Jesus in the Qur’an: Prophet, Messenger, and Sign of Allah

A Messenger to the Children of Israel

Jesus (as), known in Arabic as ‘Isa al-Masih, holds a unique and revered position in Islam. He is not a divine figure nor the literal son of God, but a mighty messenger of Allah, born miraculously to Maryam (as). The Qur’an establishes his mission clearly: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord… Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him alone. This is the Straight Path” (Q 3:49-51).

The Miracles of Jesus

Unlike any other prophet, Jesus was granted a series of extraordinary miracles by Allah’s permission. The Qur’an lists them explicitly: he would create a bird from clay, breathe into it, and it would become a real bird. He would heal the blind and the leper, and raise the dead to life. He would even inform people of what they ate and stored in their houses (Q 3:49). These signs were not proof of his divinity but rather clear evidence of his prophethood and the power of his Creator.

The Ascension and Divine Plan

The narrative of Jesus in the Qur’an concludes not with a crucifixion but with a triumphant ascension. Allah declares, “O Jesus! I will take you and raise you up to Myself. I will deliver you from those who disbelieve, and elevate your followers above the disbelievers until the Day of Judgment” (Q 3:55). This verse corrects a common misconception and affirms that the divine plan for Jesus was one of honour, not humiliation.

Jesus and Adam: A Divine Parallel

Perhaps the most powerful theological statement about Jesus in the Qur’an is the divine parallel drawn between him and Adam. “Indeed, the example of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be!’ And he was!” (Q 3:59). This verse refutes the claim of Jesus’s divine sonship by pointing to an even greater miracle: a human created without either a father or a mother. If Adam’s creation without parents does not make him divine, neither does the miraculous birth of Jesus.

A Call to Common Ground

The Qur’an concludes its discussion of Jesus by inviting all people, especially Christians and Jews, to a common term: “that we will worship none but Allah, associate none with Him, nor take one another as lords instead of Allah” (Q 3:64). The story of Jesus in Islam is thus not a source of division but a bridge to unity, centred on the pure worship of the One God.

Haj Firas Naji