by Dr. Tim Orr

In this post, I glean heavily from Richard Schumack's book, Jesus Through Muslim Eyes.

In Islamic tradition, Jesus is often seen as a "pious servant." This view differs from the Christian understanding of Jesus as God's divine Son and humanity's Savior. To understand these differences more clearly, let's look at how Jesus is depicted in three important Islamic sources: the Hadith tradition, the Sira (biography of Muhammad), and the historical works of al-Tabari. I’ll also compare these views with Jesus' Christian perspective.

The Hadith Tradition

The Hadith and Sira literature doesn’t add much to the corpus of understanding regarding Jesus, except for the addition of Jesus’ role in the end times. The Hadith tradition, which consists of the recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, provides a detailed portrayal of Jesus that expands upon the Qur'anic narrative. In these accounts, Muhammad describes Jesus' physical appearance and some aspects of his life. For instance, Muhammad recounts meeting Jesus during his ascension to the heavens, describing him as having a red complexion, curly hair, and a broad chest. Other descriptions paint Jesus as medium height, well-built, with crisp or lank hair, and a red face, “as if he had come out of a bathroom,” resembling Urwa b. Mas’ud.

These physical descriptions, while interesting, do not add significant religious substance to the Muslim understanding of Jesus. The hadiths emphasize repeatedly that Jesus, despite being called the Word and Spirit of God, is merely a "pious servant." This reinforces the idea that Jesus, like Muhammad, is a prophet who cannot intercede with God on behalf of the people.

Jesus’ Role on Judgment Day

However, one notable area where the hadiths provide fresh insight is Jesus' role on Judgment Day. The hadiths describe Jesus descending from heaven to play a pivotal role in the final judgment. He is portrayed descending the white minaret on the eastern side of Damascus, wearing garments lightly dyed, and placing his hands on the wings of two angels. When he lowers his head, drops of water fall from his head, and when he raises it, drops like pearls scatter from it. Every disbeliever who finds Jesus’ smell will die, and his smell will reach as far as he can see.

Jesus is tasked with defeating the anti-Christ (Dajjal), a one-eyed counterfeit Jesus who seeks to deceive humans into following a false religion. This description of the Dajjal, though brief and cryptic, emphasizes Jesus's significance in Islamic eschatology. After defeating the Dajjal, Jesus will welcome the believers into heaven, highlighting his honored role in the final judgment.

This significant role underscores Jesus' unique status in Islamic eschatology despite his depiction as a mere prophet. It raises questions about why, if Jesus is simply an ordinary prophet, he is given such critical responsibilities. The hadiths do not explain this explicitly, adding to the enigmatic nature of the Muslim Jesus.

The Sira

Turning to Ibn Ishaq’s biography of Muhammad, known as the Sira, we find more about Jesus. The Sira confirms much of what is stated in the Qur’an: Jesus is the son of Mary, virgin-born, a prophet who performed miracles and was raised to God. These confirmations include Jesus being described as:

  • The son of Mary
  • Virgin-born
  • Of flesh and blood and hair and skin (like David)
  • The Spirit and Word of God
  • The cousin of John
  • Having disciples
  • Teaching and confirming the Torah and the Gospel
  • Raising the dead
  • Creating birds from clay
  • Healing the sick
  • Being raised to God

Jesus Commissioning His Disciples

There is, however, one fascinating account where Jesus commissions his disciples to spread his message worldwide. This story involves Muhammad sending messengers to various kingdoms, inviting them to embrace Islam and warning his hearers not to "hang back from me as the disciples held back from Jesus." According to the Sira, Jesus complained to God about his disciples refusing a long journey. The account continues with Jesus sending his disciples to various lands:

  • Peter and Paul to Rome (Paul being a follower, not a disciple)
  • Andrew and Matthew to the land of the cannibals
  • Thomas to the land of Babel (the East)
  • Philip to Carthage (Africa)
  • John to Ephesus
  • James to Jerusalem
  • Bartholomew to Arabia (the Hijaz)
  • Simon to the land of the Berbers
  • Judah, who was not one of the disciples, was put in the place of Judas

This narrative, where Jesus’ disciples are sent to various regions, mirrors the traditional Christian accounts of the early spread of the Gospel. Significantly, Ibn Ishaq does not alter these traditional stories, indicating a recognition of their validity even within Islamic historiography. This alignment with the Christian tradition of the apostles' missions is a notable point of convergence between the two faiths.

Al-Tabari

The historian al-Tabari provides a comprehensive account of Jesus, dedicating significant portions of his history to Jesus’ life. Al-Tabari often presents multiple, sometimes conflicting, accounts without trying to harmonize them. For example, he offers detailed narratives of Jesus’ birth that resonate with the Gospel of Matthew, except for one critical difference: according to al-Tabari, it was not Jesus but a "likeness of Christ" that was crucified.

Jesus’ Birth and Ministry

Al-Tabari includes narratives that place Jesus’ ministry within a historical context. He mentions that Jesus was born forty-two years after Augustus became emperor and situates Jesus’ ministry during the reign of Herod the Great, aligning closely with the Gospel of Matthew. Al-Tabari recounts how Persian emissaries mistakenly informed Herod that they had come to offer Christ gifts, leading to Herod's plot against Jesus. This account includes the flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth, echoing the biblical narrative.

Al-Tabari generally does his best to cite his sources, but here we are left wondering which ‘historians’ he cites. In this case, it seems likely that he depends on Christian sources, with this report resonant with the Gospel of Matthew in virtually every detail – except one. Al-Tabari, or his sources, see fit to make one correction to Matthew: here, the Muslim Jesus was not crucified. Instead, only a ‘likeness of Christ’ is hung on a cross. This correction is straightforwardly Islamic but doesn’t remove all the problems from the report.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

Al-Tabari also offers subtle clues that the birth of the Messiah fulfills prophecy. For instance, the mention of Jesus’ birth during Augustus's reign and the Magi's visit, who follow a star, closely mirrors the Christian nativity story. Al-Tabari's narrative includes the angel warning Joseph to flee to Egypt and the eventual return to Nazareth, fulfilling the prophet Isaiah's words, "I called you out of Egypt." This raises intriguing questions about how Islam interprets Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus. While Christianity sees these prophecies as evidence of Jesus’ divine mission, Islam views them through a different lens, emphasizing Jesus' role as a prophet and servant of God, not as the incarnate deity.

The Christian Perspective

In Christianity, Jesus Christ is central to the faith. Christians believe that Jesus is a prophet and the incarnate Son of God. His life, death, and resurrection are the cornerstones of Christian theology and soteriology (the study of salvation). Here are some key aspects of Jesus' identity and mission in Christianity:

Divine Sonship

Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human. This belief is encapsulated in the doctrine of the Trinity, which describes God as one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus' divine sonship is affirmed in several New Testament passages, such as John 1:1-14, where Jesus is described as the Word who was with God and was God, and who became flesh and dwelt among us.

Incarnation

The incarnation refers to the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. This is seen as a unique event in human history, where the divine and human natures are united in the person of Jesus. This doctrine is based on passages like Philippians 2:6-8, which speaks of Jesus emptying himself and taking on the form of a servant.

Atonement and Salvation

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central to Christian beliefs about salvation. Christians believe that Jesus' death on the cross was a sacrificial atonement for the sins of humanity. This belief is grounded in scriptures such as Romans 3:23-25 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Jesus conquered sin and death through his death and resurrection, offering eternal life to all who believe in him (John 3:16).

Mediator and Intercessor

In Christian theology, Jesus serves as the mediator between God and humanity. This role is emphasized in passages like 1 Timothy 2:5, which states, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." Christians believe that Jesus intercedes on behalf of believers, advocating for them before God the Father (Hebrews 7:25).

Second Coming and Final Judgment

Christians also believe in the second coming of Christ, where Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. This belief is based on passages such as Matthew 24:30-31 and Revelation 19:11-16. Jesus will establish his eternal kingdom at the final judgment, and believers will receive their eternal inheritance.

Comparison to Islam

The Islamic portrayal of Jesus as a pious servant contrasts with the Christian view of Jesus as the Son of God and Savior. In Christianity, Jesus' divinity is central, and his crucifixion and resurrection are pivotal events for salvation. Christians believe Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity, capable of interceding on behalf of believers.

In Islam, Jesus is highly respected and given significant roles, especially in eschatology, but he remains fundamentally a human prophet. The differences in these portrayals reflect the theological distinctions between the two religions. Christianity emphasizes Jesus's divine nature and his role in salvation history, while Islam focuses on his prophetic mission and his example of piety and obedience to God.

Conclusion

Understanding these differences enriches our appreciation of how each faith views one of history’s most influential figures. The depiction of Jesus as a pious servant in Islamic tradition highlights his revered status and underscores the shared and divergent elements of the Abrahamic faiths. Both traditions recognize Jesus' significance but interpret his life and mission through different theological lenses, leading to rich and complex portrayals that continue to inspire and challenge believers worldwide.

Reference

Shumack, R. (2020). Jesus through Muslim eyes. SPCK Publishing.

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