Discover Jesus in the Qur’an

Good evening everyone, It’s a true honor to be here with you, gathered in the spirit of faith, reflection, and mutual respect.

Tonight, I’d like to invite you on a journey—a journey to discover Jesus in the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam. For many Christians, the idea that Muslims deeply revere Jesus might come as a surprise. Yet within Islam, Jesus — or ‘Isa in Arabic — holds a position of extraordinary honor. In fact, it is a core article of Muslim faith to believe in Jesus. No Muslim can be considered a true believer without affirming his birth, his miracles, his teachings, and his role as the Messiah.

Jesus in the Qur’an

The Qur’an speaks of Jesus with deep reverence more than ninety times across fifteen chapters. It describes his miraculous birth, the result of a divine word spoken to Mary — a virgin chosen “above all women.” Muslims believe, as the Gospel proclaims, that Jesus was born by God’s command, without a human father, through the Spirit that God Himself sent. One of the most poignant verses in the Qur’an states:
“When the angels said, ‘O Mary, God gives you good news of a Word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary — honored in this world and the next.’” This passage echoes beautifully the Gospel narrative in its affirmation of Jesus’ divine mission and miraculous birth. Shared Values and Teachings.

The Qur’an portrays Jesus not just as a prophet, but as a sign — a bridge between heaven and earth, a call to righteousness and compassion. Muslims believe that Jesus healed the blind, cured the leper, and even raised the dead — all by God’s permission. Moreover, both the Qur’an and the Gospels highlight Jesus’ emphasis on mercy, humility, and the love of God. The Sermon on the Mount finds resonance in Qur’anic passages calling believers to forgiveness, patience, and peace. Interestingly, the Qur’an also quotes Jesus speaking from infancy, saying: “Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.”
Here we see a remarkable theological continuity — Jesus affirming his mission to bring God’s message to humanity. The Early Christian Context What many early historians—both Christian and secular—note is that the earliest followers of Jesus saw him as a teacher, prophet, and servant of God who called people to repentance and love of the Creator. Islam reaffirms this same portrayal, preserving some echoes of early Christian devotion often lost or overshadowed by later doctrinal debates. Prophet Muhammad and Jesus in the Night Journey.

In Islamic tradition, there’s also a moving encounter between Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and Jesus during the Isra and Mi‘raj, his miraculous night journey through the heavens. When the Prophet was taken up to the seven heavens, he met several prophets — Adam, Joseph, Moses, and others — and among them was Jesus, who greeted him warmly and prayed for his mission.The Prophet described Jesus as a man of grace and gentle presence, radiant with peace. Later traditions tell us that Jesus spoke encouragingly of unity and compassion among peoples, reflecting the same message we find in the Gospel: that those who work for peace are the children of God.A Shared Legacy of Reverence Islam stands unique among the world’s major religions in its theological requirement to believe in Jesus and his mother, Mary. Muslims begin their prayers mentioning the names of prophets — Abraham, Moses, and Jesus — asking for peace upon them all. The Qur’an even dedicates an entire chapter, Surah Maryam, to the story of Mary and her son — an honor extended to no other woman.In every mosque around the world, you’ll find a deep reverence for Jesus — not as the Son of God in the Christian sense, but as the Spirit of God, the Messiah, born miraculously and endowed with divine mission. Building Bridges of Faith. So what can we take from this shared reverence? At its heart, the story of Jesus in the Qur’an reminds us of what unites believers across traditions: the longing for peace, compassion, and truth. By recognizing Jesus as a figure of convergence — not division — we open doors for deeper understanding.

We come to see that faith in action, whether Christian or Muslim, is a call to transformation: to live in a way that reflects divine mercy and love. In an age often marked by misunderstanding, rediscovering Jesus through the Qur’an helps us realize that our stories of faith are not competing — they are intertwined threads in the same divine tapestry. So tonight, as we reflect on Jesus — in the Gospels and in the Qur’an — let us do so with hearts open to wonder and voices joined in gratitude. May we continue to seek the truth, serve each other with compassion, and walk together on the path of peace.

Thank you