The Concept of Jesus in the Quran
-
Posted by
Mansab Awan
Concept of Jesus in the Quran
The Quran is the holy book from Allah SWT, revealed to Prophet Muhammad over 1,400 years ago. One of the most perfect things about the Quran is that it is a complete book. It does not only talk about Islam but also discusses previous prophets and the books that came before it. The Quran honors and respects earlier messengers of God, including Prophet Moses, Prophet Abraham, and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them all).
Among these prophets, Jesus holds a very special place in the Quran. He is mentioned by name in many chapters (Surahs), and his life, his miracles, and his message are described with great respect and detail.
The Quran presents Jesus, known as “Isa” in Arabic, as one of the famous prophets sent by Allah to guide humanity. Muslims believe in Jesus as a messenger of God, born miraculously to the Virgin Mary (Maryam), and blessed with many miracles.
The Quran confirms his noble birth and his important role in bringing people closer to Allah. Understanding what the Quran says about Jesus helps us see the connections between different religions and how Islam completes the message that previous prophets brought.
Allah says in Surah Al-Imran: “When the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near to Allah.'” (3:45)
This verse shows that even before Jesus was born, Allah announced his coming through angels. In another verse, Surah Maryam describes Jesus speaking as a baby:
“Jesus said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I remain alive.'” (19:30-31)
These verses show that Jesus was a special prophet chosen by God from birth.
What Does the Quran Say About the Bible?
The Quran shows great respect for previous holy books. Muslims believe that Allah sent different books to guide different nations at various times. The Bible is the holy book of Christians, which contains the Old Testament (including the Torah) and the New Testament (including the Gospel). The Quran specifically mentions several books that are part of the Bible, including the Torah (given to Moses), the Psalms (given to David), and the Gospel (given to Jesus). These books were originally messages from God, meant to guide people to the right path.
However, the Quran also explains that over time, some of these earlier scriptures were changed by people. Parts were added, removed, or altered from their original form. This is why Allah sent the Quran as the final and complete message, one that would be protected from any changes forever. The Quran confirms the truth that was in the earlier books while also correcting misunderstandings that developed over centuries.
In Surah Al-Imran Allah says:
“He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur’an.” (3:3-4)
This verse clearly shows that the Quran confirms the original messages of the Torah and the Gospel.
In Surah Al-Ma’idah Allah says:
“And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.” (5:46)
This verse tells us that Jesus was given the Gospel, which contained guidance and light.
The Quran respects the Bible but also clarifies certain beliefs about Jesus that differ from some Christian teachings, particularly about his divinity.
What Does the Quran Say About Jesus?
The Quran speaks about Jesus with honor and love. It presents him as a great prophet and messenger, but not as the son of God or as God himself. Muslims believe that Jesus was a human being, chosen by Allah to deliver His message to the Children of Israel. The Quran describes Jesus as performing many miracles with Allah’s permission, but it emphasizes that all his power came from God, not from himself.
One of the most important messages about Jesus in the Quran is about his birth. The Quran tells us that Jesus was born miraculously to the Virgin Mary without a father. This was a sign of Allah’s power. In Surah Maryam (Chapter 19), there is a detailed and beautiful story of how Mary was chosen by Allah, how the angel Gabriel appeared to her with the news of Jesus, and how she gave birth to him. The Quran honors Mary as one of the best women ever created and dedicates an entire chapter to her name.
The Quran also describes the miracles that Jesus performed. He healed people who were blind and sick, he brought the dead back to life with Allah’s permission, and he even created a bird from clay and breathed life into it by Allah’s will. These miracles were signs to prove that Jesus was truly a prophet sent by God.
Another important aspect is the Quran’s teaching about the end of Jesus’s life. Muslims do not believe that Jesus was killed on the cross. The Quran states in Surah An-Nisa:
“And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them… Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.” (4:157-158):
Muslims believe that Allah saved Jesus and raised him up to heaven, and that he will return to earth near the end of times. This belief shows how much Allah loved and protected His prophet Jesus.
Does the Quran Mention Jesus?
Yes, the Quran mentions Jesus many times. In fact, Jesus is one of the most mentioned prophets in the Quran. His name appears 25 times in the Quran, and is discussed in detail many more times across many chapters when you count other titles like “the Messiah” (Al-Masih) or “the Spirit from God. The Quran talks about his birth, his miracles, his teachings, and his message to the people. It also talks about his mother Mary, who is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran.
Here are the chapters (Surahs) where Jesus is specifically mentioned and discussed:
[The table shows that Jesus is discussed throughout the Quran in many different contexts.]
| Surah Name | Chapter Number | Times Jesus is Mentioned in Quran | Verses |
| Al-Baqarah | 2 | 3 times | 87, 136, 253 |
| Al-Imran | 3 | 16 times | 45, 52, 55, 59 |
| An-Nisa | 4 | 5 times | 157, 163, 171 |
| Al-Ma’idah | 5 | 16 times | 46, 72, 110, 116 |
| Al-An’am | 6 | 1 time | 85 |
| Maryam | 19 | 7 times | 30, 34, 35 |
| Al-Anbiya | 21 | 1 time | 91 |
| Al-Mu’minun | 23 | 1 time | 50 |
| Al-Ahzab | 33 | 1 time | 7 |
| Az-Zukhruf | 43 | 4 times | 57, 59, 63 |
Is the Quran Older Than the Bible?
This is an important question to understand the timeline of these holy books. The answer is “NO”. The Bible is older than the Quran. To understand this clearly, we need to look at when these books were revealed and compiled.
The Bible consists of two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains books like the Torah (the first five books), the Psalms, and the writings of various prophets. These books were written over many centuries, starting around 1200-1000 BCE (Before Common Era) and continuing until about 400 BCE. The Old Testament was given to the Jewish people through prophets like Moses, David, and others.
The New Testament was written after Jesus Christ lived on earth. Jesus lived approximately 2,000 years ago, and his disciples and followers wrote the books of the New Testament starting from around 50 CE (Common Era) to about 100 CE. The New Testament includes the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which tell the story of Jesus’s life and teachings, as well as letters written by his followers and other early Christians. So the complete Christian Bible, as we know it today, was compiled and finalized in the early centuries after Jesus.
The Quran, on the other hand, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years, starting in the year 610 CE and ending in 632 CE. This means the Quran came about 600 years after Jesus and several centuries after the Bible was completed. The Quran was revealed in the 7th century CE in the city of Mecca and later in Medina, both located in present-day Saudi Arabia.
The Quran came as the final message from God to all of humanity, completing the chain of revelations that started with Adam and continued through prophets like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Each prophet brought the same basic message “to worship only one God and to live a righteous life”.
Conclusion
Understanding Jesus in the Quran helps us see the connections between Islam and Christianity. The Quran presents Jesus as a beloved prophet, born miraculously, blessed with amazing miracles, and given the Gospel to guide his people. While there are some differences in beliefs – particularly that Muslims see Jesus as a prophet rather than as God or the son of God.
The Quran came after the Bible, but it serves as a confirmation of the original messages sent to previous prophets. It completes Allah’s revelation to mankind and provides guidance for all people until the end of time. By studying what the Quran says about Jesus, we learn that Islam deeply respects Jesus and his mother Mary, and that Muslims believe in him as one of the greatest messengers ever sent by God. This understanding can help build bridges of respect and dialogue between people of different faiths.
