Is Jesus Greater than Muhammad?

Many are unaware that the Qur’an mentions Jesus in several of its Surahs. For example, Surah 3:45 says “(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).”

The Qur’an mentions Muhammad as too. For example Surah 38:1-2 says “The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise. Lo! We have revealed the Scripture unto thee (Muhammad) with truth; so worship Allah, making religion pure for Him (only).”

The Supremacy of Jesus

The Qur’an is complementary toward Jesus, but how do the Surahs about Jesus compare with similar Surahs about Muhammad? Do the Surahs about Jesus indicate his supremacy over Muhammad? Let’s compare a few Surahs about Jesus and Muhammad.

Jesus is Born of a virgin but Muhammad is mortal

• Jesus: She [Mary] said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste? He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained. Surah 19:20-21

• Muhammad: Say (unto them O Muhammad): I am only a mortal like you. Surah 41:6

Jesus could speak from birth

• Jesus: Then she brought him (Jesus) to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him [Jesus]. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? He [Jesus] spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Surah 19:27-32

• Jesus: When Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favour unto thee and unto thy mother; how I strengthened thee with the holy Spirit, so that thou spakest unto mankind in the cradle as in maturity; Surah 5:110

Jesus heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, resuscitates the dead, and creates

• Jesus: … and how I taught thee the Scripture and Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and how thou didst shape of clay as it were the likeness of a bird by My permission, and didst blow upon it and it was a bird by My permission, and thou didst heal him who was born blind and the leper by My permission; and how thou didst raise the dead by My permission; and how I restrained the Children of Israel from (harming) thee when thou camest unto them with clear proofs, and those of them who disbelieved exclaimed: This is naught else than mere magic; Surah 5:110

Jesus is faultless and righteous but Muhammad must be forgiven

• Jesus: And remember when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. Surah 3:45-46

• Jesus: She [Mary] said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art Allah-fearing. He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son [Jesus]. Surah 19:18-19

• Muhammad: Then have patience (O Muhammad). Lo! the promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness of thy sin, and hymn the praise of thy Lord at fall of night and in the early hours. Surah 40:55

• Muhammad: So know (O Muhammad) that there is no Allah save Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy sin and for believing men and believing women. Allah knoweth (both) your place of turmoil and your place of rest. Surah 47:19

• Muhammad: “Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory, That Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come, and may perfect His favor unto thee, and may guide thee on a right path. Surah 48:1-2

Those who follow Jesus are above those who disbelieve

• Jesus: (And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. As for those who disbelieve I shall chastise them with a heavy chastisement in the world and the Hereafter; and they will have no helpers. And as for those who believe and do good works, He will pay them their wages in full. Allah loveth not wrong-doers. This (which) We recite unto thee is a revelation and a wise reminder. Surah 3:55-58

Even the Titles for Jesus in the Qur’an Seem to Indicate his Supremacy

The Messiah (Al-Masih): Jesus is given this title eleven times in the Qur’an. Surahs 3:45, 4:157, 4:171, 4:172, 5:17, 5:72, 5:75; 9:30, 9:31

The Word of God (Kalimatullah): Jesus is also called “His Word” in Surah 4:171, meaning the Word of God. In Surah 3:45 we also read that the angels said to Mary “Allah giveth thee glad tidings of “a word from Him”, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary”. More than once in the Qur’an, therefore, Jesus is called God’s Word.

A Spirit From God (Ruhullah): Jesus is called a “spirit from Him” Surah 4:171 and 58:22. Very significantly Yusuf Ali, commenting on this latter verse in his translation of the Qur’an states that here the “phrase used is stronger” than that for the Holy Spirit (Ruhul Quds). He implies that the Spirit from God is greater than the Holy Spirit and says that it is “the divine Spirit, which we can no more define adequately than we can define in human language the nature and attributes of God”.

Jesus is Supreme and the Only Way to God

Jesus is unique. The Bible was written over a period of 1400 years and yet the single thread that runs from Genesis to Revelation is Jesus, the savior of the world. Only in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus can man be saved.  The Bible records these words of Jesus in John 14:6 : “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.  Acts 4:12 adds “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  It is undeniable that all people experience sin. Only Christianity recognizes that man is depraved and in need of a savior. Only Christianity recognizes the savior that God sent to save people from the condemnation due them because of sin.

What will you do with Jesus? Will you recognize that he alone lived the life that you should have lived and died the death that you should have died? He alone provides a way of escape from the condemnation of your sin. Everyone must decide what to do with Jesus. Have you?