given his due respect, honor and praise, without exaggeration or falsehood.
In Islam, Muslims know Jesus pbuh as the Word of God, which means that he was created by the Word of God, “be”. Whenever God wishes to create something, He simply says, “Be,” and it then comes into existence by His will. This can be seen in the beginning of the Biblical chapter Genesis where God says, “Let there be light”. Thus, when He created Jesus pbuh, He commanded him to "Be" in the womb of Mary and he was then willed into existence. Muslims also believe in an immaculate conception and they honor the Virgin Mary for her piety, righteousness and purity. Indeed, great words of praise and honor are found in the Quran and Hadith for both the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ pbuh.
Among these verses, the Quran clearly states that the first miracle of Jesus pbuh was his speech as an infant. The first time he spoke was to calm his mother during her birth pangs, and the second time was when he spoke in her defense, when her people questioned how she could have a son without marriage (inferring evil about her).
Muslims also believe that Jesus pbuh was the Messiah or Christ. Many Christians falsely think that the word Christ or Messiah somehow indicates that Jesus pbuh was God or His son, but the word Messiah is simply the Hebrew form of the Greek word Christ – both meaning, “anointed or chosen one”. In fact, there are many things in the Bible that are called Christ (in Greek), indicating again that this word means that something is chosen for a specific purpose or anointed, but in no way does it refer to divinity.
Furthermore, Muslims believe that Jesus pbuh lived a noble and pious life, preaching to people and performing miracles through the permission of God alone. He had many righteous followers from among the Jewish people of his time. Among these followers were the Disciples, whom Muslims consider to be very virtuous and loyal to both God and His Messenger Jesus pbuh. Furthermore, Jesus' pure message caused a great deal of grief and annoyance to a corrupted group of scholars among the Jews of that time to the point that they conspired to kill him.
* Not all Jews, since as mentioned elsewhere, there were many Jews who believed in Jesus and accepted him as a Messenger and Prophet of God. They followed his teachings and repented to God for the distortions in religious practice and scripture that they had falsely introduced.
In both the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh, it states clearly that although the corrupted Jews sought to kill Jesus, they did not succeed in their evil plan and that God rescued him and took him up to Heaven without him having to die. The corrupt group of Jews then crucified someone who willingly took the physical image of Jesus pbuh before his ascension to Heaven, leaving the aforementioned Jewish group thinking that they had actually killed the Messiah.
Muslims further believe that Jesus pbuh will return near the end of time to kill the Anti-Christ. He will then remain on Earth as a righteous ruler, where he will marry and have children before his death, whereupon he shall be buried next to the Prophet Muhammad pbuh. In fact, there still exists, till this day, a reserved place for him beside the grave of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh in the city of Madinah.
In summary, a passage from chapter 19 of the Quran, a chapter entitled Mary, which discusses many of the points outlined above, will here be reproduced for the reader:
And mention to them the story of Mary in the Book, when she drew aside from her family to an eastern place [for solitary worship]. So she took a veil to screen herself from them, and at this time We sent to her Our spirit [the Angel Gabriel], and he appeared to her as a man in all respects.
She said, “Surely I seek the protection of the Most Merciful from you, come not near if you are one who does fear God!” He said, “I am only a messenger of your Lord coming to you with the announcement that you shall be given a pure son.”
She said, “How shall I have a boy when no man has ever touched me, nor have I been unchaste?” He said, “Even so. Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and that I may make him a sign to men and a mercy from Me,’ and it is a matter which has already been decreed.”
So then she conceived him, and withdrew herself to a remote place. And when the pangs of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried out in anguish, “Oh, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten!” But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve, your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake towards you the trunk of the palm-tree, it will drop on you fresh, ripe dates. So eat and drink and rest. And if you see any man, then say to him, ‘Surely I have vowed a fast to the Most Merciful, and as such I shall not speak to any man today.’”
Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man given to evil, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!” But she only pointed to the baby. They said, “How should we speak to one who is yet but a babe in the cradle?”
[Upon this, Jesus] spoke to them saying, “Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has taught me the Book and made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has commanded me with prayer and charity, so long as I shall live. And also to be dutiful and loving to my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or disobedient. And may peace be upon me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life [in the Hereafter].”
That is Jesus, the son of Mary—the word of truth about which they are in dispute. It befits not the Majesty of God that He should take to Himself a son; exalted is He above all that they ascribe to Him. When He has decreed a matter, He only needs to say to it "Be," and it is! Indeed, Jesus did say, “Surely, God is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him. This alone is the right path.” Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved - from the scene of a tremendous Day. How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error. {19:16-38}
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