The Noble Prophet Jesus Christ

(Peace be upon him)

Today there are close to 1.8 billion Muslims in the world who love, respect, and revere this great messenger of God, Jesus Christ (peace be upon him). The noble Messengers Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them) were born in the natural way: they both had a father and a mother. The noble Messenger Jesus (peace be upon him) had only a mother. Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them) were born in the normal course, i.e., through the physical association of a man and a woman; however, the noble Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was created by a special miracle of Almighty God. 

The noble Qur’an mentions Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) many times. Almighty God says: ‘We gave Jesus the son of Mary clear signs and strengthened Him with the Holy Spirit’ ([2]:87).

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

An entire chapter in the noble Qur’an is dedicated to Maryam, or Mary. Mary, the mother of Jesus (peace be upon him), was selected and purified by Almighty God over all the women of her time.

She was unique, in that she gave birth to a son by a special miracle without the intervention of the customary physical means. The noble Qur’an and Muslims call Jesus Hazrat Eesa, meaning ‘the revered.' Jesus or Eesa Alai-hiss-Salaam (Jesus, peace be upon him). Every time a Muslim mentions the name of Jesus he says, ‘Peace be upon him.’ Without these words it is considered disrespectful to mention his name.

The noble Qur’an honors the great messenger of God, Jesus (peace be upon him). For nearly 15 centuries, Muslims have not fallen short of according respect to the noble Messenger of God, Jesus (peace be upon him). In the noble Qur’an, chapter three, ‘The family of Imran,’ Almighty God speaks about Mary and Jesus from verses ([3]:42-64)

• And lo! The angels said, “O Maryam [Mary]! Allah has selected you and made you pure and raised you above all the women of the world. ([3]:42) • O Maryam! Remain you truly devout to your Sustainer, and prostrate yourself, and bow down with those who bow down [before Him].” ([3]:43 This account of something that was beyond the reach of your perception We [now] reveal to you, for you were not with them when they drew lots [to decide] which of them should be Maryam’s guardian, and you were not with them when they contended [about it] with one another. ([3]:44

• (Lo! The angels said, “O Maryam! Behold, Allah sends you the glad tiding, through a word from Him, [of a son] who shall become known as the Christ, Jesus, son of Maryam, held in great honor in this world and in the life to come, and [shall be] one of those who are drawn near to Allah. ([3]:45) • “And he shall speak to men in his cradle, and as a grown man. And shall be of the righteous.” ([3]:46 • Said she, “O my Sustainer! How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me?” [The angel] answered, “Thus it is. Allah creates what He wills—when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, ‘Be,’ and it is. ([3]:47) • “And He will impart to your son revelation, and wisdom, and the Torah, and the Gospel. ([3]:48) • “And [will make him] an apostle unto the Children of Israel.” I have come unto you with a message from your Sustainer. I shall create for you out of clay, as it were, the shape of a bird and then breathe into it, so that it might become a bird by Allah’s leave, and I shall heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead back to life by Allah’s leave, and I shall let you know what you may eat and what you should store up in your houses. Behold, in all this there is indeed a message for you if you are truly committed. ([3]:49) • And I have come to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah and to make lawful unto you some of the things that were forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Sustainer; remain, then, conscious of Allah, and pay heed unto me. ([3]:50) • Verily, Allah is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so conform unto Him [alone]: this is a straight way. ([3]:51) • And when Jesus became aware of their refusal to acknowledge the truth. He asked, “Who will be my helpers in Allah’s cause?” The white-garbed ones replied, “We shall be [your] helpers [in the cause] of Allah! We are committed to Allah, and bear you witness that we have surrendered ourselves unto Him! ([3]:52) • “O our Sustainer! We believe in what You have bestowed from on high, and we follow this Apostle; make us one, then, with all who bear witness [to the truth]!” ([3]:53) • • And the deniers schemed [against Jesus], but Allah ruined their scheming: for Allah is above all schemers. ([3]:54) xxxix • Lo, Allah said, “O Jesus! Verily, I shall cause you to die and shall exalt you unto Me and cleanse you of [the presence of] those who are bent on denying the truth, unto the Day of Resurrection. And I shall place those who follow you [far] above those who deny the truth. In the end, unto Me you all must return, and I shall judge between you with regard to all on which you were wont to differ. ([3]:55 • “And as for those who are bent on denying the truth, I shall cause them to suffer a suffering severe in this world and in the life to come, and they shall have none to support them; ([3]:56) • “Whereas unto those who are committed and do good works He will grant their reward in full; for Allah does not love offenders.” ([3]:57) • This message do we convey to you, this tiding full of wisdom. ([3]:58) • Verily, in the sight of Allah, the nature of Jesus is as the nature of Adam, whom He created out of dust and then said to him, “Be,” and he is. ([3]:59) • [This is] the truth from your Sustainer; be not, then, among the doubters! ([3]:60) • And if anyone should argue with you about this [truth] after all the knowledge that has come to you, say, “Come! Let us summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves; and then let us pray [together] humbly and ardently, and let us invoke Allah’s curse upon those [of us] who are telling a lie.” ([3]:61) • Behold, this is indeed the truth of the matter, and there is no deity whatever save Allah; and verily, Allah—He alone—is Almighty, Truly Wise. ([3]:62) • And if they turn away [from this truth], behold, Allah has full knowledge of the spreaders of corruption. ([3]:63) • Say, “O followers of earlier revelation! Come unto that tenet which we and you hold in common: that we shall conform unto none but Allah, and that we shall not ascribe divinity to any beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside Allah.” And if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that it is we who have surrendered ourselves to Him.” ([3]:64)The 19th chapter of the noble Qur’an is known as 'Maryam,' and in verses 22-36 Almighty God says: ‘So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date palm.” She said, “Oh, if only I had died before this and passed into oblivion!” But a voice called out to her from below, “Do not despair. Your Lord has provided a brook that runs at your feet, and if you shake the trunk of this palm tree, it will drop fresh ripe dates on you. Eat and drink and rejoice. And if you see any human being, say, "I have vowed a fast of silence to the Gracious God and will not speak with any human being today.” ([19]:22-26)

Carrying her child, she brought him to her people. They said, “O Mary, you have indeed done something terrible! Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!” She pointed to the child. They said, “How shall we talk to someone who is a child in the cradle?” But he said, “I am God’s servant. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; He has made me blessed wherever I may be and has enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving throughout my life. He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or wicked. Blessed was I on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day I die and on the day I am raised to life again.” ([19]:27-33)

Such was Jesus, the son of Mary. That is the whole truth, about which they still dispute: it does not befit  the majesty of God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! He is far above that; when He decrees something; he says only, ‘Be!’ and it is. God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship

Him alone. That is the right path. ([19]:34-36)

Thus, Muslims consider Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as much their Prophet as any other people in the world. In fact, without believing in Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and the Bible that was revealed to him by God Almighty, a Muslim’s faith is incomplete.

There are many other verses in the noble Qur’an about Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him):

Jesus, a righteous prophet—6:85

Birth – 3:45-47; 19:22-23

Apostle of Israel – 3:49-51

Disciples—3:52-23; 5:114-118

Taken up—3:55-58; 4:157-159

Like Adam – 3:59

Not crucified – 4:157

Not God – 5:19; 5:75

Sent with Gospel – 5:46

Not son of God—9:30

Prays for Table of viands—5:117

Message and miracles – 5:113;

19:30-33

Taught no false worship—5:116-120

Disciples declare themselves Muslim—5:114

Birth of Jesus – 3:35-45

Annunciation of Jesus – 3:42-51;

4:159; 19:16-21

No more than an apostle—4:171;

5:75/78; 43:59/63, 64 In childbirth – 19:23-26

Brought the baby to her people—19:16/17

Guarded her chastity – 16:12; 21:19

Mission limited – 13:38

Followers have compassion and mercy—57:27.

Disciples as God’s helpers—61:14

As a sign—23:50; 43:61 Prophesied Ahmad

(Muhammad) – 61:6