What do Muslims believe about Jesus?

Who Jesus is in Islam

The Qur'an honours Jesus repeatedly. He is called al-Masih (the Messiah), and the scholars discuss why he carries that name — some said it was because he would wipe (masaha) the sick and they would be cured, others that it means "the truthful one," and others gave further explanations. The name itself is a title of honour, not of divinity.

He is described as speaking to people from the cradle and in maturity:

"And he will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity"— Qur'an 3:46

His birth was a miracle, without a father, by the direct command of God — but a miracle of creation, not a claim to be God. Muslims hold that God created him just as He created Adam, and that his miracles all happened by God's permission, not by any power of his own.

What Muslims deny

The Qur'an is explicit that Jesus did not claim divinity, and that those who attribute divinity to him have gone far astray. God says:

"They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary,' while the Messiah has said, 'O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' Indeed, he who associates others with Allah — Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire."— Qur'an 5:72

And again:

"They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the third of three.' And there is no god except one God."— Qur'an 5:73

IslamWeb explains that the Jewish and Christian religions were abrogated by the law brought by Muhammad ﷺ; whatever truth they contained is affirmed by Islam, and whatever falsehood they contain was introduced by people who altered the scriptures to suit their own desires. So Muslims reject the Trinity, reject the claim that Jesus is the literal son of God, and reject the crucifixion as it is commonly described.

On the crucifixion, the Qur'an states that the Jews did not kill him nor crucify him, but that it was made to appear so to them; rather, God raised him up to Himself:

"And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but it was made to appear so to them... But Allah raised him to Himself."— Qur'an 4:157–158

His return before the end of time

Belief in Jesus's second coming is part of mainstream Muslim creed. The scholars of hadith, Qur'anic commentary and law hold that his descent is established truth, supported by many authentic narrations and by the Qur'an itself. The Prophet ﷺ foretold it:

"The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary descends among you as a just judge; he will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish the jizyah."— Sahih Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah

Al-Nawawi explains that "abolishing the jizyah" means he will accept nothing but Islam or the sword — the jizyah (a tax paid by non-Muslims under Muslim rule) will no longer be taken. When he descends, he will not bring a new religion; he will come as a follower of Muhammad ﷺ, confirming his message.

The scholars describe what will happen: Jesus will descend while the Muslims are fighting the False Messiah (al-Masih al-Dajjal). When the Dajjal sees him, he will dissolve as salt dissolves in water, and Jesus will kill him. Jesus will pray behind the Muslim leader of the time and live among the believers until God causes him to die; the Muslims will bury him. After his death, a gentle wind will take the souls of the believers, and only the worst of people will remain on earth.

Why this matters to Muslims

Belief in Jesus is not optional or peripheral — it is woven into the fabric of Islamic faith. A Muslim who denied Jesus was a prophet would not be a Muslim. At the same time, the Islamic understanding of Jesus is precisely what makes Islam's claim to pure monotheism coherent: God is one, without partner, without son, without equal. Jesus is honoured as a servant and messenger of that one God, not as a rival to Him.

The scholars also warn against the opposite error — the belief that God and His creation somehow merge or indwell one another. This is the doctrine of hulul and ittihad (incarnation and union), which the Christians fell into first, and which some later groups within the Muslim community imitated. It is a clear and false belief: two distinct beings cannot become one, and this is even more impossible between the Creator and the created.

Key takeaways

• Jesus is a prophet, not God: Muslims believe in him as a messenger of God, born of the Virgin Mary, and honour him greatly — but they do not worship him.
• The Trinity is rejected: The Qur'an explicitly declares that those who say God is the Messiah, or that God is one of three, have disbelieved.
• He was not crucified: The Qur'an states he was not killed or crucified, but that it was made to appear so, and God raised him up.
• He will return: His descent before the Day of Judgment is established in authentic narrations; he will kill the False Messiah, break the cross, and rule by the law of Muhammad ﷺ.
• Belief in him is obligatory: A Muslim's faith is incomplete without belief in Jesus as a prophet of God.

Further reading

• Al-Tahawi, al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah (The Creed of al-Tahawi)
• Ibn Kathir, Tafsir on Qur'an 4:157–159 and 43:61
• Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim (commentary on the hadith of Jesus's descent)

And Allah knows best.