‘Isa, the Muslim Jesus
by Dr Mark Durie
"The word Christian is not a valid word, for there is no religion of Christianity according to Islam". — www.answering-christianity.com
Today we increasingly hear and read that Christianity and Islam ‘share’ Jesus, that he belongs to both religions. So also with Abraham: there is talk of the West’s ‘Abrahamic civilization’ where once people spoke of ‘Judeo-Christian civilization’. This shift of thinking reflects the growing influence of Islam.
These notes offer some information and reflections on the ‘Muslim Jesus’, to help put this trend in its proper context.
References in brackets are to the Koran. Numbering systems for the Koranic verses are not standardized: be prepared to search through nearby verses for the right one.
Islam the primordial faith
Islam regards itself, not as a subsequent faith to Judaism and Christianity, but as the primordial religion, the faith from which Judaism and Christianity are subsequent developments. In the Koran we read that Abraham ‘was not a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a monotheist, a Muslim’ (3:66). So it is Muslims, and not Christians or Jews, who are the true representatives of the faith of Abraham to the world today. (1:134)
The Biblical prophets were all Muslims
Many prophets of the past received the one religion of Islam. (42:13) Who were these previous prophets? According to the Sura The Cattle (6:85-87) they include Ibrahim (Abraham), ‘Ishaq (Issac), Yaqub (Jacob), Nuh (Noah), Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), Harun (Aaron), Zakariyya (Zachariah), Yahya (John the Baptist), ‘Isa (Jesus), Ilyas, Ishmael, Al-Yash’a (Elisha), Yunus (Jonah) and Lut (Lot).
The Muslim ‘Isa (Jesus)
There are two main sources for ‘Isa, the Muslim Jesus. The Koran gives a history of his life, whilst the Hadith collections — recollections of Muhammad’s words and deeds — establish his place in the Muslim understanding of the future.
The Koran
‘Isa, was a prophet of Islam
Jesus’ true name, according to the Koran, was ‘Isa. His message was pure Islam, surrender to Allah. (3:84) Like all the Muslim prophets before him, and like Muhammad after him, ‘Isa was a lawgiver, and Christians should submit to his law. (3:50; 5:48) ‘Isa’s original disciples were also true Muslims, for they said ‘We believe. Bear witness that we have surrendered. We are Muslims.’ (5:111)
‘The Books’
Like all the prophets of Islam before him, ‘Isa received his revelation of Islam in the form of a book. (6:90) ‘Isa’s book is called the Injil or ‘gospel’. (5:46) The Torah was Abraham’s book, and the Zabur (Psalms) were David’s book. So Jews and Christians are ‘people of the Book’. The one religion revealed in these books was Islam. (3:18)
As with previous prophets, ‘Isa’s revelation verified previous prophets’ revelations. (3:49,84; 5:46; 61:6) Muhammad himself verified all previous revelations, including the revelation to ‘Isa (4:47), and so Muslims must believe in the revelation which ‘Isa received. (1:136) However, after ‘Isa the Injil was lost in its original form. Today the Koran is the only sure guide to ‘Isa’s teaching.
The biography of ‘Isa
According to the Koran, ‘Isa was the Messiah. He was supported by the ‘Holy Spirit’. (2:87; 5:110) He is also referred to as the ‘Word of Allah’. (4:171)
‘Isa’s mother Mariam was the daughter of ‘Imran, (3:34,35) — cf the Amram of Exodus 6:20 — and the sister of Aaron (and Moses). (19:28) She was fostered by Zachariah (father of John the Baptist). (3:36) While still a virgin (6:12; 19:19-21) Mariam gave birth to ‘Isa alone in a desolate place under a date palm tree. 19:22ff) (Not in Bethlehem).
‘Isa spoke whilst still a baby in his cradle. 3:46; 5:110; 19:30) He performed various other miracles, including breathing life into clay birds, healing the blind and lepers, and raising the dead. (3:49; 5:111) He also foretold the coming of Muhammad. (61:6)
‘Isa did not die on a cross
Christians and Jews have corrupted their scriptures. 3:74-77, 113) Although Christians believe ‘Isa died on a cross, and Jews claim they killed him, in reality he was not killed or crucified, and those who said he was crucified lied (4:157). ‘Isa did not die, but ascended to Allah. (4:158) On the day of Resurrection ‘Isa himself will be a witness against Jews and Christians for believing in his death. (4:159)
Christians should accept Islam, and all true Christians will
Christians (and Jews) could not be freed from their ignorance until Muhammad came bringing the Koran as clear evidence (98:1). Muhammad was Allah’s gift to Christians to correct misunderstandings. They should accept Muhammad as Allah’s Messenger, and the Koran as his final revelation. (5:15; 57:28; 4:47)
Some Christians and Jews are faithful and believe truly. (3:113,114) Any such true believers will submit to Allah by accepting Muhammad as the prophet of Islam, i.e. they will become Muslims. (3:198)
Although Jews and pagans will have the greatest enmity against Muslims, it is the Christians who will be ‘nearest in love to the believers’, i.e. to Muslims. (5:82) True Christians will not love Muhammad’s enemies. (58:22) In other words, anyone who opposes Muhammad is not a true Christian.
Christians who accept Islam or refuse it
Some Jews and Christians are true believers, accepting Islam: most are transgressors. (3:109)
Many monks and rabbis are greedy for wealth and prevent people from coming to Allah. (9:34,35)
Christians and Jews who disbelieve in Muhammad will go to hell. (98:6)
Muslims should not take Christians or Jews for friends. (5:51) They must fight against Christians and Jews who refuse Islam until they surrender, pay the poll-tax and are humiliated. (9:29) To this may be added hundreds of Koranic verses on the subject of jihad in the path of Allah, as well as the ‘Book of Jihad’ found in all Hadith collections.
Christian beliefs
Christians are commanded not to believe that ‘Isa is the son of God: ‘It is far removed from his transcendent majesty that he should have a son’. (4:171; 25:2) ‘Isa was simply a created human being, and a slave of Allah. (4:172; 3:59)
Christians are claimed by the Koran to believe in a family of gods — Father God, mother Mary and ‘Isa the son — but ‘Isa rejected this teaching. (5:116) The doctrine of the Trinity is disbelief and a painful doom awaits those who believe it. (5:73)
‘Isa (Jesus) in the Hadith
‘Isa the destroyer of Christianity
The prophet ‘Isa will have an important role in the end times, establishing Islam and making war until he destroys all religions save Islam. He shall kill the Evil One (Dajjal), an apocalyptic anti-Christ figure.
In one tradition of Muhammad we read that no further prophets will come to earth until ‘Isa returns as ‘a man of medium height, or reddish complexion, wearing two light garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head although it will not be wet. He will fight for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill pigs, and abolish the poll-tax. Allah will destroy all religions except Islam. He (‘Isa) will destroy the Evil One and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die’. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 37: 4310) The Sahih Muslim has a variant of this tradition: ‘The son of Mary ... will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will ... abolish the poll-tax, and the wealth will pour forth to such an extent that no one will accept charitable gifts.’ (Sahih Muslim 287)
What do these sayings mean? The cross is a symbol of Christianity. Breaking crosses means abolishing Christianity. Pigs are associated with Christians. Killing them is another way of speaking of the destruction of Christianity. Under Islamic law the poll-tax buys the protection of the lives and property of conquered ‘people of the Book’. (Sura 9:29) The abolition of the poll-tax means jihad is restarted against Christians (and Jews) living under Islam, who should convert to Islam, or else be killed or enslaved. The abundance of wealth refers to booty flowing to the Muslims from this conquest. This is what the Muslim ‘Isa will do when he returns in the last days.
Critical Comments on the Muslim ‘Isa (Jesus)
‘Isa not an historical figure
The Koran’s ‘Isa is not an historical figure. His identity and role as a prophet of Islam is based solely on supposed revelations to Muhammad over half a millennium after the Jesus of history lived and died.
Jesus’ name was never ‘Isa
Jesus’ mother tongue was Aramaic. In his own lifetime he was called Yeshua in Aramaic, and Jesu in Greek. This is like calling the same person John when speaking English and Jean when speaking French: Jesu, pronounced "Yesoo", is the Greek form of Aramaic Yeshua. (The final -s in Jesu-s is a Greek grammatical ending.) Yeshua is itself a form of Hebrew Yehoshua’, which means ‘the Lord is salvation’. However Yehoshua’ is normally given in English as Joshua. So Joshua and Jesus are variants of the same name.
Yeshua of Nazareth was never called ‘Isa, the name the Koran gives to him.
Jesus did not receive a ‘book’
According to the Koran, the ‘book’ revealed to ‘Isa was the Injil. The word Injil is a corrupted form of the Greek euanggelion ‘good news’ or gospel. What was this euanggelion? This was just how Jesus referred to his message: as good news. The expression euanggelion did not refer to a fixed revealed text, and there is absolutely no evidence that Jesus received a ‘book’ of revelation from God.
The ‘gospels’ of the Bible are biographies |
