Jesus Christ in Islam (Part 1)

Jesus Christ In Islam

“Islam is the only non-christian faith which makes it an article of faith for its followers to believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) .No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus (peace be upon him). We believe that He was One of the mightiest messengers of God , he was the ‘Messiah’ translated Christ , that he was born miraculously without any male intervention , that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission and hehealed those born blind and the lepers with God’s permission.”

~ Sheikh Ahmed Deedat

Qur’an refers to Jesus as Esa in Arabic which is same as his name Esau in Hebrew , classical Yeheshua which the christians have latinised as Jesus however Jesus (peace be upon him) never heard the word Jesus in his lifetime.One may wonder to know that Jesus (peace be upon him) is mentioned 25 times by name in Qur’an while Prophet Muhammad is mentioned only 5 times .

Some titles given to Jesus (peace be upon him) in Qur’an are :

• Ibn Maryam – The son of Mary - Surah Maidah (5:75)
• Maseeh or Messiah (Hebrew) – Annointed One – Suarh Nisa (4:171)
• Abdullah – Servant of Allah (God) – Surah Maryam (19:30)
• Rasullullah – Messenger of Allah (God) – Surah Maidah (5:75)
• Kalimatullah – A word from Allah (God) - Surah Ale-Imran (3:45)
• Ruhallah – A spirit from Allah (God) – Suarh Nisa (4:171)
• Aayah – A sign from Allah (God)

Even The Qur’an has a whole Chapter named ‘Maryam’ (Mary) in respect of The Mother of Jesus . No other chapter in Qur’an has been named on a woman . This respect given to Mary is not even found in the Christian Bible.

The Qur’an refers to Jews and  Christians ( and people with other scriptues ) as ‘Ahle-Kita’b’ meaning ‘The People of the Book (Scripture)’ and addresses them many times .

STATUS OF MARY IN QUR’AN :

And [mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.

~Surah Ale-Imran (3:42)

BIRTH OF JESUS IN QUR’AN :

[And mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah ].

He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous.”

She said, “My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The angel] said, “Such is Allah ; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.

And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel

And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah . And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah . And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.

And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.

Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.”

~ Surah Ali-Imran (3:45-51)

Read Part 2 Here: Jesus Christ in Islam (Part 2)

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