The Words and Actions of Jesus in the Quran

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RJM

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... Jesus ... is ... mentioned in the Quran in 93 verses with various titles attached such as "Son of Mary", "Spirit of God", and the "Word of God", and other relational titles, mentioned directly and indirectly, over 187 times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam

This is a lot.
Can anyone provide a list of the words and actions of Jesus in the Quran?

For instance he is said to have spoken from the cradle:

He said, I am God's servant; He has given me the Book, and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has enjoined on me the Worship and Alms, so long as I live; and to be dutiful to my mother; and has not made me oppressive, impious. Peace is on me the day I was born, the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised alive.

I have found also these two passages directly relating words and actions of Jesus from the Quran itself. Is there more?

(3:49)
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.

(5:112-118)
[And remember] when the disciples said, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven? [Jesus] said," Fear Allah , if you should be believers."

They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses."

Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allah , our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."

Allah said, "Indeed, I will sent it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds."

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.

If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

https://legacy.quran.com/

 
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I've found three more:

3:50 (I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.

3:52 When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: “Who will be My helpers to (the work of) Allah?”

43:63 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.”
 
The quotes below are taken from hadith, not the Quran itself. Are there more? I will keep looking:

This world is a bridge, pass it and don't get attached.
(Sheikh al-Mufid, Al-Amali, p.43)

Everyone is after the reward [that comes at the end], and no one will get it except through hard work.
(Mizan al-Hikma, hadith no. 22083)

Good for the ones who pray at the heart of the night; those are the ones who will inherit a lasting light.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.510)

A tree is perfected only through giving fruit, as faithfulness is only accomplished through avoiding what is forbidden (Haram).
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.511)

Be careful about what you are looking at since the mere act of looking [at something inappropriate] will put the seed of desire in your heart, which would later turn into a disaster.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.502)

Good for the ones who make amends among people; those are the most cherished on the Day of Judgement.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.501)

O' servants of the world! You are like a lamp that gives light to people and burns itself instead.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500324)

As you present modesty and humbleness among people in public, be modest and humble with regard to God in private.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500325)

Verily, planting is only possible on arable land, not a barren one. Similarly, wisdom only grows in a humble and ready heart, not an arrogant and prejudiced one.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500332)

Everyone looks upon the stars, but none finds his/her way using them, except the one who knows their places and how they work. Similarly, you will learn wisdom, but only the one who practices wisdom will be guided.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500336.)

Any offensive and inappropriate word that you say today will be responded later on the Day of Judgement.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500341)

Water puts the fire out, just as patience calms anger down.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500347)

Water and soil are the determining factors for a good harvest, just as knowledge and manner are the keys to perfect faith.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, Hadith no.500350)

The one who is only after this world is like a person drinking seawater; the more he drinks, the more he gets thirsty and finally will bring him death.
(Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.149)

Jesus Christ (PBUH) said to the apostles: "As much as you get tired in this world, you will rest in the other world, and as much as you rest in this world, you'll get exhausted on the world that is to come."
(Ismaiil Jawuhari Farabi, Al-Sahah, vol.1, p.225)

Beware that the root of all evil lies in loving this world extremely.
(Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.129)

Loving this world and striving for the other world cannot come together in a believer's heart, as water and fire cannot be put together on a plate.
(Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.131)

If you want to be among God's friends and chosen ones, be kind to the one who does you wrong, and forgive the one who has done you an injustice, and greet the one who turns his face from you.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.503)

Whoever knows and brings what he knows into practice and teaches others, is considered a magnificent person in Allah's regard.
(Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.82)

The most wretched among you is the one who is only known by his/her knowledge, not his/her deeds.
(Bihar al-Anvar, vol.2, p.52)

https://salamislam.com/articles/lifestyle/20-inspiring-jesus-christ-pbuh-quotes
 
From the Quran:

“…and the Messiah said: O Children of Israel! Serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust.”
[5:72]

The following sayings of Jesus are from unattributed Hadith


Verily, when Jesus the son of Mary, passed along the shore of a sea, he threw a piece of his bread into the water.
Then some of the disciples said: ‘O Spirit of God and His Word! Why did you do this when that was your food?’
He said: ‘I did this in order that some animal among the animals of the sea may eat it, and the reward of God for this is great.'

Then he [Prophet Jesus] stood up and washed their feet. They said, ‘It would have been more proper for us to have done this, O Spirit of God!’

Then he said, ‘Verily, it is more fitting for one with knowledge to serve the people. Indeed, I humbled myself only so that you may humble yourselves among the people after me, even as I have humbled myself among you.’

Then Jesus said: ‘Wisdom is developed by humility, not by pride, and likewise plants only grow in soft soil, not in stone.'”

The disciples complained to Jesus, the son of Mary about the disrespect of the people for them and their hating of them.
He said, ‘Be patient. Likewise, the believers are hated among the people. The example of them is like the example of wheat. How sweet is its taste and how numerous are its enemies.'”

Jesus said, ‘Better than you are those who work with their hands and eat from what they earn.’ After that the disciples washed clothes by the stream and ate from their wages for it.”

Jesus, the son of Mary, passed by a group of people who were crying. He asked why they were crying. It was said to him that they were crying for their sins.
He said, ‘You should pray about them and you will be forgiven.'”

The Apostles said to Jesus, ‘O Spirit of God! With whom should we keep company?’
He said: ‘He the sight of whom reminds you of God, the speech of whom increases your knowledge, and the works of whom make you desirous of the other world.'”

’O Children of Israel! Do not be excessive in eating, for those who are excessive in eating are excessive in sleeping; those who are excessive in sleeping are deficient in praying; of those who are deficient in praying, it is written that they are negligent.'

’Mind your tongue to reform your heart, be satisfied with your house, beware of pretentiousness and excess, be ashamed before your Lord, cry over your mistakes, and escape from people as you would run from the lion or viper, [for] they were medicine but today, they have become illness. Then, encounter God when you will.’

’Do not take the world as a master, for it will take you as its servants. Keep your treasure with One who will not squander it. The owners of the treasures of this world fear for its ruin, but he who owns the treasure of God does not fear for its ruin.’


https://themuslimvibe.com/featured/10-wise-sayings-of-jesus-son-of-mary
 
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RJM Corbet said:
Loving this world and striving for the other world cannot come together in a believer's heart, as water and fire cannot be put together on a plate.
(Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.131)
Click to expand...
..indeed, love of this world distracts us from true success. We all need wealth, but making it the focus of our lives destroys us.
It makes us mean and turns us away from the remembrance of God.
"Surely, in the remembrance of God, hearts find rest. i.e. satisfaction and happiness."

RJM Corbet said:
If you want to be among God's friends and chosen ones, be kind to the one who does you wrong, and forgive the one who has done you an injustice, and greet the one who turns his face from you.
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p.503)
Click to expand...
Yes .. bitterness destroys our hearts, and affects our social relationships.
""Do not become angry .. Do not become angry .. Do not become angry"

RJM Corbet said:
The most wretched among you is the one who is only known by his/her knowledge, not his/her deeds.
(Bihar al-Anvar, vol.2, p.52)
Click to expand...
..so true.
Those who have knowledge and hide it to gain this worldly life will not achieve success.

We have from the "oft-repeated-verses" i.e. Surah Fatihah, which is the first Surah in the Qur'an, and recited in EVERY ritual prayer
[ much like the Lord's Prayer in Christian worship ] :-

..show us the straight path,
the path that you have blessed [ that pleases God ],
and NOT the path of those who incur your anger [ path of the wretched ]..

The latter is understood to be those that behave like "know it alls" and don't care about others.

Thankyou for your post :)
 
However, regarding the 'hadith' Jesus quotes, I think I can find the same placating sort of words and sayings from many other Kahlil Gibran type seer/gurus. To me they lack the power and levels and depths of Christ's gospel parables.

Am not convinced. Am I allowed to say that?

Does anyone have any more? What about the actions of Jesus?
 
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Regarding the quotations from the Quran proper, they all seem to say: "I'm not God. Allah alone is God." As do all the other references to Jesus in the Quran. Jesus voice seems only ever to speak in order to assure readers that Allah alone is God.

Is this subject even allowed to be discussed? Is this all there is to the Jesus of the Quran?

I apologise if these questions cause offence. That is surely not their purpose. But from this Jesus of the Quran I personally seem able to draw no light or inspiration, or wisdom, or love -- only the repeated assurance that He is subservient to Allah.

What am I missing? Am here to learn, and eager to debate
 
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RJM Corbet said:
Is this subject even allowed to be discussed? Is this all there is to the Jesus of the Quran?
Click to expand...

We can discuss what we like..
It's not just about Jesus .. NO man or prophet is God. Orthodox Jews understand this in exactly the same way.
It is hard for a Muslim or a Jew to accept a "Divine Jesus". It is a major contradiction.

However, it is easy to see how Christianity evolved amongst former polytheists / idolaters.
The Qur'an also confirms several miracles that Jesus performed.

RJM Corbet said:
..from this Jesus of the Quran I personally seem able to draw no light or inspiration, or wisdom, or love -- only the repeated assurance that He is subservient to Allah.
Click to expand...

That's not surprising. Religious knowledge comes from ALL scripture. It is not just about Jesus, but ALL the prophets.
Muhammad SAW, of course being the most recent.

RJM Corbet said:
What am I missing? Am here to learn, and eager to debate
Click to expand...

I don't know what you are missing.
You probably have reservations about the Qur'an due to possible misunderstandings about
"an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" v "turn the other cheek", for example.

The truth is that they both apply.
We can see that when studying the 99 names of Allah eg. the Most Merciful, the Strict in Punishment
 
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Yes. I understand. Christ was always subservient to his Father in the gospels. It is a new discussion -- the understanding of Christ as the natural expression of God as Man, in the sense that God is not a Person -- so of course God does not have sons and wives and daughters in the natural human level of expressing and understanding these things.

These issues are understood and up for debate.

But the issue is that the Jesus of the Quran seems to serve only to assure the reader that He is not Allah. What else does He do or say?

What else does Jesus do or say in the Quran? Does he comfort, or love, or uplift?

I seem unable to find illumination or wisdom or anything else from the Jesus of the Quran except the repeat assurance that He is not Allah.

Would it be true to say that the Quran Jesus assumes a reasonable knowledge of the gospel Jesus, to whom it references? These are not intended as trick questions.

I have not thought this through deeply, and it will be my last response for tonight. But where in the Jesus of the Quran does anyone find Jesus?
 
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RJM Corbet said:
Yes. I understand. Christ was always subservient to his Father in the gospels.

It is a new discussion -- the understanding of Christ as the natural expression of God as Man, in the sense that God is not a Person -- so of course God does not have sons and wives and daughters in the natural human level of expressing and understanding these things.

These issues are understood and up for debate.
Click to expand...

..as they were back in the day :)

RJM Corbet said:
What else does He do or say?
Click to expand...

As I say, several miracles were performed.
This suggests to me, that the ones not mentioned are also true.

RJM Corbet said:
Would it be true to say that the Quran Jesus assumes a reasonable knowledge by the reader of the gospel Jesus, to whom it references?
Click to expand...

Certainly. Just as Jesus was sent to reform his community [ in his lifetime, many Jews followed him ],
Muhammad came to correct HIS community.

Both Jesus and Muhammad eventually inspired people world-wide.
It was decreed. It is about the nature of the world in the last 2 millenia.
 
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I said:
Would it be true to say that the Quran Jesus assumes a reasonable knowledge of the gospel Jesus, to whom it references?
Click to expand...
muhammad_isa said:
Certainly. Just as Jesus was sent to reform his community [ in his lifetime, many Jews followed him ],
Muhammad came to correct HIS community.
Click to expand...
I believe Muslims are encouraged not to read the gospels? The Quran mentions Jesus 187 times, yet there is virtually nothing of the parables and actions and personality of the gospel Jesus in the Quran? Jesus seems to say and do little else in the Quran except to speak assurances that He is not Allah?

I am not trying to be difficult. This is an exploration, for me.
 
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For miracles of Jesus in Islam:
https://www.interfaith.org/community/threads/19808/

RJM Corbet said:
Miracles of Jesus in the Quran

The Quran attributes at least six miracles to Jesus, with many more being added over the centuries by writers and historians … These six miracles in the Quran are without detail unlike the Gospel and their non-canonical Gnostic sources, which include details and mention other attributed miracles. Over the centuries, these six miracle narratives have been elaborated through Hadith and poetry, with religious writings including some of the other miracles mentioned in the Gospel, non-canonical sources, and from lore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam

Speaking from the cradle
(3:41)
"He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous."

(19:29-34)
So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"
He said, I am God's servant; He has given me the Book, and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has enjoined on me the Worship and Alms, so long as I live; and to be dutiful to my mother; and has not made me oppressive, impious. Peace is on me the day I was born, the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised alive.
That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute.

Creating birds from clay
Healing the blind and the lepers
Raising the dead
(5:110)
[The Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic."

(3:49)
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.

Table of food from heaven
(5:112-115)
[And remember] when the disciples said, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven? [Jesus] said," Fear Allah , if you should be believers."
They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses."
Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allah , our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."
Allah said, "Indeed, I will sent it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds."

Prescience
Jesus was able to predict, or had foreknowledge, of what was hidden or unknown to others. One example is Jesus would answer correctly any and every question anyone asked him. Another example is Jesus knew what people had just eaten, as well as what they had stored in their homes.

Other miracles
Many stories and narratives have been developed over the years about Jesus, containing certain inherent lessons or providing meaning due to the lack of detail in the Quran regarding Jesus. Some of these narratives are similar in nature to the New Testament, while some portray Jesus in a very human manner.

Besides some detailed summaries of miracles of Jesus mentioned by Muslim writers over the centuries, from adulthood (like walking on water – also found in the Gospel – and causing loaves of bread to come from the ground), some other miracles from childhood include: explaining the Muslim creed fundamentals to a schoolmaster, revealing who the thieves were to a wealthy chief, filling empty jars of something to drink, providing food and wine for a tyrannical king while also proving to this king his power in raising a dead man from the dead, raising a child accidentally killed, and causing the garments from a single-coloured vat to come out with various colours.

Healing a royal official's son
Al-Tabari (d. 923) reports a story of an adult Jesus' encounter with a certain king in the region and the healing of his son. The identity of the king is not mentioned while legend suggests Philip the Tetrarch. The corresponding Bible reference is "the royal official's son".

Greed and truth-telling
A legendary story of a miracle by a young Jesus, used as a hard-learned lesson popularly found in Middle Eastern lore according to professor Ayoub, has to do with a Jewish man and loaves of bread. Although carrying a polemic tone, the lesson centres on greed with truth-telling woven into the narration. It is a story found often in children's books.

Inherent wisdom
Another legendary miracle story is one regarding Jesus' childhood wisdom. This legend, reported through al-Tabari from ibn Ishaq, talks about Mary sending Jesus to a religious school and the teacher being astonished to find Jesus already knowing the information being taught / discussed.

Food in children's homes
Another story from al-Tabari tells of a young Jesus playing with the youths of his village and telling them what food their parents were preparing for them at home.

According to the details of the narrative, some parents became annoyed and forbade their children to play with Jesus, suspecting he was a magician. As a result, the parents kept their children away from Jesus and gathered their children into a single house. One day, feeling lonely, Jesus went out looking for his friends, and coming upon this house he asked the parents where their children were. The parents lied, responding that the children were not there. After Jesus asks who, then, is in the house, the parents call Jesus a pig. Jesus then says "Let there be swine in this house", turning all the children into swine.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam)
Click to expand...
 
Most will not ever know the Gospel Jesus?
 
RJM Corbet said:
But it would be true to say that most Muslims will not ever read the New Testament?
Click to expand...

I don't know..
Would it be true to say that most Christians will not ever read the Qur'an? [ answer not required ]

People who are interested in spiritual matters will seek knowledge.
Almighty God guides whomsoever He wills.

Those who have religious knowledge are blessed.
As I've said before, it's not a competition.

Most Christians will say that "Jesus is the best" [ or only belief that is accepted ]
Most Muslims will say that "Muhammad is the best" [ only Islam accepted ]

However, "most people" are not scholars and grew up hearing this from their elders.
Allah says in the Qur'an that "no distinction is made between the prophets".

One-up-man-ship is not the point of piety.
As you probably know, a Jew or a Christian who embraces Islam gets "a double reward" according to hadith.
i.e. they revere both Moses / Jesus and Muhammad

I'm not claiming a double reward. I am very concerned that I'm heading for hell,
as my faith is being squashed by satan :(
..but you get my drift. I am not your "average Muslim".
 
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117 I spake unto them only that which Thou commandedst me, (saying): Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness of them while I dwelt among them, and when Thou tookest me Thou wast the Watcher over them. Thou art Witness over all things.
118 If Thou punish them, lo! they are Thy slaves, and if Thou forgive them (lo! they are Thy slaves). Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Mighty, the Wise.
-Al-Maida ( The table spread)

..so there you go..
Almighty God forgives whomsoever He wills and punishes whomsoever He wills.
Ignorance of "the law" is not a valid excuse. It is encumbant on us to seek knowledge.

Most people these days are negligent. We see that supermarkets and shopping centres are crowded,
while places of worship often have low attendance.

There's a good reason for climate-change.
The world won't change, unless the people change.
Paying lip-service to a religion is not enough.

Climate-change is a punishment from God.
By that, I don't mean Almighty God is directly causing it.
------> "God does not wrong anybody. It is mankind who wrong themselves."
 
RJM Corbet said:
It would be a very unjust Almighty God to treat you so, my brother
Click to expand...

I'm not without hope, but we all need deeds.
I live by myself, and covid has isolated me somewhat.

Like health, faith rises and falls.
The places of worship are beginning to function as normal, and we need to make effort
to attend as we did before the pandemic.

Good deeds increase our faith and lead us to more good deeds, God willing.
 
muhammad_isa said:
I'm not without hope, but we all need deeds.
I live by myself, and covid has isolated me somewhat.

Like health, faith rises and falls.
The places of worship are beginning to function as normal, and we need to make effort
to attend as we did before the pandemic.

Good deeds increase our faith and lead us to more good deeds, God willing.
Click to expand...
He knows your heart. That's all He sees brother
 
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