by Khadija Husain

Created on: July 15, 2008

For most people the phrase "Jesus in Islam" seems like an outrageous oxymoron. It may seem like Muslims and Christians have nothing in common, with one group following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and the other group living their life based on their beliefs in Jesus Christ. In fact nothing could be further from the truth because belief in Jesus Christ is a core tenet in Islamic teachings. Muslims not only believe in Jesus Christ, they venerate him as the Messiah sent by God for the benefit of all mankind. The major theological point where Muslims and Christians differ is that Muslims believe that Jesus was only a great prophet and not the son of God.

Still, an entire chapter of the Quran, the Muslim holy book considered to be the final message of God after the Torah and the Bible, is dedicated to Virgin Mary and the miraculous birth of Jesus. The Quran relates the story of how God sent Angel Gabriel to Mary to give her tidings of her impending birth. "Mary said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.' God said: 'So it will be for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: 'Be!'- and it is" (3:47).

As a result of the miraculous birth when Virgin Mary went back to her people, they accused her of being unchaste. It was then that Jesus miraculously spoke from his cradle, and as it is related in the Quran he said, "Lo! I am the slave of God. He has given me the Scripture and has appointed me a Prophet. And has made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and has enjoined upon me prayer and alms giving so long as I remain alive. And has made me dutiful toward my mother, and has not made me arrogant, unblessed. Peace on me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary: this is a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. (19:30-34)

The Quran further discusses the miracles performed by Jesus. But it is made clear that these miracles were only performed by the permission of God, and not because Jesus had any kind of divine ability. "Then will God say: 'O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave,

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