Jesus was a Prophet

Muslims believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) is one of the Prophets of Allah, and that he was sent to guide the Children of Israel with a new scripture. In fact, belief in all Prophets and Messengers of Allah is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. The Holy Book of Muslims, the Qur’an, declares: “Say (O Muhammad): ‘We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham (Ibrahim), Ishma’el, Isaac (Ishaq), Jacob (Yaqub), and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses (Musa), Jesus (Isa), and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam).” (Al-i ‘Imran, 3/84)

Jesus (Isa) is seen in Islam as a precursor to Muhammad, and is believed by Muslims to have foretold the latter’s coming. In fact, according to the Islamic faith, the original religion taught by all these prophets is and was always Islam, which means peaceful submission to the One and Only God.

Another verse in the Qur’an affirms that Jesus follows the line of Prophets like Moses before Him: “And We sent after them (the previous messengers) in their footsteps Jesus, son of Mary, verifying what was before him in the Torah and We gave him the Gospel in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it in Torah and a guidance and an admonition for the God-fearing.” (Ma’idah, 5/46)

Jesus is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Qur’an. He is also addressed with respect as “son of Mary; messiah; servant of Allah; and messenger of Allah.” He is also spoken of as “the word of God”, “the spirit of God”, “a sign of God”, and numerous other epithets of honor spread over fifteen different chapters.