Yes, Jesus is in the Quran. He is called Isa, son of Mary, and the Quran honours him as one of the greatest prophets, the Messiah, born miraculously to the virgin Mary and given the power to perform miracles by God's permission. At the same time, the Quran teaches that Jesus was a human messenger rather than God or the son of God, and that he was not crucified but raised up to God.
This guide walks through the main verses about Jesus in the Quran and notes clearly where Islamic and Christian beliefs agree and differ.
Key takeaways
- Jesus (Isa) is named around 25 times in the Quran and is given the title al-Masih, the Messiah.
- The Quran affirms the virgin birth of Jesus and describes it in detail in Surah Maryam (chapter 19) and Surah Ali Imran (chapter 3).
- The Quran lists miracles of Jesus, including speaking as a baby, healing the blind and lepers and raising the dead, all "by permission of Allah."
- The Quran states that Jesus was not killed or crucified and that God raised him to Himself (4:157–158).
- Muslims believe Jesus will return before the end of time, based on hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Who is Jesus in the Quran? Isa in Islam
In Islam, Jesus is known as Isa ibn Maryam, Jesus son of Mary. The Quran consistently links him to his mother, and Mary is the only woman named in the Quran, with a whole chapter, Surah Maryam, named after her. You can read more about her in our article on Mary in the Quran.
The Quran calls Jesus the Messiah, a messenger, a prophet, a "word" from God and a spirit from Him. Believing in him as a prophet is a required part of Islamic faith, and Muslims add "peace be upon him" after his name.
[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah].
"Allah" here is the Arabic word for God, the same word Arab Christians use.
The birth of Jesus in the Quran
The Quran's fullest account of the birth of Jesus is in Quran 19:16–36. Mary withdraws from her family, and the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appears to her in the form of a man. When he tells her she will have a son, she asks how this could be:
She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' "
The Quran then describes Mary giving birth alone beneath a palm tree, where she is comforted with a stream of water and fresh dates. This scene is not found in the New Testament Gospels.
To explain how a child could be born without a father, the Quran compares Jesus to Adam, who had neither father nor mother:
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.
The miracles of Jesus in the Quran
The Quran describes several miracles of Jesus. His first was speaking as a newborn in the cradle to defend his mother's honour. His words are among the best-known verses about Jesus in the Quran:
[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive."
Other miracles are listed in his own words in Surah Ali Imran:
And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead - by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.
The same miracles are repeated in Quran 5:110, which adds that God "supported you with the Pure Spirit," understood by most scholars to be Jibril. In Quran 5:112–115, the disciples ask for a table spread with food to come down from heaven, which gives the fifth chapter its name, al-Maidah.
The repeated phrase "by permission of Allah" is important. In the Islamic view, the miracles show God's power working through Jesus, not that Jesus is divine himself.
What does the Quran say about the crucifixion of Jesus?
This is the clearest point of difference between Islam and Christianity. The Quran states:
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
The mainstream Muslim understanding, explained by Ibn Kathir and most classical scholars, is that Jesus was not crucified at all. Someone else was made to look like him, and God raised Jesus bodily and alive to heaven. Scholars have discussed who that person was, and a small number of interpreters have offered other readings, but the denial of the crucifixion itself is the shared Muslim position.
For Christians, the crucifixion and resurrection are at the centre of faith, so this is a difference both sides can acknowledge honestly and respectfully.
Is Jesus God in the Quran?
The Quran teaches that Jesus was a human servant of God, not God or the son of God. It describes a conversation on the Day of Judgement in which Jesus denies ever asking to be worshipped:
And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
The Quran's view of God is summed up in Surah al-Ikhlas: "He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent" (Quran 112:3–4). Quran 4:171 also asks the People of the Scripture not to say "Three," meaning the Trinity.
Christians understand Jesus as the divine Son within the Trinity, so this is a real theological difference. The Quran still invites Muslims to speak to Christians and Jews "in a way that is best," and our guide to Christians and Jews in the Quran explores that relationship.
The return of Jesus in the Quran and hadith
Muslims believe that Jesus, having been raised alive, will return to earth before the Day of Judgement. The Quran hints at this, and many scholars read these verses as referring to his second coming:
And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.
Quran 4:159 adds that the People of the Scripture will believe in him "before his death," which many commentators understand as before Jesus' own death after his return. The details come from authentic hadith. In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad said that the son of Mary will descend as a just judge, and narrations in Sahih Muslim describe him defeating the false messiah (al-Dajjal). Muslims believe he will then live out his life and die naturally.
The message of Jesus: the Gospel
The Quran says God gave Jesus a scripture called the Injil, the Gospel, "in which was guidance and light" (Quran 5:46). Muslims understand it as the revelation given to Jesus, not exactly the four New Testament Gospels. The Quran also says Jesus foretold a messenger to come after him named Ahmad, a name of Muhammad (Quran 61:6). For a broader comparison of the two scriptures, see Quran vs Bible.
Read the story of Jesus on Quran Universe
To read the story of Jesus in the Quran in full, open Surah Maryam from verse 16 on Quran Universe. Each verse has the Arabic, the Sahih International translation, word-by-word meanings, a short verse card and Tafsir Ibn Kathir, which explains how classical scholars understood these passages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jesus mentioned in the Quran?
Yes. Jesus, called Isa in Arabic, is named around 25 times in the Quran and is honoured as one of the greatest prophets. The Quran describes his virgin birth, his miracles and his message, and believing in him as a prophet is part of Muslim faith.
What does the Quran say about Jesus?
The Quran says Jesus is the Messiah, son of the virgin Mary, and a prophet who performed miracles by God's permission. It teaches that he was a human servant of God, not God himself, and that he was not crucified but raised to God (4:157–158).
Does the Quran say Jesus was crucified?
No. The Quran states that "they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them" (4:157). The mainstream Muslim view is that God raised Jesus alive to Himself, which differs from the Christian belief in his crucifixion and resurrection.
What miracles of Jesus are in the Quran?
The Quran mentions Jesus speaking as a baby in the cradle, shaping a bird from clay that came to life, healing the blind and lepers, raising the dead and knowing what people ate and stored in their homes. It also tells of a table of food sent down from heaven at his request. Each miracle happened "by permission of Allah."
What is Jesus called in Islam?
In Islam, Jesus is called Isa ibn Maryam, meaning Jesus son of Mary. The Quran also calls him al-Masih (the Messiah), a messenger, a prophet, a word from God and a spirit from Him. Muslims often say "peace be upon him" after his name.
Do Muslims believe Jesus will return?
Yes. Based on Quran 43:61 and authentic hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Muslims believe Jesus will descend before the Day of Judgement. He will rule with justice and defeat the false messiah, the Dajjal, and later die a natural death.