Before looking at Jesus (Isa) in Islam, it is important to understand the differences between Christianity, Judaism and Islam
Abraham Christianity, Islam & Judaism state that Abraham made a covenant with their people
Old Testament Humans sin and stray from God. Prophets say a messiah, with certain signs, will save them.
Jesus is born Jesus is born to a Virgin Mary. He claims to be the ‘’messiah” teaching and sharing messages
Christianity Judaism Some Jews believe Jesus is the son of God and Other Jews don’t believe Jesus is messiah. They are messiah. They call themselves ‘Christians’ still called Jews and are still waiting for the messiah
Islam 550 years later, Muhammad receives Qur’an. Like Jews, Muslims don’t believe Jesus was the messiah
Muslim beliefs about Jesus are almost identical to those in Christianity. They believe Jesus was born to Mary (Maryam) and was one of the five greatest messengers of God. Like all prophets in Islam, Jesus came to earth with a message called the Injil or the gospel. He was a miracle worker and healer who gave sight to the blind and brought the dead back to life.
Interestingly, out of all the messengers and prophets of God, Jesus is the only messenger who received the title of al-Masih, or Messiah, in the Quran. However, as Muslims do not believe in original sin, they see no need for a saviour and therefore do not believe in Jesus’ crucifixion. Instead the Qur’an states that Jesus was ‘assumed’ into heaven before his actual death.
Muslims believe that Jesus was spared death because he was God’s holy one. Muslims believe Jesus’ enemies could not triumph over him because he is God’s servant. Like Christians, Muslims believe that Jesus will return. Islamic texts say that Jesus will come back on the Day of Judgement, when he will destroy the anti-Christ.
However, while it seems like there are many similarities between Christianity and Islam on the life of Jesus, in reality there are crucial differences. The most important parts of Jesus’ life were his birth (as the son of God for Christians) and his death which, for Christians, paid the penalty for original sin. As both religions disagree on these points, there are arguably more differences than similarities.
Complete Questions:
1. What is the covenant? 2. What are three Muslim beliefs about Isa? 3. What are two similarities between Christians and Muslims on Jesus? 4. What are two difference between Christians and Muslims on Jesus? EXT: Overall, are there more similarities or differences? Why?