# Why does the Koran mention Jesus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413 "2007-01-25T15:23:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/1 "2007-01-25T15:23:50Z")
As I understand it, the Koran mentions Jesus as being a Prophet and nothing more. > [@](#): > > _O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary is only a messenger of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Mary and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His messengers, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one Allah; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector. „_ > > —Qur’an, 4:171 Why even mention Jesus? Is Jesus mentioned in the Koran just to say to Christians _“Hey, you guys are wrong, come to Islam, it’s the right way, the only way.”_ ? Or is there some other reason he is mentioned? I don’t know the Koran at all, so I’m curious as to why he’s mentioned at all. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/2 "2007-01-25T15:36:24Z")
Until the experts arrive, you might check out the Wikipedia entry on the Islamic view of Jesus. > **[Jesus in Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_view_of_Jesus)** > > In Islam, Jesus (Arabic: .mw-parser-output .script-arabic{font-family:"Scheherazade New",Lateef,LateefGR,"Noto Naskh Arabic","Noto Sans Arabic","Arabic Typesetting",Amiri,"Sakkal Majalla","Harmattan","SF Arabic","Arabic Transparent","Times New Roman",Arial,Parastoo,Calibri,"Segoe UI","Microsoft Sans Serif","Droid Arabic Naskh",serif,sans-serif;font-weight:normal}عيسى بن مريم, romanized: ʿĪsā ibn Maryam, lit. 'Jesus, son of Mary'), referred to by the Arabic rendering of his name Isa, is believed... > [@](#): > > Islam holds Jesus (Arabic: عيسى‎ `Īsā) to have been a messenger and a prophet of God and the Messiah (The concept of prophecy in Islam is broader than Judaism and Christianity since Muslims distinguish between “messengers” and “prophets”. Unlike prophets, messengers are assured of success. All messengers are prophets but not vice versa). According to the Qur’an, Jesus was one of God’s (Arabic Allah) most beloved messengers, a precursor to Muhammad, and was sent to guide the Children of Israel. The Qur’an contains many references to Jesus, as do the “Hadith”–sayings of Mohammed. Jesus is greatly revered in Islam. Muslims just don’t think he’s God. Edited to add: Muslims don’t think that _anyone_ is God except for God. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/3 "2007-01-25T15:45:00Z")
The Qur’an mentions **Moses** much more often than any other prophet – how come no one notices that? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/4 "2007-01-25T15:52:05Z")
It sounds similar to the references to Moses and Elias in the story of the Transfiguration: to show that the new revelation is based on the old. > [@Mark](#): > > 2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. > > 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. > > 4 And there appeared unto them **Elias** with **Moses** : and they were talking with Jesus. > > 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for **Moses** , and one for **Elias**. > > 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. > > 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. > > 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/5 "2007-01-25T16:02:18Z")
Just as Christianity is based on Judaism coupled with a new revelation, Islam is based on Judaism + Christianity together with the new revelation of Muhammed. Christians revere the Old Testament, but do not follow everything in it; the New Testament prevails. Likewise Muslims revere the Old and New Testaments, but do not accept everything in them; the Koran prevails. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/6 "2007-01-25T16:02:35Z")
Because Islam reveres Muhammed as the prophet with the true vision while Jesus was a good prophet, but not the guy with the real story. Same God, different paths to Him. They don’t, of course, accept the notion of Trinity. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/7 "2007-01-25T16:40:52Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Because Islam reveres Muhammed as the prophet with the true vision while Jesus was a good prophet, but not the guy with the real story. [/QUOTE] More they both had the real story, but poor Jesus had his corrupted by overzealous followers. In the Muslim view it took Muhammed to finally get it through us poor mortals’ thick heads what the REAL truth was, but it was largely what the other prophets had supposedly been saying all along. For example they think the ‘error’ of Jesus’ divinity was a corruption introduced by Paul. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/8 "2007-01-25T16:55:59Z")
I suspect that the Koran (which was written AFTER Muhammed) story had a lot to do with the fact that Islam was proselytizing to Nestorian Christians. He (muhammed)couldn’t out-and-out say that Christianity was totally wrong-he had to justify his own beliefs (which had nothing to do with the Christian bible). in a way, Muhammed was like Joe Smith (Mormon), who, having invented a new religion, strove for ways to make his revelation palatable to believers. Oddly enough, I know a lot of muslims who celebrate Christmas, and revere Mary (the mother of Jesus). this would seem to be idolatry to a fanatical muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/9 "2007-01-25T17:06:00Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Because Islam reveres Muhammed as the prophet with the true vision while Jesus was a good prophet, but not the guy with the real story. Same God, different paths to Him. They don’t, of course, accept the notion of Trinity. [/QUOTE] Actually, Islam holds that all the prophets had the real story. It’s just that the stories as retold in the Old & New Testaments didn’t get recorded/passed down correctly. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/10 "2007-01-25T17:29:48Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Likewise Muslims revere the Old and New Testaments, but do not accept everything in them; the Koran prevails. [/QUOTE] Slight hijack – does this mean that one can go to a bookstore and purchase Christian Bibles throughout much of the Muslim world (excepting perhaps the most hardline of areas)? Can the Bible be readily studied in universities (I’d guess “yes”)? Might a devout Muslim have a copy of the “revered” Bible in their homes next to their Korans? ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/11 "2007-01-25T22:04:44Z")
I don’t know this first hand, but I’ve heard from Arab-American friends and colleagues that it is common in Middle East homes to have religious verses framed on the wall and the owner not to know whether the quote comes from the Koran or the Bible or the Torah. The Koran does more than mention Jesus. Jesus is the central figure in at least two little stories. In one he supposedly discovers a murderer and in the other he makes a bird out of clay and brings it to life. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/12 "2007-01-26T01:46:45Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] Actually, Islam holds that all the prophets had the real story. It’s just that the stories as retold in the Old & New Testaments didn’t get recorded/passed down correctly. [/QUOTE] Is this why the Koran cannot (should not) be translated? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/13 "2007-01-26T01:53:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] Is this why the Koran cannot (should not) be translated? [/QUOTE] Yes, but it’s not so much that it _shouldn’t_ be translated. Most Muslims welcome careful translations as a way of bringing the Koran to more people, and many Muslims themselves can’t read Arabic (although they are supposed to learn). So translations are acceptable, but once translated, it is no longer The Holy Qur’an. But still better than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/14 "2007-01-26T02:37:19Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I suspect that the Koran (which was written AFTER Muhammed) story had a lot to do with the fact that Islam was proselytizing to Nestorian Christians. [/quote] Got a cite for them being Nestorian in the Arabian peninsula? The biggest community of Christians in Arabia was at Najran, near Yemen. I don’t think they were Nestorian, but I haven’t found which sort of Christian they were. Maybe it’s lost to history. The [Ghassanid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanids) Christians of northern Arabia and southern Syria (though of Yemeni origin) were Monophysite, which is different. > [@](#): > > Oddly enough, I know a lot of muslims who celebrate Christmas, and revere Mary (the mother of Jesus). this would seem to be idolatry to a fanatical muslim. Mary is a highly revered figured in the Middle East, especially among Turks because of the tradition that she lived in Ephesus. The ancestors of the Muslims there were once Christians, and before that they were Goddess worshipers, particularly at Ephesus whose Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Artemis is known in Greek mythology as the maiden huntress, but she came from Anatolian origins as a mother goddess. It’s hard to tell for sure exactly which sort of Christianity was practiced in Arabia at the time of Muhammad, but chances are it was some local variant. The Qur’an says that Christians worshiped Mary as a goddess (5:116). I don’t know any Christians who would cop to that (well, maybe a few feminist nuns I’ve met…) The Qur’an has a whole chapter named for Mary, surah 19 (_Maryam_). It tells the story of the Annunciation and Nativity in a tender and touching way. She is much more popular and revered among Muslims, in a quiet way, than any other figure apart from the central figures of Muhammad and his family. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/15 "2007-01-26T07:40:26Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > Yes, but it’s not so much that it shouldn’t be translated. Most Muslims welcome careful translations as a way of bringing the Koran to more people, and many Muslims themselves can’t read Arabic (although they are supposed to learn). So translations are acceptable, but once translated, it is no longer The Holy Qur’an. But still better than nothing. This makes a lot of sense to me. I mean, I think fundamentalism is kind of inherently flawed, but if you’re going to be a fundamentalist, at least do it from the original darn text. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/16 "2007-01-26T07:57:38Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] Actually, Islam holds that all the prophets had the real story. It’s just that the stories as retold in the Old & New Testaments didn’t get recorded/passed down correctly. [/QUOTE] Sorry - too much shorthand. By Jesus not having ‘the real story’, I mean in terms of him not (in the eyes of Islam) actually being any version of deity. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-koran-mention-jesus/389413/17 "2007-01-26T13:50:12Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree] The Koran does more than mention Jesus. Jesus is the central figure in at least two little stories. In one he supposedly discovers a murderer and in the other he makes a bird out of clay and brings it to life. [/QUOTE] That’s sort of interesting, since the clay bird story was one specifically rejected as canon by the early (Christian) church and left to moulder in the apocrypha.