Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) in Islam, Maryam (Mary, mother of Jesus) and Muslims.
Muslim beliefs and traditions still remain a mystery to many non-Muslims. Between ignorance and outright malicious lies, Muslims need to find a common ground with others. Non-Muslims, especially Christians, are often surprised to discover that Muslims also believe in Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). This web page aims to not only provide the Islamic perspective on this great Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and Maryam (Mary), the mother of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), but also to bring forward the common ground between Muslims and Christians.
Muslims are required by Allah (SWT) to believe in all of the Prophets. These include Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ) and Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) peace be upon them. The Noble Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, also instructs Muslims to believe in the books revealed to every Prophet as well. The book given to Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) is called Injeel in the Noble Qur'an.
According to the Noble Holy Qur'an, Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was one of Allah's (SWT) most beloved messengers, a precursor to Prophet Muhammad (61:6) and was sent to guide the Children of Israel. In the Noble Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) are abundant. The Noble Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by Allah's (SWT) permission, and his life as a great prophet of Allah (SWT). The Noble Qur'an speaks of Maryam (Mary) not only as the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him), but as a righteous woman in her own right.
Muslims believe that Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was the son of Maryam (Mary), and was immaculately conceived without the intervention of a human father. The Noble Qur'an describes that an angel appeared to Maryam (Mary), to announce to her the "gift of a holy son" (19:19). Maryam (Mary) was astonished at the news, and asked: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" (19:20). When the angel explained to her that she had been chosen for the service of Allah (SWT), and that Allah (SWT) had ordained the matter, she devoutly submitted herself to His will.
The Noble Holy Qur'an further describes that Maryam (Mary, mother of Jesus) retreated from her people (outside the city), and gave birth to Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) underneath a remote date palm tree. The date palm tree miraculously provided nourishment for Maryam (Mary) during labor and birth. (See Chapter 19 of the Noble Qur'an for the entire story. The chapter has aptly been named "The Chapter of Maryam (Mary, mother of Jesus)")
However, the Noble Holy Qur'an repeatedly reminds us that Prophet Adam, the first human being, was born with neither a human mother nor a human father.
Therefore Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) miraculous birth affords him no higher standing or presumed partnership with God. When God ordains a matter, He merely says, "Be" and it is so. "The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be!" And he was" (3:59). In Islam, Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) is regarded as a human prophet and messenger of God, not part of God Himself. The Noble Qur'an also denies that Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was crucified.
1. Muslims love Prophet Jesus. We also love Prophet Abraham, Prophet Moses, and Prophet Noah, to name just a few other Prophets Muslims revere. May God's peace be upon all of these great messengers of God.
2. Muslims also love the mother of Prophet Jesus, the Virgin Mary. We believe she was a pious and noble woman chosen over all of the women of the world.
3. Muslims believe that Prophet Jesus was born miraculously of a virgin mother and no father. His birth is miraculous like the birth of Prophet Adam, the first human being, who was created with neither mother nor father.
4. Muslims do not believe that Prophet Jesus was the son of God. God is so powerful and self-sufficient that He does not need a son or any kind of partner.
5. In Arabic Bible the name for God is Allah. Therefore all Arab Christian call God Allah as Muslim do as well.
6. Prophet Jesus did not die on the cross. Rather, God saved him as his enemies were confused about him. Prophet Jesus was taken up by God to Heaven.
7. Prophet Jesus is called Isa (pronounced Eesa) in Arabic and the spirit of God (Roohullah) is his title.
8. Prophet Jesus performed miracles by the Will of God, like healing the blind and those with leprosy.
9. Prophet Jesus prayed to the same God as all Prophets and we Muslims pray to.
10. Prophet Jesus will return before the end of the world during the time of Imam al-Mahdi, the embodiment of the Messiah or the saviour.
Imam Ridha (as) said, 'The most terrifying events for creatures are three: the day one is born and comes out of his mother's belly and sees the world, the day he dies and sees the afterlife and its people, and the day he is raised and sees laws he did not see in this world, and Allah (SWT) made Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) secure in these three events and protected him from fear, and He said:
"And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life." (Noble Holy Qur'an 19:15)
And Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) the son of Maryam (Mary) made himself secures in these three events, and he said:
"And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life." (Noble Qur'an 19:33)
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) lived for thirty-three years; he was not killed nor crucified, but it was made to appear so to the Christians. On the night of the twenty-first of Ramadan he was raised while there were nine thousands three hundred thirteen angles with him. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was raised from the earth alive and his soul was taken between heaven and earth, then he was raised to heaven and his soul was returned to him. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) will come down to the world before the Resurrection day with the twelfth Imam al-Mahdi of the Household of the Prophet, and invite the people to Allah (SWT).
In the resurrection will come a man in a group and the angels will be around him with wings outspread and the light will be in front of them. Then the people of the Garden will crane their necks toward him and say, 'Who is this who is thus allowed by Allah?' The angels will say, 'This is the spirit of Allah and His word! This is Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) the son of Mary!'
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) once said about himself, "I sleep while I have nothing and I rise while I have nothing, and yet there is no one on earth more wealthy than I," and Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said another time, "I began the morning with my Lord, the Blessed and Supreme, above me and the fire (of hell) before me and death in pursuit of me. I have not obtained that for which I wished and I cannot keep away the things I hate. So who of the poor is poorer than I?"
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) passed by a man who was blind, leprous and paralytic, and Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) heard him giving thanks and saying, "Praise be to Allah (SWT) Who has protected me from the trials with which He afflicts the majority of men."
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said, "What trial remains which has not been visited upon you?" He said, "He protected me from a trial which is the greatest of trials, and that is disbelief."
Then Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) touched him, and Allah (SWT) cured him from his illnesses and beautified his face. Then he became a companion of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) and worshipped with him.
These two stories about him suffice to show his humility. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) served a meal to the Apostles, and when they had eaten it, he himself washed them, and another time he stood up and washed their feet. They said, "It would have been more proper for us to have done this, O Spirit of Allah."
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) replied, "Verily, it is more fitting for one with knowledge to serve the people. Indeed, I humbled myself only so that you may humble yourselves among the people after me even as I have humbled myself among you."
The conversations of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) with the disciples are very interesting. They asked him, "O spirit of Allah, so with whom should we keep company?" Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said, "He the sight of whom reminds you of Allah (SWT), his speech increases your knowledge and his action makes you desirous of the other world." And a man asked Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) the son of Mary, "Which people is the best?" Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) took two handfuls of earth and said, "Which of these is the best? The people are created from earth, so the most honorable of them is the most God wary."
Almighty God also introduced Himself to Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him), He described His endless mercy to him, and He gave him necessary instructions. Once He said to him, "O Isa (Jesus)! I do not forget those who forget Me, so how could I forget those who remember Me! I am not stingy with those who disobey Me, so how could I be stingy with those who obey Me." And He said another time, "Be to the people like the earth below in meekness, like the flowing water in generosity, and like the sun and the moon in mercy, which shine on the good and sinner alike."
A man accompanied Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) the son of Maryam (Mary) and said that he would go with him. They continued along until they came to a river. They sat and started to eat. They had three loaves of bread. They ate two of them and one remained.
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) went to the river, drank some water and returned. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) did not find the third loaf, so he asked the man who had taken that loaf. The man said that he did not know.
They continued until they came to a doe followed by two fawns. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) beckoned one of the fawns, killed it, roasted it and they ate it. Then Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) addressed the fawn [that had been eaten,] saying, "Live!" It came to life and went. Then Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said to the man, "By the God Who has shown you this miracle, who took that loaf of bread?" The man said that he did not know.
They continued until they reached a lake. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) took the hand of the man and led him over the water. When they reached the other side, Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said, "By the One Who has shown you this miracle, who took that loaf of bread?" The man said that he did not know.
They continued until they reached a desert. They sat down. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) gathered some sand or dust and said, "By the permission of Allah (SWT), be Gold!" It became Gold. He divided it into three portions.
Then Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said, "One third is for me, one third for you, and one third for whoever took that loaf of bread."
The man said, "Alright, I took that loaf of bread."
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) said, "Then all of this Gold is yours." Then he left him.
The man encountered two other men in the desert. They wanted to take his Gold and kill him. He said, "Let us divide the Gold into three portions." They sent one of them to the village to buy food.
The one who went said to himself, "Why should I let them have portions of this wealth? I shall put some poison into the food, and kill them." So, he poisoned the food.
The other two said, "Why should we give a third of this wealth to him. When he comes back, let us kill him, and divide the rest of the wealth between us."
When he returned, they attacked him and killed him. Then they ate the poisoned food and died. The wealth remained in the desert with the three dead men beside it.
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) passed them and saw the situation. He said to his disciples, "This is the world, so beware of it!"
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was once seen running away from a man. People were surprised to see him running away. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) did not run away from anything or anybody. He was known for his goodness, humbleness and friendliness.
They asked him: "Isa, spirit of Allah, why are you running away from that man?"
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) replied: "I am running away from a fool."
People were still more surprised, they knew that Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was a prophet. He had cured the sick. He had even brought the dead to life. So they said: "But Isa, spirit of Allah, you have power to bring dead to life."
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) smiled and said: "True, I have brought dead to life. But I find it difficult to bring a fool to his senses."
