Question
Is Jesus (‘Isa ibn Maryam) the Son of God or God Himself in Islam?
Bottom Line
In Islam, ‘Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam, is neither the son of God nor divine. He is a human being, a prophet, and a messenger of Allah. Associating divinity or sonship with him is shirk (polytheism) and disbelief.
Quick Answer
The Qur’an affirms that Jesus was a messenger created by Allah, not His son. Calling him the son of God or God Himself is a grave falsehood rejected in the strongest terms. Jesus was born of Mary, ate food, and lived as a human, qualities that cannot be attributed to Allah. Allah is One, without partner, son, or likeness.
Key Takeaways
- ‘Isa ibn Maryam was a prophet and servant of Allah, not divine.
- Allah explicitly forbids saying “three” or claiming sonship for Him.
- Trinity and the divinity of Jesus are rejected as disbelief in Islam.
- The Qur’an stresses the human nature of Jesus and his mother.
- Attributing a son to Allah is described as a “terrible evil thing.”
Detailed Answer
‘Isa ibn Maryam is the slave of Allah and His messenger. Allah sent him to guide the Children of Israel and to call them to worship Allah Alone, as Allah says to the Jews and Christians.
‘Isa (peace be upon him) called the Children of Israel to worship Allah Alone, and to obey the rulings of the Tawrat and Injil… He started to dispute with them and to explain the error of their ways. When he saw how stubborn they were and how the signs of disbelief were manifest among them, he stood among his people, saying, Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples believed in him, and their number was twelve. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Then, when ‘Isa (Jesus) came to know of their disbelief, he said: ‘Who will be my helpers in Allah’s cause?’ Al-Hawariyyun (the disciples) said: ‘We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e., we submit to Allah).’
Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger [‘Isa (Jesus)]; so write us down among those who bear witness (to the truth, i.e. La ilaha illallah — none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)” Al ‘Imran 3:52-53
‘Isa ibn Maryam as a Messenger of Allah
Allah sent Jesus to guide the Children of Israel to worship Him alone. He is described as a word from Allah, bestowed upon Mary, and a created spirit, but still a human messenger. Allah says:
“O People of the Scripture! Do not go to extremes in your religion nor say about Allah anything but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not: ‘Three’. Cease! It is better for you. Verily Allah is only One God. Far exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as a disposer of affairs.” Qur’an 4:171
Is Jesus the Son of God?
The Qur’an rejects this belief in the strongest possible terms:
“And they say: ‘The Most Gracious has begotten a son.’ Indeed you have uttered a terrible evil thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits asunder and the mountains collapse in devastation that they ascribe to the Most Gracious a son. But it is not suitable for the Most Gracious that He should beget a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Gracious as a servant.” Qur’an 19:88–93
Is Jesus God?
Calling Jesus divine is also disbelief. Allah says:
“They have certainly disbelieved who say: ‘Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary.’” Qur’an 5:72
Allah also condemns the belief in the Trinity:
“They have certainly disbelieved who say: ‘Allah is the third of three.’ But there is no god except One God. If they do not desist from what they say, a painful punishment will surely afflict the disbelievers among them.” Qur’an 5:73
The Human Nature of Jesus
Jesus was born of a mother, ate, drank, slept, and experienced pain, all signs of human limitation. Allah is far above such attributes:
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers had passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make the signs clear to them; yet look how they are deluded.” Qur’an 5:75
What This Means for You
In Islam, Jesus is honored as a prophet and messenger, not divine. Belief in his humanity and servitude to Allah protects one from shirk. Muslims affirm the oneness of Allah and reject all claims of sonship or divinity for Jesus.
And Allah knows best.
References
Primary Sources
Qur’an
- Al-Nisa 4:171: Jesus as a messenger, not divine.
- Maryam 19:88 93: Attributing a son to Allah is a grave evil.
- Al-Ma’idah 5:72: Denial of the divinity of Jesus.
- Al-Ma’idah 5:73 : Refutation of the Trinity.
- Al-Ma’idah 5:75: Human nature of Jesus and Mary.
- Al ‘Imran 3:52-53: When Jesus sensed disbelief from his people
Hadith
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3445 – The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that ‘Isa is Allah’s slave and His Messenger, and His word which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise whatever his deeds may be.”
- Sahih Muslim 28a – Similar hadith affirming Jesus as a servant and messenger of Allah, not divine.
Secondary Sources
- Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim, commentary on Surah al-Nisa 4:171 and Surah Maryam 19:88–93.
- Ibn al-Qayyim, Hidayat al-Hayara fi Ajwibat al-Yahud wal-Nasara – Refutation of claims about Jesus’ divinity.
- Al-Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari, on the verses denying the Trinity and sonship.
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