The Islamic Jesus and Muhammad

Jesus and Mary in Islamic art

According to Muslim tradition, when Muhammad was 40 years old, he was spoken to by an angel and this made him a prophet.  For the next 23 years of his life, he would receive more of the Quran until he had received it all.  If one were to talk to Muhammad when he was 30, he would not have claimed to be a prophet of God.  What made him a prophet?  The Quran.

The story about Jesus in the Quran is somewhat similar.  Surah 19 in the Quran tells the story of Mary and Jesus.  Shortly after Jesus is born, Mary brings him to her people and in Surah 19:30-31 we read:

He said, “I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture, and made me a prophet.  And has made me blessed wherever I may be; and has enjoined on me prayer and charity, so long as I live.

Jesus goes on to speak but this part is where I want to focus.  Muhammad became at a prophet at age 40 because that is when he received the Quran.  Jesus Christ became a prophet literally days after he was born as he had already received his Scripture.  It makes one wonder why Allah didn’t make Muhammad a prophet as a baby?  Now, Jesus had a 33 year prophetic career which was 10 years more than Muhammad’s career; unless of course Muslims want to dispute how old Jesus was when he left the scene(some vague language both Muslims and Christians can agree upon).

We can reasonably assume that the Injeel that Jesus received was just as important to his message than the Quran was to Muhammad’s.  Jesus is an active prophet for 33 years and what does he have to show for it?  Well, absolutely nothing.  There was no indication of the existence of the Injeel during the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth century.  It would be different if it was at least referenced in the first century.  I understand that it’s lost, just as most books in antiquity are lost but it should at least be mentioned.  The book of Chronicles mentions several contemporary books that we no longer have.  They’re at least mentioned.  Jesus Christ never mentions the injeel.

In Surah 5:68, we read:

Say, “O People of the Scripture! You have no basis until you uphold the Torah, and the Gospel, and what is revealed to you from your Lord.” But what is revealed to you from your Lord will increase many of them in rebellion and disbelief, so do not be sorry for the disbelieving people.

Islamic apologist Faiz responded to this in a response to me.  He said:

He can “uphold” the real Torah and Gospel by following the Quran, which confirms those previous scriptures and also supersedes them.  How does it “confirm” them?  By upholding pure monotheism and submission to God.   

Interesting.  This isn’t what the Quran says.  Faiz says that the Quran supersedes the previous revelation but Faiz seems to be superseding the Quran.  Obviously the Christians and Jews who heard this verse for the first time, would have thought one of two things.

1. We have never heard of those documents.
2. We’re told by this man to follow our Scripture which we already possess.

Thirty three years of preaching the Injeel and no one heard of it until the Quran brings it up and ironically says we have no basis until we uphold this document.  Then Faiz says the Quran is wrong and that we should just follow the Quran!  I think I’ll just stick with the real Torah and the real Gospel.  Can I get an amen?