Introduction: What the Quran Teaches About Jesus
The Quran reveals interesting facts about Prophet Jesus’s (peace be upon him) life that are not found in any other religious scripture. These verses provide us greater context into his mission, miracles, and role as a Messenger and Prophet of God.
The First Miracle: Speaking as a Baby
One of the most unique and remarkable miracles is Jesus being able to speak as a baby:
“He will speak to people in the cradle and in old age, and he will be among the righteous.” (Quran 3:46)
This miracle of speaking as a baby is only found in the Quran and shows Allah’s power from very early moments of Jesus’s life. The word “righteous” in this verse is important because Jesus’s life was marked by righteousness and complete obedience to God.
Allah’s Plan: Teaching Jesus Four Things
The Quran tells us what Allah planned to teach Jesus:
“And Allah will teach him writing and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel” (Quran 3:48).
This verse indicates that Allah gave him both the knowledge of the scriptures (Torah (Jewish scripture) and the Injeel (Gospel)) and divine wisdom. Jesus (peace be upon him) had been given all of this at an early age as God was preparing him for a noble mission as a prophet and messenger to the Children of Israel.
The Five Miracles of Jesus
When Jesus (peace be upon him) began his mission to the Children of Israel, he began by showing and proving to them that he was truly a Messenger sent by God:
1. Creating Birds from Clay
“I will create for you from clay the likeness of a bird, then breathe into it, and it will become a bird by Allah’s permission.” (Quran 3:49).
This miracle reminds us about our own creation and points to the resurrection, when Allah will bring life from death.
2. Healing the Sick
“I will heal the blind and the leper by Allah’s permission.” (Quran 3:49).
Jesus (peace be upon him) could cure incurable diseases, including leprosy and blindness, by Allah’s command. This showed that Allah is the One who truly heals but that Jesus was simply carrying out God’s will.
3. Raising the Dead
“I will bring the dead to life by Allah’s permission.” (Quran 3:49).
This miracle reminds us of Judgement Day, when Allah will raise all people from their graves for judgment and accountability.
4. Deep Knowledge
“I will tell you what you eat and what you store in your homes.” (Quran 3:49).
Jesus through Revelation could reveal hidden matters such as what people ate or valuables kept in their homes. This shows us that Allah knows everything about our lives so we should be shy to disobey Him.
5. The Promise of Belief
After mentioning the miracles, Allah concludes:
“Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” (Quran 3:49).
These signs were to show the people that Jesus was truly a Prophet of God, calling people to worship the One true God alone.
Jesus is a “Sign for the Hour”
The Quran gives Jesus a special honor:
“And his ˹second˺ coming is truly a sign for the Hour. So have no doubt about it, and follow me. This is the Straight Path” (Quran 43:61).
Although Jesus performed numerous miracles, his greatest sign is yet to come as his return is part of Allah’s decree before the Last Day. Jesus will descend near the end of time, break the cross, kill the swine, abolish false worship, and establish justice.
Jesus’s Mission
Confirming the Torah
“And I have come to confirm what was before me of the Torah” (Quran 3:50)
Jesus’s primary role was to clarify and explain the Torah and revive the message of Moses from all the corruption and changes.
Making Some Things Permissible
“And to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you” (Quran 3:50)
What Jesus actually did was remove artificial restrictions that people, especially the Rabbis had added to Allah’s original laws.
The Quran teaches us an important principle here: We should not make permissible things impermissible, nor should we make impermissible things permissible. Both are violations of Allah’s authority and laws.
Islam Balances Between Two Extremes
The Jewish Extreme: Making Too Much Haram
Some Jewish communities created many additional rules and complicated regulations beyond that which was legislated. Allah says: “But they did not observe it as they should have observed it. So We gave their reward to those among them who believed, but many of them are defiantly disobedient” (Quran 57:27).
The Christian Extreme: Making Everything Halal
Many Christian denominations went the opposite direction, believing that because Jesus died for sins, meaning “man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law”. The Quran criticizes them by saying: “They took their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and (also) the Messiah, son of Mary, while they were commanded to worship none but One God” (Quran 9:31)
The Islamic Balance
The Quran presents the middle path of moderation through Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This balance prevents both extremes – adding to Allah’s laws or removing from them. A Muslim worships Allah upon balance: with hope in His mercy, fear of His punishment, and most importantly love for Him, which forms the essence of true worship.
The Connection Between Jesus and Muhammad ﷺ
The Quran mentions that Jesus gave good news about the final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
“And giving good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” (Quran 61:6)
This shows that part of Jesus’s mission was to prepare people for the coming of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In this way, Jesus’s story serves as a preview of the final revelation.
Lessons for Muslims Today
1. Don’t Add to Allah’s Religion
The Quran warns us:
“Say: Who dares to prohibit the beautiful things that Allah has produced for His servants?” (Quran 7:32)
Making permissible things impermissible and vice versa both show a lack of trust in Allah’s wisdom.
2. Focus on Righteous Deeds
The emphasis on Jesus being among “the righteous” reminds us that faith must be accompanied by good actions. The Quran teaches:
“Good deeds remove bad deeds.” (Quran 11:114)
This reminds us that faith alone isn’t enough and the more effort we put, the more we will earn God’s love and pleasure.
3. Understand the Purpose of Miracles
Jesus’s miracles were there as a sign of reflection and a show of God’s power and ability which He gave to him. Every miracle in the Quran points back to Allah, never to creation itself.
Conclusion: The Message for All Humanity
The story of Jesus in the Quran serves multiple purposes: to set the record straight about Jesus’s true message, emphasizing moderation, preparing his people for the final revelation through Muhammad ﷺ, and teaching the people their true purpose in life, which involves fulfilling the rights of the Creator and then the creation.
The Quran’s account of Jesus demonstrates Allah’s mercy in sending prophets to guide humanity, each building upon the previous revelations while preparing for what was to come.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“My example and the example of the prophets before me is like a man who built a house, completing and perfecting it except for the place of one brick in a corner. People began to walk around it and admire it, but they said, ‘If only this brick were put in its place.’ I am that brick, and I am the seal of the prophets.” (Sahih Bukhari: 3535, Sahih Muslim: 2286).
Whatever Allah wanted to protect from the previous scriptures can be found in the Quran. The Quran makes it clear that Jesus was one of the mightiest Messengers of Allah, a Messiah, and was born miraculously, without any male intervention. The Quran clarifies that Jesus performed miracles by God’s permission, but that He was not God, nor the son of God, nor was he crucified. To know more about the life of Jesus (peace be upon him), you are most welcome to order a Free Quran copy and read it for yourself!