I. The Figure of Jesus in Revelation
No figure has shaped the theological imagination of the world like Jesus, the son of Mary (ʿIsa peace be upon him). In both Christianity and Islam, His birth, message, and miracles stand as signs of divine power. Yet the understanding of His nature divides the two faiths sharply.
“[The angels said:] ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a Word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary — distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah].’”
Islam reveres Jesus not as divine but as a prophet — born miraculously without a father, speaking truth from the cradle, and performing miracles by God’s permission. His mission was to renew the monotheism of Israel and to prepare the way for the final messenger, Muhammad ﷺ.
II. The Christian Deification of Christ
Christian theology, over centuries, elevated Jesus from prophet to divine being. The doctrine of incarnation — that God became man — sought to explain the mystery of divine love. Yet in doing so, it blurred the boundary between Creator and creation. The Qur’an restores that distinction, affirming Jesus’ prophethood while denying his divinity.
“They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary.’ The Messiah said, ‘O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’”
This verse summarizes the Qur’anic position: Jesus is exalted, but not divine; honored, but not worshiped. To divinize him is to misunderstand both him and his message.
III. The Book of Mormon and the “Restored Christ”
The Book of Mormon presents Jesus as the divine Son who, after his resurrection, visited the Americas and preached the same gospel as in Palestine. It asserts continuity between Old World and New World Christianity, claiming that ancient American prophets foresaw His coming.
“And He shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.”
While this portrayal aligns superficially with Christian theology, it raises historical and theological challenges. There is no evidence — archaeological, linguistic, or cultural — of a pre-Columbian Christian civilization. Moreover, the claim of divine visitation contradicts the Qur’an’s affirmation that Jesus’ mission was limited to the Children of Israel.
“And [mention] when Jesus said, ‘O Children of Israel, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.’”
IV. Joseph Smith and the Question of Prophethood
Joseph Smith’s prophetic claim rests on visions, angelic visitations, and the translation of the Book of Mormon. His followers regard him as a prophet in the same line as Moses, Isaiah, and Jesus. Yet Islam maintains that the finality of prophethood was sealed with Muhammad ﷺ, whose revelation was universal and preserved.
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.”
By introducing a new prophetic authority and scripture, Smith’s claim stands outside the established framework of divine revelation recognized in Abrahamic tradition. His revelations, written in nineteenth-century English and reflecting his own cultural milieu, lack the timeless linguistic and moral miracle characteristic of divine speech.
V. Miracles and Moral Proof
The Qur’an presents miracles as signs, not spectacles — evidence for the truth of a messenger, not a means of entertainment or personal glorification. Jesus’ miracles serve this purpose, as do those of Moses and Muhammad ﷺ. The true miracle of the final revelation, however, is the Qur’an itself: linguistic, moral, and intellectual in nature.
“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our servant, then produce a surah the like thereof.”
Joseph Smith’s miracles, by contrast, rely on testimonial faith and lack external verification. The Qur’anic principle — that revelation must withstand both time and reason — offers a criterion by which all claims may be judged.
VI. Reflection — Two Prophets, Two Messages
Jesus represents the bridge between divine revelation and human redemption; Joseph Smith represents humanity’s attempt to reach heaven through imitation of revelation. The first is confirmed by prophecy, the second by personal conviction. One restores divine truth; the other reinterprets it.
“He it is who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.”
In the Qur’an, Jesus foretells not Joseph Smith but Muhammad ﷺ, the final prophet whose message unites the revelations of all who came before. Thus, while the Book of Mormon seeks to continue revelation, Islam declares its completion.
The contrast is not merely historical but theological: one claims to renew what God has finished; the other affirms what God has perfected.