Muslim Beliefs About Jesus (ʿĪsā عليه السلام)
Muslims deeply respect and honor Jesus. In Islam, he is one of the greatest prophets and is mentioned more than 25 times in the Qur’an. Everything below is based on Islamic teachings.
His Name, Titles, and Status in Islam
Jesus is called:
- ʿĪsā ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary)
- Al-Masīḥ (The Messiah)
- Kalimatullāh (A Word from Allah)
- Rūḥun minhu (A spirit from Him)
- ʿAbdullāh (Servant of Allah)
Status:
- One of the five greatest Prophets (Ulul ʿAzm): Nūḥ (Noah), Ibrāhīm (Abraham), Mūsā (Moses), ʿĪsā (Jesus), and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
- Sent to guide the Children of Israel.
- A messenger of pure monotheism (Tawḥīd).
Islam honours him but does not give him divine status.
Miraculous Virgin Birth
Muslims firmly believe that:
- Jesus was born miraculously without a father.
- Mary (Maryam) is considered one of the purest and most honoured women.
- His birth happened by Allah’s command:
“Kun fayakūn” — “Be, and it is.”
The Qur’an compares his creation to Adam:
Adam was created without mother or father; Jesus without a father.
Jesus’ Mission and Message
Jesus was sent with:
- The Injīl (original Gospel)
- A message of monotheism: Worship Allah alone
- A renewal of Mosaic law (the law given to Moses [peace be upon him] by Allah) with ease and mercy
- Guidance to the Children of Israel who had gone astray
Jesus never claimed divinity in Islam.
He always said:
“Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.”
Jesus’ Miracles — All by Allah’s Permission
The Qur’an lists several miracles as below:
Speaking in the cradle
He defended his mother as a newborn.
Healing the blind and lepers
Bringing the dead back to life
Creating a bird from clay and giving it life
Jesus was given the miracle of knowing what people had just eaten, as well as what they had in store for the coming days.
Receiving the heavenly table (Mā’idah)
All miracles were done
“bi-idhni Allāh” by Allah’s permission,
showing he was a prophet, not a god.
Jesus Was Not the Son of God
Muslims believe Jesus is:
- Not divine
- Not the literal or symbolic son of God
- Not part of a trinity
This belief is central to Islamic monotheism.
All prophets, including Jesus, taught Tawḥīd — the Oneness of God.
Jesus Was Not Crucified or Killed
Islam teaches that:
- The Jews did not kill or crucify Jesus.
- It was made to appear so to them.
- Allah saved him and raised him alive to the heavens.
- Another was made to resemble him (details are unknown and not essential).
Thus, there is no crucifixion and no resurrection in Islamic belief.
Jesus Is Alive and Will Return Before the Day of Judgment
This is a key part of Islamic eschatology.
Jesus will return to:
- Defeat the false messiah (Al-Dajjāl)
- Break the cross (symbolic: ending false beliefs)
- Kill the swine (symbolic: restoring the original law)
- Rule with justice as a follower of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- Establish peace on earth
- Live out the rest of his natural life
- Die and be buried on earth
- Be resurrected with all humans on the day of Judgment
This second coming is not to bring a new religion,
but to affirm true monotheism and complete his earthly mission.
Jesus in the Qur’an
Jesus is mentioned in multiple chapters, including:
- Surah Al-Baqarah
- Surah Āl ʿImrān
- Surah An-Nisā’
- Surah Al-Mā’idah
- Surah Maryam
- Surah Al-Anbiyā’
- Surah As-Saff
No other prophet except Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is described with as much detail.
Muslims Love and Honor Jesus
Muslims:
- Believe in him as a prophet
- Revere him as the Messiah
- Love him deeply
- Believe in his miracles and message
- Mention his name with respect: ʿĪsā عليه السلام (peace be upon him)
- Believe rejecting him is disbelief (kufr)
But we worship Allah alone, not Jesus.
📌 Summary (Short Version)
Muslims believe Jesus:
- Was born miraculously
- Is a noble prophet and Messiah
- Performed miracles by Allah’s permission
- Was not divine
- Was not crucified
- Was raised to heaven
- Will return in the end times
- Will rule with justice
- Will die a natural death
The Qur’an speaks about Jesus (ʿIsa) with great respect. He is one of the greatest prophets in Islam. Here are the main teachings of the Qur’an about Jesus
Jesus is a Prophet and Messenger of God
The Qur’an repeatedly calls Jesus a prophet (nabī) and messenger (rasūl) sent to guide the Children of Israel.
“…Jesus, the son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah…” (Qur’an 4:171)
Born Miraculously to the Virgin Mary
Islam affirms the virgin birth of Jesus. Mary became pregnant without any human father, by the command of Allah.
- “She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said, ‘It will be so; Allah creates what He wills.’” (Qur’an 3:47)
Jesus performed miracles by Allah’s permission
The Qur’an mentions several miracles Jesus performed:
- speaking as a newborn
- healing the blind and the leper
- raising the dead
- creating a bird from clay
All by God’s permission.
- “…I heal the blind and the leper, and I bring the dead to life, by Allah’s permission.” (Qur’an 3:49)
Jesus is called “al-Masih” (the Messiah)
The Qur’an gives Jesus the title al-Masīḥ, meaning “the anointed one” or “chosen”.
- “The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, is a messenger of Allah…” (Qur’an 4:171)
Jesus is not God and not the son of God
Islam strongly rejects the idea that Jesus is divine.
- “He [Jesus] said, ‘Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.’” (Qur’an 19:36)
- “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary.’” (Qur’an 5:72)
Jesus was not crucified
he was raised up by God
According to the Qur’an, Jesus was not killed or crucified, but God protected him and raised him to the heaven.
- “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him… rather, Allah raised him to Himself.” (Qur’an 4:157–158)
Jesus brought the Gospel (Injil)
The Qur’an says Jesus received a scripture called the Injīl, which was a book of guidance and light.
- “And We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light.” (Qur’an 5:46)
- Jesus will return before the Day of Judgment
While not mentioned directly in the Qur’an, the Hadith teach that Jesus will return to defeat the false messiah (Dajjal) and restore justice before the end of time. Muslims universally believe in his second coming.
Jesus is honored above many
Jesus and his mother Mary are highly respected in the Qur’an.
“We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign…” (Qur’an 23:50)