The Mission of Jesus: An Islamic Perspective
Qur’anic Verses Highlighting the Mission of Jesus
The Qur’an mentions Jesus Christ (Isa in Arabic) numerous times, emphasizing His crucial role as a prophet and a messenger of God. Below are some key verses that outline His mission:
Sūrah 57:26-27
<p>“And of old sent We Noah and Abraham, and on their seed conferred the gift of prophecy, and the Book; and some of them We guided aright; but many were evildoers. Then We caused our apostles to follow in their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow them; and We gave him the Evangel and We put into the hearts of those who followed him kindness and compassion: but as to the monastic life, they invented it themselves. The desire only of pleasing God did We prescribe to them, and this they observed not as it ought to have been observed: but to such of them as believed gave We their reward, though many of them were perverse.”</p>
- Etymology: “Jesus” in Arabic is “عيسى” (
Isa); “Noah” is “نوح” (Nuh); “Abraham” is “إبراهيم” (Ibrahim). - Arabic translation: وأرسلنا نوحا وإبراهيم، وجعلنا في ذريتهم النبوة والكتاب؛ فمنهم مهتدٍ وكثير منهم فاسقون. ثم قفينا على آثارهم برسلنا، وقفينا بعيسى ابن مريم وآتيناه الإنجيل وجعلنا في قلوب الذين اتبعوه رأفة ورحمة، ورهبانية ابتدعوها ما كتبناها عليهم، إلا ابتغاء رضوان الله؛ فما رعوها حق رعايتها.
Sūrah 5:50-51
<p>“And in the footsteps of the prophets caused We Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow, confirming the law which was before him: and We gave him the Evangel with its guidance and light, confirmatory of the preceding Law; a guidance and warning to those who fear God;—And that the people of the Evangel may judge according to what God hath sent down therein. And whoso will not judge by what God hath sent down—such are the perverse.”</p>
- Arabic translation: وقفينا على آثارهم بعيسى ابن مريم مصدقاً لما بين يديه من التوراة وآتيناه الإنجيل فيه هدى ونوراً ومصدقاً لما بين يديه من التوراة وهدى وموعظة للمتقين.
Sūrah 2:87
<p>“Moreover, to Moses gave We ’the Book,’ and We raised up apostles after him; and to Jesus, son of Mary, gave We clear proofs of his mission, and strengthened him by the Holy Spirit. So oft then as an apostle cometh to you with that which your souls desire not, swell ye with pride, and treat some as impostors, and slay others?”</p>
- Arabic translation: ولقد آتينا موسى الكتاب وقفينا من بعده بالرسل وآتينا عيسى ابن مريم البينات وأيدناه بروح القدس؛ أفكلما جاءكم رسول بما لا تهوى أنفسكم استكبرتم؛ ففريقا كذبتم وفريقا تقتلون؟.
Sūrah 6:85
<p>“And Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias: all were just persons.”</p>
- Arabic translation: وزكريا ويحيى وعيسى وإلياس؛ كل من الصالحين.
The Role and Significance of Jesus in Islam
In Islamic theology, Jesus (Isa) holds a highly esteemed position. Here are some key points to understand His mission and role:
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Prophethood: Jesus is considered one of the mightiest messengers of Allah. He was sent to guide the Children of Israel, confirming the Torah that came before him, and bringing the Gospel (Injil).
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Crucifixion: Contrary to Christian belief, Islam asserts that Jesus was not crucified but was rather taken up to heaven by God.
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Miraculous Birth and Signs: Jesus was born miraculously to the Virgin Mary (Maryam) and was bestowed with the ability to perform miracles such as healing the sick and reviving the dead, by God’s permission.
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Second Coming: According to Islamic eschatology, Jesus will return at the end of times to restore justice and defeat the false messiah (Al-Dajjal).
Books for Further Studies
- “Jesus in the Qur’an” by Geoffrey Parrinder: Explores the position of Jesus from the perspective of Islamic tradition.
- “The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature” by Tarif Khalidi: A compendium of quotes and narratives about Jesus from various Islamic texts.
- “Islam and Christianity” by John Esposito: Provides a comparative study of key theological concepts in both religions.
Takeaways and Conclusion
- Jesus in Islam: Revered as a key prophet, confirming the laws before Him, bringing new scripture, and performing miracles.
- Eschatological Role: Expected to return at the end of times.
- Similarities and Differences: Understanding Jesus in Islam provides an interesting perspective on shared traditions and distinct beliefs between Islam and Christianity.
In conclusion, the Qur’an asserts the significant role and mission of Jesus Christ, marking Him as an essential part of the prophetic tradition and emphasizing His divine mission to guide humanity.
Make sure to explore further readings to deepen your understanding of these intricate theological concepts and their implications in Islamic thought.
