ON JESUS CHRIST

ON JESUS CHRIST Son of Mary M ANY Christians are unaware that in Islam Jesus is considered a prophet of God just as he is in Christianity. Muslims also believe in the miraculous birth of Jesus without a father. Islam holds both Muhammad and Jesus as prophets, who brought the divine message of God to mankind. Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in 570 CE in Makkah, while Jesus Christ was born 600 years earlier in Jerusalem. The message that both Jesus and Muhammad brought from God was essentially the same. This message has been preserved for eternity in the form of the Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad from God. One of the teachings of the Quran regarding prophets and messengers is: “We make no distinction between any of them.” (3: 84) That is, each prophet has to be accorded the same respect and regard, making no distinctions between them. According to the Quran, Jesus Christ had a miraculous birth: none of the prophets was born in this manner. This fact is mentioned clearly in the Quran in these words: “The Christ Jesus, son of Mary, was a messenger of God and His word, conveyed to Mary, a spirit from Him.” (4: 171) There are many references found in the Islamic scripture with regard to Prophet Jesus and the Christians. The character of the followers of Jesus has been acknowledged in the Quran in these words: “We gave him the Gospel and imbued the hearts of those who followed him, with compassion and mercy.” (57: 27) Similarly, there is a verse in the Quran which indirectly tells Muslims to adopt the method of the followers of Jesus Christ: “Believers, be God’s helpers, as Jesus, son of Mary, said to the disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers in the cause of God?’ The disciples said, ‘We shall be God’s helpers.” (61: 14) Many prophets were sent by God in previous ages, but only with regard to Jesus Christ, the concept of the Second Coming is believed by both Christians and Muslims. This belief accords a special status to Jesus. There are many similarities in the teachings of Jesus and that of Islam. I will quote an incident in this respect. I was once invited to a Church in New Jersey on one of my visits to the US. There I spoke on the topic Islam holds both Muhammad and Jesus as prophets, who brought the divine message of God to mankind.