What do Muslims think about Jesus?

Muslims respect and revere Jesus `peace be upon him,' and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as `Jesus', but always adds the phrase ``peace be upon him.' The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled `Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Qur'an describes the Annunciation as follows:

"`Be hold!' the Angel said, `God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.'

She said: `O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: `Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Qur'an, 3:42-7)

Jesus `peace be upon him,' was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam `peace be upon him,' into being without father:

"Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, `Be!' and he was. (3:59)

During his prophetic mission Jesus `peace be upon him,' performed many miracles. The Qur'an tells us that he said:

I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave. (3:49)

Neither Muhammad `peace be upon him,' nor Jesus `peace be upon him,' cam to change the basic doctrine of the belief in on God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the Qur'an Jesus `peace be upon him,' is reported as saying that he came: " To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign form your Lord, so fear God and obey Me." (3:50)

The prophet Muhammad `peace be upon him,' said:

"Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad `peace be upon him,' is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating form Him, and that ~Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. (Hadith from Bukhari)