How Muslims perceive Jesus (peace be upon him)
Muslims hold a deep reverence for the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as they are mandated to believe in him, love and respect him, and acknowledge his message of promoting monotheism and the worship of Allah without associating any partners with Him! In the Muslim perspective, both Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon him) are deemed as prophets sent to guide humanity towards the path of Allah and the route leading to Paradise.
Muslims recognize Jesus (peace be upon him) as one of the most powerful Messengers of Allah Almighty, emphasizing his miraculous birth. The Holy Qur'an affirms that Allah created Jesus without a father, paralleling the creation of Adam without either a father or mother, underscoring Allah's omnipotence over all things.
It is crucial to note that Muslims firmly believe that Jesus is neither a god nor the son of God, and they reject the notion of his crucifixion. According to Islamic belief, Allah elevated Jesus to Himself, and he will return to the earth around the end of the world as a just judge. Furthermore, Muslims believe that Jesus will stand alongside them, recognizing them as true adherents of monotheism—the fundamental message of Jesus and all the prophets.
Allah mentioned in the Holy Qur'an that the message of Jesus was corrupted by the Christians, and there were astray deviants who corrupted and changed the Bible; by adding texts that were not spoken by Jesus. This is confirmed by the existence of multiple versions of the Bible with numerous contradictions within them.
According to Allah's revelation, Jesus dedicated himself to worshipping his Lord and never advocated for anyone to worship him. His mission was to guide people to worship their Creator, yet Christians were led astray by Satan to worship Jesus. The Holy Qur'an explicitly declares that Allah will not forgive those who worship anything other than Him. On the Day of Resurrection, Jesus will disavow those who worshipped him, clarifying that he only urged them to worship the Creator and never endorsed being worshipped in his place. Proving these facts,
Allah's Almighty says,
﴿یَـٰۤأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغۡلُوا۟ فِی دِینِكُمۡ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَقَّۚ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمَسِیحُ عِیسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡیَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥۤ أَلۡقَىٰهَاۤ إِلَىٰ مَرۡیَمَ وَرُوحࣱ مِّنۡهُۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَـٰثَةٌۚ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَیۡرࣰا لَّكُمۡۚ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَـٰهࣱ وَ ٰحِدࣱۖ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُۥۤ أَن یَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدࣱۘ لَّهُۥ مَا فِی ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَمَا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِیلࣰا﴾"O People of the Book, do not go to extremes in your religion, and do not say about Allah but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His Word that He bestowed upon Mary, and a spirit from Him. So, believe in Allah and His messengers and do not say "Three" [i.e., Trinity]. Cease: that is better for you. Indeed, Allah is the only One God. Glory be to Him, [far exalted is He] to have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and sufficient is Allah as a Disposer of Affairs."
[4: 171].
He Almighty also says,
(وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ ۚ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ ۚ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ"When Allah will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary, did you tell people, 'Take me and my mother as gods besides Allah?' He will say, 'Glory be to You! It is not for me to say what I have no right. Had I said so, You would have surely known it. You know what is within myself, whereas I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, You are the All-Knower of all unseen .
.'"[5 :116]
The Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) unanimously affirmed that only those who embrace Islam, believe in Allah without associating partners with Him, and acknowledge all His Prophets and Messengers will find salvation in the Hereafter. Consequently, individuals who followed the teachings of Moses during his era were considered Muslims and devout believers. However, with the advent of Jesus, it became incumbent upon Moses's followers to follow Jesus. Those who believed in Jesus were regarded as righteous Muslims, while those who rejected his Message and clung exclusively to Moses's religion were deemed disbelievers for rejecting a Messenger sent by Allah. Now, with the sending of Muhammad, every individual must believe in him. It is Allah Who sent Moses, Jesus, and the last Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Therefore, those who reject Prophet Muhammad's message and adhere to the doctrines of Moses or Jesus are considered disbelievers.
Merely claiming to respect Muslims or giving charity to the poor is insufficient for salvation. True salvation requires belief in Allah, His Scriptures, Messengers, and the Last Day, for one's deeds to be accepted by Allah. The gravest sins include polytheism, disbelief in Allah, rejection of the revealed Scriptures, and denial of the Prophethood of the final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him). Jews and Christians, who have been informed about the mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but choose not to believe in him and reject Islam, will face eternal perdition in Hell, as promised by
Allah,
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ}"Those who disbelieve from the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding therein forever. It is they who are the worst of creatures."
[98: 6].
The evidence for that is Allah's saying,
﴿وَمَن یَبۡتَغِ غَیۡرَ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمِ دِینࣰا فَلَن یُقۡبَلَ مِنۡهُ وَهُوَ فِی ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِینَ﴾"Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers."
[3: 85].
Allah Almighty also says,
(قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ)"Say, "O people of the Book, come to a common term between us and you, that we worship none but Allah and associate no partners with Him, and that we do not take one another as lords besides Allah." But if they turn away, say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Allah].
.'"[3: 64]
