Today is what most of the western world refer to as “Good Friday” (or “Holy Friday”). According to Christian ideology, it is the day on which Jesus Christ (عيسى ابن مريم عليه السلام) was crucified. On that note, I wanted to write about the topic of ‘Isa and dedicate this input to describing how we, despite differences of thought, can face the world and strive towards peaceful dialogue and reach common grounds regarding this noble messenger, peace be upon him.
So, before I start, I stress the importance of having respect for other faiths, even if we do not necessarily agree with everything. A show of respect and kindness may be returned to us with equal kindness. In the end, it is for our Creator to guide each and everyone of us according to His will and plan.
سورة المائدة ٤٨
لِكُلّٖ جَعَلۡنَا مِنكُمۡ شِرۡعَةٗ وَمِنۡهَاجٗاۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِي مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۖ فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيعٗا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ
سورة الممتحنة ٨
ا يَنۡهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمۡ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمۡ وَتُقۡسِطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ
Surah Al-Maaida 5:48
To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;
Surah Al-Mumtahana 60:8
Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.
Right, so in Islam, Jesus Christ—known as Īsā (عيسى) in Arabic—is deeply respected and honored as one of the greatest prophets and messengers of God. While the Islamic view differs from Christian beliefs in certain areas, Jesus holds a very high status in Islamic theology. As Muslims, we believe Jesus was born miraculously to the Virgin Mary (Maryam) without a human father. This is described in the Qur’an (Surah Maryam 19:16–36) and closely resembles the Christian narrative of the virgin birth.
The moral voice of Jesus is a rich place for common ground. Love for the poor, compassion, mercy, prayer, forgiveness, humility, faith, trust in God. Both Muslims and Christians admire his humility, compassion, and spirituality, he is widely recognized as a teacher of love, mercy, and justice. Islam affirms that Jesus performed many miracles by the permission of God—such as healing the blind, curing lepers, raising the dead.
As described by the Quran…
سورة آل عِمران ٤٩
أَنِّيٓ أَخۡلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيۡـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيۡرَۢا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَأُبۡرِئُ ٱلۡأَكۡمَهَ وَٱلۡأَبۡرَصَ وَأُحۡيِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۖ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:49
‘I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah’s leave
And as described by the Bible…
(العهد الجديد)
ﻳﻮﺣﻨﺎ ١١: ٤٠-٤٤
فَقَالَ يَسُوعُ: «أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكِ: إِنْ آمَنْتِ تَرَيْ مَجْدَ اللهِ؟»
فَرَفَعُوا الْحَجَرَ، وَرَفَعَ يَسُوعُ عَيْنَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَقَالَ: «أَيُّهَا الآبُ، أَشْكُرُكَ لأَنَّكَ سَمِعْتَ لِي،
وَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ دَوْماً تَسْمَعُ لِي. وَلكِنِّي قُلْتُ هَذَا لأَجْلِ الْجَمْعِ الْوَاقِفِ حَوْلِي لِيُؤْمِنُوا أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَرْسَلْتَنِي».
ثُمَّ نَادَى بَصَوْتٍ عَالٍ: «لِعَازَرُ اخْرُجْ!»
فَخَرَجَ الْمَيْتُ وَالأَكْفَانُ تَشُدُّ يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ، وَالْمِنْدِيلُ يَلُفُّ رَأْسَهُ. فَقَالَ يَسُوعُ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ: «حُلُّوهُ وَدَعُوهُ يَذْهَبْ!»
John 11:40-44
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
How can Muslims and Christians talk about their views constructively?
- Start with shared respect for Jesus. Both traditions honor Jesus greatly.
- Emphasize common moral teachings of Jesus.
- Respect mystery, allow room for faith.
Meaning – not all questions can be answered. Even believers within one faith do not always agree with each other on everything. We still respect that everyone have their beliefs. Personal opinions always play a part, and if this is true of one faith, then it is also true of the other.
سورة النَّحل ١٢٥-١٢٦
ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِۖ وَجَٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ
وَإِنۡ عَاقَبۡتُمۡ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبۡتُم بِهِۦۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرۡتُمۡ لَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لِّلصَّٰبِرِينَ
Surah An-Nahl 16:125-126
Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.
And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient.
So, common ground. Allow space for silence or reflection—not every question needs an immediate answer. Always remember that there is much to learn from a simple dialogue or a personal research if done respectfully and with the intention to gain a broader understanding. There is, after all, a lot of common ground that may surprise and increase respect for each other.
(العهد الجديد)
ﻣﺮﻗﺲ ١٧-١٨
وَبَيْنَمَا كَانَ خَارِجاً إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ، أَسْرَعَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ وَسَجَدَ لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ: «أَيُّهَا الْمُعَلِّمُ الصَّالِحُ، مَاذَا أَعْمَلُ لأَرِثَ الْحَيَاةَ الأَبَدِيَّةَ؟»
وَلكِنَّ يَسُوعَ قَالَ لَهُ: «لِمَاذَا تَدْعُونِي الصَّالِحَ؟ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ صَالِحاً إِلّا وَاحِدٌ، وَهُوَ اللهُ.
سورة الإخلَاص ٤
وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ
Mark 10:17-18
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Surah Al-Ikhlaas 112:4
And there is none like unto Him.
I hope you have found this an interesting and inspiring input. I will continue on my previous discussion next time inshallah, so make sure not to miss it. For now, I wish you all a very beautiful day ahead inshallah, full of comfort and safety. Jumma Mubaraka everyone. And remember…
سورة المَائدة ٦٩
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلصَّٰبِـُٔونَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ
Surah Al-Maaida 5:69
Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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