Prophethood of Jesus
In the previous section, the birth of Jesus (AS) was discussed and in this section, his prophethood and presence among the Bani Isra’il will be dicussed from the perspective of the Quran.
In Islamic belief, the lineage of Mary is traced back to Prophet Solomon (AS) and through him to Prophet Jacob (AS). Therefore, in the Quran, Jesus is also regarded as one of the prophets of the Bani Isra’il.
Jesus (AS) was commissioned by God to call the Bani Isra’il to the oneness of God, and to prove that he was a prophet sent by God.
He also performed miracles for them. Among the miracles mentioned in the Quran are raising the dead, breathing into clay and turning it into a living bird, healing the blind from birth and those with leprosy, as well as having knowledge of the unseen.
These miracles are explicitly attributed to Jesus by the Almighty in Verse 49 of Surah Al Imran: “He will be a Messenger of God to the Israelites to whom he will say, ‘I have brought you a miracle from your Lord. I can create for you something from clay in the form of a bird. When I blow into it, it will become a real bird, by the permission of God. I can heal the blind and the lepers and bring the dead back to life, by the permission of God. I can tell you about what you eat and what you store in your homes. This is a miracle for you if you want to have faith.’”
Jesus (AS) called people to his new Sharia (faith), which affirmed the teachings of Prophet Moses (AS). He abrogated some of Moses’ commandments that had had introduced bans in the Torah for the purpose of reprimanding and being strict with the Jews, and he announced the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He often told the Bani Isra’il: “And when (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary said: ‘Children of Israel, I am sent to you by Allah to confirm the Torah that was before me, and to give news of a Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) who will come after me whose name shall be Ahmad.’ Yet when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: ‘This is clear sorcery.’” (Verse 6 of Surah As-Saff)
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Jesus (AS) continuously invited the Bani Isra’il to the oneness of God and the new Shaira until he became disheartened by their refusal to believe. When he witnessed the rebellion and stubbornness of the people, as well as the arrogance of the Jewish priests and scholars in rejecting his call, he chose a few of those who had faith in him to be his disciples, so they could support him in his mission for God.
“Believers, be the helpers of Allah. When (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary said to the disciples: ‘Who will be my helpers unto God?’ The disciples replied: ‘We will be the helpers of God.’ A party of the Children of Israel believed, and a party disbelieved. So, We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they overcame.” (Verse 14 of Surah As-Saff)
