As a Christian, it’s justified for you to wonder “Do Muslims believe in Jesus Christ?”. Well, they definitely believe in him but in a slightly different manner. In simple words, people of Islamic faith have different perceptions of Jesus Christ. In Christianity, he is the Son of God, one of the Trinity and the saviour of humankind. Whereas, Muslims see him as a human prophet and not a divine entity.
According to Islam, Jesus’ purpose was to urge people to worship the true God. Even though they deny any aspects of his divine nature, Muslims consider Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Specifically, they refer to him as Isa or Al Masih. If you are curious to explore more about this topic, stay tuned. Further, this blog dives deep into “Do Muslims Believe In Jesus Christ?” and much more.
Do Muslims Believe In Jesus Christ?
Yes, Muslims do believe in Jesus Christ. His existence and journey is acknowledged completely in their scriptures. However, they are strictly against the idea that he was a God himself. In the Quran (Holy Book of Islam), Jesus Christ is portrayed as a healer and a teacher. Even his miracles are accepted in the Islamic faith. The Muslims often refer to him as the Son of God. But that’s just a metaphorical title given to him out of respect. There is no lack of respect for Jesus Christ in Islam.
However, Muslims have completely different opinions about him in contrast to the Christians. In their faith, Jesus Christ is believed to be among the greatest messengers of Almighty God sent to humanity. In the religion of Islam, there is no denying of his significance. Jesus Christ has been mentioned in the Quran under different names more than Prophet Muhammad. Basically, they believe that Allah sent Isa (Jesus) to guide the Children of Israel (humanity).
Is Jesus Christ A God In The Religion of Islam?
- Muslims do not believe that Jesus Christ was a God or divine entity. They outright deny this angle of his story. Even the title “Son of God” is given to him in a metaphorical sense. The idea that God has a son goes against the core Islamic beliefs.
- At the same time, Muslims believe that there are no partners or divine entities associated with the Almighty God i.e., Allah. You can better understand this with the concept of Tawhid which represents the unique nature of Allah. The Quran verse 112:3 says that “He neither begets nor is born”.
- This showcases that God doesn’t have any sons or anybody equal to him. Hence, clashing with the idea of Jesus Christ actually being the Son of God. This title is nothing more than a symbol of respect and metaphor in their beliefs. Muslims perceive Jesus Christ as a human being and not a divine entity.
- They believe that Isa was created and sent by God with a single purpose which is to guide other humans. Painting him as a human prophet and God’s messenger fits perfectly with their perceptions. They deny that Isa a.k.a Jesus could have ever shared God’s essence and nature.
- In the Islamic faith, Virgin Mary is known as Maryam. And, they accept Jesus’ unusual and miraculous birth without a father. Aside from Son of God, Muslims have him another title of honor i.e. Al Masih. It literally translates to The Messiah.
- Jesus Christ is well respected among Muslims for many reasons. This includes his miracles, moral life, teachings and messages. Jesus Christ is also admired by Muslims because he didn’t want to be worshipped by anyone.
Do Muslims Believe In Jesus Christ Death & Resurrection?
When it comes to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Islamic beliefs are very different from that of Christianity. According to Muslims, Jesus was never killed or crucified on the cross. In Christianity, the crucifixion actually takes place and he dies only to be resurrected later. However, that’s not how the Muslims see it. Their faith states that Jesus Christ was saved by the Almighty God before he was killed.
Even if he was going to be nailed to the cross and crucified, that didn’t happen. Allah saved his messenger Jesus Christ prior to his death and brought him to heaven. Muslims believe that he was alive and safe after this event. In simple words, the Islamic beliefs clash with the biblical accounts of Jesus’ death by crucifixion and resurrection. In Quran, he didn’t rise from the dead and get resurrected
What Do The Muslims Think About the “Second Coming of Jesus”?
As has been mentioned, Muslims deny that Jesus ever died on the cross. However, the concept regarding the Second Coming of Jesus is acknowledged in Islam. Muslims are taught that Jesus will come back to earth before the day of judgement. According to Islamic faith, he will return to share truths about his life and purpose.
All kinds of misconceptions will be eliminated once and for all. One of his biggest missions would be to end falsehood and defeat the false Messiah i.e., Al Masih ad-Dajjal. Lastly, Jesus will reestablish norms of justice on Earth. As Muslims deny Jesus Christ being a god or divine entity, their beliefs about the Second Coming of Jesus are slightly different.
Ideological Differences Between Islam & Christianity About Jesus Christ
| S No. | Islam | Christianity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jesus Christ was a prophet and messenger sent by the Almighty God. | He was the Son of God and the saviour of all humankind. |
| 2. | Jesus was just a human being and not a divine entity. | The divine nature of Jesus Christ is the main essence. |
| 3. | Muslims deny that Jesus died due to crucifixion. They believe that God saved him before his death. | Jesus’ crucifixion and sacrifice was the key to salvation for humanity. |
| 4. | His death or resurrection is not accepted. Instead, Islamic faith states that he was brought back to heaven by the God. | The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a significant event in Christianity. |
| 5. | According to Islam, the Second Coming of Jesus is for prophecies. | Christians believe that the Second Coming of Jesus will be for divine judgment and salvation of humanity. |
Conclusion
It has been established that Muslims do believe in Jesus Christ. Even though their beliefs might differ from Christianity, Jesus is still given a lot of respect. They mainly perceive him as a prophet who was sent to guide humanity. In conclusion, it is hoped that this blog helped you gain a better understanding of Islamic beliefs about Jesus Christ. More differences between their ideologies may also emerge in the coming future.
FAQs
1. Is Jesus a God according to Muslims?
No, they see Jesus Christ as a human prophet and God’s true messenger. Hence, denying his divine nature and direct association with God.
2. Do Muslims believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
They do not believe that Jesus Christ died on that cross. God saved him before the crucifixion was completed. Instead of resurrection, they believe that Jesus was raised up to heaven.
3. Which titles of honor are given to Jesus Christ by Muslims?
He is referred to as the Messiah and Son of God. However, these are just metaphorical titles for giving him respect.
4. Is Jesus Christ worshipped by Muslims?
Even though he is a significant figure in the Islamic faith, Muslims do not worship Jesus Christ.
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