Muslims deeply respect Jesus (Arabic: ʿĪsā) as one of God’s greatest prophets and the Messiah, but not as God or the Son of God.

Who Jesus Is in Islam

  • Jesus is a prophet and messenger sent by God to guide the Children of Israel back to pure monotheism.
  • He is called al-Masīḥ (the Messiah) many times in Islamic sources, though the title is understood more as “anointed, chosen messenger” than as a divine savior figure.
  • Muslims see him as one in a long line of prophets: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad.

In simple terms, Muslims would say: “We love Jesus, we honor him, we follow him as a prophet — but we don’t worship him.”

Core Beliefs About Jesus in Islam

1. Miraculous birth from the Virgin Mary

  • Muslims believe Jesus was born to Mary (Maryam) miraculously, without a human father, by God’s command.
  • Mary is highly honored in Islam; an entire chapter of the Qur’an is named after her, and she is seen as a model of piety and purity.

2. His miracles and message

Muslims believe Jesus performed miracles by God’s permission , not by his own independent power. Examples often mentioned:

  • Healing the sick.
  • Raising the dead.
  • Speaking as an infant to defend his mother’s honor (a very well‑known Islamic story).

His core message, as Muslims understand it:

  • Worship one God alone (pure monotheism, tawḥīd).
  • Live righteously, care for the poor, and prepare for the Day of Judgment.

What Muslims Do Not Believe About Jesus

1. Not God, not “Son of God”

  • Islam absolutely rejects the idea that Jesus is God, God’s literal Son, or part of a Trinity.
  • Associating any partner with God (including making Jesus divine) is called shirk , considered the gravest sin in Islam.

So for Muslims:

  • Jesus is a perfectly obedient servant of God ,
  • Not an object of worship alongside God.

2. No atoning death on the cross

  • Muslims do not believe Jesus died as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins or that he was resurrected in the Christian sense.
  • The prevailing Islamic view is that Jesus was not actually crucified ; instead, it only appeared that way, and God raised him to Himself.
  • Because of this, Islam also denies the Christian doctrine that salvation depends on Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

Instead, salvation in Islam is about:

  • Faith in one God,
  • Following God’s guidance,
  • Personal accountability for one’s own deeds.

Jesus in the End Times (Islamic View)

A striking part of Islamic belief is Jesus’ role at the end of time :

  • Muslims believe Jesus will return to earth before the Day of Judgment.
  • He will defeat the false messiah (al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl), a deceiving anti‑Christ‑like figure.
  • Jesus will establish justice and peace and lead people back to pure worship of the one God.

So Jesus is central in Islamic eschatology (end-times belief), not as a divine savior, but as God’s servant who fulfills a final mission on earth.

Quick Christian–Muslim Comparison on Jesus

[1][6][9][10] [2][8][3] [6][7][9][10] [2][8][3] [7][9][10][6] [2][8][3] [9][3][6][7] [2][8][3] [5][10][3][6][7][9] [8][2][3] [3][6][7][9] [2][8][3] [6][9][3] [8][2][3] [10][7][9][3][6] [2][3][8]
Belief about Jesus Islam Mainstream Christianity
Identity Human prophet and Messiah, servant of God. Fully God and fully man, second person of the Trinity.
Birth Born of the Virgin Mary by God’s command, no human father. Born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit.
Miracles Performs miracles by God’s permission. Performs miracles by his own divine authority.
Divinity Not divine; calling him God is shirk (major sin). Affirmed as God the Son.
Crucifixion Generally: not crucified; God saved him, it only appeared so. Crucified, died, and buried.
Resurrection No bodily resurrection after crucifixion (since he is not believed to have died that way). Rose bodily from the dead on the third day.
Role in salvation Guide pointing to God; each soul is accountable for its own deeds. Central savior whose death and resurrection atone for sin.
Second coming Will return, defeat the false messiah, and restore justice. Will return to judge the living and the dead, complete God’s kingdom.

How Muslims Talk About Jesus Today (Forum & “Trending” Angle)

If you scroll through modern forums and discussions:

  • Many Muslims emphasize: “We believe in Jesus more than people realize — we just don’t believe he is God.”
  • Some highlight that Jesus is mentioned often in the Qur’an and is given special titles like “Word from God” and “Spirit from God” , but understood in a non‑divine way.
  • Interfaith conversations (podcasts, YouTube lectures, etc.) often use Muslim beliefs about Jesus as a bridge : shared respect, shared belief in his miracles and moral authority, but honest disagreement about his nature and mission.

A typical Muslim comment online about Jesus might look like:

“We love Jesus, we believe he’s the Messiah, born of a virgin and performing miracles. But we worship the same God he worshipped, not Jesus himself.”

TL;DR – What Do Muslims Believe About Jesus?

  • He is a great prophet , the Messiah, and a servant of God — not God or the Son of God.
  • Born of the Virgin Mary , performed many miracles by God’s permission, and called people to worship one God.
  • Muslims deny his divinity, crucifixion as a saving sacrifice, and resurrection as in Christian theology.
  • They believe he was raised by God and that he will return at the end of time to defeat the false messiah and establish justice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.