Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām in the Islamic Tradition
Of all the figures in human history, few are as universally beloved—or as misunderstood—as Jesus Christ ʻalayhi as-salām. Christians revere him as the Son of God, while Muslims honor him as one of the greatest prophets and among the Prophets of Firm Resolve (Ulū al-ʿAzm) sent by Allah ﷻ. This chapter explores the Islamic understanding of Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām: who he was, what he taught, what he did not claim, and what his true legacy means for those sincerely seeking the truth today.
For a new Muslim, understanding Prophet Jesus through the lens of Islam is not a rejection of him—it is a restoration of his true message.
Who Is Jesus Christ in Islam?
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām holds a central and revered position in the Islamic faith. Belief in all of Allah’s ﷻ Messengers and Prophets—including Prophet Jesus—is a fundamental pillar of Islam. A Muslim who knowingly rejects any of Allah’s ﷻ Prophets rejects a core belief of Islam. Muslims deeply love and honor Prophet Jesus, and belief in him as one of Allah’s ﷻ prophets and messengers is an essential part of Islamic faith.
The Quran mentions Prophet Jesus by name twenty-five times and refers to him many more times through various titles and descriptions. He is described in the Quran with several noble titles, including the Messiah, a Messenger of Allah, His Word which He directed to Mary, and a spirit created by Him. He was born miraculously to the Virgin Mary and performed extraordinary miracles—all by the will and permission of Allah ﷻ.
In Islam, Prophet Jesus is revered as one of the five Prophets of Firm Resolve (Ulū al-ʿAzm). He was a mortal human being chosen by Allah ﷻ to convey His message to the Children of Israel. Islam affirms his miraculous birth, his extraordinary miracles, and his pure message of monotheism, while rejecting later claims of his divinity and the belief that he was killed or crucified. Rather, it was made to appear so to them, and Allah ﷻ raised him to Himself.
The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul created by Him.
Mary (Maryam): The Blessed Mother
Her Unique Honor in Islam
Mary ʻalayhā as-salām, the mother of Prophet Jesus, is described in the Quran as the holiest and greatest of all women. Mary holds the unique distinction of being the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, and an entire chapter—Surah Maryam—is dedicated to her.
And when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.’
Her Early Life
Maryam’s mother—the wife of ʿImrān—vowed to dedicate her child to the service of Allah ﷻ if He granted her one. Allah ﷻ answered her prayer with a daughter. Though she had expected a son, she fulfilled her vow and arranged for Maryam to be raised at the Temple under the care of Prophet Zakariyyā ʻalayhi as-salām, who became her guardian.
Allah ﷻ blessed Maryam with miraculous provisions in her chamber—food and drink that arrived solely by His decree. When Prophet Zakariyyā ʻalayhi as-salām asked who had provided it, she replied that it was from Allah ﷻ.
The Miraculous Birth of Jesus
The Annunciation
Mary ʻalayhā as-salām was visited by Angel Gabriel ʻalayhi as-salām, who entered her chamber. Terrified, Mary sought refuge in Allah ﷻ. Gabriel reassured her and delivered glad tidings that Allah ﷻ would bestow upon her a child. She asked how she could have a child when no man had touched her. He replied:
Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.
The Birth and the Speaking Infant
Mary gave birth to Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām in a remote place and later returned to her people. When they saw her with a newborn and accused her of wrongdoing, she pointed to the infant. They asked how they could speak to one who was in the cradle. Prophet Jesus then spoke:
Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am...
His very first words declared his servitude to Allah ﷻ—not divinity, but prophethood.
The Miracles of Jesus
Signs of Prophethood, Not Divinity
The Quran details the miracles performed by Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām entirely by Allah’s ﷻ permission:
- Speaking from the cradle as a newborn
- Healing the blind and lepers
- Breathing life into a clay bird
- Raising the dead
And you healed the blind and the leper by My permission, and when you brought forth the dead by My permission...
Islam emphasizes that these miracles were not performed through any independent divine power. Rather, they were granted by Allah ﷻ as signs to confirm prophethood—proof to his people that he was sent by Allah ﷻ, not evidence of divinity.
Every prophet was given miracles suited to the people they were sent to, so they could better understand and appreciate them. During the time of Prophet Jesus, people were known for advancements in medicine, so Allah ﷻ granted him miracles no physician could replicate: healing leprosy, restoring sight to the blind, and raising the dead.
For comparative purposes, the Bible also presents Prophet Jesus as a man through whom God performed miracles:
Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him.
The wording is significant: “which God did… through him.” The power came from Allah ﷻ, not from Prophet Jesus independently. Prophet Jesus never claimed independent credit for his miracles. He consistently attributed them to Allah ﷻ. If miracles alone proved divinity, then other prophets who performed miracles would also have to be considered divine—yet they are not worshipped.
The Mission of Jesus Christ
Sent to the Children of Israel
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām was sent specifically to the Children of Israel—the descendants of Prophet Jacob ʻalayhi as-salām. All of Allah’s ﷻ Prophets were sent with the same core message: worship the One God alone, without partner, son, or equal. His mission was not universal; it was directed to his people. The Bible states:
I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.
The Children of Israel had been chosen by Allah ﷻ and entrusted with revelation and guidance. However, many among them broke their covenant and deviated from Allah’s ﷻ guidance. By the time of Prophet Jesus, many were awaiting a political messiah who would free them from Roman rule. Prophet Jesus came instead as a prophet and spiritual reformer, calling them back to the worship of Allah ﷻ and adherence to His law.
Confirming the Torah, Not Replacing It
Prophet Jesus came confirming the Torah and permitting some matters that had previously been forbidden to the Children of Israel. He came to affirm, teach, and restore the law of Moses ʻalayhi as-salām, correcting deviations that had crept in after his passing. The Bible states:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
The Injeel (Gospel) brought by Prophet Jesus was intended specifically for the Children of Israel and has not been preserved in its original form. The final revelation—for all humanity until the end of time—is the Quran, revealed to Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, and it remains preserved today.
Jesus Christ: Prophet, Not God
Did Jesus Ever Claim to Be God?
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām is loved and honored by both Muslims and Christians. The key difference lies in one fundamental question: was he divine? Christians believe Jesus Christ is God, the Son of God, and part of the Trinity. Yet Prophet Jesus does not make a single clear, unequivocal statement in the Bible claiming to be God or commanding people to worship him. Instead, he preached the same core message as the prophets before him: there is only One God, and He alone is worthy of worship.
The Bible’s Own Testimony
The following Biblical citations are presented for comparative purposes, demonstrating that even within the Bible, Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām does not clearly claim divinity. From the Islamic perspective, the Quran and authentic Sunnah remain the only fully preserved and binding sources of creed.
The Bible provides consistent evidence that God and Prophet Jesus are distinct:
- Prophet Jesus prayed to God throughout the night. God does not pray to another. (Luke 6:12)
- He prostrated with his face to the ground and submitted his will to God. (Matthew 26:39)
- He cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” One does not forsake oneself. (Matthew 27:46)
- He said, “The Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)
- He declared, “I can do nothing on my own.” (John 5:30)
- He taught that his teaching came from the One who sent him. (John 7:16)
- He defined eternal life as knowing “the only true God” and Jesus Christ whom God sent, clearly distinguishing between the two. (John 17:3)
Those who witnessed his miracles praised God—not Prophet Jesus:
They praised God, who had given such authority to man.
When a man called him “good,” Prophet Jesus responded:
Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
The Bible also identifies Prophet Jesus as a prophet: “This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:11) Prophet Jesus taught the worship of one God, reaffirming the same teaching as earlier revelation:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Prophet Jesus reaffirmed this same teaching in Mark 12:29. The Quran confirms the same truth:
Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.
The Distinct Natures of God and Jesus
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām was a human being with clear human limitations, while Allah ﷻ is All-Mighty, All-Powerful, and All-Knowing—without limitation:
- Prophet Jesus did not know the Hour. (Matthew 24:36)
- He grew in wisdom over time. (Luke 2:52)
- He was born, ate, slept, and experienced human limitations
- Scripture states that God is not a man. (Numbers 23:19; Hosea 11:9)
- He was tempted, while God cannot be tempted. (Luke 4:1–13; James 1:13)
The conclusion is clear from the Islamic perspective: Prophet Jesus was a human prophet of Allah ﷻ—honored, miraculous, and chosen—but not divine.
The Virgin Birth Does Not Prove Divinity
Some argue that Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām must be the Son of God because he had no human father. The Quran responds directly:
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.
Adam ʻalayhi as-salām was created without a father or a mother. Eve was created without a mother. The angels were created from light without parents. This does not make any of them divine. The miraculous birth of Prophet Jesus demonstrates Allah’s ﷻ power to create as He wills.
The Trinity: A Later Development
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām did not preach a Trinity. The word “Trinity” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. A verse often cited in its support—1 John 5:7 in the King James Version—has been widely recognized by many textual scholars as a later addition known as the Comma Johanneum, and it is absent from the earliest Greek manuscripts and most modern translations.
The formal doctrine of the Trinity developed centuries after Prophet Jesus, with key formulations emerging in the fourth century. Prophet Jesus affirmed the message of earlier revelation: the worship of one God—undivided and without equal. The Quran addresses this directly:
They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.’ And there is no god except one God.
Islam and Christianity: Key Differences
|
Topic
|
Islam
|
Christianity
|
|---|---|---|
|
Nature of Prophet Jesus
|
Human prophet and messenger of Allah ﷻ
|
Son of God; part of the Trinity
|
|
Crucifixion
|
Prophet Jesus was not killed or crucified; Allah ﷻ raised him
|
Central to faith
|
|
Divine Status
|
Not divine
|
Fully divine and fully human
|
|
Salvation
|
Faith in Allah ﷻ, repentance, righteous deeds, and Allah’s ﷻ mercy
|
Through the crucifixion and resurrection
|
|
Original Sin
|
Rejected; each person is accountable for their deeds
|
Commonly accepted in mainstream Christianity
|
The Gospel, the Bible, and Revelation
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām received the Injeel (Gospel). Muslims believe in all divinely revealed Books—including the Torah given to Moses ʻalayhi as-salām, the Psalms (Zabūr) to David ʻalayhi as-salām, and the Gospel (Injeel) given to Prophet Jesus. However, these original revelations are not preserved in their pure form. The only scripture that remains unchanged is the Quran, which Allah ﷻ has promised to protect.
The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are not the original Injeel revealed to Prophet Jesus, nor are they the direct words of Allah ﷻ. They were written by different authors decades after him and later compiled over time. The New Testament also includes the letters of Paul, which are not revelations given to Prophet Jesus. As a result, the Bible as it exists today is a human compilation rather than a preserved divine text.
The Bible also contains internal inconsistencies that indicate alteration. Examples commonly cited include: Ahaziah’s age (2 Kings 8:26 states twenty-two; 2 Chronicles 22:2 states forty-two); who incited David’s census (2 Samuel 24:1 attributes it to God; 1 Chronicles 21:1 attributes it to Satan); and the genealogy of Prophet Jesus (Matthew 1:16 lists Joseph’s father as Jacob; Luke 3:23 lists him as Heli). The Quran, by contrast, speaks with clarity and consistency. Allah ﷻ says:
Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from anyone other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
The Crucifixion: The Islamic View
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām was not killed or crucified. The crucifixion represents a fundamental point of divergence between Islam and Christianity. The Quran declares:
And their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but it was made to appear so to them...
Allah ﷻ rescued His Prophet, and it was made to appear to the people that Prophet Jesus was crucified. The Quran does not specify who was made to resemble him, so Muslims do not speak with certainty beyond what Allah ﷻ revealed.
The Quran states that they neither killed nor crucified him, but that Allah ﷻ raised him to Himself. For comparative discussion, the Bible records a post-event appearance to his disciples and his words:
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.
He ate before them, demonstrating in that account that he was not a spirit, but a living human being. From the Islamic perspective, this can be cited as a comparative point, while the Quran remains the decisive source.
Did Jesus Christ Die for Our Sins?
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām did not die for the sins of humanity in Islamic belief. The doctrine of atonement does not rest on clear, unequivocal statements from Prophet Jesus himself. The Bible repeatedly affirms that individuals are accountable for their own actions and cannot bear the burden of another’s sins.
Islam teaches that forgiveness is attained through sincere repentance and Allah’s ﷻ direct mercy—not through a blood sacrifice. Allah ﷻ, the All-Powerful and Most Merciful, has no need for sacrifice in order to forgive. Nor is it just that an innocent person be sacrificed for the sins of others.
People enter Paradise by Allah’s ﷻ mercy, but they are judged and held accountable based on their belief in Him and their deeds. Islam also rejects the concept of original sin—the idea that all humans inherit the guilt of Adam ʻalayhi as-salām and Eve. Every person is born pure, upon the fiṭrah, and is responsible only for their own deeds.
The Role of Paul
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām departed upon the pure message of submission to Allah ﷻ. After his departure, his original teachings began to shift. A central figure in this transformation was Paul—formerly Saul of Tarsus—who never met Prophet Jesus during his earthly ministry and had previously persecuted his followers.
Paul emphasized doctrines not explicitly taught by Prophet Jesus, centering salvation on belief in his death and resurrection rather than adherence to the Law. Notably, Paul himself stated:
The gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man... I received it by revelation.
This stands in contrast to Prophet Jesus, who upheld the Law:
Not the smallest letter will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Over time, doctrines such as the divinity of Prophet Jesus and the Trinity were formally developed through later church councils, including Nicaea in 325 CE and Constantinople in 381 CE.
Was Jesus a Muslim?
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām was a Muslim in the true meaning of the word: one who submits fully to the will of Allah ﷻ. The word Islam means “submission to Allah,” and in this sense, every prophet sent by Allah ﷻ was a Muslim.
Consider what Prophet Jesus said and did according to the Bible:
- He prostrated with his face to the ground. (Matthew 26:39)
- He said, “Not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)
- He said that he came not to do his own will, but the will of the One who sent him. (John 6:38)
- He said that his teaching was not his own, but came from the One who sent him. (John 7:16)
- He declared, “I can do nothing on my own.” (John 5:30)
The words and actions of Prophet Jesus reflected complete submission to Allah ﷻ. He was not divine, nor did he claim to be. He was a servant and messenger of Allah ﷻ—one who submitted fully to his Creator.
Who Truly Followed Jesus?
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām lived a life of worship, submission, and obedience to Allah ﷻ. The contrast between his way of life, the practices of many Christians today, and the practices of Muslims can be observed in several key areas:
|
Practice
|
Prophet Jesus and the Prophets
|
Many Christians Today
|
Muslims
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Prayer
|
Prostration
|
Sitting, standing, or kneeling varies
|
Prostration (sujūd)
|
|
Purification
|
Washing before worship
|
Not emphasized in the same way
|
Ablution (wuḍūʼ)
|
|
Fasting
|
Practiced fasting
|
Observed differently by denomination
|
Month of Ramaḍān
|
|
Dietary Law
|
Avoidance of pork in Mosaic law
|
Often not observed
|
Prohibited
|
|
Circumcision
|
Practiced
|
Varies by tradition and culture
|
Practiced
|
|
Interest/usury
|
Prohibited
|
Common in modern systems
|
Prohibited (ribā)
|
|
Modesty
|
Head covering mentioned
|
Varies by denomination
|
Hijab observed
|
|
Monotheism
|
“The Lord is One”
|
Trinity doctrine
|
Strict Tawḥīd
|
Islam preserves belief in Prophet Jesus along with acts of worship and principles that closely align with the way of life taught by the prophets.
The Second Coming of Jesus
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām will return before the end of time. Both Muslims and Christians believe in his return, but Islam explains his return within the framework of pure monotheism and the final revelation. In Islam, his return is among the major signs of the Day of Judgment.
Prophet Jesus was not crucified; Allah ﷻ raised him bodily to the heavens, and he remains there today. He will return during a time of widespread corruption, deception, and the rise of the Dajjāl (False Messiah).
What He Will Do
Prophet Jesus will return as a just ruler, following the final revelation—Islam. He will:
- Break the cross, correcting false beliefs about his nature
- Kill the swine, affirming that divine law was not abolished
- Abolish the jizya, as truth becomes clear to all
- Defeat the Dajjāl, ending his deception
- Establish justice and peace according to the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ
These details are established in authentic narrations. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 3448; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 155)
After this, Prophet Jesus will live a natural life, then die and be resurrected with all of humanity on the Day of Judgment.
His Testimony Before Allah
On the Day of Judgment, Allah ﷻ will ask:
O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?’
Prophet Jesus will respond:
I said not to them except what You commanded me—to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.
This confirms the core message: Prophet Jesus never claimed divinity and never called people to worship him. His message was pure monotheism—the worship of Allah ﷻ alone.
Conclusion
Prophet Jesus ʻalayhi as-salām remains one of the most honored and beloved figures in human history. Islam does not reject him—it restores him.
It affirms his miraculous birth, his prophethood, his message, and his mission, while rejecting later claims that elevated him to divinity. The message of Prophet Jesus, like that of all prophets, was clear: worship Allah ﷻ alone, without partner or equal.
When his life, words, and actions are examined—even within the Bible—they reflect complete submission to God. This is the essence of Islam.
To follow Prophet Jesus is not to elevate him beyond his station, but to follow the path he himself lived: submission, obedience, and sincere worship of the One true God. In following Islam, one does not abandon Prophet Jesus—one returns to him.