Isa ibn Maryam: The Messiah and Messenger of Allah

Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary, peace be upon him) holds a unique and exalted station among the prophets of Islam. He is one of the five Ulul-Azm — the prophets of greatest resolve — alongside Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). The Quran dedicates more verses to his story than to most other prophets, and an entire surah bears the name of his mother, Maryam.

The Miraculous Birth

The story of Isa begins with his mother. Maryam bint Imran was raised in devotion to Allah, placed under the care of the prophet Zakariyya. Angels came to her with a pronouncement: "O Maryam, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds" (Aal Imran 3:42).

When the angel Jibril appeared to her in the form of a man and announced she would bear a son, she asked how this could be when no man had touched her. The angel replied: "Thus said your Lord: 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us'" (Maryam 19:21).

Isa was created by the divine command "Be" — kun fa-yakun. The Quran draws a direct comparison: "Indeed, the example of Isa to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, 'Be,' and he was" (Aal Imran 3:59). Just as Adam had no father or mother, Isa had no father. Both were created by the direct command of Allah.

When Maryam brought the newborn child to her people and they accused her of immorality, she pointed to the infant. Isa spoke from the cradle: "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive" (Maryam 19:30-31).

His Mission and Miracles

Isa was sent as a messenger to the Children of Israel, confirming the Torah that came before him and conveying the Injeel (Gospel) — a revelation from Allah containing guidance and light. His mission was singular: to call people to the worship of Allah alone. He declared plainly: "Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path" (Aal Imran 3:51).

Allah granted Isa miracles that no other prophet received in the same manner. He fashioned birds from clay and breathed life into them by Allah's permission. He healed the blind and the leper. He raised the dead by Allah's leave. He informed people of what they ate and stored in their homes (Aal Imran 3:49). Each miracle was performed strictly by the permission of Allah, a point the Quran emphasizes repeatedly to prevent any attribution of divinity to Isa himself.

He also foretold the coming of the final messenger: "O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad" (As-Saff 61:6).

Rejection and the Plot Against Him

Despite his miracles, most of the Children of Israel rejected Isa. A faction plotted to kill him, but Allah intervened. The Quran states with clarity: "They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear so to them" (An-Nisa 4:157). Rather, "Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise" (An-Nisa 4:158).

Isa was not crucified. He was not killed. He was raised alive to the heavens, where he remains until Allah decrees his return.

His Return Before the Hour

The descent of Isa is among the major signs of the Day of Judgment. In a hadith recorded by Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Maryam will descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the swine, and abolish the jizyah" (Sahih Muslim 155). He will pray behind the Mahdi, confirm the Shariah of Muhammad, and establish justice on earth before his eventual natural death and burial.

His Station in Islam

Isa is the Masih (Messiah) and a Ruh min Allah — a spirit from Allah. These are titles of honor, not indications of divinity. The Quran is unequivocal: "The Messiah, Isa son of Maryam, was not but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Maryam and a soul from Him" (An-Nisa 4:171). He himself will disavow on the Day of Judgment any claim that he asked people to worship him or his mother (Al-Ma'idah 5:116-117).

Muslims love and honor Isa. They reject the Christian doctrines of the Trinity, the incarnation, and the crucifixion — not out of disrespect for Isa, but out of fidelity to what Allah has revealed about him. He was among the noblest of creation: a prophet, a servant, and a word from Allah cast unto Maryam.