Photograph by kz mozaffari via Unsplash

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are known as the Abrahamic faiths because Abraham (or Ibrahim in Islam) is considered a central figure in all these traditions. He is considered as the father of Judaism, in addition to being a prophet in Christianity and a prominent messenger of God in Islam. Jesus Christ, or Isa, as he is called in Islam, is a central figure in Islam too. Here I want to share how and where Jesus has been mentioned in the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims, and other sacred Islamic scriptures.

In Islam, it is believed that Prophet Isa was sent 570 years before the last messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad. Isa is referred to via multiple titles in the Qur’an, some of them are Al-Masih, which translates to “The Messiah,” Abdullah, which refers to him as a “servant of Allah”; and Ibn Maryam, which translates to the “son of Maryam.” It is in the context of Maryam (or Mary, as referred to in Christianity) that the story of the birth of Jesus Christ is established in Islam. Chapter 19 of the Qur’an, called Surah Maryam, recounts Isa’s birth story. The story narrates how Maryam, despite being chaste, was blessed with Isa. Maryam was traveling towards the East when she encountered Angel Gabriel, who informed her that she was to be blessed with a child. This chapter of the Quran narrates how Maryam exclaimed her astonishment to Gabriel and cited her chastity as a hindrance to her conceiving a child. However, Gabriel assuaged her concern by saying, “Our Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me. And so will We make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.’ It is a matter ˹already˺[i] decreed.” And thus, Isa was conceived.

In the Quran, Isa’s birthplace is said to have been under a date palm. It is also why many Muslim scholars believe that Isa was not born in December, as the presence of a date palm bearing ripe dates in the desert indicates that the season was either spring or summer.[ii] Another important facet surrounding Isa’s birth is that he does not share any familial ties with God, as the latter proclaims in verse 3 of chapter 112 (Surah Ikhlas) of the Qur’an: “He has never had offspring, nor was he born.” Muslims believe Isa to be a messenger of God, as he is also referred to as Al-Masih in the Quran.

Another important aspect of Isa’s story in the Quran is his “second coming.” Verse 61 of Chapter 43 in the Quran (Surah Zukhruf) states “And his ˹second˺ coming is truly a sign for the Hour. So have no doubt about it, and follow me. This is the Straight Path.” In Islam, another figure, the Mahdi, is believed to be “the guided” or one who will rid the world of evil and restore justice closer to the Day of Judgment. It is believed that during the rule of Mahdi, Isa will return to earth to aid the Mahdi in fighting the forces of Dajjal, who is considered the human incarnation of Satan and a false messiah, in Syria. This is also supplemented by another verse in the Quran, in Verse 55, Chapter 3 (Surah Ali’ Imran) where God declares that Isa will be returned to God and that all his followers will be placed above the disbelievers and eventually return to God on the Day of Judgement. This verse also highlights Isa’s death, which Christians believe happened as a result of a crucifixion. The Quran explicitly disagrees with this, as is mentioned in verse 156 of chapter 4 (Surah An-Nisa) “…they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so.” Thus, in Islamic tradition, it is widely held that Isa was called back to God and never died, making his comeback not a resurrection, but rather a return from God to earth.

The story of Isa in Islam differs significantly from Christian beliefs. First, Isa is regarded as a messenger of God, not God’s son. Second, Isa’s return to earth and the significance placed on his followers are emphasized. Finally, perhaps the most crucial to the Islamic faith is the rejection of his crucifixion. However, despite these differences, there are also similarities between Christianity’s and Islam’s perceptions of Isa: his virgin birth by Mary, his “second coming,” and his qualities of love, kindness, and humility. While religious traditions can exist with differences between them, it is important as humans to concentrate on what unites us in our striving for peace, kindness, and justice: all qualities that Isa or Jesus embodied.