Jesus across the religions
Jesus in Islam
In Islam, Jesus is called Isa and is one of the greatest and most honoured of the prophets. The Qur'an teaches that he was born of the virgin Mary, calls him al-Masih (the Messiah), names him a word from God and a spirit from Him, and says he healed the sick and raised the dead by God's permission. Islam also teaches that Jesus was not crucified, that he is not divine, and that he will return. Christians confess all the Qur'an affirms of Jesus and then say more: that in Jesus, God himself came to us, and that he was crucified and rose to save the world.
What the tradition claims
The Qur’an speaks of Jesus, Isa, with deep reverence. It teaches that he was born of the virgin Maryam by God’s command, calls him al-Masih (the Messiah) about eleven times, names him a word from God and a spirit from Him (4:171), and says he worked miracles, healing the blind and the leper and raising the dead, always ‘by God’s permission’ (5:110). In Islam Jesus is a sinless, honoured prophet who is not divine and not the son of God, because God is one and has no partner. The Qur’an also teaches that Jesus was not crucified, ‘but it appeared so unto them’ (4:157), and that he will return.
What historians can establish
On one point, the crucifixion, the historical record speaks clearly. The death of Jesus by crucifixion under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate is affirmed not only by the Gospels but by early non-Christian sources such as the Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus. For this reason most historians, whatever their personal beliefs, regard the crucifixion as one of the most certain facts of ancient history. We note this respectfully, as part of an honest conversation, not to score a point.
What Christians believe
Christians confess everything the Qur’an affirms of Jesus, his virgin birth, his title Messiah, his sinlessness, his miracles, his return, and then say something more: that in Jesus, God himself came to us, and that his death on the cross was not a defeat but the very place God’s love was revealed.
Where the positions differ
Muslims and Christians share a remarkable amount about Jesus: both hold that he was virgin-born, sinless, rightly called the Messiah, a worker of real miracles, and one who will return. The two divide on two points. Islam honours Jesus as a prophet but not as divine; Christianity confesses him as the Son of God. And Islam teaches he was not crucified, while Christianity holds, with most historians, that he was, and that his death and resurrection are how God saves. The dividing question is not whether Jesus is great, both say he is, but who exactly he is.
Frequently asked questions
- How is Jesus understood in Islam?
- In Islam, Jesus (Isa) is one of the greatest prophets: virgin-born, called the Messiah (al-Masih), a word and a spirit from God, sinless, and a worker of miracles by God's permission. Islam teaches he was not divine, was not crucified, and will return.
- Do Muslims believe Jesus is God?
- No. Islam honours Jesus as a great prophet and the Messiah but teaches that God is one and Jesus is not divine. Christianity confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the central difference between the two faiths about Jesus.
- Does the Qur'an say Jesus was crucified?
- No. The Qur'an (4:157) says Jesus was not killed or crucified, but that it only appeared so, and that God raised him to Himself. Christianity, along with most historians, holds that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
Read the Gospel yourself
Do not take anyone’s word for it, including ours. The clearest way to know Jesus is to read his own words and watch what he does, and then decide for yourself who he is.
Read the Gospel of LukeWho is Jesus?Why Jesus?