ʿĪsa ibn Maryam is described in Islam as the servant and messenger of Allah. He was sent to guide the Children of Israel back to the worship of Allah alone.
Who is Maryam (Mary)?
Maryam, the daughter of ‘Imran, was chosen by Allah for her purity and devotion:
“O Maryam! Indeed Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Maryam! Be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow.”
Jesus’s birth was a miraculous sign of Allah’s creative power. Just as Allah created Adam without parents and Hawwa from Adam without a mother, He created Jesus from Maryam without a father:
“My Lord, how can I have a child when no man has touched me?” He said, “It will be so. Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
Even as an infant, Jesus declared his servitude to Allah:
“Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.”
He performed miracles, healing the blind, curing lepers, and raising the dead, always by Allah’s permission (Qur’an 5:110).
Muslims firmly reject the crucifixion:
“They did not kill him, nor crucify him but it was made to appear so to them… Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ foretold his return before the Day of Judgment:
“By Him in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Mary will descend among you as a just judge; he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the jizyah.”
Jesus in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism
| Aspect | Islamic View | Christian View | Jewish View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity | Prophet, servant of Allah | Son of God, part of the Trinity | Ordinary man |
| Birth | Virgin birth without father | Virgin birth by the Holy Spirit | Normal human birth |
| Nature | Fully human | Fully human and divine | Fully human |
| Miracles | By Allah’s permission | By his own divine power | Denied/attributed to sorcery |
| Crucifixion | Not crucified, raised by Allah | Crucified and resurrected | Crucified, not divine |
| Return | Will return before Judgment Day | Will return as Savior/Judge | No second coming |
| Worship | Not worshiped | Worshiped as divine | Not worshiped |
Second Coming
Muslims believe Jesus did not die but was raised by Allah. Near the end of time, he will return as a just leader, affirming the truth of Islam, rejecting false claims, and uniting people under the worship of Allah.
What This Means for You
For Muslims, Jesus is not erased, nor exaggerated. He is a sign of Allah’s power, a messenger of truth, and part of the same chain of prophethood that culminates with Muhammad ﷺ. Love and reverence for Jesus are essential, but worship belongs only to Allah.
And Allah knows best.
References
Primary Sources
Qur’an
- Qur’an 3:47 — Virgin birth.
- Qur’an 19:30 — Jesus as a prophet in the cradle.
- Qur’an 5:110 — Miracles by Allah’s permission.
- Qur’an 4:157–158 — Not crucified, raised by Allah.
Hadith
- Sahih Muslim 155 — Return of Jesus before the Last Day.
Secondary Sources
- Ibn Kathir, *Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim*.
- Al-Tabari, *Tafsir al-Tabari*.
- Al-Nawawi, *Sharh Sahih Muslim*.