Is Jesus the Messiah in Islam?
Whether Jesus is the messiah in Islam is an important question for Christians. The question has become particularly important in recent years, with many Christians questioning the faith. Some have even questioned the validity of the Qur’an and the Gospels. Other Christians are equally confused.
Qur’an
According to the Qur’an, Jesus is the messiah in Islam. The Qur’an has more than ninety verses mentioning Jesus. These verses are divided into fifteen chapters. Three of the chapters are named after Jesus or his followers. These include: the third, the fifth, and the nineteenth, which is probably the last supper. In addition to the verses about Jesus, there are other references in the Quran to Mary and Jesus.
One of the most notable features of Jesus’ life and ministry is his title as ‘the Messiah’. However, the Qur’an deliberately downplays this title, implying that he was merely a servant of Allah. This is inconsistent with the other accounts that mention Jesus’ distinct office.
Gospels
In Islam, Jesus the messiah is the Messiah of the believers. He is the one who brings God’s justice and worship to earth. Unlike Christianity, Muslims believe that Jesus never suffered and did not die. Instead, Jesus will descend before the Last Day, establish justice and worship on earth, and then die just like the rest of us.
The Muslim faith regards Jesus and Mary as noble human beings and servants of God. They venerate the Prophet Jesus and Mary, the mother of the Messiah. In the Quran, God declares Jesus to be the Messenger of God. He also teaches that Mary is a truthful woman, and both Jesus and Mary ate food.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
In the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Jesus is regarded as the messiah and the son of God. According to this view, Jesus prayed to God as a human being and performed spiritual exercises, such as fasting. However, he lacked perfect knowledge and only Allah possesses this knowledge. In addition, Ahmadiyya Muslims interpret Quranic verses regarding the Antichrist and Dajjal in metaphorical terms. They believe that Jesus resurrected from the dead and returned to the earth, but it is unclear if he is the same man who ascended into heaven or entered into the underworld.
According to Ahmadi scholars, the second coming of Jesus was not a physical appearance. It was rather a spiritual descension. This view contradicts the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad and the Islamic dispensation.
Muslims-Christians
Muslims-Christians have a complicated relationship over the messiah question. According to the Qur’an, Jesus the Messiah is the Son of Mary and the Messenger of God. He preached the message of one God and the rule of justice. Some Muslims consider Jesus the messiah, and others don’t. The Qur’an does not mention Jesus’ paternal genealogy, but does affirm his maternal line.
Jesus came to the world bearing a message that the world needed. According to the Bible, this message was the gospel, or in Arabic, al-Injil. Jesus is said to have performed miracles, including healing the blind and raising the dead. Some of his miracles are also mentioned in the Qur’an, including the miracle of making a bird from clay.
Religion of Muhammad
In Islam, Jesus the messiah fulfills two roles: he is the metaphysical pre-existent Messiah and the eschatological messiah. The former is the role of the descendant, while the latter is the role of the ascent. The former serves as a model for a prophet and a master. Both are roles that the messiah will assume in the final hour.
The second role of the Messiah is to bring justice and peace to the earth. In Islam, Jesus, peace be upon him, will return at a time of great confusion and justice. However, the title of Messiah is not limited to Jesus, but also to a false Messiah, who is called Masseeh al-Dajjal (the deceiver). In Islam, the anti-Christ is known as the Anti-Christ.
Second coming of Jesus
Islam has many different interpretations of the Second coming of Jesus. According to some traditions, the Second Coming will occur in the Middle East. According to others, Jesus will descend to earth and lead the world to Islam. Among these interpretations is the belief that Jesus will marry and have children. In addition, he will die and be buried in Medina.
The Muslim interpretation of this event differs from that of Christians and Judaism. The ‘this generation’ in verses 4 and 31 refers to Jesus’ contemporaries. In this view, the Second Coming is not imminent. Instead, the ‘this generation’ refers to the events that led up to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE. However, some scholars contend that the Second Coming will take place after the destruction of the temple in 70 CE.