Jesus in the QURAN

Jesus Christ was mentioned in several verses in the Qur'an. Some of the verses repeat the same accounts described in other place; it is the characteristics of the Qur'an to repeat some accounts wherever God decide it necessary. In the following, we will give some of the verses that describe the birth of Jesus, and the nature of his message. Many of these verses repeatedly reaffirms the fact that Jesus is not a God or a son-of-God, but he is `the Son of Mary', i.e. he is a human being and a son of a human being.

The number preceding each verse indicate the chapter number and the verse number. Some remarks and annotations are added wherever it is needed.

2:87. We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of prophets. We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, Clear Signs and strengthened him with the holy spirit. It is that whenever there comes to you a Prophet with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride. Some ye call imposters and others ye slay.

The above verse is one among several verses in Chapter 2 that describes the misdeeds of the Children of Israel and their wrong doings. God is addressing the Israelites and reminding them with the many prophets that were sent to them. Jesus is reaffirmed here as one of the prophets that were sent to the Israelites.

2:135. They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided to salvation." Say thou: "Nay! I have chosen the religion of Abraham, who joined not partners with God."

2:136. Say ye: "We believe in God, and in the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes. And in that given to Moses and Jesus, and in that given to all Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference between one and another of them; and we submit to God as Muslims."

Verse 2:135 states that the Jews and the Christians have deviated from the Abrahamic faith by ascribing other gods to God, and by claiming that He begot sons. The next verse affirms that the Qur'an is a continuation to the true and undistorted revelations that were given to all the prophets before Muhammad.

Then in Chapter 3, we read more than twenty verses that give more details about the story of Mary and her son Jesus.

3:42. Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God has chosen thee and purified thee - chosen thee above all women of all nations (and times).

The above verse glorifies Mary and set her stature above all women of all nations and of all times, including the Arab women and Prophet Mohammed’s own mother, daughters and wives. This verse in one clear argument that refutes the theory which claims Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an. For if Muhammad was indeed the author of the Qur'an, why would he make Mary, an Israelite woman, above the Arab women including his own mother, daughters and wives? He could have modified the last part of the above verse to read: `..above all Israelite women'.

3:43. "O Mary! worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayers) with those who bow down."

3:44. This is part of the hidden knowledge which we reveal unto thee (O Muhammad!); Thou was not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary; nor was thou with them when they disputed and argued.

3:45. Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God gives thee glad tidings of a Word from Him; his name will be Jesus, the Son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter, and amongst those close to God."

3:46. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity, and he shall be amongst the righteous."

3:47. She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man had touched me?" He said: "Even so: God creates what He wills; when He has decreed a plan, He but says to it `Be,' and it is done!"

The above verses describe the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of his mother. It is simply that God says: `Be', and it is done.

3:48. And God will teach him the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.

3:49. And he will be appointed a Prophet to the Children of Israel proclaiming: `I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. In that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God's leave. And I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe.

The above verses describe some of the miracles that proves the prophethood of Jesus. All these miracles were by God's leave and permission.

3:50. “I have come to you to attest the Torah which was before me, and to make lawful to you part of what was before forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.”

3:51. “It is God who is my Lord and your Lord; so worship him. This is a way that is straight.”

3:52. When Jesus found unbelief on their part he said: "Who will be my helpers to the work of God?" The Disciples said: "We are God's helpers; we believe in God, and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims."

3:53. "Our Lord! We believe in what thou hast revealed, and we follow the Prophet; then write us down among those who bear witness."

3:54. Then the unbelievers plotted and planned, and God too planned, and the best of Planners is God.

3:55. Behold! God said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself, and clear thee of the falsehood of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow superior to those who reject faith, to the day of Resurrection; then shall ye all return unto Me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute."

The above verse tells the truth about the myth of crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus was raised to the heavens; he was not crucified, as the Christians believe it. This fact will be mentioned clearly in another verse.

3:56. "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."

3:57. "As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them in full their reward; But God loves not those who do wrong."

3:58. This is what We rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of Wisdom.

3:59. The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be"; and he was.

The above verse refutes the claim that Jesus is son of God. The fact that Jesus has no father and was conceived miraculously does not prove his divinity and that he is the son of God. Adam is just like Jesus; both have no father. Why not also claim that Adam is a son of God?

3:60. The truth comes from God alone; so be not of those who doubt.

3:61. If anyone disputes in this matter with thee (O Muhammad), after full knowledge has come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together, our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves; then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of God on those who lie!"

The above verse instructed Prophet Muhammad to challenge the Jews in Madina who rejected him and accused him that he was a liar. It is worthy to note that the Jews in Madina declined Mohammed’s challenge; apparently, they know who was the liar!

3:62. This is the true account: There is no gods Except (one) God; and God is indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise.

Then, in Chapter 4, we read more verses that tell different aspects of the story of Jesus the Christ. The verses tell us how the Jews mistreated Jesus Christ and his mother. The Jews thought that they have killed Jesus and crucified him. But the Qur'an states definitely that they did not kill him, for Jesus was raised to the heavens.

4:156. That they rejected faith, and they uttered against Mary a grave false charge;

4:157. That they boasted: "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 those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no certain knowledge but only conjecture to follow. For a surety they killed him not;

4:158. Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise;

4:159. And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgement he will be a witness against them.

Then, we read in the Qur'an some verses that discuss the myth of trinity and the myth of Jesus the son-of-God.

4:171. Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, was no more than an Apostle of God, and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him; so believe in God and His Apostles. Say not "Trinity"; desist, it will better for you. For God is one God; Glory be to Him; Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a disposer of affairs.

The above verse gives the most powerful argument against those who claim that Jesus is the son of God. Children are continuation of their fathers. The need to beget children is a human characteristics that indicates the weakness of humans and their limited life span. God is Almighty; He has no beginning and no end; He existed forever in the past, and He will continue to exist forever in the future; He need no help and no children.

4:172. Christ disdains not to serve and worship God, nor do the Angels, those nearest to God. Those who disdain His worship and are arrogant, He will gather them all together unto himself to answer.

4:173. But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their due rewards,- and more, out of His bounty. And those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish.

In Chapter 5, we also read several verses in several places that discuss the distorted beliefs of the Christians. The following verse gives another argument to refute the theory of Jesus-is-God or Jesus-is-son-of-God. The verse reminds the people with the weakness and fragility of Jesus. How could a weak human being be a God or a son of God?

5:19. In blasphemy indeed are those who say that God is Christ, the Son of Mary. Say: "Who then has the least power against God, if His Will were to destroy Christ the Son of Mary, his mother and all-everyone-that is on earth? For to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that between. He creates what He pleases. For God Has power over all things."

5:75. They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ, the Son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! Worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever joins other partners with God, God will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will be no helpers for the wrong doers."

The above verse states that Jesus himself had nothing to do with the myth of his divinity. He was another servant to God, the only Lord.

5:76. The do blaspheme who say: "God is one of three in a Trinity"; for there is no gods except one God. If they desist not from their word of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

5:77. Why turn they not to God, and seek His forgiveness? For God is Oft-Forgiving, and Most Merciful.

5:78. Christ the Son of Mary was no more than an Apostle; many were the Apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat food (for sustenance). See how God does make His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are eluded away from the truth!

The above verse gives yet another argument to refute the divinity of Jesus. Both Jesus and his mother needed to eat food for sustenance. Clearly, this is not a characteristics of a God!

5:79. Say: "Will ye worship, besides God, something which has no power either to harm or benefit you? But God, He hears and knows all things."

5:80. Say: "O People of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the bounds (of what is proper), trespassing beyond the truth. Nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by, who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the even way."

The above verse warns against over-zealousness in glorifying the prophets. Prophets are humans like us whom God selected to convey His guidance to people. Prophets are not Gods!

5:112. One-day will God gather the Apostles together, and ask: "What was the response ye received (from men to your teaching)?" They will say: "We have no knowledge; it is Thou Who knows in full all that is hidden."

5:113. Then will God say: "O Jesus the Son of Mary! Recount My favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, so that thou did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee The Book and Wisdom, The Torah and the Gospel. And behold! thou make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by my leave. And thou breath into it, and it becomes a bird, by my leave. And thou heal those born blind, and the lepers, by my leave. And behold! Thou bring forth the dead, by my leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: `This is nothing but evident magic.'

5:114. "And behold! I inspired the Disciples to have faith in Me and Mine Apostle. They said, `We have witness that we bow to God as Muslims.'"

5:115. Behold! the disciples said: "O Jesus the Son of Mary! can thy Lord send down to us a Table set (with viands) from heaven?" Said Jesus: "Fear God, if ye have faith."

5:116 They said: "We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts, and to know that thou have indeed told us the truth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle."

5:117. Said Jesus the Son of Mary: "O God our Lord! Send us from heaven a Table set (with viands), that there may be for us-for the first and the last of us-a solemn festival and a Sign from Thee; and provide for our sustenance, for thou are the best sustainer (of our needs)."

5:118 God said: "I will send it down unto you; but if any of you after that resists faith, I will punish him with a penalty such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all the peoples."

In verses 119 and 120 of Chapter 5, Jesus disclaims (shall on the day of judgement) that he ever asked his people to worship him and his mother, as Gods.

5:119. And behold! God will say: "O Jesus the Son of Mary! Did thou say unto men, `Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, Thou would indeed have known it. Thou know what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou know in full all that is hidden."

5:120. "Never said I to them august except what Thou did command me to say, to wit, `Worship God, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilest I dwelt amongst them; when Thou did take me up, Thou was the Watcher over them, and Thou are a witness to all things."

5:121. "If Thou do punish them, they are Thy servants; if Thou do forgive them, Thou are the Exalted The Wise."

5:122. God will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth; theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, as their eternal home. God well-pleased with them, and they with God; that is the great Salvation."

In Chapter 19, called Maryam (Mary), a detailed account of the story of the conception of Jesus and his birth is given:

19:16. Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.

19:17. She placed a screen between herself and them. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.

19:18. She said: "I seek refuge from thee to God, Most Gracious; Come not near me if thou do fear God."

19:19. He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord to announce to thee the gift of a holy son."

19:20. She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"

19:21. He said: "So it will be; thy Lord said, `That is easy for Me: and We wish to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us'; it is a matter So decreed."

19:22. So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.

19:23. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree; she cried in her anguish: "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!"

19:24. But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord has provided a rivulet beneath thee";

19:25. "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee."

19:26. "So eat and drink and cool thine eye. And if thou do see any man, say. `I have vowed a fast to God, Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.'"

19:27. At length she brought the babe to her people, carrying him in her arms. They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing have thou brought!"

19:28. "O sister of Aaron! thy father was not a man of evil, not thy mother a woman unchaste!"

19:29. But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"

19:30. He said: "I am indeed a servant of God: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet."

19:31. "And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live."

19:32. "He has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable."

19:33. "So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life again."

19:34. Such was Jesus the Son of Mary: it is statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute.

19:35. It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

In Chapter 61, more verses about Jesus are given. In these verses, Jesus prophesied the coming of a Prophet whose name is `Ahmad' which is another name of Prophet Muhammad:

61:6. And remember, Jesus, the Son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the Prophet of God sent to you confirming the Torah which came before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Prophet to come after me, whose name shall be `Ahmad'." But when came to them with Clear Signs, they said: "This is evident sorcery!"

61:7. Who do greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against God; even as he is being invited to Islam? And God guides not those who do wrong..

61:8. Their intention is to extinguish God's Light (by blowing) with their mouths. But God will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest it..

61:9. It is He Who has sent His Prophet [Muhammad] with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest it..