Wasn't Jesus a Muslim?

The Bible does not describe Jesus as a Muslim, as the term “Muslim” specifically refers to a follower of Islam, a religion founded by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century CE, centuries after Jesus’ life (around 4 BC–30 AD). However, let’s explore how Jesus is presented in the Bible and why He wouldn’t be classified as a Muslim in this context:

Jesus as a Jew: Jesus was born into a Jewish family, circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21, ESV), and raised under the Law of Moses. He participated in Jewish festivals like Passover (Luke 2:41-42, ESV) and taught in synagogues (Luke 4:16, ESV: “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day”). His teachings were rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), which He affirmed (Matthew 5:17, ESV: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”).

Jesus’ Claims and Role: The Bible presents Jesus as the divine Son of God and the second person of the Trinity, who became incarnate to save humanity from sin (John 3:16, ESV: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son”). He claimed a unique relationship with God, saying, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30, ESV), and accepted worship (John 20:28, ESV). These claims are incompatible with the Islamic understanding of Jesus as a human prophet and not divine.

Historical Context: Islam emerged over 600 years after Jesus’ life, with the Quran revealed to Muhammad starting in 610 CE. The Bible, written between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD, predates Islam and does not reflect its teachings or terminology. Jesus could not have been a Muslim in the historical sense because Islam did not exist during His lifetime.

Quranic and Hadith Perspective

From an Islamic perspective, you might argue that Jesus (Isa, peace be upon him) was a Muslim because the Quran teaches that all prophets, including Jesus, submitted to Allah, and the Arabic word “Muslim” means “one who submits to God.” Let’s explore this view:

Quranic View of Jesus as a Muslim: The Quran describes Jesus (Isa) as a prophet and messenger of Allah, sent to the Children of Israel (Surah Al-Imran 3:49). It states that all prophets taught submission to Allah, which aligns with the meaning of “Muslim.” For example, Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:111 says, “And [mention] when I inspired to the disciples, ‘Believe in Me and in My messenger [Jesus].’ They said, ‘We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allah].’” This suggests that Jesus and his followers submitted to Allah, making them “Muslims” in the broader sense of the term.

Hadith Support: In Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 284, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) states, “I am the nearest of all the people to the son of Mary [Jesus], and all the prophets are paternal brothers, and there has been no prophet between me and him.” This Hadith emphasizes the continuity of the message of monotheism (tawhid) across prophets, implying that Jesus’ mission was to call people to submit to Allah, aligning with the Islamic definition of a Muslim.

From your perspective, since Islam claims to be the universal religion of submission to God, all true prophets, including Jesus, were “Muslims” in the sense of submitting to Allah’s will, even before the formal establishment of Islam in the 7th century.

Apologetic Response

I respectfully acknowledge the Islamic view that Jesus was a Muslim in the sense of submitting to God, as the Quran and Hadith present all prophets as part of a unified message of monotheism. However, from the biblical perspective, there are key differences that make it difficult to classify Jesus as a Muslim:

Theological Differences: The Bible’s portrayal of Jesus as divine (Colossians 2:9, ESV: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”) and part of the Trinity conflicts with Islam’s strict monotheism. The Quran explicitly denies Jesus’ divinity (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:116-117) and the Trinity (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4). If Jesus claimed divinity and accepted worship, as the Bible records, He would not align with the Islamic definition of a prophet who submits to Allah as a human messenger.

Historical Anachronism: The term “Muslim” as a religious identity is tied to the revelation of the Quran and the establishment of Islam in the 7th century. While the Quran uses “Muslim” to mean “one who submits,” the Bible never uses this term for Jesus or His followers. Instead, Jesus’ identity and mission are rooted in His Jewish context and His role as the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, ESV).

Jesus’ Teachings and Mission: Jesus’ teachings in the Bible focus on His unique role as the Son of God and Savior, not merely as a prophet calling people to submit to God in the Islamic sense. For example, in John 14:6, ESV, He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This exclusive claim to be the sole path to God differs from the Islamic view of Jesus as one of many prophets pointing to Allah.

Addressing the Continuity Argument: While the Quran sees all prophets as “Muslims” in submission to Allah, the Bible presents a distinct progression of revelation, culminating in Jesus as the final revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”). This contrasts with Islam’s view of Muhammad as the final prophet.

Addressing Skepticism

You might argue that the Bible has been corrupted (tahrif), altering Jesus’ true message of submission to Allah. However, the New Testament manuscripts (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, 4th century) show consistency with modern texts, and the early church fathers, like Ignatius (circa 110 AD), affirm Jesus’ divinity, suggesting these beliefs date back to Jesus’ time. If Jesus’ message was purely Islamic, we would expect historical evidence of this in early Christian writings, but instead, they emphasize His divine identity.

The Quran honors Jesus as a prophet, born of a virgin (Surah Maryam 19:19-21), and calls Him the Messiah (Surah Al-Imran 3:45). While this aligns with His significance, the Bible’s portrayal of His divine nature and mission sets Him apart from the Islamic understanding of a “Muslim” prophet.