Prophet Isa (Jesus)

Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him) is one of the five greatest prophets of Islam (Ulu al-Azm) and one of the most extensively discussed figures in the Quran, mentioned by name in twenty-five verses across fifteen surahs. He was born miraculously to the virgin Maryam without a father, by Allah's direct creative command. An entire surah (Surah Maryam, chapter 19) is named after his mother, and Maryam is the only woman given her own surah in the Quran.

The circumstances of his birth are described in Surah Maryam (19:20-21): when Maryam asked how she could have a son when no man had touched her, the angel replied: "Such is the case; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.'" When she brought the newborn Isa to her people and they accused her, the infant Isa spoke from his cradle to defend his mother's honor. Surah Maryam (19:30-33): "He said, '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. And [made me] dutiful to my mother.'" His first words established forever that he is the servant of Allah, not the son of Allah.

Allah granted Isa extraordinary miracles by His permission. He fashioned a bird from clay and breathed life into it. He healed those born blind and lepers. He raised the dead. He knew what people had eaten and stored in their homes. Surah Al Imran (3:49): "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah." All of his miracles were by Allah's permission — not by any independent divine authority of his own.

He was given the Injil (Gospel) as revelation and came confirming the Torah while announcing the final messenger to come. Surah As-Saf (61:6): "And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, '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.'" This prophecy, in Isa's own words as recorded in the Quran, directly connects his mission to that of Prophet Muhammad ☪.

Islam's position on the end of his earthly mission is unambiguous: Isa was not killed, nor was he crucified. Allah says in Surah An-Nisa (4:157-158): "And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself." Isa is currently alive, raised to Allah in body and soul. He will return before the Day of Judgment — confirmed in authentic hadith — to establish justice on earth, slay the Dajjal (the False Messiah), and confirm the message of Islam. Islam firmly rejects the doctrines of the Trinity, the divinity of Isa, and the atonement through crucifixion. He is a noble, human prophet and messenger of Allah — the penultimate in the chain of great prophets before the final and seal of all prophets, Muhammad ☪.