Jesus
To establish your relationship with another on a sound basis, it is necessary to
know his perspective about you.
It is difficult for a Muslim to know what perspective a Christian has about Islam; but it
is, however, easy for a Christian to know the Muslim's perspective about Christianity, as
he (the Christian) only needs to refer to the Quran, the basic source of religious
teaching of Muslims.
It is for this purpose that this paper was prepared. Below, is a compilation of verses of
the Holy Quran which refer to Jesus and Christianity.
Behold, God chose Adam, and Noah, and the House of Abraham, and
the House of Imran above all mankind ,
Offspring, each one of them is like the other. And God is All
Hearing, All-Knowing.
Behold! the wife of Imran prayed: "O my Lord! I do dedicate unto
You what is within my womb to be devoted to Your service. Accept
it, then, from me; verily You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing."
But when she had given birth to the child, she said: "O my Lord!
I have given birth to a female!" - And God knew best what she
would give birth to - " and the male is not as the female and I
have named her Mary. And verily, I seek Your protection for her
and her offspring against Satan, the accursed."
Graciously her Lord accepted her; He made her grow in purity and
beauty, and placed her in the care of Zachariah. Whenever
Zachariah visited her in her place of worship, he found her
(spiritually) sustained. He would ask: "O Mary, how is it that
you are sustained ?" She would answer: "From God; for God
provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure."
[3:33-37]
Behold! the angels said:"O Mary! God has chosen you and made you
pure, and had chosen you above all the women of the world.
O Mary!remain truly devout unto your Lord and prostrate yourself
in worship, and bow down with those who bow down(before Him)."
[3:42-43]
And (God has set forth an example for those ,how believe) Mary,
the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, whereupon We
breathed of Our spirit into(her body),and she accepted the truth
of her Lord's words - and of His revelations and was one of the
truly devout. [66:12]
And (remember) her who guarded her chastity, whereupon we
breathed into her of Our spirit and caused her and her son, to
become a sign for all mankind. [21:91]
And (as We exalted Moses, so, too, ) We made the son of Mary and
his mother a sign, and We gave them both shelter on high ground,
affording rest and security and furnished with a spring.
[23:50]
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God sends you the glad tiding,
through a word from Him, his name will be Christ Jesus, the son
of Mary, held in honour in this world and the hereafter and
(shall be) of those nearest to God.And he shall speak to men in
the cradle and maturity and be one of the righteous."
She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has
ever touched me?"
(An angel) answered:"Even so; God creates what He wills; when he
wills a thing to be, he but says unto it, 'BE'- and it is.
And God will teach him the Book and wisdom, the (original) Torah
and the Gospel and (will make him) an apostle to the children of
Israel, (with this message): " 'I have come to you, with a Sign
from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were,
the shape of bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by
God' leave;and I heal those born blind and the lepers and revive
the dead by God's leave; and I shall let you know what you may
eat and what you should store up in you houses. Surely in that
is a sign for you if you are believers.
And (I have come) to confirm the truth of whatever still remains
of the Torah that was revealed before, and make lawful to you
some of the things which (before) were forbidden unto you. And I
have come to you with a Sign from your Lord;so fear your God and
obey me."
Truly, God is my Lord and your Lord; Then worship Him (alone);
this is a straight way.'" [3:45-51]
And mention in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew
from her family to a place in the East.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent
to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all
respects.
She said: "I seek refuge in the All-Merciful from you! (do not
approach me) if you are conscious of God!"
(The angel) answered: "I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to
announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."
She said:"How shall I have a son when no man has ever touched me
- and I am not unchaste?"
He said: "Even so, - your Lord has said, 'That is easy for Me -
and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto mankind and a Mercy
from Us'" - and it was a matter decreed (by God).
Then she conceived him, and withdrew with him to a remote place.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-
tree - she exclaimed: "I wish that I had died before this! That
I had been a thing forgotten, and out of sight! Thereupon (a
voice) called out to her from beneath that (palm-tree): "Grieve
not! Your Lord has provided a rivulet (flowing) beneath you.
And shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards you; it will drop
fresh, ripe dates upon you.
So eat and drink and be comforted and pleased and if you do see
any human being, say,"I have vowed a fast to (God) Most Gracious,
and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being."
In time she returned to her people, carrying the child.
They said: "O Mary! You have indeed do done an amazing thing!
O Sister of Aaron! Your father was not an evil man, nor was your
mother unchaste."
Thereupon she pointed to him (the baby).
They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He (the baby) said: "I am indeed a servant of God; He has given
me the scripture and made me a prophet, and made me blessed
wherever I may be; and He has enjoined upon me prayer and charity
as long as I live, and to cherish my mother, and has not made me
arrogant or unblessed.
Hence, peace be on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and
the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)."
That is, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary,about whose
nature they so deeply disagree.
It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget
a son. Glory to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to
it, "BE", and it is.
And (thus it was that Jesus always said):" Verily, God is my Lord
and your Lord; so worship (none but) Him - this is a straight way."
[19:16-36]
Behold! God will say: " O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember the
blessings which I bestowed upon you and your mother - hwo I
strengthened you with holy inspiration, so that you could speak
unto men in your cradle, and as a mature man; and how I imparted
unto you revelation and wisdom, including the (original) Torah
and the Gospel; and how you create out of clay, as it were, the
shape of a bird, by My leave; and you breathe into it and it
becomes a bird by My leave; and you heal those born blind, and
the lepers, by My leave; and how you raise the dead by My leave;
and how I prevented the children of Israel from harming you when
you came to them with all the evidence of the truth, and the
unbelievers among them said: "This is nothing but obvious magic."
"And behold! I inspired the Disciples to have faith in Me and My
Apostle", they said: "We have faith, and do bear witness that we
are Muslims (i.e. those who surrender themselves to God)."
Behold! the Disciples said: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Would it be
possible that your Lord send down unto us a feast from heaven?".
(Jesus) answered: "Be conscious of God, if you are (truly)
believers!"
They said: "We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts,
and to know that you have indeed told us the truth; and that we
ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle"
Said Jesus the son of Mary: "O God our Lord! Send us from heaven
a feast that there may be for us - for the first and the last of
us - a sacred festival and a Sign from You; and provide for our
sustenance, for You are the best Sustainer (of our needs)."
God answered: "I will send it down unto you - but if any of you
after that reject faith, I will punish him with a penalty such as
I have not inflicted on any one among all the peoples."
[5:110-115]
We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of
Apostles; We gave Jesus the son of Mary, all the evidence of the
truth,and strengthened him with holy inspiration. (Yet) it is not
so the every time an Apostle came unto you (children of Israel)
with something that was not to your liking, you gloried in your
arrogance, some you called imposters and others you killed."
[2:87]
Those apostles We endowed with gifts, some above others; among
them were such as were spoken to by God (Himself); others
He raised in rank; To Jesus,the son of Mary, We gave all evidence
of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration. If God
so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought one
against the other,after all evidence of the truth had come to him,
but they fell into variance, some believing and others rejecting.
Yet if God had so willed, they would not have fought one against
the other - but God does whatever He wills. [2:253]
And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps
of those (earlier prophets), confirming the truth of whatever
there still remained of the (original) Torah; and We gave him the
Gospel, wherein there was guidance and light,confirming the truth
of whatever there still remained of the (original) Torah, and as
a guidance and admonition unto the God-conscious.
[5:46]
Then we sent after them (i.e. Noah and Abraham) Our apostles; and
we sent Jesus, son of Mary, and bestowed on him the Gospel; and
in the hearts of those who (truly) followed him We engendered
compassion and mercy. But as for monastic asceticism - We did not
enjoin it upon them; they invented it themselves out of desire
for God's goodly acceptance. But then, they did not (always)
observe it as it ought to have been observed; yet We bestowed, on
those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of
them are rebellious transgressors. [57:27]
And when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O children of Israel!
Behold, I am an apostle of God unto you, (sent) to confirm the
truth of whatever there still remains of the (original) Torah,and
to give (you) the glad tiding of an apostle who shall come after
me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with
evidence of the truth, they said: "This is nothing but obvious
magic!" [61:6]
When the son of Mary is quoted as an example; Behold (O Muhammed)
your people (the unbelievers amongst them) laugh loudly at the
example, and say: "Which is better - our gods or he?" They quoted
this example only for the sake of argument; certainly they are an
argumentative people.
He was no more than a servant ant (of Ours);We granted our favour
to him,and We made him to be an example to the Children of Israel.
And had We so willed, We would have replaced you with angels on
the earth.
And (Jesus and/or the Quran) shall be a Sign (for the coming) of
the Hour (of Judgment); therefore have no doubt about the (Hour),
but follow Me; this (alone) is the straight way.
And let not Satan hinder you; verily,he is to you an avowed enemy.
Now when Jesus came (to his people) with all evidence of the truth,
he said: "Now I have come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make
clear to you some of the (points) on which you dispute, therefore,
be conscious of God and obey me.
For God, He is my Lord and your Lord; so worship (none but) Him;
this (alone) is the straight way!"
But factions from among those. (who came after Jesus) began to
hold divergent views; then woe to the wrong-doers,from the Penalty
of a Grievous Day!
[43:57-65]
And when Jesus came to know of their disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers
in God's cause?" The Disciple replied: "We are God's helpers; we believe in God,
and do bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we surrender to God).
Our Lord! we believe in what You have revealed, and w follow the Apostle (Jesus); then
write us down among those who bear witness." And they (unbelievers) plotted and
planned (against Jesus); and God too planned, and the best of planners is God.
Behold! God said: "O Jesus! I will take you and raise You to Myself and clear you (of
the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow you superior to those
who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection.
In the end, unto me you all must return, and I shall judge between you with regard to all
matters in which you differ. As -to those who reject faith, I will punish them with
terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.
As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them (in full) their reward;
for God does not love evildoers.
" This is what we rehearse unto you (O Muhammad) of the Sign and the message of
Wisdom.
Verily, in the sight of God, the nature of Jesus is as the nature of Adam, whom He created
out of dust and then said unto him, "BE!" - and he was.
(This is) the truth from your Lord; be not, then, among the doubters!.
[3:52-60]
(They have incurred divine displeasure); in that they broke their Covenant; and their
refusal to acknowledge God's message; and that they slew the prophets in defiance of
right; and they said: "Our hearts are wrapped (full of knowledge, we need no
more)." - nay, but God has sealed their hearts in result of their denial of the
truth, and little is it that they believe. That they rejected faith; that they uttered
against Mary a grave false charge.
That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary"; - the
apostle of God - but they killed him not nor crucified him; but so it was made to appear
to them; and, verily, those who hold conflicting views thereon are indeed confused, having
no (real) knowledge thereof, and following mere conjecture. For, of a certainty, they did
not kill him; Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise.
[4:155-158]
And behold! God said:"O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say unto men, 'Worship me and
my mother as deities beside God,?" (Jesus) replied: "Limitless are You in Your
glory! it was not for me to say what I had no right to say! Had I said this, You would
indeed have known it. You know all that is within myself, whereas I know not what is in
Your Self. Verily, it is You alone who fully know all the things that are beyond the reach
of a created being's perception.
Never did I say to them anything except what You did command me to say: 'Worship God my
Lord and your Lord'; and I bore witness to what they did as long as I resided amongst
them; when You took me up, You alone where the Watcher over them, and You are a witness to
all things.
If You punish them - verily, they are Your creatures and if You forgive them - verily, You
alone are Almighty, truly Wise!" (And on Judgment Day) God will say: "This is a
day on which the truthful will profit from their truth; theirs shall be gardens through
which running waters flow - their eternal home; well-pleased is God with them, and well
pleased are they with Him; this a the triumph supreme." To God belongs the dominion
of the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein; and He has Absolute Power over all
things.
[5:116-120]
O People of the Book! (followers of the Gospel)! Do not overstep the bounds (of truth) in
your religious beliefs, and do not say of God anything but the truth. Christ Jesus, son of
Mary, was but God's Apostle - (the fulfillment of) His promise which He had conveyed unto
Mary - and a soul created by Him. Believe, then, in God and His apostles, and do not say
"(God is) a trinity". Desist (from this assertion)for your own good. God is but
One God; utterly remote is He, in His Glory, from having a son; unto Him belongs all that
is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and enough is God as a disposer of affairs.
Christ does not disdain to serve and worship God, nor do the angels those nearest
(to-God). Those who disdain His worship and feel to proud to serve Him (should know that
on Judgment Day) He will gather them all unto Himself; whereupon unto those who attained
to faith and did good deeds He will grant their just rewards, and give them yet more out
of His bounty; whereas those who disdained and felt pro [4:171-173]
They blasphemed who said: "Verily, God is the Christ, son of Mary." Say:
"And who could have prevailed with God in any way had it been. His will to destroy
the Christ, son of Mary, and his mother, and every one who is on earth - all of
them?" To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is
between them; and God has Absolute Power over all things! [5:17]
They blasphemed who said: "Verily, God is the Christ, son of Mary." - seeing
that the Christ (himself) said: "O children of Israel! Worship God (alone), my Lord
and your Lord." Verily, whoever ascribes divinity to any being beside God, unto him
will God deny paradise; and such evildoers will have no one to help them! They blasphemed
who said: "Behold, God is one of three in a trinity" - whereas there is no god
except One God. If they do not desist from what they say (in blasphemy), verily a grievous
penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
Will they not, then, turn towards God in repentance, and ask His forgiveness? For God is
Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
The Christ, son of Mary, was but an apostle; there were apostles who preceded him; and his
mother was one who never deviated from the truth; and they both ate food (like other
mortals). Behold how clear We make these messages unto them; and then behold how perverted
are their minds! Say:"Would you worship, beside God, aught that has no power either
to harm or to benefit you - when God alone is All-Hearing, All-Knowing?" [5:72-76]
The religion of all prophets is one - though their laws are different - The MUSLIM
(follower of Muhammad) can not be considered a MUSLIM unless he believes in all prophets
include Jesus and their scriptures.
O you apostles! Partake of the good things of life, and do righteous deeds; verily, I have
full knowledge of all that you do.
And, verily, this community of yours is one single community, since I am the Lord of you
all; remain, then, conscious of Me! But they (who claim to follow the apostles) have torn
their unity wide asunder, into sects; each party rejoices in that which is with itself.
[23:51-53]
Verily, (O you who believe in Me), this community of yours is one single community, since
I am the Lord of you all; worship, then, Me (alone)!.
But people have torn their unity (in religion) wide asunder, (yet) unto Us they all are
bound to return. [21 : 92-93]
Say (O MUSLIMS):"We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and the
revelation given to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, and that given
to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord; we make no
distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves."
[2:136]
(O Muhammad) Say: "We believe in God, and the revelation bestowed upon us, and the
revelation bestowed upon Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, and that
given to Moses, Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any
of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves." [3:84]
This divine Book, which is beyond any doubt, is (meant to be) a guidance for all the
God-conscious; Who believe in (the existence of) that which is beyond the reach of human
perception, and are constant in prayer, and spend on others out of what We provide for
them as sustenance; And who believe in the Revelation sent to you (O Muhammad), and sent
before your time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter. [2:2-4]
The Apostle (Muhammad) believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the
men of faith (MUSLIMS). Each one (of them) believes in God, His angels, His revelations,
and His apostles; making no distinction between any of His apostles; and they say:
"We hear, and we obey, (we seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the end of
all journeys." [2:285]
In matters of religion, He has ordained for you that which He had enjoined upon Noah - and
into which We gave you (O Muhammad) insight through revelation - as well as that which We
had enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus; steadfastly uphold the (true) religion, and
do not break up your unity therein. Most hateful to the polytheists is that to which you
call them. God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who
turn (to Him). [42:133]
The Quran explains clearly that the religion of all prophets is a single one; this
religion includes a single concept of God and a single concept of moral principles. The
Quran calls this single religion, Islam; and calls those who believe in it, Muslims. Since
the followers of Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) believe in this single religion
they are called MUSLIMS and their religion is called ISLAM.
And they say "Be Jews"or, "Christians" - "and you shall be on
the right path." Say: "Nay, but (ours is) the creed of Abraham, who turned away
from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribed divinity to aught beside
God." [12:135]
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but was one who turned away from all that is
false, having been a Muslim (who surrendered himself unto God); and was not of those who
ascribed divinity to aught beside God. [3:67]
And when Jesus came to know of their disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers in
God's cause?" The Disciples replied: 'We are God's helpers; we believe in God, and do
bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we surrender to God)." [3:52]
When his Lord said to him (Abraham), '"ASLIM" i.e. "surrender yourself unto
me!" he answered "ASLAMTU' i.e "I have surrendered myself unto the Lord of
the universe." And this very thing did Abraham bequeath unto his children, and (so
did) Jacob: "O my children! Behold, God has chosen for you the true religion; then
die not except as Muslims (i.e. those who surrender to God)." Were you witnesses when
death was approaching Jacob? When he said to his sons: "What will you worship after I
am gone?" They said: "We will continue worshipping your God, the God of your
forefathers Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the One (True) God; we are Muslims (i.e. we
surrender to God)." [2:131-133]
And they claim: "None shall ever enter paradise unless he be a Jew" or, "a
Christian". such are their own (vain) fancies. Say:"Produce an evidence for what
you are claiming, if what you say is true!".
Indeed! everyone who surrenders his whole being unto God, and is a doer of good deeds,
shall have his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
[2:111-112]
For, never will the Jews be pleased with you, nor yet the Christians, unless you follow
their form of religion. Say: "Behold, God's guidance is the only true guidance."
And, indeed, if you should follow their errant views after all the knowledge that has come
unto you, you would have none to protect you from God and none to give you help.
[2:120]
Say: "O followers of earlier revelation! Come unto that tenet which we and you hold
in common; that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall not ascribe divinity to
aught beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside God."
And if they turn away, then say: "Bear witness that we are "Muslims (i.e. who
have surrendered ourselves unto Him)." [3:64]
The sincere Christian will find that ISLAM is very close to his heart and mind if he
knows the authentic ISLAM as described by the Quran; and, if his perception is not
influenced by the lifestyle of ignorant MUSLIMS.
Therefore, when he accepts Islam he will have REVERTED and not CONVERTED, after all, the
Quran relates that Islam is the single religion of all the Prophets and that it is
followers are Muslims.
O you how believe! Bow down, prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord (alone); and
do good so that you might attain to a happy state.
And strive in His cause as you aught to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He
has chosen you, and has laid no. hardship on you in (anything that pertains to) religion;
it is the creed of your father Abraham. It is He who has named you Muslims, both before
and in this (Revelation); (so) that the Apostle (Muhammad) may be a witness for you and
you be a witness for mankind (i.e. being examples in the application of Quranic teachings
in your lives). So establish regular prayer and pay alms and hold fast to God! He is your
Protector - the best to protect and the best to help! [22:77-78]
You will surely find that, of all people, the most hostile to those who believe in the
Quaran are the Jews and the Polytheists; and you will surely find the nearest of all
people in love to the MUSLIMS are those who say "We are Christians"; this is so
because there are (sincere) priests and monks among them and because they (Christians) are
not arrogant.
For when they come to understand what has been revealed to the Apostle (i.e. the Quran),
you can see their eyes overflow with tears because they recognize the truth; (and) they
say: "O Lord! We believe (in the Quran); make us one, then, with all who bear witness
to the truth.
And how could we fail to believe in God and whatever truth has come unto us, when we so
fervently desire that our Lord count us among the righteous.?" And for this, their
belief, God will reward them with gardens through which running waters flow, therein to
abide; for such is the requital of the doers of good; whereas they who reject the truth
and deny Our signs - they are destined for the blazing fire. [5:82-86]
Now indeed, We have caused this word (of Ours) to reach mankind step by step, so that they
might (learn to) keep it in mind.
Those to whom we sent The Book before this - they (are bound to) believe in this one (the
Ouran); and whenever it is (clearly) conveyed unto them, they (are bound to) profess:
"We believe therein, for it is the truth from our Lord; indeed, even before this have
we been Muslims (i.e.we have surrendered ourselves unto Him).
Twice will they be given their reward for having been patient in adversity. They repel
evil with good and they spend (in charity) out of what we had given them.
And whenever they hear idle argument about their belief, they say; "Unto us shall be
accounted our deeds and unto you, your deeds. Peace be upon you - (but) we do not seek out
such as are ignorant (of the meaning of right and wrong)." [28:51-55]
And there are certainly, among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), those who
(truly) believe in God, in the revelation to you and the revelation to them, bowing in
humility to God; they do not barter away God's message for a small price. They shall have
their reward with their Lord - for, behold, God is swift in reckoning. [3:199]
Thus (O Muhammad), if they dispute with you (about your religion, the religion of all
Prophets), say: "I have surrendered my whole being unto God, and (so have) all who
(truly) follow me!" - and ask those who have been given the Book (Jews and
Christians) as well as common folk: "Do you accept ISLAM?" If they do, they are
rightly guided, but if they turn their backs, - behold! your duty is no more than to
deliver the Message; for God sees all that is in (the hearts of) His creatures. [3:20]