The Special Status and Significance of Jesus (PBUH) in Islam
It is not just that Muslims love Jesus (PBUH);[1] one cannot be a Muslim without believing in Jesus (PBUH). Muslims must believe in and respect all prophets in order to be counted as a believer, from Adam to Noah and from Moses to Jesus up to the last prophet, i.e., Muhammad (PBUT). The Quran says, “Say, ‘we believe in Allah and what was revealed to us, and in what revealed to Abraham, and Ismael,[2] and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus (PBUH), and in what was given to the prophets- from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them; and to Him we surrender.’”[3]
Among all prophets, Ulu’l-Azm Prophets (Arch-Prophets)[4] are revered more than others by Muslims. Jesus, son of Mary, is one of the Arch-Prophets and believed to be the penultimate prophet, messenger of God, and the Messiah sent to guide the Children of Israel. So as the penultimate prophet of God, he has a special status among Muslims and they recognize the significance of Jesus (PBUH).
Perhaps, the great significance of Jesus (PBUH) among Muslims is considered normal for Christians who live in Muslim countries, but when Christians living in non-Muslim countries enter Muslim countries, they are often amazed by the significance of Jesus (PBUH) in Islam.
Much to Christians’ surprise, the name of Jesus (PBUH) is mentioned in the Quran more than the name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): The name of Jesus (PBUH) is mentioned twenty-five times in the Quran, while the name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is mentioned only four times.
Truly, what is the root of this especial relationship between Muslims and Jesus (PBUH)? What is the reason for this profound significance of Jesus (PBUH) in Islam, while he is the prophet of Christianity?
In this article, we are going to examine the reasons for this significance.
Being the Son of Mary: A Great Honor
In Islam, four women have been introduced as the best women of Heaven. According to a hadith of prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Mary,[5] the Mother of Jesus (PBUH), is one of them.[6]
Although an entire chapter of the Quran is named after Mary, there are verses in other chapters of the Quran that speak about her. If you want to know how great Mary is, it is enough to know that according to the Quran, she is regarded as a role model for all believers, both men and women.
Mary’s life is full of miracles. Imran,[7] Mary’s father, received a divine revelation from God, promising him a blessed son who would possess extraordinary powers. This son would perform miracles like healing the sick and bringing the dead back to life, all by God’s will. Imran shared this revelation with his wife, Hannah.[8]
When Hannah got pregnant, she made a vow to make her child a servant of the Temple.[9] Meanwhile, Imran died and could not live to see his newborn child. When Hannah delivered her child, much to her surprise, she found out her baby was not a boy to be the Messiah, instead she had a daughter. However, it was God’s will that the Messiah be born from this girl.
When Mary’s mother sent her daughter to the Temple, it was time for someone to be her guardian. So they drew lots,[10] and Zechariah was chosen to be the guardian of Mary.
Zechariah was the prophet of Israelites, but he faced significant resistance from many of his people. It is worth mentioning that Zechariah’s and Imran’s wives were sisters, so they were brothers-in-law, and as a result, Mary’s guardian was one of her relatives.
Mary grew up to become a fine and pious young lady. She was so devout that angels would descend to her and bring provisions such as food and fruits out of season. The Quran recounts the story as follows:
The wife of Imran said, “My Lord, I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated, so accept from me; You are the Hearer and knower.
And when she delivered her, she said, “My Lord, I have delivered a female, and I have named her Mary, and have commended her and her descendants to Your protection, from Satan the outcast.”
Her Lord accepted her with a gracious reception, and brought her a beautiful upbringing, and entrusted her to the care of Zechariah. Whenever Zechariah entered upon her in a sanctuary, he found her with provision.
He said, “O Mary, where did you get this from?”
She said, “It is from Allah; Allah provides to whom He wills without reckoning.”[11]
when Zechariah saw how Mary was blessed and learned that God provides for whoever He wishes without any measure, he prayed to God and said,
“My Lord, bestow on me good offspring from Your presence; You are the Hearer of Prayers.”[12]
So God granted him Yahya.[13]
Jesus (PBUH), a Sign for Humanity and the Mercy from God
The Quran states that Mary, seeking seclusion, separated herself from her community and retreated to a remote eastern location.[14] During this time, God sent the Holy Spirit to her; he appeared in the form of an immaculate human.[15]
Believing the Holy Spirit to be a stranger,
She appealed, “I take refuge from you in the Most Merciful, should you be righteous.”
He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord, to give you the gift of a pure son.”
She said, “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, and I was never unchaste?”
He said, “Thus said your Lord, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign for humanity, and a mercy from Us. It is a matter already decided.’” So she conceived Jesus (PBUH) and withdrew with him to a remote place.
Then the pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, “I wish I had died before this, and been completely forgotten.”
Whereupon he [Jesus] called her from beneath her. “Do not worry; your Lord has placed a stream beneath you. And shake the trunk of the palm tree toward you, and it will drop ripe dates by you. So eat and drink, and be consoled. And if you see any human, say, ‘I have vowed a fast to the Most Gracious, so I will not speak to any human today.’”
Then she came to her people, carrying him, they said, “O Mary, you have done something terrible… your father was not an evil man, and your mother was not a whore.”
So she pointed to her baby.
They said, “How can we speak to an infant in the crib?”
He (Jesus) said, “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 may be, and has enjoined on me prayer and charity, so long as I live. And kind to my mother, and He did not make me a disobedient rebel. So peace is upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I get resurrected alive.”[16]
As the Quran states, the life of Jesus (PBUH) began with miracles. Mary, a virgin, conceived a blessed son. It was a tremendous test of faith, for both Mary and people. Indeed, passing such a test requires strong faith. However, when God chooses someone, He never leaves them alone. Mary was no exception to this rule.
According to some hadiths, the palm tree Mary shook to get dates was lifeless, yet it miraculously sprouted fruit.[17] This is another example that shows the significance of Jesus (PBUH) and the blessings bestowed upon him at his birth.
Jesus (PBUH) as the Word of God
The Quran highlights the significance of Jesus (PBUH) by referring to him as Kalimat Allah (the Word of God), or to be more precise, as kalimatin min Allah (a Word from God):
In another verse, angels call out to Zechariah:
“Allah gives you good news of [the birth of] Yahya who will confirm the Word of Allah and will be a great leader, chaste, and a prophet among the righteous.”[18]
The angels said: “O Mary, Allah gives you the good news of a Word from Him, whose name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, distinguished in the world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near [to Allah]. He will speak to people in the cradle and in adulthood and will be one of the righteous.”
She said, “My Lord! How shall I have a child seeing that no man has ever touched me?”
He said, “So it is that Allah creates whatever He wishes. When He decides on a matter, He just says ‘Be!’ and it is. And He will teach him the book and wisdom, the Torah, and the Injil (gospel).”[19]
Christians are scolded for the deification of Jesus (PBUH) in another verse:
“…The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him…”[20]
Jesus (PBUH) is also called a qawl al-Haqq, “a saying of the Truth,” where al-Haqq, “the Truth,” means God:
“That is Jesus, son of Mary, a Saying of the Truth, concerning whom they are in doubt.”[21]
The term used is kalimah, which means “word,” derived from the root klm; kallama (he spoke) and kalām (speech, speaking) are also derived from this root. All of these terms are used with respect to divine speech in the Quran. Although there is no direct reference to Jesus (PBUH) in the Quran that specifically uses the phrase the ‘Word of God (al-kalimah Allah), we may be justified in the assertion that God calls Jesus (PBUH) the Word of God in the Quran because the expressions mentioned above, e.g., kalimatin min Allah (a Word from God) and kalimatuhu (His word) are used exclusively for Jesus (PBUH) among all human beings.[22]
This emphasizes the significance of Jesus (PBUH) in the Quran; however, the words of God are many, and we can understand the designation given to Jesus (PBUH) better if we consider other verses of the Quran in which similar phrases are used. Sometimes, Kalimah is used for the words spoken by Allah to Adam,[23] Abraham,[24] and other ‘servants’ of Allah,[25] including Mary (PBUT)[26] and His prophets.[27] Sometime what is meant by the word of God is more general, such as the command of God or the divine message:
“…He made the word of the faithless the lowest; and the word of Allah is the highest…”[28]
“If all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean [were ink], refilled by seven other oceans, the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”[29]
The commentators of the Quran have disputed the question of why Jesus (PBUH) is called the “Word of God.” Generally, they agree, explicitly or implicitly, that the term is not to be understood as the Logos[30] in the Christian sense. However, according to some commentators, including Allamah Tabataba’i, there is an important connection between the “Word of God” as a title for the Messiah, and the creative word of God, not because Jesus (PBUH) as Logos plays any part in creation, but because Jesus (PBUH) is directly created by the command of God without the mediation of a father. This view is widely accepted by both Shia and Sunni commentators, as well as Western scholars.
Jesus (PBUH): Messenger of Muhammad’s Coming
Christians believe that the Paraclete, or Comforter, whom Jesus (PBUH) mentioned is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Actually, this prophecy tells about Muhammad (PBUH). How come? Let us see what Jesus (PBUH) said:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter to help you and be with you forever— 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.”[31]
Actually, there had been a great controversy regarding the word “Paraclete” which is “Paraklytos” in the Greek Bible that this word was changed from “Periklytos” which means “the praised one” meaning “Ahmad”[32] in Arabic, the name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). While concrete evidence is lacking today, an analysis of relevant Bible verses suggests that the Paraclete foretold in the Scripture is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).[33]
Some people may think that the word “spirit” here does not apply to human beings, but actually we find that the word “spirit” is used also for human beings as shown below:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”[34]
Jesus (PBUH) stated that his words were not his own, but rather derived from what he heard:
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”[35]
A prophet from God acts differently than God Himself. A prophet communicates what he hears from God, not from his own thoughts. Christians believe the Holy Spirit is God; therefore, how can we claim that God does not speak for Himself? This indicates that the verses in question do not refer to the third person of the Trinity, but rather to a prophet to be sent by God. This Paraclete will predict future events, just like Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Jesus (PBUH) tells about the Paraclete:
“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”[36]
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) convicted the world because people did not believe in Jesus (PBUH) as a prophet sent by God. The Quran convicted Jews because they did not believe in Jesus (PBUH), and it convicted Christians because they considered Jesus (PBUH) as God which is another type of disbelief, as Jesus (PBUH) never said such a thing.
On the other hand, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak different languages, but we do not find evidence of Him convicting the world or preaching about Jesus (PBUH). Christian commentators interpret this verse to mean that he will convince the disbelievers. However, this is not accurate, as many people in the world are unaware of Christianity or Jesus (PBUH). If that were the case, there would be no need for missionaries, evangelists, or apologists to promote and defend Christianity, since the Holy Spirit would already be fulfilling that role.
Jesus (PBUH): The Revolutionary Prophet
To further examine the significance of Jesus (PBUH) and his revolutionary personality, we should look at the Quran. Surah As-Saf is one of Quran’s chapters that especially speaks about fighting in God’s cause. Verse four of this chapter says, “Allah loves those who fight in His cause, in ranks, as though they were a compact structure.” In verse ten, he refers to jihad as trading with God, saying, “O you who believe! Shall I inform you of a trade that will save you from a painful torment? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your possessions and yourselves. That is best for you, if you only knew.” In this chapter, God speaks about Jesus (PBUH), stating when Jesus (PBUH) became prophet, he confirmed the teachings of previous prophets, especially Moses: “And when Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘O Children of Israel, I am Allah’s Messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah…’”[37]
A key aspect of Moses’ life was his long struggle against the Pharaohs, battling heresy and establishing divine governance and justice. At the end of this chapter, God says,
O you who believe! Be supporters of Allah, as Jesus, son of Mary, said to the disciples, “Who will stand up with me for Allah?”
The disciples said, “We will stand up for Allah.”
So a group of the Children of Israel believed, while another group disbelieved. We supported those who believed against their emenies, so they became dominant.[38]
In this verse, God commands the believers to be like Jesus’s disciples and supporters.
In another chapter of the Quran, God says, “When Jesus sensed disbelief on their part, he said, ‘Who are my allies towards Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are Allah’s allies; we have believed in Allah, and bear witness that we submit.’”[39]
Thus, the Quran, while highlighting the significance of Jesus (PBUH), presents him as not only affirming Moses’ unwavering fight against tyranny, but also as actively rejecting neutrality in the face of injustice, choosing instead to struggle against it himself.
Jesus (PBUH): A Pillar of Support for Imam Mahdi (AJ)
The return of Jesus Christ (PBUH) is considered as one of the definitive events at the time of Imam Mahdi’s advent, further underscoring the significance of Jesus (PBUH) within Islamic tradition. Although Islamic scholars have not reached consensus on whether Jesus Christ (PBUH) is alive or has passed away, most of them believe that he is still alive.
According to the book Epoch of Appearance by Ali Korani, the return of Jesus (PBUH) at the time of the advent of Imam Mahdi (AJ) is an agreed-upon issue among Muslims.[40] Some researchers believe that Christians also accept it. However, unlike Muslims, Christians believe that Jesus (PBUH) is the Promised Savior.
According to this verse of the Quran that says, “Every one of the People of the Book will definitely believe in him before his [Jesus’s] death and on the Day of Judgment Jesus will be a witness against them,”[41] it can be inferred that before Jesus’s death, all the People of the Book will believe in him. It means that Jews will accept him as a prophet, Christians will abandon belief in his divinity, and they will also accept him just as a prophet of God.
Muslims believe that at the End Times, when lmam Mahdi (AJ) comes, Jesus (PBUH) will descend from Heaven. Imam Mahdi (AJ) will ask Jesus (PBUH) to lead the prayer, but he will not accept it out of reverence for Imam Mahdi (AJ), and he will perform the prayer behind Imam Mahdi (AJ).
According to a hadith of Imam Sadiq (PBUH), Jesus (PBUH) will descend from Heaven to assist Imam Mahdi (AJ), the Promised Savior, on his big mission to end tyranny and spread justice in the world. And this is another reason for the significance of Jesus (PBUH) in Islam.
In this article, we addressed the significance of Jesus Christ (PBUH) among Muslims and the reasons why he is highly esteemed in Islam. We stated that Jesus Christ (PBUH) has been portrayed in the Holy Quran as one of the great prophets of God. We also referred to some miracles of Jesus Christ (PBUH). In addition to examining his personality, we spoke a little about his mother, Virgin Mary. We mentioned that being the Son of Mary as a role model for all believers, both men and women, is considered a great honor.
We hope this article helps Muslims and Christians recognize their shared understanding of Jesus (PBUH). They might be surprised by how much common ground they share! Let us focus on building bridges because ultimately, we have much in common.
[1]. Isa in Arabic
[2]. Ishmael in Christian tradition
[3] . Quran, 2:136
[4] . For more information on Arch-Prophets, see Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i, Islamic Teachings in Brief. Qom: Ansariyan Publications, pp. 39-45.
[5] . Maryam in Arabic
[6] . Muhammad-Baqir Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 13, p. 162.
[7] . Joachim in Christian tradition
[8] . Saint Anne in Christian tradition
[9] . Quran, 3:35
[10] . Quran, 3:44
[11] . Quran, 3: 35-37
[12] . Quran, 3:38
[13] . John the Baptist in Christian tradition
[14] . Quran, 19:16
[15] . Quran, 19:17
[16] . Quran, 19: 18-33
[17] . Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’I, Al-Mizan fi tafsir al-Quran. Qom: Islamic Publications Office, 1995, vol. 14, p. 43.
[18] . Quran, 3:39
[19] . Quran, 3:45-48
[20] . Quran, 4:171
[21] . Quran, 19:34
[22]. Muhammad Legenhausen, Jesus as Kalimat Allah, The Word of God.
[23] . Quran, 2:37
[24] . Quran, 2:124
[25] . Quran, 37:171
[26] . Quran, 66:12
[27] . Quran, 37:171
[28] . Quran, 9:40
[29] . Quran, 31:27
[30]. the Word of God, or principle of divine reason and creative order, identified in the Gospel of John with the second person of the Trinity incarnate in Jesus Christ
[31]. John 14:16-17
[32] . Quran, 61:6
[33] . Mohammad Abu Saed, Jesus Is Muslim. Independently published, 2022, pp. 47-49.
[34].1 John 4:1
[35] . John 16:13
[36] . John 16:8
[37] . Quran, 61:6
[38]. 61:14
[39] . Quran, 3:52
[40]. Ali Korani, Epoch of The Appearance. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013, p. 167.
[41]. Quran, 4:159
