Do Muslims believe in Jesus? Yes, they absolutely do—just not in the same way as Christians. In Islam, Jesus (known as Isa in Arabic) is one of the greatest prophets of God. Muslims believe he was born miraculously, performed many miracles, and brought a divine message to the people of his time.
But unlike Christian belief, Muslims do not consider Jesus the Son of God or divine in any way. Instead, Islam teaches that Jesus was a human messenger, chosen by Allah, who called people to worship one God.
This article explores how Islam honors Jesus—with deep love, without worship. It’s a faith built on respect, not deification.
Who Is Jesus in Islam?
The word Isa (عيسى) denotes Jesus in Islam. He is one of the five greatest prophets in the Quran, along with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Muslims think that Mary (Maryam) gave birth to Jesus without a father. Like when Adam was created, his birth was also a miracle.
The Quran considers Mary to be one of the most respected women ever. Jesus was born to her according to Allah’s will. A divine voice called out the words “Be,” and since then, there has been a heavenly father.
Jesus is not seen as God or the Son of God by Muslims. Instead, they think he served Allah by guiding the Children of Israel.
He is deeply respected, but always seen as a human prophet, not divine.
Jesus’ Birth and Miracles
The Quran describes Jesus’ birth as being a sign showing Allah’s mercy. Maryam (Mary) was distant from the people in her life. An angel told Mary that she would be the mother of a pure son. She asked the angel how it could happen, as she had never been touched by a man. He explained that he was following Allah’s command. The experience was not caused by any man. Everything was a great miracle.
It is written in the Bible that Jesus had no father when he was born. The birth was different from all the others. It was God’s plan and not human development, that made men and women.
From the time he was young, Jesus said inspiring things about God. He spoke out for his mother and proclaimed he served Allah. It revealed that God had a special role for Jesus.
Later in life, Jesus performed many miracles. The Quran says he:
- Healed the blind and the leper
- Gave life to the dead
- Created a bird from clay and gave it life
All these acts were done “by the permission of Allah.” Jesus never claimed to do them on his own. He always pointed back to God’s power.
These miracles proved his message—but never made him divine.
Message and Mission of Jesus
Jesus taught that the main idea was to worship one God. Like all prophets before him, he called people to submit to Allah alone.
The Quran points out that Jesus confirmed the Torah. He did not eliminate the law of Moses, but he showed what that law really meant. He identified wrongdoing within the ranks of religious leaders and encouraged people to renew their faith.
Jesus delivered a new set of scriptures known as the Injeel (Gospel). It contained much wisdom, light and mercy. Nevertheless, Muslims think the contents of this revelation were altered over the years. The Gospel that Jesus had originally was different from what we have now.
One key part of Jesus’ mission was to prepare people for the next prophet. The Quran quotes Jesus saying:
“O Children of Israel, I am the messenger of Allah to you… giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name will be Ahmad.” (Surah As-Saff 61:6)
That “Ahmad” is understood to be Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Briefly, Jesus was a messenger in Islam to show people their true religion, reaffirm the truth that came before him and share the news of what was to come.
Do Muslims Believe Jesus Was Crucified?
Muslims do not believe that Jesus was crucified. The Quran gives a different account from the Bible. It says:
“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him—but it was made to appear so to them.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:157)
Islam reveals that those who opposed Jesus decided to kill him. However, Allah saved his life. A different person was made to resemble Jesus and it was that person who was crucified. Many believed Christ had been killed,yet they were wrong about that.
Muslims believe that God raised Jesus to be with them in heaven. He did not lose his life. He was not treated with disrespect. On the contrary, Allah glorified him.
This belief protects the idea that prophets are helped and guarded by God. It also goes along with Islam’s firm belief that God would never allow His messenger to endure a cursed death.
Unlike others, the story of Jesus from a Muslim perspective concludes with him being rescued by God.
The Return of Jesus in Islam
According to Muslims, Jesus will be brought back to Earth before the Day of Judgment. This is a fundamental belief in Islam. This is not only a story—it is also a pledge from Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Mary will soon descend among you…” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
When Jesus returns, he will:
- Defeat the Dajjal (the false messiah)
- Break the cross and end false worship
- Rule with justice and peace
- Unify people under the truth of Islam
He has no intention of introducing a new religion. Rather, he will act according to the lessons given by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). At the completion of his mission, Jesus will pass away normally. According to Muslims, he will be buried as anyone else after death.
He returning is a proof that the last phase has begun and that only truth will remain.
Jesus will return to mankind as promised by Islam. Jesus will soon return, but this time as a servant to Allah.
Do Muslims Love and Respect Jesus?
Yes—Muslims deeply love and respect Jesus. It is not a choice. It is a requirement of faith.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in me must also believe in Jesus.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Muslims always say “peace be upon him” after mentioning Jesus’ name. This is a sign of honor and reverence.
Rejecting Jesus is not allowed in Islam. In fact, a Muslim who denies Jesus as a prophet is no longer considered a true believer. The Quran puts it clearly:
“We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285)
Jesus is part of a long line of prophets—men chosen by God to guide humanity. He holds a special place in that line. His mother Maryam is also one of the most respected women in Islam.
But while Muslims love Jesus, they do not worship him. Love in Islam does not mean divinity. It means respect, belief, and obedience to God’s chosen.
Common Misunderstandings
A lot of people believe that Muslims do not accept Jesus. This is not true. They do not worship Jesus, but reject the idea of worshipping Jesus.
Many people do not correctly understand the Trinity. Islam encourages people to believe in one God which is called Tawheed. Muslims believe that God does not have any partners, sons or equals. Consequently, they do not agree that Father, Son and Holy Spirit each make up one God.
Many may misjudge the significance of the cross. The belief among Muslims is that Jesus did not die on the cross. They are convinced that God protected him. I am not doing this to offend anyone. It’s because Islam teaches that prophets are honored, not cursed.
Certainly, some feel that Muslims do not appreciate Jesus. In truth, they do—but as a prophet, not a god.
We should not think that Muslims look to Muhammad but ignore Jesus when reading the Quran. Islam teaches that all prophets must be believed in—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). All their teachings centered on the idea: Worship Only One God.
In Islam, having respect means following the truth. Studying the life of Jesus, Muslims honor him by recognizing him as a prophet of God.
Conclusion
So—do Muslims believe in Jesus? Yes, they do. They really appreciate and respect who he is. In Islam, Jesus is a mighty prophet, born of a miracle, full of wisdom, and chosen by Allah.
According to Muslims, Jesus spoke rightly, completed miracles and will once again appear to establish justice. The people regard him as a messenger of God, not as someone divine. He is respected as a holy figure by Christians. They do this by proclaiming the same rule he gave: Worship one God.
It is true that there are important differences between Islam and Christianity. But this kind of reverence is also shown for a man who made history. Management of Islam gives Jesus a place of respect in the world of Islam.
