Few figures in human history command reverence across so many traditions as Jesus, son of Mary — known in Islam as ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him). Yet his true identity, mission, and legacy remain among the most debated subjects in theology and spirituality. Islam does not diminish Jesus. On the contrary, the Quran honours him as one of the mightiest Messengers of Allah, born of a miraculous virgin birth, supported by extraordinary signs, and destined to return before the Day of Resurrection. Understanding Jesus through the lens of Islamic faith cuts through centuries of theological confusion and restores a picture of pure, uncompromising monotheism — the same message every Prophet from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them all) was sent to deliver.
‘Eesa ibn Maryam: The Quranic Portrait of a Chosen Prophet
The story of Jesus in Islam begins with his mother, Maryam (Mary), whom Allah chose above all women of her time for her piety, devotion, and purity. The angel Jibreel (Gabriel) appeared to her and announced the miraculous gift of a son — not through any human means, but through the divine command: “Be! — and it is.” This same word by which Allah created Adam from dust and Hawwa’ from Adam’s rib was the means by which ‘Eesa was brought into the world — a sign of Allah’s limitless creative power, not evidence of divine parenthood. From the moment of his birth, ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) was extraordinary: he spoke from the cradle, declaring himself a slave and Prophet of Allah, commanded to pray and give charity as long as he lived. His mission was clear — to call the Children of Israel back to the worship of Allah alone, to confirm the Torah, and to deliver the Gospel as guidance and light. Key aspects of his prophethood according to the Quran include:
- Born of a virgin by Allah’s command — a miracle affirming divine power, not divine incarnation
- Granted extraordinary miracles: healing the blind and lepers, raising the dead, fashioning a bird from clay — all by Allah’s permission
- Confirmed the Torah and brought the Gospel (Injeel) as guidance for the righteous
- Foretold the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), referring to him as “Ahmad”
- Was not crucified — Allah raised him up to Himself, and the one crucified was made to resemble him
- Will return before the Day of Resurrection as a just judge, breaking the cross and abolishing false doctrines
“The Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three (trinity)!’ Cease! It is better for you. For Allah is the only One God — Glory be to Him, Far Exalted is He above having a son.” [Quran 4:171]
Monotheism, the Crucifixion Narrative, and What Jesus Himself Will Testify
Islam’s position is not one of hostility toward Jesus — it is one of profound love and honour for him, paired with a firm rejection of what was attributed to him after his time. The doctrine of the Trinity, the belief in atonement through crucifixion, and the claim that God became a man are, from an Islamic perspective, not merely theological errors but a distortion of the very message ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) preached. Allah is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, the Ever-Living Creator of the heavens and the earth — entirely self-sufficient, in need of nothing, and infinitely beyond human limitation. The idea that He would need to take on flesh, suffer, and die to forgive sins contradicts the very nature of God. Islam teaches that forgiveness is direct: recognise the wrong, sincerely repent from the depths of the heart, and turn back to Allah — for He is Al-Ghaffaar, the Ever-Forgiving. On the Day of Resurrection, ‘Eesa himself will testify before Allah and all of creation:
- He will affirm that he never told his people to worship him or his mother as gods
- He called people only to worship Allah — “my Lord and your Lord”
- He had no knowledge of what people invented about him after Allah raised him up
- His testimony will refute both those who denied him (the Jews) and those who elevated him beyond his station (many Christians)
- The People of the Book who are alive at his return will believe in him rightly — as a Messenger, not a god
“He [‘Eesa] said: ‘Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allah) did command me to say: Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them; and You are a Witness to all things.'” [Quran 5:117]
The Islamic understanding of Jesus (peace be upon him) is not a lesser view of a great figure — it is the most complete, most coherent, and most consistent account of who he was and what he stood for. He was a slave of Allah, His Word, a sign and mercy for mankind, and one of the greatest Prophets ever sent. To love ‘Eesa in Islam is to uphold his actual message: the pure monotheism he preached, the humility before the One God he embodied, and the spiritual path he walked. For every sincere seeker of truth — whether approaching from a Christian, secular, or any other background — Islam’s portrait of Jesus invites not rejection but recognition: that God is One, that He has no partners, no son, and no need of intermediaries, and that every soul will stand before Him accountable for what it chose to believe and how it chose to live. This is the Straight Path, and it is the very message ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) was sent to declare.
