5 Jesus in Islam
5.1 Who is Jesus in Islam?
5.2 What Does Islam Teach About the Crucifixion?
5.3 Why Does Islam Reject the Divinity of Jesus?
5.4 The Return of Jesus
5.1 Who is Jesus in Islam?
Jesus holds a significant place in Islamic theology.
In Islam, Jesus is known as ʿĪsā (Isa) and is regarded as one of the greatest prophets sent by God. It is also common to see Him referred to as Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary).
Muslims believe that:
- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (Maryam).
- His birth was miraculous.
- He performed many miracles.
- He is the Messiah (al-Masīḥ).
- He is a servant and messenger of God.
- He is not divine.
- He will return before the Day of Judgment.
In classical Sunni and Shia theology, Jesus is currently alive in heaven.
Jesus (ʿĪsā) is mentioned by name 25 times in the Qur’an, more frequently by name than the Prophet Muhammad, who is mentioned four times (with one additional reference as “Ahmad”).
Also, an entire chapter of the Qur’an (Surah 19) is named after His mother Mary (Maryam), highlighting her importance in Islamic tradition. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the entire Qur’an.
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The Virgin Birth
Islam affirms the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Muslims believe that Mary conceived Jesus miraculously by the command of God, without a human father.
The Qur’an describes this event as a direct act of divine creation.
Muslims believe that while most humans are created through natural reproduction, Jesus was created because God simply said, “Be, and it is” (kun fa-yakūn).
Just as the Qur’an says God “breathed” life into Adam, it says Jesus was also created by God’s command.
However, unlike Christianity, Islam does not interpret this miracle as evidence of divinity. Instead, it is seen as a sign of God’s power.
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Jesus as Prophet and Messiah
In Islam, Jesus is both a prophet and the Messiah. However, the meaning of “Messiah” differs from Christian theology.
Muslims understand Jesus as a chosen human messenger with a special mission, not as God incarnate.
This is because Islam emphasizes strict monotheism (tawḥīd), the belief that God is absolutely one and does not share divinity with anyone.
Islamic theology teaches that all prophets, including Jesus, practiced Islam in its literal sense—meaning they were “those who submit to the will of God.”
Beyond “Messiah,” the Qur’an often refers to Jesus as the “Word of God” (Kalimatullah) and a “Spirit from Him” (Ruhun minhu). These titles emphasize Jesus’s miraculous creation and birth through God’s command (“Be, and it is”).
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Miracles
In addition to healing the blind and lepers, the Qur’an specifically mentions that Jesus spoke from the cradle as an infant to defend His mother’s honor and that He breathed life into birds made of clay (by God’s permission).
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Different Conclusions
Jesus is deeply honored in Islam.
Muslims respect Him, believe in His miracles, and await His return.
However, Islam rejects the belief that Jesus is the Son of God or part of a Trinity.
Because of this, Jesus becomes one of the most significant points of both connection and theological difference between Christianity and Islam.
In section 5.2, we will examine one of the most debated issues in this discussion: what Islam teaches about the crucifixion.
5.2 What Does Islam Teach About the Crucifixion?
One of the most significant theological differences between Christianity and Islam concerns the crucifixion of Jesus.
In Christianity, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central events. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again for the salvation of humanity.
Islam, however, teaches something different.
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The Qur’an addresses the crucifixion in Surah 4:157–158. The passage states that Jesus was not killed or crucified, but that it was made to appear so to the people.
Because of this verse, the majority position in classical Sunni and Shia theology is that:
- Jesus was not actually crucified.
- He was not killed.
- God raised Him up to Himself in heaven.
- Jesus is alive and will return before the Day of Judgment.
The Qur’an itself does not explicitly describe the mechanics of how this occurred, and some scholars interpret the passage differently, but the most common traditional interpretation is that someone else was made to resemble Jesus and was crucified in His place. This is called the substitution theory. Traditional commentaries (Tafsir) often suggest the person was either Judas Iscariot (as a punishment) or a loyal disciple who volunteered to take Jesus’ place to save Him.
The verse (4:157) actually begins by rebuking those who boasted that they had killed the Messiah. The Islamic perspective is often presented as a defense of Jesus—that God would not allow His messenger to be humiliated or defeated by His enemies in such a way. The end of verse 4:157 says, “They killed him not, of a certainty.” This is why the denial of the crucifixion is so firm in Islam; the Qur’anic language used is linguistically very emphatic.
What remains consistent across mainstream Islamic theology is the belief that Jesus was not successfully executed and that God preserved Him.
Mainstream Muslims believe that Jesus was bodily raised up to heaven and remains alive there today. This is interpreted by many as an ascension to a place in the heavens, often identified in Hadith (prophetic traditions) as the second heaven, where the Prophet Muhammad met Him during his night journey (Isra and Mi’raj).
In Christianity, the crucifixion is central to the doctrine of atonement and salvation.
In Islam, salvation does not depend on a sacrificial death. Each person is accountable before God for their own actions, and forgiveness comes through repentance and God’s mercy.
Because of this, Islam rejects the idea that Jesus died as a substitute for human sin.
In section 5.3, we will examine another central question: why Islam rejects the belief that Jesus is the Son of God.
5.3 Why Does Islam Reject the Divinity of Jesus?
In Christianity, Jesus is understood to be the Son of God and part of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christians believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
Islam, however, strongly rejects the idea that Jesus is God.
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The central theological principle of Islam is tawḥīd, the belief that God is absolutely one and does not share His divinity with anyone.
Because of this, Islam teaches that no human being—no matter how righteous or miraculous—can be divine.
The Qur’an repeatedly emphasizes that God has no partners, no equals, and no children.
For this reason, Islamic theology rejects the belief that Jesus is the Son of God or part of a Trinity.
Because of the principle of tawḥīd, Islam views worship of anyone other than God as the greatest sin (shirk).
For this reason, Muslims believe that Jesus called people to worship God alone, not to worship Himself.
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Instead of viewing Jesus as divine, Islam teaches that He is a human prophet chosen by God.
The Qur’an frequently describes Jesus as a messenger of God, a servant of God, the Messiah, and a sign sent to humanity.
Muslims believe that Jesus performed miracles, but these miracles occurred by God’s permission, not through His own power. The Quran uses the term bi-idhnillah (by the permission of Allah) every time it mentions a miracle of Jesus to ensure the reader knows the power belongs to God, not the man.
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The Qur’an also gives Jesus several important titles. Among these are:
- al-Masīḥ (the Messiah)
- Kalimatullāh (Word of God)
- Rūḥun minhu (a Spirit from Him)
In Islamic theology, these titles emphasize the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth and His role as a prophet, but they are not interpreted as evidence that He is God.
In section 5.4, we will examine another belief shared by both Christianity and Islam: the expectation that Jesus will return before the final judgment.
5.4 The Return of Jesus
In addition to His miraculous birth and prophetic mission, Islam also teaches that Jesus will return before the end of the world.
Because Islam teaches that Jesus was not crucified and that God raised Him to heaven, mainstream Islamic theology holds that He is still alive today.
According to Islamic tradition, Jesus will return near the end of history as part of the events leading up to the Day of Judgment.
Muslims typically refer to this event as “The Descent of Jesus” rather than the “Second Coming,” which is a term more commonly used in Christian theology.
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The Descent of Jesus
The belief that Jesus will return comes primarily from Islamic prophetic traditions known as Hadith, rather than directly from the Qur’an.
These traditions describe Jesus descending from heaven during a time of great turmoil on earth.
Traditional theology usually places Jesus alongside another figure called The Mahdi (The Guided One). In most accounts, the Mahdi is leading the Muslims in prayer when Jesus descends, and Jesus prays behind him to show that He is following the Law of Muhammad.
According to many classical Islamic teachings, Jesus will:
- Defeat the Dajjal, a deceptive figure often compared to the Antichrist
- Restore justice and righteousness
- Correct misunderstandings about His identity
- Reaffirm the worship of God alone
Some traditions also describe Jesus “breaking the cross and killing the swine.” These symbolic acts are commonly interpreted by Muslim scholars as representing the correction of beliefs and practices that Islam considers misunderstandings of Jesus’ original message, specifically regarding the crucifixion and dietary laws.
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Jesus’ Role After His Return
Islamic traditions describe Jesus living on earth for a period of time after His return.
During this time, He is believed to help establish justice and peace. Eventually, Jesus is said to die a natural death like other human beings.
There is a widespread tradition that after His natural death, Jesus will be buried in Medina, next to the Prophet Muhammad. A space is famously left vacant for Him in the Prophet’s Mosque.
After these events, the final stages leading to the Day of Judgment will unfold.
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Both Christianity and Islam teach that Jesus will appear again before the final judgment. However, they understand the purpose of his return differently.
Christian theology teaches that at the end of history there will be a final judgment and Jesus is believed to return to be the one who judges humanity.
In Islam, Jesus returns as a human prophet who reaffirms the worship of God alone and helps restore justice before the Day of Judgment.
Because of these beliefs, Jesus occupies a unique place in Islamic theology. He is honored as a prophet, recognized as the Messiah, believed to be alive in heaven, and expected to return before the end of history.
Although Christianity and Islam draw very different conclusions about the nature of Jesus, both view Him as a central figure in God’s plan for humanity.
In Module 6, we will turn to a broader question: how Islam understands revelation, scripture, and religious authority.