ʿĪsā ibn Maryam: The Unbroken Bridge Between Heaven and Humanity

1. The Obligation of Belief: More Than Reverence

Every Muslim affirms Jesus as:

• Messenger of Allah (رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ)
• Word of God (كَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ)
• Spirit from Him (رُوحٌ مِّنْهُ)
  (Quran 4:171)

"This is not choice—it’s pillar of īmān. To reject Jesus is to reject Islam’s foundation."

2. The Abyssinian Revelation: When Christianity Sheltered Islam

The Negus’ Tears:
When Ja’far recited Surah Maryam:

وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا...
"And mention Mary in the Book, when she withdrew from her family to an eastern place..." (19:16)

The Christian king wept: "This light and what Jesus brought spring from the same niche!"

3. Christianity’s Forgotten Schism: "Religion of Jesus" vs. "Religion About Jesus"

• The Nazarenes/Arians: Followed Mosaic law; saw Jesus as human prophet.
• Pauline Christianity: Introduced Trinity, atonement, divinity.

"Constantine didn’t end the debate at Nicea—he buried gospels that echoed Tawḥīd."

Qur’anic Clarification:

لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ
"The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of God..." (4:172)
Jesus’ own words: "Why call me good? No one is good but God alone." (Mark 10:18)

4. Crucifixion: The Divine Rescue

While Christians see the cross as salvation’s symbol, Islam reveals a divine extraction:

وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ
"They did not kill him nor crucify him—it was made to appear so..." (4:157)
The Hope: Jesus lives, awaiting his return to break the cross (as per ḥadīth)—not as deity, but as justice-bringer ending false worship.

5. Jesus in Muslim Piety: Wisdom Over Worship
Prophet Muḥammad’s (ﷺ) Bond:

"I am nearest to Jesus, son of Mary—in this world and the next. Prophets are brothers; different mothers, one faith." (Bukhārī 3443)

6. The Invitation: Common Ground Beyond Conflict

Quran 3:64’s Blueprint:

قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ تَعَالَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍۭ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ
"Say: O People of the Book! Come to common ground: Worship none but God..."
Shared Foundations:

• Mary’s purity
• Angels • Judgment Day
• Prayer • Fasting • Charity

"Two billion Muslims + Christians share more with each other than with secularism."