Prophet Isa

Before we begin the story of Prophet Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), note that some details of family lineage and the context of certain early life events have been more extensively covered in the story of Prophet Zakariya (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Since their timelines overlap, their stories have a lot of crossovers. We briefly summarize the relevant information so you, the reader listener, may understand the story of Prophet Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) without prior knowledge. We still strongly encourage reading to the story of Zakariyah (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to understand the differences in scholarly opinions.

The mother bird sailed into the nest, carrying her day’s find in her beak. Sensing their mother’s return, the chicks scurried around the nest, their soft beaks open, ready to welcome their morning meal. A sudden gust of air shook the nest as the mother bird drew her protective wing to shield her young.

Imran's wife believed to be named Hannah (although not explicitly mentioned by name in the Qur'an), looked on as the mother bird nurtured and cared for her young. The couple remained childless for many, many years, so the sight of the bird nurturing her young deepened her desire for motherhood. The admirable quality in Hannah was she never lost hope; she was a very pious woman, believing in Allah's plan and only focusing on whatever was in her control.

Seeing the bird inspired her to raise her hands once more and pray to Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), saying,"My Lord! I dedicate what is in my womb entirely to Your service, so accept it from me. You alone are truly the All-Hearing, All-Knowing."—Surah Al-Imran, ayah 35

“Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Nuh, the family of Ibrahim, and the family of Imran above all people of their time.”—Surah Al-Imran, ayah 33

The prayer was accepted.We are told by the Prophet (ﷺ) that when a child is born, Shaitan touches him on both sides of the body with two fingers, causing the baby to cry. However, Maryam and Isa were protected from Shaitan's touch; he tried and failed, for he could only touch the placenta cover.— (Sahih Bukhari 4548 and 3286)

In Islam, a child who loses their father before reaching maturity is considered an orphan. Seen as vulnerable yet deserving, such children need support to flourish.The Qur'an speaks about the Muslim community's duty to care for those less fortunate:

Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ)had a rough childhood, losing both his parents early on in his life. He further emphasized the importance and reward of caring for an orphan in many ahadith.

For example, in one hadith, he(ﷺ)says,"Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers."— Sahih Bukhari 1465In another hadith, he highlights the reward of Jannah,"The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated [...] I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that,"indicating closeness with his two fingers.— Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 137

With the vow fresh in her mind, Hannah wrapped her daughter in a sheet and handed her to the leaders of the mosque to appoint a guardian and sponsor the child.

Prophet Zakariyah(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), who was also a prominent leader at the masjid, stepped forward to claim guardianship of Maryamرضی اللہ عنہas he was a relative to her. This sparked an intense debate among priests and other religious leaders who all wanted to sponsor Maryamرضی اللہ عنہ. The people at the masjid said, "She is the daughter of our Imam." They recognized Maryamرضی اللہ عنہas a special child who came from a blessed family, and they wanted to be the one to support her.

To resolve the debate, they drew lots, a common practice when they struggled to reach an agreement.Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)revealed in the Quran:"This is news of the unseen that We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast lots to decide who would be Maryam's guardian, nor were you there when they argued about it."—Surah Al-Imran, ayah 44

The men drew their quills and placed them in a container, inviting a child to select one. They decided that the owner of the chosen quill would claim their right over Maryam.By Allah’s(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)will, Prophet Zakariyah's(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)quill was chosen. However, this did not satisfy the contenders, so they decided to let nature choose the rightful guardian.

The priests placed the quills in a stream,ruling that the last quill to resist the water's current would claim guardianship.

The priests were still not convinced.

This time, they asserted that the quill moving with the water would receive rights over the child.

"So her Lord accepted her graciously and blessed her with a pleasant upbringing—entrusting her to the care of Zakariyah."—Surah Al-Imran, ayah 37

Prophet Zakariyah(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)was the imam of Al-Aqsa mosqueand spent most of his days there in service to Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ). He had built a separate chamber just for Maryamرضی اللہ عنہso he could leave her there alone in her studies and worship. No one was provided entry to her chamber but Prophet Zakariyah(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

Much to his surprise, each time Zakariyah(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)visited Maryam’s sanctuary, he found fresh fruit.Fruits that grew in summer were found fresh in her room during winter, and fruits that grew in winter were found fresh in her room during summer.Zakariyah(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)found it a miracle and was curious as to who would supply these fresh fruits when only he had access to her chamber.

He exclaimed:“O Maryam! Where did this come from?”—Surah Al-Imran, ayah 37

Maryam replied:“It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.”

She then prayed, saying,"I truly seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you! So leave me alone if you are God-fearing."—Surah Maryam, ayah 18

The man calmly responded,"I am just a message-bearer of your Lord"—Surah Maryam, ayah 19

The Qur'an clarifies the man's identity, stating,

"We sent to her our Ruh (angel Jibreel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects."—Surah Maryam, ayah 17

This moment is also recounted in Surah Al-Imran ayat 45-46,"And when the angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah gives you the glad tidings of a command from Him: his name shall be Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. He shall be highly honoured in this world and in the next, and shall be one of those near stationed to Allah. And he shall speak to men in the cradle and also later when he grows to maturity and shall indeed be among the righteous.’"

and Jibreel replied:"Thus shall it be. Your Lord says: 'It is easy for Me, and We shall do so in order to make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us. This has been decreed."—Surah Maryam, ayah 21

"Indeed, the example of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be!" And he was!"— (Surah Al-Imran, ayah 59).

It's common for human nature to believe that what they follow is superior to others. In Islam, it is recognized that each Prophet was endowed with special gifts or miracles to convey Allah's(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)message relevant to the historical period they lived in. However, their followers attached too much significance to the miracles of their Prophet and tried to discredit or deny the Prophets who succeeded them or came prior. And we see this, believers in Musa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)discredit Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)and deny him as being a prophet of God.

This tendency to elevate their leader is precisely why Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) cautioned, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 3445,"Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."

In the Qur'an, Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)guides us, saying,"O Muslims, say to them, 'We believe in Allah and the Guidance which has been sent down to us and which was sent to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac and Jacob and his descendants and which was given by their Lord to Moses and Jesus and to all other Prophets. We do not discriminate against any of them and we have completely surrendered to Allah as Muslims.'"—Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 136

Fearing the tales of the townsfolk for carrying a child out of wedlock, Maryam decides to seclude herself until the birth of the baby. Although she knew that she was fulfilling a divine duty, the anxieties of facing people consumed her mind day and night. Everyone knew that she came from a respectable family and that both her father and mother were righteous people who dedicated their lives to the worship of One true God. How would the people react when they found out she had no husband? What would she tell them when they asked about the baby’s father?

After some months, Maryam (ra) could no longer contain the mental strain. Consumed with anxiety for the future, she left Nazareth, "...she withdrew with him to a remote place" (Surah Maryam, ayah 22). She hadn’t gone far when she was overcome with the pains of childbirth. It was finally time for the birth of her miracle baby. Alone and in immense pain, she settled herself beneath a palm tree to give birth.

"Oh, would that I had died before this and had been all forgotten”—Surah Maryam, ayah 23

This outcry reflects the immense emotion burden she carried, the pains of childbirth, the daunting task of nurturing a baby alone, without a husband, and forced to leave and live in isolation. Despite her revered status among the worshippers, she faced judgment and knew people would not believe her. All these emotions came crashing down in this moment.

Iron deficiency and anemia are two common conditions that women can suffer from during as well as after birth. This can negatively affect the long-term health of both the mother and her child.It's a blessing from Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)that after Maryamرضی اللہ عنہgave birth, he told her to shake the tree, and the dates fell down.It's through these gifts Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)reassured Maryamرضی اللہ عنہand gave her the resolve to return to her people.

Today, many studies have been conducted on dried dates, especially around labor. Some reports showeating dates in the later stages of pregnancy can promote a healthy and natural childbirth.Moreover, dates are considered to be a superfood; they are dense in many nutrients, specifically iron, which is much needed after labor. Another study showed that pregnant women who ate 6 dates a day for 4 weeks before their due date had a shorter first stage of labor. Eating dates in late pregnancy has also been shown to lessen the need for oxytocin, the medication used to start or speed up labor. This is one of the many marvels mentioned in the Qur'an.

As Maryam returned, the townsfolk watched with curiosity, horror, and disgust. As expected, a barrage of questions and criticisms ensued.“Then she came to her people, carrying her baby. They said: 'O Mary! You have committed a monstrous thing. O sister of Aaron! Your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman."—Surah Maryam, ayat 27-28With the strength from Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) and his reassurance, Maryam pointed to the baby in the cradle. The people exclaimed:"How can we speak to one who is in the cradle, a mere child?"—Surah Maryam, ayah 29.

To the great surprise of the people, the baby began to speak:"Verily I am Allah’s servant. He has granted me the Book and has made me a Prophet and has blessed me wherever I might be and has enjoined upon me Prayer and Zakah (purifying alms) as long as I live; and has made me dutiful to my mother. He has not made me oppressive, nor bereft of God’s blessings. Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised up alive."— (Surah Maryam, ayat 30-33).

When Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)was just a child,he found himself wandering into the temples to listen to sermons of the Rabbis amongst a crowd of adults. He would listen to them intently, question them, and express his opinion without fear or intimidation. This was, however, not welcomed by learned Rabbis who felt threatened by having their authority challenged by a child.

He was great at debating, and they often failed to respond to his questions,so instead, they tried to silence him. But, he would not shy away from ressing his views.

As Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)grew older, the wisdom and the special abilities that Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)bestowed upon him became apparent to those around him. As was the mystery and miraculous nature surrounding his conception and birth,his entire life was filled with unexplainable miracles –this was a clear sign to the people of his prophethood. All the while, he called out to his people to worship Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), the One true God:

“Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him alone. This is the Straight Path.”—Surah Maryam, ayah 36

Now, into his adulthood, on the day of Sabbath, the Jewish priests maintained a holy day for complete rest. Although this day was chosen by Prophet Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to dedicate for Allah’s (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) worship, strange practices were maintained by the Jews. Followers could not light or extinguish a fire, women could not braid their hair, nor could they call a doctor to save a patient who was in critical condition. On this day, Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), who was well aware of the apparently sacred practices of Sabbath, picked fruits to feed a hungry child and lit a fire to keep an old woman warm – practices that violated the law.

Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was observant of the monetization that occurred in the name of faith and worship. He observed how the priests earned a hefty living through the temple; he watched on as the temple had been transformed into a marketplace selling sheep and doves for sacrifice and was astonished at how the poor could not afford the rates.

Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) failed to understand why offerings were burned in the temple when thousands of poor people were starving outside the temple walls. It was on this night that Prophets Zakariyah (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and Yahya (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) were killed, and Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) received the message from his Lord. In his first revelation, Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) commanded Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to begin preaching the truth to the Children of Israel who were clearly led astray.

Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)openly denounced the materialistic life of luxury and invited his people to lead a humble life.He appealed to his people to refrain from hoarding wealth and to spend their time in the worship of Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)so that they may have a prosperous afterlife. He preached forgiveness and mercy to each other and the creatures that roam the earth. It was very clear from all accounts that Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)was not seeking worldly power, either as a ruler or through financial means. His mission was to establish the worship of one creator in the manner the creator commanded.

He denounced the practices held by the Pharisees, one of the more prominent Jewish sects. It was in conflict with the Jews' superficial interpretation of the Torah.Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)informed them that he did not wish to denounce the Torah but aimed to help people understand the true essence of its words.He knew they were hypocrites; they said one thing but did another. They taught about God, but they did not do things for the love of God.

He further clarified some of the teachings of theTen Commandments.For example, theSixth Commandment prohibits adultery.However, this does not mean just the physical contact between a man and a woman, but all unlawful acts that might lead one to adultery. This begins with the gaze. The eye commits adultery when it looks at anything with passion, and therefore, lowering one's gaze would protect one from any unlawful desire.

Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)understood their plot. He knew that if he approved the application of the Mosaic law, he would contradict his teachings of forgiveness and mercy. He also knew that the priests had more sins to their names than the woman standing before him.

So, he announced to the men,“Whoever among you is sinless can stone her.”This brought a new law pertaining to adultery: only the sinless can judge sin; after all, none could judge a sinner but the Almighty, All-Knowing.

Some Qur'anic commentators believe,with Allah’s(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)help and permission, Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)brought the dead to life.A total of four people were brought to life: a friend of Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)named Al-Azam, an older woman’s son, a woman’s only daughter, and a man by the name of Sam Ibn Noah.

It is revealed that when the Prophet Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)brought back the first three, who had died during the lifetime of Prophet Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), the disbelievers charged that Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)only brought back people who died recently and argued that perhaps these people did not die at all but had simply fainted. The disbelievers then issued Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)a challenge to bring back the man named Sam Ibn Noah to life, who had died before the lifetime of Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) did not shy away from the challenge as he was aware that Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) was by his side, so he asked the contenders to point him to the deceased’s grave. Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) invoked Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) to bring the man back to life. Before long, a grey-haired Sam Ibn Noah climbed out of his grave.

With Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)authorization,Prophet Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)performed several miracles.1.Talking in his infancy.2.Breathing life into a clay bird, making it come alive.3.Curing the blind and a person with leprosy.4.Giving life to the dead.5.He had knowledge that was hidden from others. He could answer every question anyone asked to the extent that he knew what food people had eaten and what they had stored in their homes.6.Table of food from heaven.

These miracles are mentioned in the following verses of the Qur'an.

"Allah will say: ‘Jesus, son of Mary, recall My favour upon you and your mother, and when I strengthened you with the spirit of holiness so that you talked to men in the cradle and also when you became of age; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when, by My leave, you fashioned from clay the likeness of a bird and you breathed into it, and by My leave it became a bird; you healed, by My leave, the blind from birth and the leprous; and when, by My leave, you caused the dead to come to life. And recall when I restrained the Israelites from you when you came to them with clear proofs whereupon those of them who disbelieved said: “This is nothing but clear magic.” And recall when I revealed to the disciples to believe in Me and in My Messenger, they said: “We do believe, and we bear witness that we indeed are the ones who submit to Allah"— (Surah Maidah, ayat 110-111, miracles are also repeated inSurah Al-Imran, ayat 49-51)

This verse importantly repeats the phrase, "by My leave," meaning these miracles are performed with Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) blessing. Thus, it is not really Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) who independently acted and raised the dead or gave life to inanimate objects, but rather it is through the power and permission of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) that enabled him to do so.

"I will also inform you of what things you eat and what you treasure up in your houses. Surely this is a sign for you if you are true believers."— (Surah Al-Imran, ayah 49)

The sixth and final miracle we are told of in the Qur'anis famously known in the Christian faith as'The Last Supper.'In Islamic tradition, this event is referenced as"Table Spread"or"The Feast."This is the title of the fifth surah of the Qur'an (Surah Maidah).

After thirty days of fasting, commanded by Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in service of Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), the believers requested Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) to provide food from the heavens to break their fast.“O Isa, son of Maryam! Would your Lord be willing to send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?”— (Surah Ma’idah, ayah 112)

Commentators of this verse suggest that the apostles of Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)were not well-intentioned when they asked whether it would be possible for Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ)to provide them food from heaven. Their question was seen as a sign of disrespect, challenging Allah's ability and asking the Prophet for yet another miracle because they lacked faith.

They pleaded,"We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses"— (Surah Ma’idah, ayah 113)

Whenever Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) sent His messengers to this world, the majority often met them with disbelief and rejection. These prophets faced attempts to silence their sincere calls through intimidation and bullying tactics. However, when these efforts inevitably failed, they resorted to violence to put an end to their message. This case with Prophet (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was no different.

As the religion of Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) began to attract more followers, the high priests grew increasingly fearful of their waning influence. They saw the potential threat to their enterprise. As a result, they conspired against him, accusing him of sorcery, violating the Mosaic law, and being in allegiance with the devil. When all these attempts to slander and defame Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) failed, they escalated their efforts. They held secret meetings to plot his demise. Here, they came up with a plan; since they lacked the authority to impose a death sentence, the priests decided to convince the Roman Governor that Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) posed a threat to the security of the Roman Empire. Alarmed by these claims and unwilling to take any risk, the Governor ordered the arrest of Prophet Isa.

He spoke up,"What will you give me if I deliver him to you?"The council proposed some silver shekels, and they negotiated back and forth until agreeing upon thirty shekels.

According to the Bible,the army came to arrest Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). They flogged him, tortured him, and spat on him. They put acrown of thorns on his head to mock him and bove his cross. It read,"JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."The chiefs and elders then joked,"He saved others,"they said,"but he can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him."He slowly died on the cross, was resurrected 3 days later, and ascended to heaven.

The Islamic belief holds thatIsa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)was protected and saved by Allah(سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ).Some Qur'an exegetes believe that it was the betrayer of Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)who was made to resemble him and was crucified in his place, while Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was raised to heaven.

From the Qur'anic perspective,the key mistake of the Jewish faith was in the denial of certain prophets like Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), who were sent to guide them. Conversely, the error in Christianity was in its exaggeration of Isa's(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)status, ascribing divinity and making partners with God. Isa(عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ)while he was alive never claimed himself God. Nor did any of his disciples think of him as one.

The Qur'an advises,"People of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to Allah nothing except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of Allah, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him (which led to Mary’s conception). So believe in Allah and in His Messengers, and do not say: (Allah is a) trinity. Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. Allah is indeed just one God. Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Allah is sufficient for a guardian."—Surah An-Nisa, ayah 171