The Mission of Jesus (pbuh) in Islam

The Mission of Jesus (pbuh) in Islam

Suzanne Haneef (“What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims,” 1985) offers an introduction to the Muslim concept of the life and mission of Jesus (pbuh):
“In Islam, Isa Maseeh – Jesus the Messiah, God’s peace and blessings be on him – is one of the greatest of the prophets whom Muslims hold in very deep love and respect. The Qur’an confirms that Jesus (pbuh) was born of a virgin mother (Maryam) through the same Power which brought Adam into being without a father, and that by God’s permission during his prophethood he wrought many compelling miracles among his people. He was given the power to speak coherently in infancy, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to reach the hearts of men by the words which God revealed to him.”

Qur’an 3:48-51 (“Family of Imran”):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And He (God) will teach him (Jesus (pbuh)) the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunna, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom etc.), (and) the Torah and the Evangel.

And will make him a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by God’s permission. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.

And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So fear God and obey me.

Truly! God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.

Worship the One True God

Qur’an 43:63-65 (“The Gold Adornments”):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And when Jesus (pbuh) came with (Our) clear Proofs, he said: “I have come to you with Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) in which you differ, therefore fear God and obey me, “Verily, God! He is my Lord (God) and your Lord (God). So worship Him (Alone). This is the (only) Straight Path “. But the sects from among themselves differed. So woe to those who do wrong (by ascribing things to Jesus (pbuh) that are not true) from the torment of a painful Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)!

Dr. Al-Johani, in his article, “The Truth About Jesus (pbuh)” states:
“Jesus (pbuh) was a link in a long chain of prophets and messengers sent by God to various societies and nations whenever they needed guidance or deviated from the teachings of God. Jesus (pbuh) was especially prepared by God to be sent to the Jews who had deviated from the teachings of Moses and other Messengers. As he was miraculously supported by God in conception, birth and childhood, he was also supported by numerous miracles to prove that he was a messenger from God. However, the majority of the Jews rejected his ministry. The Qur’an tells us more about Jesus’ (pbuh) mission in the following “

Qur’an 5:116-118 (“The Table Spread”):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And (remember) when God will say (on the Day of Resurrection): “O Jesus (pbuh), son of Mary! Did you say unto men: “Worship me and my mother as two gods besides God?” He will say: “Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen.

The verses continue….

“Never did I say to them aught except what You (God) did command me to say: ‘Worship God, my Lord and your Lord’, And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things.

“If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, Verily You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise”.

Confirm Torah & give glad tidings of a Messenger to come after him
Dr. Al-Johani states that “In another verse of the Qur’an, Jesus (pbuh) confirmed the validity of the Torah which was revealed to Moses and he also brought the glad tidings of the coming of a final messenger after him. This is clearly indicated in the following verse:

Qur’an 61:6 (“The Ranks”):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And (remember) when Jesus, son of Mary, said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of God unto you confirming the Torah (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed. But when he (Ahmed, i.e. Muhammad, pbuh) came to them with clear proofs, they said: “This is plain magic.”

Ahmed, we find in the meaning of the word, is another of the names of Muhammad (pbuh), which means “one who is praised”.
Closeness of Muhammad to Jesus (peace be upon them both)

According to a hadith from the collection of Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Hadith No. 651: Narrated Abu Huraira, r.a.: I heard Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) saying, “I am the nearest of all people to the son of Mary, and all the Prophets are paternal brothers, and there has been no Prophet between me and him (i.e. Jesus (pbuh).”