Mary and Jesus in Islam

Introduction

Before we go into a detailed discussion of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him and his virtuous virgin mother, let us highlight the major differences between Christianity and Islam. In the next chapter, these differences will be itemized and discussed.

The Church has taught that Jesus is the Messiah whom the Jews were expecting but whom they rejected, accusing him of being born of fornication:

“You dishonour me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and He will be the judge.” (John 8:49-50).

In 4:155-156, the Holy Qur'an condemns and curses all those who blasphemed the honour of Mary. Islam accepts Jesus son of Mary as the Masih, advocating the prophecy of Christ and recognizing his virgin birth as one of his miracles, even calling him the “Word of Allah.” It defends his mission and reproaches all those who rejected it, endorsing the original Bible[^1] as a revelation from the Almighty to him. Islam does not preach that Jesus was crucified or killed but did ascend to heaven.[^2] Many Christians regard Jesus as a deity and worship him

[^1] “Bible” is a Greek word which means “books.” The original Bible, which was written in Aramaic, mother tongue of Jesus Christ, was lost. John, Mark, Matthew and Luke rewrote it from memory, putting a great deal of their own personal views in it, thus altering the original pristine message brought by Jesus.

[^2] Jesus is not the only one who is believed to be alive and living in heaven. Enoch (Idris) is also believed to be alive. Both al-Khidr and Imam al-Mehdi, peace be upon both of them, are believed to be alive and living on earth.

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as a god, addressing him as “Lord,” a title fit only for the Almighty God. But they differ a great deal among themselves with regard to his deification, yet they all certainly regard him as much more than a human being. They call him “the son of God, part of the Trinity.” The Unitarian Church[^1] stresses the Unity of God (what Muslims call Tawhid), and the fact that Jesus was a human being. For this reason, it is not considered “Christian” and is not a member of the Federal Council of Churches, nor is it a member of any church federation. Islam repudiates in the strongest of terms the divinity or deity of Jesus Christ and the concept of the Trinity. The Christian doctrine preaches that Jesus died voluntarily, nailed to the cross, in order to atone for mankind's sins. Jesus is believed as having offered himself as an atoning sacrifice in order that mankind might earn salvation.

Islam unequivocally rejects the notion that sins can be transferred from some to others by any means, holding each and every individual accountable for his or her actions. The Almighty, Islam teaches, forgives the sinners who repent and make amends. Repentance, then, in addition to prayers, fast, and charity can atone for one's sins. God does not overburden any of us; He fully knows our weaknesses and limitations. Christianity considers Jesus as a mediator between man and God. Christians pray “in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” appealing to God through him.

Islam recognizes no mediator between man and God: everyone can be in direct contact with God and actually does so when he performs his prayers. Intercession, however, is permitted by [^1] Beliefs of the Unitarian Church are referred to as Unitarianism. This branch of Christianity began in Reformation under leaders such as Michael Servetus (1511 - 1553 A.D.), a Spanish theologian and physician who is known in Spanish as Miguel Serveto, and Fausto Sozzini (1539 - 1604), nephew of Laelius Socinus (or Lelio Sozini), an Italian religious reformer.

Both men organized this anti-Trinitarianism movement because of which they were subjected to a great deal of persecution by other Christians. In order to escape the merciless Catholic Court of Inquisition, Servetus had to flee to Lyons where he edited Ptolemy's geography works, and to Paris, where he studied medicine. He was jailed by orders of the Inquisition but escaped and made for Italy where he was seized on orders issued by John Calvin, tried then burnt alive at the stake. The religious belief of this Church (or Christian sect) is based on the concept that God is one person, thus contrasting that of the one in three persons, or Trinitarianism.

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the Almighty Who grants it to individuals whom He chooses and who will intercede, with His permission, on behalf of their friends. As a matter of fact, the Almighty's mercy will reach on the Day of Judgment the ultimate limit when God permits ordinary people with whom He is pleased or whom He forgives to intercede on behalf of others. Such is His mercy...

There are many other Christian beliefs and practices which we cannot discuss here due to the limitation of space and which include the belief in the reincarnation, the cremation of the dead, a tradition which the Christians learned from Hindus and Buddhists, the singing and dancing at their churches, the choir (an adaptation from the pagan chorus), the appointment of women as top church “officials,” the endorsement of homosexuality and the appointment of gay and lesbian “ordained” ministers...