Ten Qur’anic verses and ten Prophetic hadiths concerning the status of ʿĪsā ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) in Islam, with Arabic text and English rendering of meaning.
1. Sūrat Āl ʿImrān 3:45 (The Annunciation — Jesus named the Messiah, Word of Allah)
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Meaning: “And when the angels said: ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary — distinguished in this world and in the Hereafter, and among those brought near to Allah.’”
2. Sūrat Āl ʿImrān 3:46 (Jesus speaks from the cradle and in maturity)
وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Meaning: “He shall speak to the people from the cradle and in maturity, and he shall be among the righteous.”
3. Sūrat Āl ʿImrān 3:49 (Jesus as Messenger to the Children of Israel, with miracles by Allah’s permission)
وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ أَنِّي أَخْلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ وَأُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ
Meaning: “And [he will be] a Messenger to the Children of Israel [saying]: ‘I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I will fashion for you from clay the form of a bird, then breathe into it, and it will become a living bird by the permission of Allah. And I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life by the permission of Allah. And I will inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes.’”
4. Sūrat Āl ʿImrān 3:59 (Jesus is like Adam — created without a human father)
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Meaning: “Truly, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him ‘Be!’ — and he was.”
5. Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:157–158 (Jesus was neither killed nor crucified; he was raised to Allah)
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Meaning: “And for their claim that they killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah — but they neither killed him nor crucified him; rather, it was made to appear so to them. Those who dispute about it are in doubt concerning it. They have no true knowledge of it, only the following of conjecture — and they certainly did not kill him. Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself, and Allah is ever Mighty and Wise.”
6. Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:171 (Jesus: Messenger, Word of Allah, Spirit from Him — but not God)
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ ۚ انتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَانَهُ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ
Meaning: “O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion, and do not say about Allah anything but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a Messenger of Allah, and His Word which He conveyed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say ‘three.’ Desist — it is better for you. Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son.”
7. Sūrat al-Māʾidah 5:110 (Allah enumerates His blessings upon Jesus)
إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا ۖ وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ ۖ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي
Meaning: “[The Day] when Allah will say: ‘O Jesus son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother — when I supported you with the Holy Spirit so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you the Scripture, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel; and when you fashioned from clay the form of a bird by My permission and breathed into it, and it became a bird by My permission.’”
8. Sūrat al-Māʾidah 5:116 (Jesus distances himself from being worshipped)
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ ۚ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ ۚ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
Meaning: “And when Allah will say: ‘O Jesus son of Mary, did you say to the people: Take me and my mother as gods besides Allah?’ He will say: ‘Exalted are You! It is not for me to say what I have no right to say. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within my soul, but I do not know what is within Yours. Indeed, You are the Knower of all that is unseen.’”
9. Sūrat Maryam 19:30–33 (Jesus speaks from the cradle, declaring his servitude and prophethood)
قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا
Meaning: “He [Jesus] said: ‘I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I live. And [He made me] dutiful to my mother, and He did not make me a tyrant or wretched. And peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I will die, and the day I shall be raised alive.’”
10. Sūrat al-Ṣaff 61:6 (Jesus foretells the coming of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ)
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
Meaning: “And when Jesus son of Mary said: ‘O Children of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me, whose name is Aḥmad.’ But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: ‘This is evident sorcery.’”
Hadīth 1 — “I am the closest of all people to Jesus” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
«أَنَا أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَالأَنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ ، أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتَّى وَدِينُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “I am the closest of all people to Jesus son of Mary in this world and in the Hereafter. The prophets are brothers of different mothers but one religion — their mothers are different, yet their faith is one.”
Hadīth 2 — Satan could not touch Jesus or his mother (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
«مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ إِلَّا نَخَسَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَيَسْتَهِلُّ صَارِخًا مِنْ نَخْسَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ، إِلَّا مَرْيَمَ وَابْنَهَا»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no child born except that Satan pokes him at the moment of birth, and the child cries out from the poke of Satan — except Mary and her son.”
Hadīth 3 — The physical appearance of Jesus (seen during the Night Journey) (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
«رَأَيْتُ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمُوسَى وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَأَمَّا عِيسَى فَأَحْمَرُ جَعْدٌ عَرِيضُ الصَّدْرِ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “I saw Jesus son of Mary, Moses, and Abraham. As for Jesus, he was of ruddy complexion, with curly hair and a broad chest.”
(In another narration from Bukhārī, the Prophet described him as: “of medium height, as though he had just emerged from a bath, with water dripping from his hair.”)
Hadīth 4 — Jesus will descend as a just judge (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَيُوشِكَنَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا عَدْلًا، فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلَ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعَ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَيَفِيضَ الْمَالُ حَتَّى لَا يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the swine, abolish the jizyah, and wealth will pour forth so abundantly that no one will accept it.”
Hadīth 5 — Jesus will kill the Dajjāl (Antichrist) (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
«فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَيَنْزِلُ عِنْدَ الْمَنَارَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ شَرْقِيَّ دِمَشْقَ بَيْنَ مَهْرُودَتَيْنِ، وَاضِعًا كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ مَلَكَيْنِ... فَيَطْلُبُهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ بِبَابِ لُدٍّ فَيَقْتُلُهُ»
Meaning: “While the Dajjāl is in that state, Allah will send the Messiah, son of Mary. He will descend at the white minaret to the east of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron, placing his hands on the wings of two angels... He will pursue the Dajjāl until he catches him at the gate of Ludd and kills him.”
Hadīth 6 — Jesus will pray behind the Muslim Imam (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
«فَإِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ قِيلَ لِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ: تَقَدَّمْ فَصَلِّ. فَيَقُولُ: لَا، إِنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ أُمَرَاءُ، تَكْرِمَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ»
Meaning: “When the time of prayer comes, Jesus son of Mary will be told: ‘Come forward and lead the prayer.’ But he will say: ‘No — some of you are the leaders of others. This is an honor Allah has bestowed upon this [Muslim] community.’”
Hadīth 7 — Jesus will live forty years after his descent (Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
«يَمْكُثُ فِي الأَرْضِ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً، ثُمَّ يُتَوَفَّى فَيُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “He [Jesus] will remain on the earth for forty years, then he will pass away, and the Muslims will perform the funeral prayer over him.”
Hadīth 8 — Whoever believes in Jesus and Muḥammad will have a double reward (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
«مَنْ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَأَنَّ عِيسَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ... أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever bears witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner; that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger; that Jesus is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, His Word which He conveyed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him… Allah will admit him to Paradise.”
Hadīth 9 — There is no prophet between Jesus and Muḥammad ﷺ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
«أَنَا أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ، لَيْسَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ نَبِيٌّ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “I am the closest of people to Jesus son of Mary — for there is no prophet between him and me.”
Hadīth 10 — Jesus and Muḥammad ﷺ are sons of one father (in faith) (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
«أَنَا أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ نَبِيٌّ، وَإِنَّهُ نَازِلٌ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَاعْرِفُوهُ: رَجُلٌ مَرْبُوعٌ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ، عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَانِ مُمَصَّرَانِ، كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ يَقْطُرُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ بَلَلٌ، فَيَدُقُّ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلُ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعُ السَّيْفَ، وَيَدْعُو النَّاسَ إِلَى الإِسْلَامِ»
Meaning: The Prophet ﷺ said: “I am the closest of all people to Jesus son of Mary in this world and in the Hereafter. There was no prophet between him and me. He will surely descend — so when you see him, recognize him: a man of medium height, reddish-white in complexion, wearing two garments lightly dyed, his head appearing as if water drips from it even when it is not wet. He will break the cross, kill the swine, lay down the sword, and call the people to Islam.”
These texts together establish that ʿĪsā ibn Maryam (عيسى ابن مريم) holds a uniquely exalted rank in Islam: he is honored as one of the five greatest Messengers (Ūlu al-ʿAzm), born of a miraculous virgin birth, endowed with extraordinary miracles by the permission of Allah, described as the Messiah, a Word from Allah, and a Spirit from Him — yet always and entirely a servant and prophet of the One God, never divine. His return at the end of times is among the major signs of the Day of Judgment in Islamic eschatology.
In segments of Israeli society and evangelical Christian circles in the United States, the struggle with Iran has been interpreted through biblical prophecy and apocalyptic expectation. Earlier conflicts, such as Operation Rising Lion, were explicitly infused with scriptural language that resonated with ideas of chosenness, divine destiny, and existential battle. Such interpretations frame military success not just as a strategic necessity but as the fulfillment of a historical or divine purpose that will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus.
Here, the deeply hoped-for return of Jesus is weaponized by a combination of the military industrial complex, foreign policy objectives focusing on oil, gas, and natural resource domination to keep away from China, and Israel’s desire to be the uncontested regional power. You see, we can’t ask what Jesus wants or what he supports, but all these bellicose war mongers and profiteers have crafted a ready-made theology rooted in death and destruction. They made Jesus a salesman for their rotten worldly possessions and vanity of power and status. I do believe that if the real Jesus comes around, they would arrest him and charge him with supporting “terrorism” or disruption of law and order in society.
Those who are using war and injustice to hasten, invoking that God or Jesus appointed them for this role, are all weaponizing theological beliefs and texts to advance their own worldly desires. Jesus and God have nothing to do with their plans or theology. This, I am sure, is the theology emerging from the lower self that is driven by greed, lust, and pure corruption. Keep Jesus and God out of your wars!
