Jesus (Isa) in the Qur’an

Jesus is actually mentioned by name in more than 93 different verses in the Qur’an! 

To witness to Muslims, it is helpful for Christians to know what the Qur’an teaches. Muslims believe that the Bible has been corrupted, and therefore the teachings it contains about Jesus are corrupt. So, if you tell a Muslim what the Qur’an says about Jesus, he will be more inclined to listen to what you have to say. Muslims who have converted to Christianity point out the importance of using verses in the Qur’an that speak the truth about Jesus when witnessing to Muslims.

To the Christian, Jesus is Savior, Lord, and Son of God. The primary message which Islam delivers about Jesus (Isa) is that He was a prophet. For that reason, the Muslim who is knowledgeable about the Qur’an will use His name and titles reverently. But the Qur’an has much more to say about Isa than that he is only a prophet. Here are a few of the things the Qur’an says about Isa:

The Virgin Birth: The Qur’an affirms Jesus’ virgin birth. Because of this, Mary is given high regard and considered with great honor. But Jesus is not held in the same high regard even though He was born of a virgin. Rather His virgin birth is seen as a sign of Allah’s power and as a miraculous event (Sura 3:47, Sura 19:19-20).

Miracles:  Jesus is described in both the Bible and the Qur’an as having performed miracles. It reports in the Bible in Matthew 1:21 that Jesus accomplished miracles to point people to his primary mission, to save them from their sins. The Qur’an stresses that the miracles of Jesus revealed in the Qur’an were performed by the permission and power of Allah, but no reference to any relationship of miracles to Jesus’ mission of saving people from their sins. Interestingly, there are no miracles attributed to Muhammad anywhere in the Qur’an. 

Word of God: No other prophets, including Muhammad, are called the word of God. Muslims explain Jesus was a “word.” This refers to Jesus in terms of being a prophet or of coming with a word; as a messenger. In the Qur’an, there is no connection between Jesus as the word who becomes flesh as it is taught in the Bible (John 1:1, 14). 

Not the Son of God:  Islam teaches that Jesus is only a prophet who is a created being. He is a great man but not Savior and Lord. They deny Jesus was God incarnate. To say Jesus is the Son of God is considered blasphemy. Any Muslim who believes that Jesus Christ is God has committed “the one unforgivable sin” called shirk — a sin that will send him to hell. To associate the divine nature of Allah with a man is the greatest sin one can commit. Muslims need to know that they have misunderstood the Christian belief in the Trinity. Christians do not believe in three Gods. Christians believe God is One, and only one, but believe He eternally exists in Tri-unity. This is a mystery, but to those who will, by faith, accept God in His great revelation to man, the Holy Bible declares that this mystery becomes a reality. However, Muslims believe that Christians are polytheists (believing in three gods – God, Jesus, and Mary).

Messiah means Anointed One in Hebrew and Christ, in Greek. However, in the Qur’an, this title for Jesus has a different meaning than for the Jews or Christians. To the Muslim, the title of Messiah means Jesus as messenger with the task of equipping and commissioning. The role of Jesus, the Messiah, who is Savior, is found only in the Bible.

PRAYER POINTS

• A Muslim can be full of fear to believe that Jesus Christ is God because it is “the one unforgivable sin” called shirk — a sin that will send him to hell. Pray their eyes will be opened to Jesus and have the courage to respond to the One who is Truth.
• Pray that Muslims will have an opportunity to experience signs and wonders in the name of Jesus, and His miracle-working power released in their lives.