Christmas - Muslims honour Jesus and Mary, but differently...

Christmas - Muslims honour Jesus and Mary, but differently (A follow-up to my previous post on the Christmas Dilemma for Muslims.)

There is a common misconception that Muslims reject Jesus or Mary. In fact, the opposite is true. Both hold an honoured and deeply respected place in Islam, but in a way that differs from Christian belief.

Here are the key points:

1️⃣ Muslims believe in Jesus (ʿĪsā) as a great Prophet of God. He was chosen, honoured, and sent with revelation, the Injīl (Gospel). Muslims accept his miracles, his message, and his virtue.

2️⃣ Muslims do not believe Jesus is God, the Son of God, or part of a Trinity.
Attributing divinity to any human being contradicts the central Islamic belief of Tawḥīd, the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God.

3️⃣ Muslims believe Maryam (Mary) is one of the most honoured women in human history. The Quran dedicates an entire chapter to her (Sūrah Maryam). She is described as pure, devout, and chosen above all other women.

4️⃣ Muslims believe in the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus. Jesus was born without a father, by God’s command, just as Adam was created without a mother or father. There was no Joseph or anyone who helped Maryam during the birth of Jesus, except God.

5️⃣ Jesus lived a life of piety and purity, calling people to the oneness of God. He performed many miracles through God’s permission, including giving sight to the blind, healing the sick, and bringing the dead back to life, all by God’s will.

6️⃣ Muslims believe Jesus taught pure monotheism. His message, like the message of all Prophets, was to call people to worship the One God alone.

7️⃣ Muslims believe Jesus was not crucified. He was raised up to the heavens by God.

8️⃣ Muslims believe Jesus will return before the end of time. His second coming is a core Islamic belief. He will return as a follower of the final Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), restore justice, defeat the false messiah, and reaffirm the oneness of God.

So what does this mean today?

Muslims love, honour, and revere Jesus and Mary, but not in a divine or semi-divine sense. Jesus is a sign of God’s power and mercy. His birth, message, and miracles point to the greatness of God, never to Jesus’ own divinity.

This difference is why Muslims cannot celebrate Christmas as the birth of a divine figure, even though they fully respect the figures at the centre of the story.

Understanding these nuances helps build respectful, informed, and meaningful interfaith relationships.

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