Every Christmas season, some Non-Muslims particularly Christians find it somewhat difficult to accept that Muslims do not celebrate Christmas in unity with the whole world when even the Buddhist or Hindus who do not worship Jesus celebrate it too. Some even think that maybe the Muslims hate Jesus or maybe the Muslims are really antichrists.
Here are some concise points of what Muslims believe about Jesus according to the teachings of Islam with all due respect to your personal belief about Jesus Christ.
JESUS, ONE OF THE GREATEST PROPHETS OF ALLAH
Allah said in the Quran,
“And mention, O Muhammad, when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant.” ~Quran 33:7
The five prophets mentioned in this verse are the prophets who are known as Ulul ‘Azmi minar Rusul or the five Messengers who have the strongest determination in calling people to Islam and upholding the truth.
Jesus is one of the greatest prophets and messengers of Allah. Muslims and Christians both attest to that. Muslims believe that the original Bible was sent down to him. Muslims believe that an original scripture was sent to Jesus and not the current versions of the Bible we have today which may contain some truth but most of it have been words of writers like most of us are.
As testament to his greatness and his importance in Islam, Jesus was mentioned by name 25 times in the Quran while Prophet Muhammad was also mentioned merely 3 times. Jesus was mentioned with all due respect to him as God’s messenger, acknowledging his prophethood and greatness.
Another proof of this is upon becoming a Muslim, a Non-Muslim especially a Christian has to say, ‘I bear witness that there is no god worthy of being worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger and I bear that Eisa the son of Mary is slave of Allah and His prophet, and His word that He has brought upon Mary and the spirit from Him.’
MIRACLES OF JESUS
Muslims believe that Jesus performed miracles such as healing the sick, feeding large number people by making little food enough for them and of course, giving life to the dead. Muslims believe in it too, except that we believe that it was done with the permission of Allah and not because of his divinity or being the son of God. Allah said in the Quran,
“Jesus will be a messenger to the Children of Israel, who will say, ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay that which is like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” ~Surah Ali Imran: 49.
This clarifies that Jesus never ordered us to worship him
and he never said that he is a god that we should worship. Muslims love and respect Jesus the way we love and respect all the prophets. In fact, Jesus was mentioned by name 25 times in the Quran, only mentioning good things about him, but we do not worship him.
THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF JESUS IS NOT A SIGN OF HIS DIVINITY
Allah said in the Quran,
“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is like that of Adam, He created him from dust then said to him, ‘Be.’ And he was created.” ~Quran 3:59
This verse means that there is nothing special about Jesus being born without a father as Adam’s creation is more complex than that of Jesus and Allah could create humans however He wished.
JESUS DID NOT ORDER THAT HE SHOULD BE WORSHIPPED
Allah said in the Quran,
“And beware of the Day when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.” ~Quran 5:116
Similarly, there is no direct text in the Bible that Jesus orders us to worship him. All texts that are being used as proof of his divinity are all misinterpreted text and do not imply direct meaning.
WE SHOULD NOT BE EXTREME IN OUR LOVE FOR THE PROPHETS
Allah said in the Quran,
“Oh People of the Book, don’t go extreme in your religion and do not say about God except the Truth. Indeed, the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary is the Messenger of God, His Word revealed on Mary, and a spirit sent from Him” ~Quran 4: 171
Prophet Muhammad said in a Hadith narrated by Imam Al Bukhari,
“Do not exaggerate in praising me like the Christians have exaggerated in praising Jesus the son of Mary. Rather, say that I’m the Servant of God and His Messenger”
GOD DID NOT HAVE A SON
Allah said in the Quran,
“Say, O Muhammad, Allah is One. He is Self-sufficient. He was neither any son nor was He born. And there is nothing like unto Him.” ~Quran 112:1-4
This is a brief account of what Muslims believe about Jesus. This may not be much but at least may have clarified to you that Muslims do not hate Jesus, we are simply giving him proper love and respect without the extreme love of the Christians with regards to him and also without the extreme hate of the Jews against him. The Muslims are in between these two.
To conclude, no Muslim could be considered a real Muslim unless he loves Jesus Christ.
For more information about Islam, watch Mensahe TV via Cignal channel 184.
