here are a number of issues concerning Jesus where Muslims and Christians are at par but the few differences are the foundation of the disparities in the two faiths, writes Yusuf Muziransa

According to Sheikh Adnan Alonga, an Islamic scholar and a teacher of Islam and Arabic at the Saudi Cultural Centre in Kampala, Jesus, known as Prophet Isa in Islam, is a very respected and admired prophet in Islam.

“He is considered one of Allah’s most sought-after prophets as per the Quran. Just like other prophets in Islam, Jesus can never be referred to without a prayer that says ‘Peace be upon him’” Sheikh Adinan says.

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Like the Bible, the Quran also ascertains Jesus’ divine birth and agrees on the virginity of Mary, who is actually considered the purest woman among all creation. In the Quran, Mary and Angel Gibril (Gabriel) once had a conversation which highlighted her purity.

“I seek refuge with The Most Beneficent God from you, if you do fear Him. I am only a Messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a righteous son,” said Gibril. “How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?” Mary asked.

“So it will be. Your Lord said that is easy for Him and it is a matter already decreed by Him (Quran 19:16-21),” the angel said.
Furthermore, the Quran also relates Jesus to Adam, the first Prophet in Islam: “Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him out of dust, and then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.” (Quran, 3:59)

The Quran also agrees that during Jesus’ prophetic mission, he performed many miracles. First, the Quran says Jesus himself is a miracle. The way he was born of a virgin and even the way he grew up is miraculous.

Allah says both Jesus and his mother Mary were a miraculous sign to the world: “…and we made her (Mary) and her son (Jesus) a sign for the worlds.” (Quran 21:91) The Quran also concurs with the Bible on some of the miracles Jesus performed and mentions a number of them, like when Jesus made a bird out of clay, breathed in it and it flew.

“I create for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird with God’s permission.” (Quran 3:49)

Other than that, Jesus healed lepers and restored sight to the blind: “I also heal the blind and the lepers.” (Quran 3:49) Jesus is said in the Quran to have resurrected the dead.
“…and I bring to life the dead, by the permission of God.” (Quran 3:49)

According to the Holy Quran, like all the other prophets in Islam, Jesus came to teach the same topic to humanity - the Oneness of Allah.

However, though Muslims and Christians are at par about Jesus to an extent, there are some disagreements about him. Muslims do not believe that Jesus is a son of God. The Quran states that Jesus is a prophet, not son of God. According to the Holy Quran, though Jesus was miraculously born and performed miracles, it does not equate him to God. Muslims believe that just like God says let this be and it happens, he did the same with Jesus and he was.

“Truly the likeness of Jesus, in God’s sight is as Adam’s likeness; He created him of dust, then He said upon him, ‘Be’ and he was.” (Al-Imran 3:59)

The Quran goes ahead to reject the concept of the trinity or three in one. Muslims believe that three can never be one as Christians believe. Muslims also believe that Jesus did not die on the cross. They believe that he was substituted with another person and God took him to heaven.

“...They said, “We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God. They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man...” (Qur’an, 4:157)
“Jesus was not killed; the Quran tells us that one of his disciples wore his face and died in his place,” says Sheikh Adnan.
But, like Christians, Muslims believe that Jesus will return before the end of the world.

“And Jesus shall be a sign for the coming of the hour of Judgment: therefore have no doubt about the hour, but follow ye Me: this is a straight way.” (Quran 43:61)

However, some Muslims say the verse was not talking about the return of Jesus.