Islam believes in “Jesus, the Son of Mary.” There is an entire chapter of the Qur’an devoted to Mary. The Islamic name for Jesus is Isa, but the Qur’an interchanges the names in various verses. There are three main concepts that Muslims are taught about Jesus. First, Jesus is the Son of Mary, but not the son of Allah. Second, Jesus never died on the cross, but was delivered from his death by Allah and Jesus ascended to heaven in similar fashion as did Elijah. Third, Jesus will return in the “Last Days” to proclaim Islam as the one true religion; require conversion to Islam or death; and he will live out his life on earth, marry, have children and die as a human on earth. But the story has even more twists…
The Qur’an in Sura 4:171 says, “Allah is only one Allah; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.” Sura 17:11 says, “Praise be to God who has never begotten a son; who has no partner in His kingdom.” There are many other verses in the Qur’an that deny Allah had a son. The Bible, however, says in 1 John 2:20“…no lie has its origin in the truth. Who is a liar at all, if not the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? Such a person is an anti-Christ –he is denying the Father and the Son. Everyone who denies the Son is also without the Father, but the person who acknowledges the Son has the Father as well…”
The Qur’an’s account of Mary is very similar to that of the Bible’s with subtle, but significant differences. “She (Mary/Marium) said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said: “Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is!”… And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel, And He will teach him the Book and the wisdom and the Tavrat (Muslim Torah) and the Injeel (Muslim Gospel) (Sura 3:047-48).” As we review the Bible, we find that the not so subtle difference is Jesus is not just the creation of Allah, but rather the Son of God.
Luke 1:30-35, “The angel (Gabriel) said to her, “Don’t be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest: and the Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David; and he reign over the House of Jacob forever—and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” “How can this be,” asked Mary of the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the highest will overshadow you; Therefore the holy child born to you will be called the Son of God.” In the next Jot we will explore Islam’s account of the Crucifixion and the Return of Jesus.
