Interfaith Dialogue (Jesus PBUH and Muhammad PBUH) - Islam and Christianity

[USResident]

Re: Interfaith Dialogue (Jesus PBUH and Muhammad PBUH) - Islam and Christianity

@The Old Man

Pointing the discussion again to what Islam teach about Jesus:

1. What does Islam teach w.r.t. Jesus' mother Mary after Jesus' birth? The Bible have her marrying (before birth) Joseph and having some normally conceived children, half-brothers and -sisters of Jesus.

No such things are mentioned in the Quran. The Qurans account is limited to Jesus PBUH. The others have no relevance in a religious context for a muslim.

@The Old Man

2. The Qur'an mentions that Jesus is the Messiah/Christ (Surah 3v45). What does Islam understand under the term Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek)?

Anointed.

@The Old Man

3. Jesus is referred to as being the "Word" of Allah (Surah 4v171). What is understood with this term?

Promise from Allah SWT to Mary. Like you say I give you my word.

@The Old Man

4. In Surah 19v19 Jesus is called a "holy" son. What is understood with this term?

19:16 Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
19:17 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
19:18 She said: "I seek refuge from thee to ((Allah)) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah."
19:19 He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.

Quite simple to understand. Jesus PBUH would be a pious son born to Mary (Mary's Son not Gods son if that is what you mean).

@The Old Man

5. In Surah 4v158 Allah raised Jesus up to Himself. Who else has been in the presence of Allah as per Islam's teaching?

4:157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
4:158 Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-

Unto himself does not necessarily imply in Allah SWT immediate presense but away from the people somewhere near him. There is a long hadith about Prophet SAW Miraj journey, which relates where he met Prophets in the heavens. Its a long hadith so I will not post it however according to it Muhammad SAW met Prophet Jesus PBUH on the second heaven.

@The Old Man

6. Previously asked but no clear answer: Why was it necessary for Jesus to be born from a virgin? Doesn't this make Jesus MORE important than the prophet Muhammad?

It shows Allah SWT complete control of creation to those refute that he cannot raise us up from the dead. He can create us from any combination. Adam PBUH without man or woman. Eve PBUH without woman, Jesus PBUH without man and us from both man and woman. No it does not make him more important and further more we do not distinguish on how important a messenger is. Some messengers may be more favored over others but it does not diminish their importance. Each messenger came to play his role in his respective era. By this criteria, Adam should have been more important than Jesus PBUH in Christianity since he had neither father nor mother. These are false standards for a muslim.