Jesus, Peace be upon Him

Jesus bin Maryam, Peace be upon Him

Quran - Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table) 5:116

And ˹on Judgment Day˺ Allah will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you ever ask the people to worship you and your mother as gods besides Allah?” He will answer, “Glory be to You! How could I ever say what I had no right to say? If I had said such a thing, you would have certainly known it. You know what is ˹hidden˺ within me, but I do not know what is within You. Indeed, You ˹alone˺ are the Knower of all unseen.

In Islam, the figure of Jesus ('Isa in Arabic) is regarded with deep reverence as one of the mightiest prophets. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, presents a comprehensive narrative of Jesus' life, birth, and mission, underscoring his significance in the context of divine guidance. A close examination of Quranic verses and Hadith sheds light on the Islamic perspective on Jesus.

The Quranic account of Jesus' birth is found in Surah Maryam (19:16-21), which details the miraculous conception of Jesus and the virtuous nature of his mother, Mary:

And mention in the Book ˹O Prophet, the story of˺ Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place in the east, screening herself off from them. Then We sent to her Our angel, ˹Gabriel,˺ appearing before her as a man, perfectly formed. She appealed, “I truly seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you! ˹So leave me alone˺ if you are God-fearing.” He responded, “I am only a messenger from your Lord, ˹sent˺ to bless you with a pure son.” She wondered, “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me, nor am I unchaste?” He replied, “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me. And so will We make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.’ It is a matter ˹already˺ decreed.”

This narrative underscores the divine nature of Jesus' birth, highlighting the role of divine intervention and Mary's exemplary piety.

The Quranic portrayal of Jesus emphasizes his mission as a prophet and messenger of Allah. In Surah Al-Imran (3:49), Jesus' miraculous abilities, such as healing the blind and reviving the dead, are depicted as signs of God's bestowed power:

and ˹make him˺ a messenger to the Children of Israel ˹to proclaim,˺ ‘I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I will make for you a bird from clay, breathe into it, and it will become a ˹real˺ bird—by Allah’s Will. I will heal the blind and the leper and raise the dead to life—by Allah’s Will. And I will prophesize what you eat and store in your houses. Surely in this is a sign for you if you ˹truly˺ believe.

Furthermore, Surah Al-Imran (3:52-55) illustrates Jesus' call to the Children of Israel and the loyalty of his disciples:

When Jesus sensed disbelief from his people, he asked, “Who will stand up with me for Allah?” The disciples replied, “We will stand up for Allah. We believe in Allah, so bear witness that we have submitted.” ˹They prayed to Allah,˺ “Our Lord! We believe in Your revelations and follow the messenger, so count us among those who bear witness.” And the disbelievers made a plan ˹against Jesus˺, but Allah also planned—and Allah is the best of planners. ˹Remember˺ when Allah said, “O Jesus! I will take you1 and raise you up to Myself. I will deliver you from those who disbelieve, and elevate your followers above the disbelievers until the Day of Judgment. Then to Me you will ˹all˺ return, and I will settle all your disputes.

The Hadith, the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), further elucidate the Islamic perspective on Jesus. Sahih Bukhari narrates that Jesus will return as the Messiah, affirming the belief in his second coming. This aligns with Islamic eschatology, wherein Jesus is anticipated to play a pivotal role in establishing justice and dispelling confusion.

Sunan Abi Dawud 4324 Book 39 Hadith 34

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (ﷺ). He will descent (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him.

Muslims hold Jesus in high esteem, recognizing his prophethood and the moral and spiritual guidance he offered. While acknowledging theological distinctions, the Islamic perspective on Jesus is characterized by profound respect for his divine mission and contributions to humanity. Islam affirms monotheism, emphasizing the oneness of God, and considers Jesus as a revered prophet who exemplified devotion, compassion, and obedience to the divine will.