If you’re looking for what Islam teaches about Jesus and the Bible, you’ll find a mix of high respect and significant disagreement. Islam teaches that Jesus, known as Isa, was a major prophet born of a virgin and a miracle-worker sent by God. However, Islam explicitly denies that Jesus is the Son of God or that he died on the cross for sins. While Muslims view the Bible as originally divine, they believe its current form is corrupted and has been replaced by the Quran.
The Islamic View of Jesus as a Prophet
In Islam, Jesus is one of the most important prophets in a long line that includes Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. The Quran actually mentions Jesus by name more than twenty-five times and honors his mother, Mary, as a model of piety. Muslims believe in the virgin birth, affirming that God created Jesus in Mary’s womb through his word. They also believe that Jesus performed incredible miracles, such as healing the blind and raising the dead, but only by the permission and power of Allah.
However, the “Jesus” of the Quran is very different from the Jesus of the Bible. In Islam, Jesus is purely human. He isn’t the second person of the Trinity, and he isn’t divine. To Muslims, the idea that God could have a son is considered a major sin called “shirk,” or associating partners with God. They see Jesus as a messenger who was sent specifically to the people of Israel to bring them back to the true worship of one God.
The Denial of the Crucifixion and Resurrection
One of the biggest differences between Christianity and Islam is what happened at the end of Jesus’ earthly life. For Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of faith. But Islam teaches that Jesus didn’t actually die on the cross. Most Islamic scholars interpret the Quran to mean that someone else was made to look like Jesus and was crucified in his place, while God rescued Jesus and took him up to heaven alive.
Because they believe he didn’t die, they also don’t believe he rose from the dead to conquer sin and death. Instead, Islam teaches that Jesus is currently in heaven and will return to earth in the end times. According to Islamic tradition, when he returns, he’ll live as a devout Muslim, marry, eventually die a natural death, and be buried next to Muhammad. This view removes the need for a Savior, as Islam teaches that every person is responsible for their own sins and earns salvation through submission and good works.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
What Islam Teaches About the Bible
When it comes to the Bible, the Islamic perspective is a bit complicated. Muhammad initially referred to Christians and Jews as “People of the Book,” acknowledging that God had given them scriptures. The Quran mentions the Tawrat (Torah) given to Moses, the Zabur (Psalms) given to David, and the Injil (Gospel) given to Jesus. Muslims are taught to respect these as having come from God originally.
But there’s a catch. Islam teaches a doctrine called tahrif, which means “corruption.” They believe that over the centuries, the original messages given to Moses, David, and Jesus were altered, lost, or intentionally changed by humans. Because they believe the Bible we have today is no longer the “pure” word of God, they view the Quran as the final and perfect revelation that “corrects” the Bible. When the Bible and the Quran disagree—like on the deity of Christ—Muslims will always side with the Quran, assuming the Bible is in error.
The Core Difference: Grace vs. Law
Ultimately, the difference between what Islam teaches and what the Bible says comes down to how we’re saved. The Bible teaches that because of our sin, we’re separated from God and cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus—not just as a teacher or a prophet, but as a Substitute who took our punishment. The New Testament is clear that Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is what makes his sacrifice powerful enough to cover our sins.
Islam teaches a system of law and submission. A person’s standing with God depends on their sincerity, their prayers, and their adherence to the Five Pillars. There’s no assurance of salvation because it depends on the individual’s performance and God’s mercy at the final judgment. By contrast, the Bible offers us peace and assurance through the finished work of Jesus. We don’t work for our salvation; we live out of the salvation Jesus already won for us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast.
The Takeaway
Islam teaches that Jesus was a holy prophet and that the Bible started as a holy book, but it stops short of the most life-changing truths. By denying the deity of Jesus and the reliability of the Bible, Islam removes the bridge that God built to reach us. As Christians, we can respect the high regard Muslims have for “Isa,” but we must gently point back to the historical and biblical truth: Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again so that we could have a personal relationship with our Creator.
