Chapter Five
Jesus in the Bible and in Islam
A Journey of Revelation
Chapter 5:
Introduction
The figure of Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus ‘peace be upon him’ son of Mary ‘God Almighty be pleased with her), is central in both the Qur’an and the Bible. Islam affirms his prophethood, his miraculous birth, and his role as a messenger, while rejecting any attribution of divinity to him. This chapter examines textual evidence to clarify his true status and correct common misconceptions.
Jesus Birth and Prophetic Status
The Qur’an emphasizes the miraculous birth of Jesus (peace be upon him), a sign from God Almighty, while asserting that he is a servant and messenger, not divine:
“The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, is only a messenger of God Almighty, His word which He conveyed to Mary (God Almighty be pleased with her), and a spirit from Him.”
Qur’an 4:171
Ibn Kathir (God Almighty be merciful to him) explains that the Qur’an explicitly negates any claim that Jesus (peace be upon him) is God Almighty or the son of God Almighty, affirming his humanity and servanthood while highlighting his miraculous birth as a sign of God Almighty’s power.
The Bible records the virgin birth:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
The Qur’an confirms the virgin birth and also corrects misconceptions by stating that Jesus (peace be upon him) was a servant and not part of the Godhead:
“The angels said: O Mary, God Almighty gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, illustrious in this world and the Hereafter.”
Qur’an 3:45
Miracles as Signs, Not Divinity
The Qur’an recounts that Jesus (peace be upon him) performed miracles by God Almighty’s permission:
“And I cure the blind and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah’s permission.”
Qur’an 3:49
The scholars explained that these miracles demonstrate God Almighty’s power, not Jesus’s divinity. They were signs confirming his prophethood.
Similarly, the Bible records miracles:
“And Jesus healed many who were sick with various diseases, and he raised the dead.”
Matthew 4:24; John 11:43-44
These passages reflect Jesus’s prophetic mission, not the nature of God Almighty.
Refutation of Divinity in Islam
The Qur’an explicitly denies that Jesus (peace be upon him) is divine or the son of God Almihty:
“Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He does not beget, nor is He begotten, and there is none comparable to Him.”
Qur’an 112:1-4
Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir (God Almighty be merciful to them) emphasized that associating Jesus (peace be upon him) with divinity contradicts the testimony of all prophets and the unbroken call to Tawheed.
The Bible contains passages where the disciples recognize Jesus (peace be upon him) as servant and messenger of God Almighty:
“The Son of Man came to serve, not to be served.”
Mark 10:45
This aligns with the Qur’anic depiction of Jesus (peace be upon him) as a servant and messenger, clarifying that his elevation in some later traditions does not reflect his original prophetic status.
The Crucifixion and Ascension
The Qur’an clarifies that Jesus (peace be upon him) was not killed or crucified but raised by Allah:
“They did not kill him, nor crucify him; but it was made to appear so to them. And Allah raised him unto Himself.”
Qur’an 4:157-158
The scholars explained that this prevents any claim of divinity based on death, affirming God Almighty’s power and Jesus’s status as a prophet.
Conclusion
Isa ibn Maryam, peace be upon him, is a **servant, messenger, and sign of God Almighty**, born miraculously, performing miracles by God Almighty’s permission, and elevated by Him. Both the Qur’an and authentic Biblical texts affirm his human prophethood. Islam preserves the pure monotheistic understanding, refuting any attribution of divinity or sonship.
All Qur’anic interpretations are based on classical tafsir from the Companions and early scholars. Biblical citations are included for comparative purposes.