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This is the most important step in this learning path for a Christian reader. Islam honors Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) deeply — but in a way that differs fundamentally from Christianity. This step covers everything: his birth, his miracles, his title as Messiah, the crucifixion, and his return.
No figure in all of human history is more important to Christians than Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him). And perhaps no figure generates more misunderstanding between Islam and Christianity. A common assumption is that Muslims dismiss or disrespect Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him). The reality is the opposite.
Islam honors Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) deeply. He is mentioned by name in the Quran 25 times. He is described as the Messiah. His miraculous birth is affirmed. His miracles are acknowledged. He is described as a word from ALLAH and a spirit from Him. He is one of the five mightiest messengers.
But Islam also differs from Christianity in fundamental ways about who Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) is. This step presents both with honesty and care.
✓ His miraculous birth
Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) was born to Maryam (Mary) (Peace Be Upon Her) without a human father. His conception was by ALLAH's command — ALLAH said "Be," and it was. This is one of the greatest miracles in the Quran.
✓ He is the Messiah (Al-Masih)
The Quran explicitly calls Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) Al-Masih — the Messiah. This is a title of honor in Islam. Muslims accept this title fully. The Messiah in Islamic understanding is a great prophet chosen by ALLAH, not a divine savior.
✓ He performed miracles by ALLAH's permission
The Quran describes Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) giving life to clay birds, healing those born blind, curing lepers, and raising the dead — all by ALLAH's permission. These miracles are affirmed, not denied. The Quran is careful to add "by ALLAH's permission" to each miracle — emphasizing that the power was ALLAH's, not his own.
✓ He was given the Gospel (Injeel)
ALLAH revealed scripture to Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) — called the Injeel (Gospel). Muslims believe this original revelation confirmed the Tawheed brought by the earlier prophets. Islam also holds that the current New Testament is not the intact, original Injeel, but a human compilation that contains some truth mixed with later additions.
✓ He is described as a word from ALLAH and a spirit from Him
The Quran calls Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) "a word from ALLAH" and "a spirit from Him." These are extraordinary titles. Muslims understand them to mean that he was created by ALLAH's direct word of command ("Be") and that the spirit breathed into Maryam (Mary) came from ALLAH. They are not understood as indicating divine nature.
Quran 3:45–47
Islam's disagreements with Christianity about Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) are clear, significant, and stated with directness in the Quran. They are not expressed with hostility — they are presented as corrections to what Muslims believe are mistaken beliefs that developed after Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) himself.
✗ He is not God
Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) is a human being and a prophet. He ate, he slept, he prayed to ALLAH. The Quran points to the fact that he ate food as evidence of his humanity — a being who eats is not God.
✗ He is not the Son of God
ALLAH has no son. This is explicit in Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) and throughout the Quran. The concept of "sonship" — even understood metaphorically — is rejected in Islam as incompatible with ALLAH's absolute oneness.
✗ He is not part of a Trinity
The Quran directly addresses and rejects the Trinity. Saying that ALLAH is "the third of three" is described in the Quran as a serious error. ALLAH is One — alone, undivided, and without any partner.
Quran 5:75
Quran 4:171
One of the most significant differences between Islam and Christianity concerns the crucifixion. Christianity holds that Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) was crucified, died, and rose on the third day. This is the foundation of Christian atonement theology.
Islam teaches that Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) was not crucified. The Quran says his enemies intended to kill him, but ALLAH intervened and saved him — and it was made to appear to those present as though he had been crucified. ALLAH then raised Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) up to Himself.
Quran 4:157–158
From Islam's perspective, ALLAH honored Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) by rescuing him from his enemies — as ALLAH saved Nuh (Noah) (Peace Be Upon Him) from the flood, Ibrahim (Abraham) (Peace Be Upon Him) from the fire, and Musa (Moses) (Peace Be Upon Him) from Pharaoh. The death of a prophet in defeat at the hands of enemies who rejected him is not how ALLAH deals with His chosen ones.
One point of surprising agreement between Islam and Christianity: Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) will return before the Day of Judgment. Islam teaches that his descent is one of the major signs of the approaching Hour. He will descend, establish justice, and live on earth for a period before passing away naturally.
Quran 43:61
When Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) returns in Islamic belief, he will not return as a God or as one who came to redeem sins. He will return as a just leader following the shari'ah of Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him). He will pray facing Makkah. He will confirm the oneness of ALLAH.
The Quran quotes Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) directly — speaking from his cradle as an infant, a miracle by itself:
Quran 19:30–33
Islam also presents a profound scene from the Day of Judgment — when ALLAH asks Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) whether he told people to worship him and his mother:
Quran 5:116
If Islam honors Isa (Jesus), why does it reject his divinity?
Because honoring a prophet and worshipping him are two entirely different things in Islam. Islam honors Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) as one of the greatest prophets — born miraculously, performing miracles, and the Messiah. But ALLAH alone deserves worship. Attributing divinity to a created being — however great — is the one sin Islam teaches ALLAH will not forgive if one dies upon it.
Does Islam believe Isa (Jesus) performed real miracles?
Yes. The Quran explicitly describes his miracles — speaking from the cradle, healing the blind and lepers, raising the dead, and creating a bird from clay. Islam says these were all by ALLAH's permission — which is how Islam describes all miracles performed by prophets. The miracle is from ALLAH; the prophet is the vehicle.
If Isa (Jesus) was not crucified, who died on the cross?
The Quran says it was made to appear to those present that Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be Upon Him) was crucified, but he was not. Different Islamic scholars have offered various views on the details — some say a likeness was placed on another person, others emphasize that the Quran's statement is the authoritative one and the details beyond that are matters of scholarly discussion.
Next Step
Islam honors Maryam (Mary) (Peace Be Upon Her) as the best of all women — so highly regarded that an entire chapter of the Quran is named after her. Continue to Step 05.
Continue to Step 05 — Maryam (Mary) in IslamNote: This lesson provides general Islamic education. It is not a personal fatwa or religious counseling. If you have a specific personal situation, ask a qualified scholar or trusted local Islamic authority.