They do blaspheme who say: “Allah is Christ the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.” Surah 5:72


While the Koran takes one stance against Jesus being God (or Allah), it gives a number of reasons elevating him to God.

They say: “Allah hath begotten a son” :Glory be to Him.-Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: everything renders worship to Him. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: When He decreeth a matter, He saith to it: “Be,” and it is. Surah 2:116-117

This statement from the Koran expresses these beliefs about Jesus:

• The Christians say Jesus is Allah’s son and he deserves glory.
• No..the Koran says, BUT... Everything in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus, everything must worship Jesus, Jesus is the beginning of all things, Jesus has the authority to say something will be and it will be.

Aren’t those qualities of Allah? Then, the Koran makes a claim about Jesus as the leader of the Hour of Doom.

And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way. . .When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: “Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me. “For Allah, He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way.” Surah 43:61, 63-64

Is Jesus just a man or the Commander of the heavenly armies? A simple man or the bringer of Clear Signs? An ordinary prophet or the giver of wisdom? Just another guy or one to be obeyed?

It is these verses in the Koran that are the most interesting when it comes to Jesus.

42 And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah hath chosen thee and made thee pure, and hath preferred thee above (all) the women of creation. 43 O Mary! Be obedient to thy Lord, prostrate thyself and bow with those who bow (in worship). 44 This is of the tidings of things hidden. We reveal it unto thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they threw their pens (to know) which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor wast thou present with them when they quarrelled (thereupon). 45 (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). 46 He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. 47 She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me ? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. 48 And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. . . 49 And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah’s leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah’s leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are to be believers. 50 And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. 51 Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path. 52 But when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah’s helpers. We believe in Allah, and bear thou witness that we have surrendered (unto Him). 53 Our Lord! We believe in that which Thou hast revealed and we follow him whom Thou hast sent. Enrol us among those who witness (to the truth). 54 And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers. 55 (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. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ. Surah 3:42-55 (this is found again in Surah 5:110-112)

This section in the Koran makes these claims about Jesus:

• Mary was chosen to give birth to Jesus.
• Jesus is the Messiah.
• Jesus is illustrious (or worthy to be honored).
• Jesus is nearest or closest to Allah.
• Jesus will speak to mankind.
• Jesus will teach wisdom from the Torah and the Gospel.
• Jesus has the power of creation.
• Jesus will have the power to heal blindness and leprosy.
• Jesus will have the power to raise the dead.
• Jesus comes as a fulfillment of prophecy in the Torah.
• Many disciples followed him.
• Unbelievers during Jesus’ time schemed against him.
• Jesus ascended to be with Allah.
• Those that followed Jesus are elevated on the Day of Resurrection.

All of these statements from Surah 3 complement all of the reasons Christians believe Jesus is God. The Koran certainly seems to elevate Jesus higher than a prophet.


And behold! Allah will say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah’?” He will say: “Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. “Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, ‘worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord’; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things. Surah 5:116-117

The Koran gives ample evidence and makes bold statements to Jesus’ incredible power and stature, yet it refuses to call him Allah.

This is a great article that speaks about how the apostle John addressed this question to people of his time that refused to believe that God would join himself to a woman and have a son.
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/forty-year-old-light-on-how-to-translate-son-of-god-for-muslims