Chapter 8: Jesus in the Qur’an

Look unto me, and be yesaved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is]none else.

Isaiah 45:22

The following is a short, and by no means comprehensive,selection of verses from the Qur’an with regard to Jesus (peacebe upon him), the prophets of Allah in general, and some basicfoundations of Islam:

First mention of Jesus (pbuh) in the Qur’an:

“And verily We gave unto moses the Scriptureand We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and Wegave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs, and We supported himwith the holy spirit (angel Gabriel). Is it thatwhenever there came to you a Messenger with that which you yourselvesdesire not, you grow arrogant? Some you disbelieved, and someyou killed” Al-Bakarah(2):87.

Mention made of some of the prophets of Allah:

After speaking about Abraham (pbuh)God says: “And We bestowed upon him Isaacand Jacob; each of them We guided; and Noah did Weguide aforetime; and of his seed (We guided) David and Solomonand Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron.Thus do We reward the good. And Zachariah and John and Jesus andElias. Each one (of them) was of the righteous. And Ishmaeland Elisha and Jonah and Lot. Each oneof them did We prefer above (Our) creatures” Al-Anaam(6):84-86.

The message of the prophets was ONE message:

“Say (O Muhammad): We believe in Allah andthat which has been sent down to us, and that which was sent downto Abraham and Ishmael and Isaacand Jacob and the sons of Jacob, and that which wasgiven to Moses and Jesus and the Prophets from theirLord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Himwe have surrendered. And whosoever seeks other than Islam as [their]religion it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafterhe will be among the losers. How shall Allah guide a people whodisbelieved after their belief and (after) they bore witness thatthe messenger (Muhammad) is true and after clear proofs had comeunto them. And Allah guides not wrongdoing folk.”A’al-Umran(3):84-86

What was this message?:

“And verily We have sent in every nationa messenger, (proclaiming): Worship Allah (alone) and shun falsegods. Then of them were some whom Allah guided, and of them weresome upon whom misguidance had just hold. So travel through theland and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth)!”Al-Nahil(16):36

Summary of Allah’s message from Jews to Christiansto Muslims:

“Indeed Allah made a covenant with the Childrenof Israel and We appointed among them twelve chieftains: and Allahsaid: I am with you if you establish worship and pay the poordue, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend untoAllah a good loan, surely I shall remit your sins, and shall admityou into gardens underneath which rivers flow. But if any amongyou disbelieves after this has indeed gone astray from the straightpath. So because of their breaking their covenant, We have cursedthem and made hard their hearts. They change words from their(correct) places and forget a part of the Message that was sentto them. You will not cease to discover deceit in them, excepta few of them. But forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds).Verily Allah loves the good-doers. And from those who said: “Weare Christians,” We made a covenant, but they forgot a goodpart of the message which was sent to them. Therefore We havestirred up enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection,and Allah will inform them of what they used to do. O people ofthe Scripture! Now has Our messenger (Muhammad) come to you, explainingto you much of that which you used to hide in the Scripture, andforgiving much. Indeed, there has come to you a light from Allahand a plain Scripture. Wherewith Allah guides him who seeks Hisgood pleasure unto paths of peace. He brings them out of darknessby His will into light, and guides them to a straight path. Theyindeed have disbelieved who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, sonof Mary. Say : Who then has the least power against Allah, ifHe had willed to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his motherand everyone on earth? And to Allah belongs the dominion of theheavens and the earth and all that is between them. He createswhat He will. And Allah is Able to do all things. The Jews andChristians say: We are sons of Allah and His loved ones. Say;Why then does He punish you for your sins? No, you are but mortalsof His creating. He forgives whom He will, and punishes whom Hewill. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and theearth and all that is between them, and unto Him is the return(of all). O people of the Scripture! Now has Our messenger (Muhammad)come unto you to make things plain after a break in (the seriesof) the messengers, lest you should say: There came not unto usa messenger of cheer nor any Warner. Now has a messenger of cheerand a Warner come unto you. And Allah is Able to do all things.”Al-Maidah(5):12-19

Allah’s covenant with His prophets:

“And when We exacted a covenant from theProphets, and from you (O Muhammad) and from Noah and Abrahamand Moses and Jesus son of Mary. We took from thema solemn covenant; That He may ask the truthful of their truth.And He has prepared for the unfaithful a painful torment.”Al-Ahzab(33):7-8

“O you messengers! Eat of the good things,and do right. Verily! I am Aware of what you do. And verily! thisyour religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep yourduty unto Me. But they (mankind) have broken their religion amongthem into sects, each sect rejoicing in what is with them. Soleave them in their error till a time. Do they think that thewealth and sons that We provide them, We hasten unto them withgood things? Nay, but they perceive not. Verily! those who livein awe for fear of their Lord, And those who believe in the signsof their Lord, And those who do not associate partners with theirLord, And those who give that which they give with hearts atremblebecause they are about to return unto their Lord, It is thesewho race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race.And We task not any soul beyond its capacity, and with Us is aRecord which speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged. Nay,but their hearts are covered (blind) of this (Qur’an), and theyhave other (evil) works, besides, which they are doing;. Tillwhen We grasp those of them who lead a luxurious life with thepunishment, behold! they supplicate loudly. Supplicate not thisday! Assuredly you will not be helped by Us. Indeed, My revelationswere recited unto you, but you used to turn back on your heels.In scorn thereof. Nightly did you reject it.”Al-Muminoon(23):51-63

“He (Allah) has ordained for you that religionwhich He ordained unto Noah, and that which We inspire in you(Muhammad), and that which We ordained unto Abraham and Mosesand Jesus, saying: Establish the religion, and be not dividedtherein. Intolerable for the idolaters is that unto which youcall them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He will, and guidesunto Himself him who turns to Him in repentance and obedience.”Al-Shurah(42):13

The mission of Jesus (pbuh):

“And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to followin their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) beforehim, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance anda light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in theTorah a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil).”Al-Maidah(5):46

The endurance of moses, Jesus, and Muhammad:

“And (remember) when moses said unto hispeople: O my people! Why persecute you me, when you well knowthat I am Allah’s messenger unto you? So when they went astrayAllah sent their hearts astray. And Allah guides not the deviantfolk. And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo!I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was(revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings ofa messenger who comes after me, whose name is Ahmed (the PraisedOne). Yet when he had come unto them with clear proofs, they said:This is clearly magic. And who does greater wrong than he whoinvents a lie against Allah when he is summoned unto Islam. AndAllah guides not the unjust folk. Fain would they put out thelight of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfectHis light however much the disbelievers are averse. He it is whohas sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth,that He may make it conqueror of all religion however much theidolaters may be averse. O you who believe! Shall I show you acommerce that will save you from a painful torture? You shouldbelieve in Allah and His messenger, and should strive in the causeof Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you,if you did but know. He will forgive you your sins and bring youinto Gardens underneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellingsin Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme triumph.”Al-Saf(61):5-12

Jesus’ conception, birth, and mission:

“(Remember) when the wife of Imran said:My Lord I have vowed unto You that which is in my belly for yourspecial service. Accept it from me. Lo! You, only You, art theHearer, the Knower! And when she was delivered she said: My Lord!Lo! I am delivered of a female. Allah knew best of what she wasdelivered. the male is not as the female; and Lo! I have namedher Mary, and Lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspringfrom Satan the outcast. And her Lord accepted her with full acceptanceand vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah herguardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where shewas, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence comethunto you this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah givethwithout stint to whom He will. Then Zachariah prayed unto hisLord and said: My Lord! Bestow upon me of Thy bounty goodly offspring.Lo! You are the Hearer of Prayer. And the angels called to himas he stood praying in the sanctuary: Allah giveth you glad tidingsof (a son whose name is) John, (who cometh) to confirm a wordfrom Allah, lordly, chaste, a Prophet of the righteous. He said:My Lord! How can I have a son when age has overtaken me alreadyand my wife is barren? (The angel) answered: So (it will be).Allah doeth what He will. He said: My Lord! Appoint a token forme. (The angel) said: The token unto you (shall be) that you shaltnot speak unto mankind three days except by signs. Remember thyLord much, and praise (Him) in the early hours of night and morning.And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah has chosen you andmade you pure, and has preferred you above (all) the women ofcreation. O Mary! Be obedient to thy Lord, prostrate thyself andbow with those who bow (in worship). This is of the tidings ofthings hidden. We reveal it unto you (Muhammad). You were notpresent with them when they cast their pens (to know) which ofthem should be the guardian of Mary, nor were you present withthem when they quarreled (thereupon). (And remember) when theangels said: O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a word fromHim, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustriousin the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near(unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and inhis manhood, and he is of the righteous. She said: My Lord! Howcan I have a child when no mortal has touched me? He said: So(it will be). Allah creates what He will. if He decrees a thing,He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. And He will teach him theScripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. And will makehim a messenger unto the children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I comeunto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you outof clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it isa bird, by Allah’s leave. I heal him who was born blind, and theleper, and I raise the dead, by Allah’s leave. And I announceunto you what you eat and what you store up in your houses. Lo!herein verily is a portent for you, if you are believers. And(I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, andto make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I comeunto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allahand obey me. Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.That is a straight path. But when Jesus became conscious of theirdisbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah?The disciples said: We will be Allah’s helpers. We believe inAllah, and bear you witness that we have surrendered (unto Him).Our Lord! We believe in that which You have revealed and we followhim whom You have sent. Enroll us among those who witness (tothe truth). And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed(against them): and Allah is the best of schemers”A’al-Umran(3):35-54.

“And make mention of Mary in the Scripture,when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East,And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Ourspirit (Gabriel) and he assumed for her the likeness of a manin every respect. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the CompassionateOne from you, if you art God fearing. He said: I am only a messengerof thy Lord, that I may bestow on you a faultless son. She said:How can I have a son when no mortal has touched me, neither haveI been unchaste! He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: Itis easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelationfor mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained. Andshe, conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a place. Andthe pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm tree.She said: Oh, would that I had died before this and had becomea thing of naught, forgotten! Then (one) cried unto her from belowher, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord has placed a rivulet beneathyou, And shake the trunk of the palm tree toward you, you wiltcause ripe dates to fall upon you. So eat and drink and be consoled.And if you meet any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast untothe Compassionate, and may not speak this day to any mortal. Thenshe brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary!You hast come with a most wicked thing. Oh sister of Aaron!Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. Thenshe pointed to him. They said How can we talk to one who is inthe cradle, a young boy? He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah.He has given me the Scripture and has appointed me a Prophet,And has made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and has enjoinedupon me prayer and alms giving so long as I remain alive, And(has made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and has not mademe arrogant, unblessed. Peace on me the day I was born, and theday I die, and the day I shall be raised alive(the hereafter)!Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truthconcerning which they doubt. It befits not (the Majesty of) Allahthat He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! WhenHe decrees a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. Andlo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is theright path. The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelieversfrom the meeting of an awful Day. See and hear them on the Daythey come unto Us! Yet the evil doers are today in error manifest.And warn them of the Day of anguish when the case has been decided.Now they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not.Lo! We inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Usthey are returned.” Maryam(19):16-40

“When Jesus came with clear proofs (of Allah’ssovereignty), he said: I have come unto you with wisdom, and tomake plain some of that concerning which you differ. So keep yourduty to Allah, and obey me. Lo! Allah, He is my Lord and yourLord. So worship Him. This is a right path. But the factions amongthem differed. Then woe unto those who do wrong from the doomof a painful day. Await they aught save the Hour, that it shallcome upon them suddenly, when they know not? Friends on that daywill be foes one to another, save those who kept their duty (toAllah). O My slaves! For you there is no fear this day, nor isit you who grieve; (You) who believed Our revelations and wereself surrendered, Enter the Garden, you and your wives, to bemade glad Therein are brought round for them trays of gold andgoblets, and therein is all that souls desire and eyes find sweet.And you are immortal therein. This is the Garden which you aremade to inherit because of what you used to do. Therein for youis fruit in plenty whence to eat. Lo! the guilty are immortalin hell’s torment. It is not relaxed for them, and they despairtherein. We wronged them not, but they it was who did the wrong.And they cry: O master! Let thy Lord make an end of us. He saith:Lo! here you must remain. We verily brought the Truth unto you,but you were, most of you, averse to the Truth.”Al-Zukhruf(43):63-78

Some of the miracles of Jesus mentioned again:

“When Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary!Remember My favor unto you and unto thy mother; how I strengthenedyou with the holy Spirit, so that you spoke unto mankind in thecradle as in maturity; and how I taught you the Scripture andWisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and how you did shape ofclay as it were the likeness of a bird by My permission, and didblow upon it and it was a bird by My permission, and you did healhim who was born blind and the leper by My permission; and howyou did raise the dead, by My permission and how I restrainedthe Children of Israel from (harming) you when you came unto themwith clear proofs, and those of them who disbelieved exclaimed:This is naught else than mere magic”Al-Maidah(5):110

How Allah saved Jesus from the crucifixion byascension:

“(And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus!Lo! I am gathering you and causing you to ascend unto Me, andam cleansing you of those who disbelieve and am setting thosewho follow you above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection.Then unto Me you will (all) return, and I shall judge betweenyou as to that wherein you used to differ. As for those who disbelieveI shall chastise them with a heavy chastisement in the world andthe Hereafter; and they will have no helpers. And as for thosewho believe and do good works, He will pay them their wages infull. Allah loves not wrongdoers. This (which) We recite untoyou is a revelation and a wise reminder.”A’al-Umran(3):55-58

“And because of their saying: We slew theMessiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah’s messenger. They slew him notnor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! thosewho disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have noknowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew himnot for certain, But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah wasever Mighty, Wise” Al-Nissa(4):157-158

“They surely disbelieve who say : Lo! Allahis the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said : O Childrenof Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribespartners unto Allah, for him Allah has forbidden Paradise. Hisabode is the Fire. For evildoers there will be no helpers. Theysurely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; whenthere is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so sayinga painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve. Willthey not rather turn unto Allah and seek forgiveness of Him? ForAllah is Forgiving, Merciful. The Messiah, son of Mary, was noother than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passedaway before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. They bothused to eat (earthly) food. See how we make the revelations clearfor them, and see how they are turned away!”Al-Maidah(5):72-75.

Jesus (pbuh) was not the son of God but His creation(like Adam).

“Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah isas the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He saidunto him: Be! and he is. (This is) the truth from thy Lord (OMuhammad), so be not you of those who waver. And whoso disputeswith you concerning him, after the knowledge which has come untoyou, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons,and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, thenwe will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curseof Allah upon those who lie. Lo! This verily is the true narrative.There is no God save Allah, and lo! Allah is the Mighty, the Wise.And if they turn away, then Lo! Allah is Aware of (who are) thecorrupters. Say: O People of the Scripture. Come to an agreementbetween us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, andthat we shall ascribe no partners unto Him, and that none of usshall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away,then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (untoHim).”A’al-Umran(3):59-64.

“And when Allah said: O Jesus, son of Mary!Did you say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods besideAllah? he saith: Be You glorified. It was not mine to utter thatto which I had no right. If I used to say it, then You knew it.You know what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Your mind.Lo! You, only You are the Knower of Things Hidden. I spoke untothem only that which You commanded me, (saying) : Worship Allah,my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness of them while I dwelt amongthem, and when You took me You were the Watcher over them. Youare Witness over all things. If You punish them, lo! they areYour slaves, and if You forgive them (lo! they are Your slaves).Lo! You, only You, art the Mighty, the Wise. Allah said: Thisis a day in which their truthfulness profits the truthful, fortheirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein theyare secure for ever, Allah taking pleasure in them and they inHim. That is the great triumph. Unto Allah belongs the Sovereigntyof the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is therein, and Heis Able to do all things.” Al-Maidah(5)116-120.

“They say: Allah has taken (unto Him) a son.Glorified be He! He has no needs! His is all that is in the heavensand all that is in the earth. You have no warrant for this. Doyou say concerning Allah that which you know not? Say: Verilythose who invent a lie concerning Allah will not succeed. Thisworld’s portion (will be theirs), then unto Us is their return.Then We make them taste a dreadful doom because they used to disbelieve.”(10):68-70

“And they say: Allah has taken unto Himselfa Son. Be He glorified! Nay, but whatsoever is in the heaven andthe earth is His. All are subservient unto Him. The Originatorof the heavens and the earth! When He decrees a thing, He saysunto it only: Be! and it is.” Al-Bakarah(2):116-117.

“And they say: The Compassionate has takenunto Himself a son. Be He glorified! Nay, but (those whom theycall sons) are honored slaves; They speak not until He has spoken,and they act by His command. He knows what is before them andwhat is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for himwhom He accepts, and they quake for awe of Him. And one of themwho should say: Lo! I am a God beside Him, that one We shouldrepay with hell. Thus We repay wrong doers.”Al-Anbia(21):26:30.

“And they say: The Compassionate has takenunto Himself a son. Assuredly you utter a most horrifying thing,Whereby the heavens are about to be torn, and the earth to splitasunder and the mountains to fall in ruins, That you ascribe untothe Compassionate a son, When it is not meet for (the Majestyof) the Compassionate that He should take a son. There is nonein the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Compassionateas a slave. Verily He knows them and numbers them with (right)numbering. And each one of them will come unto Him on the Dayof Resurrection, alone. Lo! those who believe and do good works,the Compassionate will grant them love. And We make (this Scripture)easy in thy tongue, (O Muhammad) only that you may bear good tidingstherewith unto those who ward off (evil), and warn therewith theforward folk.” Maryam(19):88-97

“They indeed have disbelieved who say: Lo!Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say : Who then can do aughtagainst Allah, if He had willed to destroy the Messiah son ofMary, and his mother and everyone on earth? Allah’s is the Sovereigntyof the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. Hecreates what He will. And Allah is Able to do all things.”Al-Maidah(5):17.

“And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah,and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. Thatis their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying ofthose who disbelieved of old. Allah (himself) fights against them.How perverse are they! They have taken as lords beside Allah theirrabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of Mary, when theywere bidden to worship only One God. There is no god save Him.Be He glorified from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!”Al-Tauba(9):30-31

Rejection of the concept of the “trinity”:

“O mankind! The messenger has come unto youwith the truth from your Lord. Therefore believe; (it is) betterfor you. But if you disbelieve, still, lo! unto Allah belongethwhatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and Allah is the all-knowing,the wise. O people of the scripture, do not exaggerate in yourreligion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. TheMessiah, Jesus the son of Mary was only a messenger of Allah andHis word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. Sobelieve in Allah and His messengers, and say not “three.”Desist, (it is) better for you. Verily Allah is one God. Far exaltedis He above having a son. His is all that is in the heavens andthe Earth, and suffice in Allah as a Trustee. The Messiah willnever scorn to be the slave of Allah, nor will the favored angels.Whoso scorneth His service and is proud, all such will He assembleunto Him; Then, as for those who believed and did good works,unto them will He pay their rewards in full and He will add untothem from His bounty. And as for those who were scornful and proud,them will he punish with a painful torture and they will not findfor themselves any other than Allah as a friend or a supporter”Al-Nissa(4):170-173.

The miraculous birth of prophet John (the Baptist):

“A mention of the mercy of thy Lord untoHis servant Zachariah. When he cried unto his Lord a cry in secret,.Saying: My Lord! Lo! the bones of me wax feeble and my head isshining with gray hair, and I have never been unblessed in prayerto You, my Lord. Lo! I fear my kinsfolk after me, since my wifeis barren. Oh, give me from Thy presence a successor. Who shallinherit of me and inherit (also) of the house of Jacob. And makehim, my Lord, acceptable ( unto You). (It was said unto him):O Zachariah! Lo! We bring you tidings of a son whose name is John;We have given the same name to none before (him). He said: MyLord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reachedinfirm old age? He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It iseasy for Me, even as I created you before, when you wast naught.He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy tokenis that you, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankindthree nights. Then he came forth unto his people from the sanctuary,and signified to them: Glorify your Lord at break of day and fallof night. (And it was said unto his son): O John! Hold the Scripture.And We gave him wisdom while yet a child. And compassion fromOur presence, and purity; and he was devout, And dutiful towardhis parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious. Peace on himthe day be was born, and the day he dies and the day he shallbe raised alive!(the hereafter)”Maryam(19):2-14.

The Feast:

“And when I inspired the disciples, (saying):Believe in Me and in My messenger, they said: We believe. Bearwitness that we have surrendered (unto You). When the disciplessaid: O Jesus, son of Mary! Is thy Lord able to send down forus a table spread with food from heaven? He said: Observe yourduty to Allah, if you are true believers. (They said:) We wishto eat thereof, that we may satisfy our hearts and know that youhave spoken truth to us, and that thereof we may be witnesses.Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, Lord of us! Send down for usa table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a feast forUs, for the first of us and for the last of us, and a sign fromYou. Give us sustenance, for You are the Best of Sustainers. Allahsaid: Lo! I send it down for you. And whoso disbelieveth of youafterward, him surely will I punish with a punishment wherewithI have not punished any of (My) creatures”Al-Maidah(5):111-115

The response of Jesus’ people:

“Then We caused Our messengers to followin their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow,and gave him the Gospel, and placed compassion and mercy in thehearts of those who followed him. But monasticism they invented.We ordained it not for them. Only seeking Allah’s pleasure, andthey observed it not with right observance. So We give those ofthem who believe their reward, but many of them are transgressors.”Al-Hadeed(57):27

“And when the son of Mary is quoted as anexample, behold! the folk laugh out, And say: Are our gods better,or is he? They raise not the objection save for argument. Nay!but they are a contentious folk. He is but a slave on whom Webestowed favor, and We made him a pattern for the Children ofIsrael.” Al-Zukhruf(43):57-59

Christians and Islam:

“…and nearest among them (men) in loveto the believers wilt you find those who say ‘we are Christians’:because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men whohave renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. And whenthey listen to the revelation received by the messenger, you wiltsee their eyes overflowing with tears for they recognize the truth:They pray: ‘Our lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses’.”Al-Maidah(5):82-83.

The relationship of Islam and the Qur’an to theprevious messages and scriptures:

“And unto you (O Muhammad) have We revealedthe Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture wasbefore it, and a watcher/corrector over it. So judge between themby that which Allah has revealed, and follow not their desiresaway from the truth which has come unto you. For each We haveappointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had Allah willedHe could have made you one community. But that He may try youby that which He has given you (He has made you as you are). Sovie one with another in good works. Unto Allah you will all return,and He will then inform you of that wherein you differ. So judgebetween them by that which Allah has revealed, and follow nottheir desires, but beware of them lest they seduce you from somepart of that which Allah has revealed unto you. And if they turnaway, then know that Allah’s will is to smite them for some sinof theirs. Lo! many of mankind are rebellious.”Al-Maidah(5):48-49

Muslim-SA@acsu.buffalo.eduLast modified: Mon Nov 18 14:05:49 EST 1996