In Islam, Jesus is seen as a man with exceptional life and mission.
As a matter of fact, not only do Muslims deeply revere and hold Jesus Christ in high esteem as a Prophet of Allah, but they also view him as one of the greatest Messengers of Allah. According to Muslims, he is counted as one of ulu Al-`Azm Mina Al-Rusul (the most resolute messengers).
Commenting on the verse:
“So be patient [O Muhammad] as were ulu Al-`Azm Mina Al-Rusul,” (Al-Ahqaf 46:35)
Ibn Abbas remarked: “Ulu Al-`Azm Mina Al-Rusul are Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Noah, Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Moses and Prophet `Isa (Jesus).”
Under Islam, Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) has special privileges and peculiarities. Muslims recognize that Jesus Christ is favored with many things more than the other Prophets and Messengers. He is seen as a man with exceptional life and mission. In this article, I will try to cover most of Jesus’s privileges according to Islam.
In the Qur’an, we notice that Allah repeatedly confirms that Jesus was supported with the Holy Spirit. There are three verses in the Qur’an affirming that Jesus was supported with the Holy Spirit. We do not find anywhere in the Qur’an any indication that there was another Prophet supported with the Holy Spirit. Allah says twice in the Qur’an:
And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. (Al-Baqarah 2:87 and 253)
Allah also says:
O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit. (Al-Ma’idah 5:110)
Another privilege of Jesus in Islam is that he, to the exclusion of all other human beings, was immune to Satan’s work. In the Qur`an, Allah cites the supplication of Mary’s mother for her daughter and her offspring when she gave birth to her. Allah says:
And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah]. (Aal `Imran 3:36)
Regarding this supplication, Al-Tabari cites, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, the following hadith: “The Messenger of Allah said, “Every newborn of the children of Adam must endure the stab of Satan’s (finger), which causes the child to cry out except Mary daughter of `Imran and her son. This is because when her mother gave birth to her, she said: ‘and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah].’ A curtain was drawn between them and so Satan stabbed the curtain instead.’”
Al-Tabari also relates the following hagiographic tale on the authority of Wahb bin Munabbih: “When Jesus was born, the devils came to Satan (their chief), informing him that all the idols were found that morning lying face down. He said, ‘Something important must have happened; stay where you are!’ He then flew out and searched the entire earth, but he found nothing. He searched the seas, but again to no avail. He flew out once more until he discovered Jesus near a donkey’s manger, with angels standing all around him. Satan returned to the devils and said, ‘A prophet was born last night. No female has conceived or given birth, but that I was present at her side, except this woman. You must despair, therefore, of idols being ever worshipped again after the last night. You must attack the children of Adam henceforth quickly and stealthily.’”
Furthermore, in Islam, Jesus is the only Prophet who is described as a word and spirit from Allah. In the Qur’an, Allah says:
(And mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near (to Allah.)’” (Aal `Imran 3:45)
He also says:
The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a spirit [created at a command] from Him. (An-Nisaa’ 4:171)
Moreover, Jesus (peace be upon him) was endowed several unique miracles in which Muslims themselves must believe just as they do with those of Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Islam. Jesus (peace be upon him) spoke to people in the cradle and was taught writing, wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. With Allah’s permission, he could fashion birds, heal the blind and the leper and resurrect the dead. Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Qur’an:
[The Day] when Allah will say, ‘O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, ‘This is not but obvious magic.’ (Al-Ma’idah 5:110)
Finally, it is quite safe to say that Muslims share with Christians reverence and esteem of Jesus, with a reservation that he was neither a god nor demigod, but an extraordinary Prophet and Messenger who was created as a sign of the omnipotence of Allah. In the Qur’an, Allah says:
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level [areas] and flowing water. (Al-Mu’minun 23:50)
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References:
1- The Glorious Qur’an (Sahih International Translation)
2- Tafsir At-Tabari