Jesus is Not Isa bin Maryam: A Theological and Historical Challenge to Islamic Christology
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
The identity of Jesus Christ stands at the center of both Christian and Islamic theology, yet the portrayals diverge in irreconcilable ways. Christianity affirms Jesus as the eternal Son of God, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead (Mark 16:6). Islam, on the other hand, presents Isa bin Maryam (ʿĪsā ibn Maryam) as a human prophet, neither crucified nor divine, whose story was written in the Qur’an over six centuries after the events of the New Testament. This article contends that Jesus of the Gospels is not the same as Isa of the Qur’an.
1. Eyewitness Testimony Versus Late Non-Eyewitness Accounts
The New Testament provides multiple independent eyewitness testimonies to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), along with apostolic letters, present historically verifiable claims grounded in first-century Palestine.
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Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:12).
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Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:32–50).
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Jesus rose bodily from the grave (Mark 16:6).
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Jesus claimed unity with the Father (John 10:36).
By contrast, the Qur’an (compiled c. 650 CE) presents Isa bin Maryam, not based on eyewitnesses, but mediated through Muhammad, who lived centuries after Christ. This Isa was:
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Conceived under a palm tree (Qur’an 19:22–25).
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Not crucified but replaced (Qur’an 4:157).
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Denied divine sonship (Qur’an 17:111).
Thus, whereas the Christian Gospel stands upon historical witness, the Qur’anic Isa arises from a late theological reinterpretation without historical grounding.
2. The Nature of Jesus versus Isa
Christianity presents Jesus as divine:
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“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
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“Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God” (Philippians 2:5–6).
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“Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Conversely, Islam denies divinity to Isa, insisting:
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“Isa was only a messenger” (Qur’an 4:171).
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“It is not befitting to Allah that He should beget a son” (Qur’an 19:35).
This is not merely a difference in interpretation; it is a fundamental contradiction. Jesus’ divinity is attested by His works, His resurrection, and apostolic testimony. Isa, as portrayed in the Qur’an, is reduced to a prophet, stripped of his divine identity.
3. Crucifixion and Atonement
The crucifixion of Jesus is central to Christian faith:
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“Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3).
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“The blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
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Jesus declared, “It is finished” on the cross (John 19:30).
Islam denies the crucifixion:
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“They did not kill him, nor crucify him, but it was made to appear so to them” (Qur’an 4:157).
If Isa did not die, there can be no atonement, no resurrection, and no salvation in the Christian sense. The denial of the cross undermines the very heart of the biblical Gospel, further proving that Isa is not the Jesus proclaimed by the apostles.
4. Isa as Muhammad’s Forerunner Versus Jesus as the King of Kings
In Christianity, Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy and the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 17:14). In Islam, Isa is presented as the prophet who foretold Muhammad:
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“Isa brought Muhammad as the last prophet” (Qur’an 61:6).
This distortion recasts Isa into an Islamic framework, making him subservient to Muhammad rather than sovereign over all creation. It is an appropriation of Jesus’ identity for the service of another prophet, demonstrating that Isa is a constructed figure, not the historical Jesus.
Conclusion
Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, crucified and risen, is not Isa bin Maryam of the Qur’an. The Jesus of history and the New Testament stands upon multiple eyewitness testimonies, fulfilling prophecy, and offering salvation through His blood. Isa of the Qur’an, on the other hand, is a later theological invention, stripped of divinity, crucifixion, and resurrection, and used to validate Muhammad’s prophethood.
Therefore, Muslims who claim to honor Jesus by equating Him with Isa do not in fact know Him. The biblical Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16), while Isa is a distant echo, an altered construct that cannot save.
References
Biblical References
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The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).
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Luke 2:12; John 1:14; Mark 16:6; John 10:36; Matthew 27:32–50; John 19:30; 1 John 1:7; Philippians 2:5–6; Titus 2:13; Revelation 17:14.
Qur’anic References
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Qur’an 4:157–158; Qur’an 4:171; Qur’an 17:111; Qur’an 19:22–25; Qur’an 19:35; Qur’an 61:6; Qur’an 3:59; Qur’an 3:32.
Secondary Sources
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Brown, Raymond E. The Death of the Messiah. Doubleday, 1994.
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Wright, N.T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Fortress Press, 2003.
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Cragg, Kenneth. Jesus and the Muslim: An Exploration. Oneworld Publications, 1999.
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Ibn Kathir. Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim.
📌 By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
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