The ManicaPost
YES indeed! Not only do Muslims believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) – they are required to do so by virtue of their declaration of the Oneness of God Almighty and their belief in the Holy Qur’aan!
Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be on him), and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the Great Messengers of God to mankind! A Muslim never refers to him simply as ‘Jesus’, but always adds the phrase ‘peace be on him.’ The Holy Qur’aan confirms his virgin birth (interestingly a chapter of the Holy Qur’aan is entitled “Maryem” – Mary), and Mary (peace be upon her) is considered the purest woman in all creation.
The Holy Qur’aan describes the Annunciations as follows: “Behold! The Angel said, “O Mary, Allah has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations . . . O Mary, Allah gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honoured in this world and The Hereafter, and one of those brought near to Allah.
He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.” She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?” He said: “Even so, God creates what He wills. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, “Be!” and it is.”.” (Ch 3 : v 42-47)
Muslims firmly believe that Jesus (peace be on him) was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father. “Truly, the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, and then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.” (Ch 3 : v 59)
Muslims have no doubt that, during his Prophetic mission, Jesus (peace be on him) performed many miracles. The Holy Qur’aan tells us that he said: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by Allah’s will. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by Allah’s will.” (Ch 3 : v 49)
Neither Muhammad, nor Jesus (peace be on them) came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in One God, brought by earlier Prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the Holy Qur’aan, Jesus (peace be on him) is reported as saying to his people that he came: “To attest the law which was before me, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.” (Ch 3 : v 50)
Misunderstanding amongst Non-Muslims
Contrary to the common misunderstandings of many non-Muslims, Muslims actually believe in Jesus (Ei’sa -peace be upon him). In fact, in Islam, it is one of the fundamental requirements of faith to believe in all the Divine Messengers of The Almighty, including Jesus (peace be upon him). The Holy Qur’aan contains an entire chapter which is specifically named after his blessed mother, the Virgin Mary (Maryem – peace be upon her), viz. Chapter 19.
The circumstances surrounding the miraculous birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) are detailed in this chapter, whilst some mention is also made in several other chapters. Thus, Muslims believe in Jesus (peace be upon him), not as part of the God-head in any way but rather as a Messenger of The Almighty who was born miraculously of a mother only.
The countless miracles, bestowed by Allah Almighty (The Creator), upon Jesus (peace be upon him) are highlighted throughout the Holy Qur’aan. A few examples are highlighted as follows; as a mere infant, Jesus (peace be upon him) spoke from the cradle explaining his Divinely Bestowed Mission; later, during his mission, he cured the blind and the lepers; he fed many people with that which was apparently very little food; one of the chapters of the Holy Qur’aan contains the mention of, and is named after, the table-spread, laid with food from the Heavens (viz Chapter 5); he would mould bird-like figures from clay then breathe into them, resulting in them coming to life and flying off; in fact he even brought back to life some of those who had died; etc.
Jesus (peace be upon him) was granted many more miracles, by the Almighty and was also given a Heavenly Book (Revelation) for the purpose of guiding the people to whom he was sent, in the language which he and his people spoke – which was Aramaic.
To be continued
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact: Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars Publications Department P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare. Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax: 04-614003. e-mail: [email protected]
