What does the Quran say about Jesus (Isa)?

The Quran contradicts the Bible (even though it was only compiled 600 years after Jesus)  That said, ignoring the differences and questions of the Quran's claims to somehow contradict thousands of copies of the Bible that were all exactly the same for close to 600 years, it is important to think through what the Quran says about Jesus (Isa) as that has given and still gives many Muslims pause for further thought.  So, here are some of the Quran's key claims about Jesus.

     1.    Spoke as a baby:
    •    Surah Maryam (19:29-30): When Maryam (Mary) was questioned about her child, Jesus spoke in the cradle to defend her.
    •    Verse 30: “He [Jesus] said: ‘Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.’”

    2.    Made a clay bird come to life:
    •    Surah Al-Imran (3:49): Jesus performs miracles, including creating a bird from clay.
    •    Verse 49: “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.’”
    •    Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:110) also mentions this miracle: “And when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission…”

    3.    Performed miracles:
    •    Surah Al-Imran (3:49): Apart from creating the bird, Jesus is described as performing other miracles such as healing the blind and the lepers, and bringing the dead to life.
    •    Verse 49: “And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead - by permission of Allah.”

    4.    Never sinned:
    •    The Quran does not explicitly state that Jesus never sinned. However, it presents him as a prophet of high standing and righteousness. Prophets in the Quran are regarded as models of moral and ethical perfection, and there is no mention of Jesus committing any sin.
    •    Surah Maryam (19:19) refers to him as “pure” (زَكِيًّا, zakiyy), which some interpret as a reference to his sinless nature.
    •    Verse 19: “He [the angel] said, ‘I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.’”

    5.    Never died:
    •    Surah An-Nisa (4:157-158): The Quran denies the crucifixion and asserts that Jesus was not killed, but instead, he was raised up to Allah.
    •    Verse 157: “And [for] 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 [another] was made to resemble him to them…”
    •    Verse 158: “Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.”

    6.    Went to Heaven and is coming back:
    •    Although the Quran does not explicitly mention Jesus’ second coming, it is implied through interpretations of various verses, particularly Surah An-Nisa (4:158), which speaks of Jesus being raised up to Allah.
    •    The second coming of Jesus is a widely held belief in Islamic tradition (Hadith literature), where it is said that Jesus will return near the end of time.

    7.    Is the Word of God:
    •    Surah Al-Imran (3:45) refers to Jesus as Kalimatullah (Word of Allah).
    •    Verse 45: “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…’”


These Quranic references highlight the miraculous nature of Jesus’ life.  The Prophet Mohammed however was clearly a man and only a man.  He died and is buried, according to Muslim tradition in Mecca.  The Prophet Mohammed never performed miracles.  The Prophet Mohammed didn't give life to anything, let alone a clay bird.  The Prophet Mohammed did not raise the dead, heal the blind, heal lepers.  Jesus did.  The Prophet Mohammed is not the Word of God or a word of God.  So, it is clear from the Quran that Jesus (Isa) is very different.  Perhaps, we would argue, far greater than the Prophet Mohammed.  But who is Jesus (Isa)?  How can Jesus (Isa) be the Word of God (Kalimatullah)?  It seems that the Quran makes a strong case for the Christian teaching that Jesus (Isa) is God.

 

This has caused many Muslims to investigate further.   It is interesting to hear how and why they came to believe that God is indeed One (btw, Christians don't believe in three Gods) but that God is actually a real, living and perfect person, Jesus.

 

 #lux vita caritas

#luxvitacaritas