Prophet Jesus (Isa) and his mother, Mary (Mariam) have prominence in the history, culture, and the faith of Islam, as Jesus was the prophet immediately preceding Prophet Mohammad, separated by six centuries, whereas the separation between Moses and Jesus is estimated to be around fifteen hundred years. In Islamic traditions, all prophets of God are to be treated with equal respect and to be followed with the same devotion to their teachings, since their collective teachings came from God and are consistent in principles and values with Islamic teachings.
The lives of these three prophets and the revelations given to them (the Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an) are more readily available, and their followers constitute more than 50 percent of humanity. Two other ancient religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, both of which started in India, also command a large group of followers, primarily in Asia. Hinduism stayed in India, while Buddhism spread all over Asia, because of persecution in India against Buddhists. Buddhism has received much attention by Western scholars, many of whom are disillusioned by the contradictory theology of the Trinity, the controversy around the nature of Jesus’s birth and his crucifixion, the historic excess of the pope and the papal institution against people of other faiths, and fellow Christians who disagree with the pope as the representative of Jesus.
The birth of Jesus and his many healing powers are sources of wonderment for Muslims. The Qur’an narrates these miracles of Jesus as a manifestation of God’s creative power and His blessings to humanity, while Christianity has fragmented and created a significant number of hostilities and atrocities to fellow Christians and to others outside their faith based on conjecture and divergent views about the nature of Jesus (human versus divine), the nature of his birth (without a human father but then designating God as the Father), the nature of his death and resurrection, the sale of salvation, especially by the pope and the papal institution (which has become mainstream), and the practice of celibacy in the Catholic Church that has led to serious sexual abuse of women and children in churches around the world.
To be fair, such abuse of religion, religious practices, and religious institutions is not confined to Christianity alone but has spread in every other religion and has created a bad name for religions and by implication faith in God. There is also a parallel rise of political and economic corruption all over the world, predominantly in Communist and authoritarian countries, which also invalidates the claim that atheists make regarding faith and religion. We also see the rise of political rights in democratic countries such as the United States, India, Brazil, and some parts of Europe that show the ugly exploitation of religion and nationalistic fervor by political forces to divide and deceive their citizens.
Mary and Jesus
While the Bible makes references to several different Marys—Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Mary of Jacob (the mother of James the Younger) (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; Luke 24:10); Mary of Clopas (John 19:25); and Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38–42; John 12:1–3)—the Qur’an only makes references to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Qur’an also refers to Jesus as the son of Mary. The name Jesus perhaps is a derivative of Yeshua (Joshua) in Aramaic, which would have been the language Jesus spoke, and its Greek translation to Iesous, since the Bible was documented from memory and scrolls many years later by fellow Christians who spoke Greek at the time. The Arabic name used in the Qur’an for Jesus is Isa.
The Qur’an provides a rich and lengthy discussion about Mary and the early life of Jesus that is absent in the Bible. About 173 verses in total describe the rich history of Prophet Jesus; his mother, Mary; his disciples (without naming them); and John (the Baptist – a contemporary prophet with Jesus). The lineage of Mary goes back to the family of Amran (a Jewish family of which Zacharias was a contemporary prophet and father of John the Baptist), whose lineage can be traced back to Aaron and Moses and then to Abraham through his second son, Isaac. Muslims trace the lineage of Prophet Mohammad to Canaanites who descended from Ishmael, the firstborn of Abraham, as legend says Abraham left his firstborn and his mother, Hagar, in the deserts of Arabia because of hostilities from Sarah his first wife against Hagar. Hagar was a slave girl and was married to Abraham at the request of Sarah who could not bear a child till then. God later gifted Sarah with Isaac after Ishmael and Hagar were sent away.
Mary’s birth: Her dignity as a woman and as mother of Jesus
The Family of Amran: 3:35–37
The wife of Amran [and Mary’s mother] addressed God: “My Sustainer God, I wish to entrust who is in my womb to be dedicated to You. So accept my wish; You certainly know, and You certainly hear (my prayer).” But when she gave birth, she exclaimed, “My Lord, I have given birth to a female.” God certainly knew who she brought forth and that a male (which she may have hoped for) could not be the same as this female. She named her Mary and entrusted her and her offspring to the protection of God from the devil.
Her Lord accepted her offering as God accepts genuine offering and graced Mary with a good upbringing. She was placed under the guardianship of Zacharias. Whenever Zacharias used to come to visit Mary inside the sanctuary, he would find provision with her, and he would say, “Mary, where does this provision come from?” Mary would say, “It is from God who gives provision to whom He wishes in abundance.”
The Family of Amran: 3:42–44
The angels said to Mary, “God has chosen you, made you noble, and made you eminent over all women in the world. O Mary, remain devoted to your Sustainer God, humble yourself, and bow together with those who submit to God.”
These are the matters unseen [unknown in history] that God reveals to you. You were not there when they were casting lots to decide who will take charge of Mary and when they contended with one another on this matter (of Jesus).
The Prophets: 21:91
And she (Mary) who guarded her chastity, We [God] breathed into her Our Essence [ruh] and made her and her son as Our signs for humanity. Surely yours is a community of a Single Nation; I am your Lord, so serve Me. Eventually you will cut off your relationships among yourselves (die) and return (resurrect) to Us!
Mary and wife of Pharaoh as believers
The Prohibition: 66:11–12
God gives examples of believers—the wife of Pharaoh when she prayed to God: “My Sustainer God, build for me a house in Paradise with you and let me escape from Pharaoh and his works and save me from people who are unjust.” And Mary, the daughter of Amran, who guarded her chastity and We [God] breathed into her Our inspiration [ruh]. She accepted as truth the Words of her Sustainer God and His Books and she was one of those who were devout.
Birth of Jesus and his prophethood at early age
The Family of Amran: 3:45–51
The angels said to Mary, “God gives you the advent of a Word from Him [a son for you], whose name will be Messiah, Jesus, Son of Mary, to be eminent in this world and in the hereafter and shall be close to God. He [Jesus] will speak to people from an early age to full maturity, and he will be of those who are good people.”
Mary replied, “My Sustainer God, how can I have a son when no man had ever touched me?” God said, “This is the will of God. When He wills a thing, He says, “Be, and it becomes.” God will teach him [Jesus] knowledge, wisdom, the Torah, and the Bible and make him an apostle to the children of Israel. Jesus will say, ‘I have come as a sign of God, that I am able to create out of clay a bird, breathe into it [inspire], and it becomes alive [transformed] with God’s permission, that I heal the blind and the leprous and bring consciousness to those who are [spiritually] dead with God’s permission and I inform you what you should eat [to sustain current life] and what you should store in your dwellings [in the afterlife]. These are signs that I bring so that you may believe [in God and the nature of our lives].”
“I [Jesus] am here to confirm the Torah that came to you before me and to reverse certain prohibitions that were imposed on you, and I have come with certain evidence from my Lord. Therefore, it behooves you to submit to God and to pay attention to my guidance. Surely God is your Lord and my Lord; therefore, let us then serve Him—that is the straight path.”
Mary: 19:16–40
Remember Mary in the Book—when she moved aside from her family to an eastern location. She screened herself for privacy and We [God] sent Our Spirit (angel) who appeared to her as a handsome man. She said,” I seek refuge in my Beneficent God from you—if you are also someone who is righteous and acts responsibly.” He (angel) said, “I am only a messenger from your God (to give this message), “I [God] will give you a boy who is pure.”
She said, “How can I have a boy when no man has touched me yet and I have not been unchaste?” He said, “This is how it is. Your Sustainer God says, “It is easy for Me, that We may establish him as symbol (from Us) to mankind and a source of grace and mercy. And it is a matter already decided.”
Then she conceived him and separated herself to a remote place. The onset of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She lamented, “Oh, I wish I were dead before this and were a thing forgotten.” Then a voice came to her from beneath her, “Don’t grieve. Your Sustainer God had provided for a stream beneath you. Shake this palm tree towards you and it will drop for you fresh and ripe dates. So, eat and drink and be comforted. When you see anyone, say: “I have vowed to fast for my Sustainer God, and I will not speak to anyone today.”
Finally, she came to her people carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have brought indeed a strange thing. O sister of Aaron, your father was not wicked nor your mother unchaste.” She pointed to the child. They said, “How can we speak to a child in the cradle?”
He (the child) said, “I am a servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, and he has commanded me to worship (God), to help the poor as long as I live, and to be kind to my mother. He [God] had not made me proud or without His blessings. There will be peace on me the day I was born, the day I will die and the day I am raised back to life.”
This is Jesus, son of Mary—a statement of truth about which people dispute. It is unworthy of God to take to Himself a son. God is Glorious! When He wish to decree a thing, He only says to it, “Be and it becomes.” (Say) “Surely God is my Sustainer and your Sustainer—therefore, serve Him. This is the straight Path.”
But parties among people differed (about Jesus); Woe to those who doubt and disbelieve, because they will be present on a difficult day (of reckoning)! How clearly they will hear and see when they come to Us [God] whereas those who are ungrateful, and deniers today are in great error. Warn them of the Day of Regret, when matters (of such dispute) will be settled whereas they are now negligent and in denial. For indeed, We [God] inherit the earth and those who live on it and they all will return to Us.
The Family of Amran: 3:59–60
The likeness [birth] of Jesus is like that of Adam in God’s eyes. He created Adam from dust and said to it, “Be,” and it became. This is truth from your Lord, and do not become one of those who doubts or disputes.
Jesus as Prophet
The Family of Amran: 3:84–85
Declare, “We believe in God and what has been revealed to us and all that was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and generations following them and all that was given by their Sustainer to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets; we make no differentiation among the prophets, and to God we do surrender ourselves [as muslims].” To anyone who seeks out ways other than submission in peace to God [common faith of Islam, defined by all prophets]—such ways are not acceptable to God, and such people will be among those who have lost their ways.
The Cattle: 6:84-90
We [God] blessed him [Abraham] with Isaac and Jacob; We guided each as We did guide Noah before and from his descendants—David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. This is how We recognize those who do good to others. So was Zacharias, John, Jesus, and Elias—all of them righteous. We also made Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot to excel among people. We did select and guide from among their forefathers, their descendants, and contemporaries to the Straight Path.
This is God’s guidance with which He guides whom He wills among His servants; so, if any of them has associated partners with God, then all their activities will have been in vain. These are the [chosen] people whom We gifted with book, sound judgment, and prophethood. Now if there are some who deny [the truth], [know that] We have entrusted such truth to a group of people who will remain faithful—these are the people whom God has guided; it behooves you to follow their guidance. Say: “I seek no reward from you; this guidance is just a reminder to all people.”
The Women: 4:163-170
Surely, We [God] had inspired you [Mohammad] as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him; We inspired Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants; [We inspired] Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave David a scripture. [We sent] Messengers that We have mentioned to you before and others that We have not mentioned to you. And God spoke His words to Moses. [These are] Messengers, bearing good news and dispensing caution, so that people may have no excuse before God after the Messengers. God is infinitely Mighty and Wise!
Notwithstanding, God Himself testifies with what He had revealed to you that He has revealed it with His knowledge, and angels bear witness as well, though none can bear witness as God does. Those who deny God’s grace and obstruct people from true guidance have erred and moved far [from truth]. Such as these who deny the truth and act wrongfully, God will never forgive them, nor guide them to the [straight] path, but [they move on] a path to Hell where they will be bound for a long time—a consequence that is easy for God to enforce.
O mankind [listen up]: This Messenger has come to you with truth from your Sustainer God; it is in your best interest to believe. If you deny and disbelieve, [know that] God owns all that is in the universe and on Earth; He is All knowing and Wise!
The Allies: 33:7
When We [God] made covenant with prophets and with you, and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, son of Mary and We took covenants that were solemn; so that He [God] may question the veracity of their truth (covenant) and for the deniers, He has prepared its grave consequences (for deniers).
Gold: 43:63–64
When Jesus came with the message, he said, “I have come with wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you contend with one another. Keep your commitment to God and follow me. For God is your Sustainer and my Sustainer. Therefore, serve Him. That is the Straight Path (the path of Abraham).” But parties among them continued to differ; then woe to those who do wrong and face the consequence on a day that will be overwhelming!
The Ranks: 61:6–9 (to interpret laws of Moses and foretell next prophet)
(Remember) when Jesus, son of Mary said, “O Children of Israel, I am the messenger of God here to verify which is in front of me of the Torah and to give the good news of a messenger who will come after me, his name will be Ahmed (comforter in English, paraclete in Greek, see John 14:16, 16:7, 16:12-14, Deut. 18:18). But when he came with those clear arguments and evidence, they said, “All this is enchantment!”
Who is more in error than who invents lies against God while he is being invited to Peace [Islam]? God does not guide who acts against their souls. They desire to blow off the light of God with their mouths, but God will perfect His light, thought the deniers may dislike. It is He [God] Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth so that He may make it supersede all other religions, though the polytheists may dislike.
Jesus as Messiah (Masih in Arabic):
Messiah is called the Christ by Christians, derived from Greek: χριστός and Romanized as khristós. Messiah is translated from the Hebrew word for “Mashiach”—one who is “anointed with oil,” a practice to designate the King and later for religious leaders.
The Family of Amran: 3:45
The angels said to Mary, “God gives you the advent of a Word from Him [a son for you], whose name will be Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, to be eminent in this world and in the hereafter and shall be close to God. He [Jesus] will speak to people from an early age to full maturity, and he will be of those who are good people.”
The Women: 4:171–172
Followers of the Book should not overstep the bounds of their faith, nor attribute to God other than the truth—Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, is only a Messenger from God and a Word [promise] that He conveyed to her [through angels; see 3:45] and a soul[ruh] created from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers and do not say, “[God is one of] three.” Restrain [from such false assertion], as it is better for you. Indeed, God is but One God, and His glory does not include a son but all that are in the universe and all that are on Earth. No one is as worthy of trust as God Himself.
Christ was never too proud to be God’s servant, nor are the Angels who are near to God. Whoever is too proud to serve God and acts with arrogance, [should know that] God will gather them all to Himself.
The Repast: 5:72
It is a confirmation of disbelief (in God) for those who say: “God is the Messiah, son of Mary,” whereas Messiah (Christ) himself said: “O Children of Israel, Serve God, who is my Sustainer and your Sustainer.” Whoever associates anybody (or anything) with God, he is forbidden entry to Paradise, and his residence will be in Hellfire. Those who propagate evil (false beliefs), there are no helpers for them.
The Repast: 5:75
Messiah (Christ), son of Mary, was an Apostle (of God), and many apostles have passed away before him. His mother was a woman of great virtue and truthfulness. They both ate food (like other creatures of God). See how We make the matters clear to them; yet see how they continue to deny (the truth).
Miracles of Jesus
The Repast: 5:109–110
When God will gather all the Messengers and ask: “How was the response (from your community to your messages)?” they will reply: “We have no knowledge (beyond our time), whereas You are the Knower of all that is hidden or unseen.” God will (turn to Jesus and) say: “O Jesus, son of Mary, do you remember My favor to you and to your mother—how I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit; how you spoke to people from childhood to grown age; how I taught you revelations, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel; how you shaped out of clay the form of a bird and breathed into it so that it became a bird by My permission; how you would heal the blind and the leper by My grace; how you raised those who were dead (spiritually or near death physically) by My grace; and how I protected you from the Children of Israel when you came to them with a clear message. Yet those who persist in denial say: ‘This (Jesus and his message) is nothing but a manifest enchantment (deception)!’”
There are other mentions of Jesus in verses such as 2:87, 136, 253, 5:78.
Aid from Holy Spirit (Angel Gabriel)
The Cow: 2:87
God gave Moses the revelation, and God sent messengers after him, one after another. God also sent Jesus, son of Mary, with clear signs of truth and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. How is it that you became arrogant whenever God sent messengers whose messages did not agree with your desires? Some of them you denied, and others you would kill!
The Cow: 2:253
We (God) have made some of these prophets to excel others. Among them are those to whom God spoke (i.e., Moses) and others whom He raised in eminence (e.g., Prophet Abraham and Prophet Mohammad). We (God) gave clear arguments and thoughts to Jesus, son of Mary, and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had God pleased, the followers of these prophets would not have fought one another after the case had been made to see and believe in the truth, but they chose to disagree—some believed while others refused to accept (the guidance). They would not have contended with one another if God had willed, but God does what He intends (by allowing people the freedom to make their choices).
5:110 (See above.)
Death and Resurrection of Jesus
The Family of Amran: 3:55
[Reflect on what] God said to Jesus, “I will take you and raise you to Me, protect [purify] you from those who disbelieve, and make your followers above those who disbelieve till the day of resurrection. Remember that your eventual return is to Me [God], and I [God] will judge on all that you differ among yourselves.
The Women: 4:156-158 (the nature of Jesus’s death)
They disbelieved when they lodged against Mary [mother of Jesus] the serious allegation [of being unchaste] and also said, “We have killed the Christ, Jesus, the son of Mary, Messenger of God.” But they killed him not, and he did not die on the cross, though they conceived as such. Those of them who held differing opinions on this were in doubt [about the truth]—they had no real knowledge, and they made only conjectures. They did not kill him for certain, and God exalted him in His presence—God is infinitely Mighty and Wise!
The Believers: 23:50 (Refuge for Jesus and his mother)
And We [God] made son of Mary and his mother a sign and We gave them safety on a high hill of meadows and running springs.
Jesus and Monotheism
Mary: 19:88–96
They say, “The Beneficent [God] has taken a son.” You have indeed made an assertion most outrageous! The universe might as well convulse, the earth might as well split and the mountains crumble into pieces—that a son has been associated with the Beneficent. It is not fitting to the Beneficent that He should take a son to Himself. There is none in the universe nor on the earth that comes to Him but as a servant. He takes accounts of them and has numbered them all exactly; every one of them will come to Him on the Day of Resurrection, alone. Those who believe and do good, the Beneficent will bring about love. We have made it easy in your speech to give encouragement for those who stays away from evil and to advise those who are contentious. Indeed, We [God] have removed generations before them. Can you see even one of them or hear a sound of them?
The Repast: 5:17
Those who say God is the Christ, Son of Mary are indeed deniers of God. Say (to them): “Who will prevail against God in any matter if He wishes to destroy Christ, Son of Mary, his mother, and all who live on this earth?” Remember that God’s dominion covers the earth, the heavens, and all in between. He creates what He wills, and God has power over all things.
The Repast: 5:72–78
It is a confirmation of disbelief (in God) for those who say: “God is the Christ, Son of Mary,” whereas Christ himself said: “O Children of Israel, Serve God, who is my Sustainer and your Sustainer.” Whoever associates anybody (or anything) with God, he is forbidden entry to Paradise, and his residence will be in Hellfire. Those who propagate evil (false beliefs), there are no helpers for them. It is also a confirmation of disbelief (in God) for those who say: God is one of the three, whereas there is no god but One God. If they do not desist from such false assertions, grievous consequences will fall on them due to their persistent denial (of truth). Why do they not then turn to God and ask for forgiveness? God is Ever Forgiving and Merciful.
Christ, son of Mary, was an Apostle (of God), and many apostles have passed away before him. His mother was a woman of great virtue and truthfulness. They both ate food (like other creatures of God). See how We make the matters clear to them; yet see how they continue to deny (the truth). Say (to them): “Do you worship besides God such an entity that cannot control any good or harm for you? God is All Hearing and All Knowing.” Say: “O People of the Book, do not extend the boundary of your faith without justification, and refrain from the errant views of people who have themselves gone astray, led many people astray, and continue to stray from the right path.”
Those who disbelieved from among the Children of Israel, they have already been chastised by David and Jesus, Son of Mary (Psalms 78:21–22, 31–33, and Matthew 12:34, 23:33–35, for example), for their rebellion and persistent transgressions against God’s guidance. They did not discourage and prohibit one another against evil (in the society). Evil was indeed what they did (evil acts and not removing evil from society).
The Repast: 5:116–120
God said: “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you tell people: ‘Take me and my mother as two gods beside God’?” He will reply: “O God, Your Glory is limitless; how can I say something that I have no right (truth) to say? If I had said such a thing, You would have known. I do know what I had in my mind, but I do not know what is in Your mind. You are the Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. I said to them nothing other than what you commanded me to say: ‘Serve God, who is my Sustainer and your Sustainer.’ I (Jesus) was a witness among them as long as I was with them, but after my death, You were their Keeper, and You are a Witness to all things. So, if you chastise them, then surely they are your servants, and if you forgive them, then you are ever Almighty and Wise.”
God will say (on Judgment Day): “On this day truth will benefit those who were truthful—theirs is the garden (of peace and plenty) in which the river flows, and they will reside there forever; God is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him.” God’s dominion extends all over the heavens, the earth, and all that are in between. His encompasses everything.
The Women: 4:171–173
Followers of the Book should not overstep the bounds of their faith, nor attribute to God other than the truth—Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, is only a Messenger from God and a Word [promise] that He conveyed to her [through angels; see 3:45] and a soul created from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers and do not say, “[God is one of] three.” Restrain [from such false assertion], as it is better for you. Indeed, God is but One God, and His glory does not include a son but all that are in the universe and all that are on Earth. No one is as worthy of trust as God Himself.
Christ was never too proud to be God’s servant, nor are the Angels who are near to God. Whoever is too proud to serve God and acts with arrogance, [should know that] God will gather them all to Himself. He will then reward fully those who believe and perform goodness; perhaps more out of His grace, whereas those who are proud and arrogant, He will chastise because of their deeds. They will not find a protector or a helper against God.
Gold: 43:57–60
When the son of Mary is presented as an example, your people raise a clamor about it; they say, “Is he better or our gods?” They raise such issues only to dispute with you; they are a contentious people. He (Jesus) was none but a servant to whom We [God] granted a blessing and made him an example for the Children of Israel. And if We had willed, We could have placed angels amongst you to be (Our) steward for the earth.
The Prophets: 21:25–30
We [God] had sent no messenger before you but revealed to him that there is no God but Me; therefore, serve Me (alone)! They assert, “The Beneficent has taken to Himself a son.” God’s glory (is above such assertions)—they are but honored servants (of God). They only speak as God speak and they only act as they are commanded by Him. He [God] knows their past and their future and they cannot intercede for anyone except whom He approves, and they are in constant awe of God. If any of them should say, “I am a god beside Him.” Such are the ones who will face perdition. This is how God rewards the liars and the sinful.
The Immunity: 9:30–35 (See in this volume.)
The Counsel: 42:13–15
He [God] prescribed to you this Way of Life [deen, religion] as He enjoined this to Noah, as He revealed to you (Mohammad) and as He enjoined to Abraham, Moses and Jesus—that you may establish this Way of Life and not be divided in it. It is difficult for the polytheist to which you invite them. God chooses for Himself whom He pleases, and He guides to Himself who inclines (to Him).
The Family of Amran: 3:77–82 (See Volume 2.)
Those who exchange their bond with God and their oaths [to God and to people] for a small earthly gain, God will allow them no such gain in the life to come; God will not speak to them, nor look at them nor purify them of their sins. So awful will be their punishment. And, indeed, there are people among them who lie about the revelations contained in the book so that one might consider these [their false assertions] to be part of the book while these are not part of the book. They say, “This is from God,” while it is not from God. They lie against God, and they know about it.
It is not at all fitting (or allowed) for a mortal (like Prophet Jesus, for example) that God should give him revelations, superior judgment, and prophethood, and he would say to people, “Be a servant of me, besides God.” (Rather, he would say) “Be a follower of God by having studied the revelation by yourself and by teaching it to others.” And he would not ask people to take angels and prophets as lords. How could he ask you to deny God after the fact that you have submitted to God? God (through the prophets) took a pledge from the followers of the prophets that after the revelations and wisdom were gifted to you, should there be another messenger who comes and confirms what you already have, that you should believe in him and support him (just the same). He asked, “Do you accept such commitment?” They replied in the affirmative. The prophets and the followers then bear witness with one another. Whoever then turns back on this commitment is a transgressor, no doubt.
Disciples of Jesus
The Family of Amran: 3:50–55 (see Volume 2)
I [Jesus] am here to confirm the Torah that came to you before me and to reverse certain prohibitions that were imposed on you, and I have come with certain evidence from my Lord. Therefore, it behooves you to submit to God and to pay attention to my guidance. Surely God is your Lord and my Lord; therefore, let’s serve Him—that is the straight path.
But Jesus perceived reluctance (and active opposition) to his message, and he reached out (to those close to him): “Who will be my helpers [ansars] toward God?” His disciples said, “We are your helpers toward God, and we believe in God. And be our witness that we are muslims (submit to God).” And they prayed, “Our Sustainer God, we accept what you have sent as guidance, and we follow the messenger (Jesus); therefore, confirm us as those who bear witness (to the message and the truth).”
There are those who planned (against Jesus and his followers), and God also planned. God is certainly a better planner!
(Reflect on what) God said to Jesus, “I will cause your death, give you eminence in my presence, protect you from those who disbelieve, and make your followers above those who disbelieve till the day of resurrection. Remember that your eventual return is to Me [God], and I [God] will judge on all that you differ among yourselves.”
The Family of Amran: 3:113–115 (See Volume 2.)
This does not apply to all of them (previous verse 112)—there are people among the followers of earlier revelations who recite and reflect on God’s message in the quiet hours of the night, and they truly adore and worship God. They believe in God and the Day of Judgment, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and they compete with one another in doing good. They are righteous. Whatever good they do, they will not be denied its benefits, and God is Ever Aware of those who act responsibly (to God and to fellow human beings).
The Repast: 5:111–115 (See Volume 3.)
Remember when I [God] inspired the disciples of Jesus: Believe in Me and My Messenger, to which they all replied: “We believe and do declare that we are muslims (submit to God).” (Also remember) when his disciples said: “O Jesus, Son of Mary, is your Sustainer able to send us a repast from heaven?” Jesus replied: “Be mindful of God if you claim to have faith.” They said: “We desire to partake in it so that our soul might find comfort (in our belief), that we come to know that you speak the truth and that we can be a witness to all of these.” So Jesus, Son of Mary, prayed: “O God, our Sustainer, send down from heaven a repast to us—a source of ever-recurring comfort, to the first of us and to the last of us, and a symbol (of grace) from you. Provide for us; You are the Best of those who provide.”
God replied: “Surely I am sending such repast as you asked for, but if afterward any of you continue to deny the truth, then I will inflict punishment like the one that has not visited anyone on the earth before.”
John the Baptist (a prophet contemporary to Jesus)
Mary (Mariam): 19:2–9
Make a mention of the mercy of your Sustainer God to His servant, Zacharias, when he pleaded to his God in a quiet pleading. He said, “My Sustainer God, indeed my bones have weakened, and my hair turned gray. I have never been unanswered in my prayers to You, O my Sustainer! I am wary of my relatives after me and my wife is barren; so, grant me, by Your blessings, an heir who will inherit me and lead the House of Jacob. Make him, O my Sustainer, acceptable (to all).” (God replied), “O Zacharias, We give you the good news of a boy, whose name is John [Yahyah], a name we have not endowed anyone with before him.”
He said, “My Sustainer, how shall I have son and my wife is barren and I have become infirm with old age?” He [God] said, “This is how it will be, as you Sustainer God says, “It is easy for Me and surely, I have created you before, when you were not a thing.”
Mary (Mariam): 19:12–15
“O John, adhere to the book with strength.” We [God] granted him wisdom even as a child. Also, amiable with Our blessings and purity. He also acted responsibly. He was kind to his parents, never rebellious or arrogant. Peace be on him the day he was born, the day he died and the day he is raised back to life!”
The Family of Amran: 3:38–39
There indeed Zacharias prayed to his Sustainer God. He said, “Grant me, my Sustainer God, a good offspring. Surely, You hear prayers.” So the angels called on him as he stood in prayer in the sanctuary, “God gives you the good news of John [Yahyah]—to validate a word from God.” He is honorable, chaste and a prophet from among those who are good people.
The Bible (Injeel—Gospel): There are several mentions about the Bible in the Qur’an
The Repast: 5:46–47
We made Jesus, the son of Mary, to come after them, confirming that which was in the Torah and revealed to him the Gospel (The Bible) which also contained guidance and light (knowledge). It verified what remained of the Torah and served as a guidance and as an admonition for those who were mindful and responsible. So let the people of the Gospel judge (and act) according to what God had revealed in it. Those who do not do so, are the real transgressors.
The Family of Amran: 3:48–49
God will teach him [Jesus] knowledge, wisdom, the Torah, and the Bible and make him an apostle to the children of Israel…
The Repast: 5:110 (see above under Miracles of Jesus)
Iron: 57:26–27
We [God] sent Noah and Abraham, and We established them as prophets and gave books to their offspring—among them are those who are on the right path but many among them are sinful and unjust. Then We made our messengers to follow in their footsteps and made Jesus, son of Mary to follow as well and gave him the Bible. As for those who followed him, We put compassion and mercy in their hearts. As for monasticism, they came up with it—We did not prescribe it to them, but only to seek God’s countenance but they did not observe it with due righteousness. We gave those who demonstrated faith their rewards but many of them were corrupt.
Nearness of Christian to believers (Muslims)
The Repast: 5:82–85
Nearest to the faithful are those who say: We are Christians; they have priests and monks among them, and they are not arrogant. When they come to understand what has been revealed to the Messenger, they are overwhelmed (with emotion and) tears in their eyes, as they fully comprehend the truth. They say, “Our Sustainer, we reaffirm our faith. Include us among those who bear witness (to the truth). What reasons do we have not to believe in God and the truth that has come to us, while we truly aspire to be among the people of faith and truth.” So, God rewards them with paradise (of peace and plenty) wherein the river flows to reside as a fitting recognition for those who do good.
O my people, give what is due to people, measure and weigh with equity, do not deprive people what is rightfully theirs, and do not spread corruption in the land to make mischief and injustice. What God gives you and keeps for you is better for you if you are a believer (than what you accumulate through corruption and haste). I am also not a keeper over you.
—Hud 11:85–86 (advice of Prophet Hud to his community)
Why is it that in the generations before you, there were not people who developed good understanding and actively acted against evils and corruption on the earth, except a few whom We [God] delivered? Those who pursued evils were more invested in the pleasure of this life and (in that process) proved their guilt. But your Sustainer God would never destroy a town (or its people) unjustly while they pursued goodness.
If your Sustainer God had willed, He would have converged all people to a single, like-minded community but people never ceased to differ among themselves, except those (who sought and) received God’s grace. This is the merit for creating them and God’s word will come to fruition: “I will make them face the consequence [hellfire], any and all from among jins and human beings.”
—Hud 11:116–117
When they come to face it (Day of Judgement), their ears, eyes, and skins will testify against them as to what they did. And they will ask their skins, “Why do you bear witness against us?” They (skins) will reply, “God Who created speech for everything has enable us to speak. He created you first and now made you come back to Him. You did not conceal yourself, thinking that your ears, eyes and skins could never testify against yourself, because you thought God did not know much of what you did.”
—Ha Mim 41:20–22