Jesus in Islam

One of the earliest Arabic versions of a part of the New Testament

As an Abrahamic religion that post-dated Christianity, Islam holds that the traditions and prophets of Judaism and Christianity are their own, just as Christianity claims the traditions and prophets of Judaism as their own. However, while Christianity embraces the Jewish Scriptures as God's word, Islam rejects both the Jewish Scriptures and the New Testament as corrupt. This acceptance of the Christian tradition creates some conflicts, notably the fact that Christians consider Jesus to be the Son of God whereas this notion doesn't match with the teachings of the Qur'an. As such, Muslims do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God and reject the notion of the Trinity, one God but three distinct persons. The Islamic misinterpretation of the Trinity is that Christians worship three Gods, which is inaccurate. Islam believes that Jesus(translated as Isa in Arabic) was a great prophet from Allah, but not the last one. As Muhammad, the founder of Islam, gets that honor.

> "Oh People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion,

> nor say of God anything but the truth. Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, was (no more than) a messenger of God, and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him. So believe in God and His messengers. Say not, 'Trinity.' Desist! It will be better for you, for God is One God, Glory be to Him! (Far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a

> Disposer of affairs" [1]

Although Muslims are ordered to follow only after the Qur'an the orders and advices of their Prophet Muhammad, they are still ordered to hold same passion, respect, and love to all other previous prophets of God, with no distinction between one another, as their love and respect for Muhammad (as stated by him) comes from their love and respect of previous prophets.

> "The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." [2]

Islam believe that Jesus was born from Mary who was a virgin.

> "Behold! the angels said, 'Oh Mary! God gives you glad

> tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter, and in (the company of) those nearest to God. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity.

> He shall be (in the company) of the righteous... And God will

> teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel'" [3]

The Koran is at odds with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for all mankind as told in the Gospels in the Bible. Instead, Muslims believe the written word in the Bible is wrong and that Jesus was taken to heaven by God to save him from being crucified and another was instead made to appear to be Jesus and crucified in his place.

> They slew him not, nor did they crucify him but it was made dubious to them.[4]

Muslims also believe that Jesus foretold of Muhammad's eventual message and teachings. While they reject many of the verses of the Bible; these two they choose to be genuine.

> "If you love me, Keep my commandments. And I will pray to the

> Father and He shall give you another comforter that he may

> abide with you forever".[5]

The verse immediately after that is usually left out as the form of the Counselor in described in terms that would not suit a human being or any creature with a physical body.

> "the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."[6]

Other verses from the Bible quoted in Islam:

> "But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you

> from the Father, even the spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me, and he also shall

> bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning".[7]

> "I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear

> them now. How be it when he, the spirit of Truth will come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall speak not of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that he shall speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me,

> for he shall receive of mine, and he shall show it unto you."[8]

Muslims believe that the "comforter" referred to by Jesus is Muhammad, although Christians hold the "comforter" to be the Holy Spirit and had for several hundred years before Muhammed was born.

> "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."[9]

The Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples shortly after Jesus' ascension into heaven as told in the book of Acts. Also, in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible followers of Jesus are told to baptize

> "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"[10]

Muslims do not believe that Jesus was resurrected, but they do believe that Jesus will return to earth in the future, defeating an anti-Christ figure and fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah in the Old Testament.[11]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Qur'an Sura 4:171
2. ↑ Qur'an Sura 1:285
3. ↑ Qur'an Sura 3:45-48
4. ↑ Qur'an Sura 157
5. ↑ The Bible, John 14:15-16
6. ↑ The Bible, John 14:17
7. ↑ The Bible, John 15:26-27
8. ↑ The Bible, John 16:12-14
9. ↑ The Bible, John 14:25
10. ↑ The Bible, Matt 28:19
11. ↑ http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/jesus.html