Jesus Christ according to the Quran
In Islam, according to the teachings of the Quran, Jesus Christ receives a high place of honor, but not that which is due Him according to the teachings of the Bible. Briefly, Islam teaches the following basics regarding Jesus Christ:
1. Jesus was born of a virgin, but God was not His Father
2. Jesus was a prophet but not the Son of God
3. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, then again, maybe not
4. Jesus taught Islam and the coming of Mohammad
5. Jesus never went to, or died on the cross, or rose from the dead
6. Jesus will return, proclaim Islam, marry, have kids, live 40 years, die, and be buried next to
Mohammad.
First it is important to understand why Islam and Quran must make alternative claims regarding Christ than that which appears within the pages of the New Testament.
During the early periods of his "ministry," Mohammad enjoyed a small measure of success among some Jews and Christians. Mohammad was, in fact, quite familiar with the Gospel having often traveled the Christian trade routes from Mecca to Syria as a merchant of his day. In the 6th century A.D. Syria was a common center of Christian teaching. So familiar was Mohammad with Christianity that following his first "revelation" from the angel Gabriel, Mohammad feared he was possessed. His wife, Khadijah, herself familiar with Christianity, along with her family, encouraged the young Mohammad, her frame of reference being that he must be the prophet the Jews said was to come to the Earth. Many Christians have also believed this through the centuries (note in John 1:21 John the Baptist is asked if he is the Messiah, Elijah, or 'the prophet'). Therefore, from his first "revelation," to Islam's first inception, Islam was begun upon the presumed authority of Judaism and Christianity. In addition, initial definitions of who God was, possession, prophets, salvation, etc., were all defined from these world views. Developing changes in these definitions didn't occur until Mohammad's revelation continued it's progression.
As one making claims to restoration of the true religion of God, there was a natural necessity to ensure that the revelation not only equaled that of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus, but that it actually surpassed it in some form. After all, Mohammad was calling people to something different than what Moses and Jesus had. Jews and Christians in Mohammad's day recognized this and opposed him because of it. It is with this background that the concurrent links are presented. Each of these six doctrines are outlined with their supporting Quranic text followed by a general response helpful for the Christian sharing his faith with a Muslim.
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