Correct belief - Prophet Isa

Prophet Isa (peace be on him) is a significant figure in Islam and one of the most important prophets of Allah. Allah mentions his name over 25 times in the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made it an important part of our faith to believe in him as a prophet and messenger of Allah. He said in the famous Hadith: "If anyone testifies that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah's Slave and His Apostle and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise.” [Sahih Bukhari] 

So the hadith clearly shows that if someone does not believe in Prophet Isa then they cannot go to Paradise. We are the only other religion other than Christians who make it a part of their faith that they must believe in Isa. However, our belief, and the Christians belief is not the same and it is important that we understand the differences.  

To understand the story of Prophet Isa let us start from the beginning. The mother of Isa is called Maryam and she is one the greatest woman who has ever walked the face of this earth. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an and there is a whole chapter named after her in the Qur’an.  

One day when Maryam was worshipping Allah in a temple, Angel Jibreel appeared front of her and gifted her with the good news that she will give birth to a child. Allah recorded the event in the Qur’an, 
 إِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَٰمَرۡيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٖ مِّنۡهُ ٱسۡمُهُ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ وَجِيهٗا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ 
“When the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah]. (3:45) 
وَيُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِي ٱلۡمَهۡدِ وَكَهۡلٗا وَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ 
And he will speak to people in ˹his˺ infancy and adulthood and will be one of the righteous.” (3:46)
 قَالَتۡ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٞ وَلَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِي بَشَرٞۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرٗا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ 
“She (Maryam) said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?" [The angel] said, "Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is” (3:47) 

Allah is All Powerful and when He commands something to happen, it will happen. If Allah can create us out of nothing, then something like this would not be difficult. Sometime after when Maryam gave birth, she went back to her people with the baby and as expected, they accused her of adultery. The people were asking how can you give birth without having relations with a man? This is when Prophet Isa performed his first miracle. As a new-born baby he spoke and defended his mother’s honour and innocence. Prophet Isa later became a messenger of Allah and he told people to worship Allah. There were many other miracles which he performed with the help of Allah such as creating birds from clay and blowing into it and Allah then brought them to life. Resurrecting the dead with the permission of Allah.  

Just like other Prophets and Messengers of Allah, Prophet Isa had to go through a lot of trials and hardships. When he told people to worship Allah, do their prayers, give charity, people started to verbally abuse and physically attack Isa and his followers. And right at the end the Romans wanted to harm Isa. However, we believe that Allah raised him to the heavens. Raised in a miraculous way just like he was born in a miraculous way. So, they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made confusing for them and they ended up crucifying someone else who looked like Isa. Allah says,
 وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ إِنَّا قَتَلۡنَا ٱلۡمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ لَفِي شَكّٖ مِّنۡهُۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينَۢا 
“And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.” (4:157) 

Another major belief that is different to Christians is the fact that Muslims believe Isa is still alive. We believe that he did not die and he was not crucified, he will come back towards the end of times. The return of Isa is one of the signs of the hour, closer to that time Isa will descend and the people will then see the reality.  

With so many religious festivals being celebrated around the world, such as Christmas and Easter, it is very important to know our belief system and the boundaries we should abide by. 25th December has nothing to do with Prophet Isa, this goes back to the winter celebration of Roman pagans. The tree and some of the other decorations root from Pagan traditions.  

So, if someone wishes us a Merry Christmas what should we do? We should remain respectful and polite and reply with a generic greeting back. For example, have a nice day, enjoy your holiday, may God bless you. If the person is your friend, then maybe one day you can explain the fact that Islam really respects Prophet Isa and his mother, Maryam. As Muslims the idea of Allah taking a son is offensive and so we respectfully do not celebrate it.  

In conclusion, Isa was one of the greatest prophets and messengers of Allah. He told people to worship Allah alone, to pray, to give charity, fast, and do other good deeds. We believe that he was not crucified and that he will come down when Allah wills. We should carry on learning about Prophet Isa and all the other prophets as they are the best of all people.  

May Allah give us the ability to increase our love of Prophet Isa and research further about him. And may Allah increase our love for the Islamic festivals such as the two Eids and protect us from any haram festivals. Ameen.