'Isa ibn Maryam

‘Isa in the Quran: The Key Verses

The Annunciation and Birth (19:16-35; 3:42-51)

“And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.” (19:16-17)

“He said, ‘I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.’” (19:19)

“She said, ‘How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?’” (19:20)

“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.”’” (19:21)

Maryam (Mary) gives birth in isolation beneath a date palm tree. The divine speaks to her: “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.” (19:24-25)

The speaking infant: When her people challenge her, Maryam points to the infant. They say: “How can we speak to one who is in the cradle, a child?” Then ‘Isa speaks: “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.” (19:30)

See also: Nubuwwa, Ruh The Spirit

The Miracles of ‘Isa

The Quran attributes to ‘Isa several miracles:

1. The clay bird: “I make for you out of clay the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah.” (3:49)

2. Healing: “And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead — by permission of Allah.” (3:49)

3. Knowledge of the unseen: “And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses.” (3:49)

4. The Table (al-Ma’ida): In a long passage, the disciples of ‘Isa ask him to request a “table spread with food from heaven” — the divine grants it as a sign, but warns: “Whoever disbelieves afterward from among you — then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.” (5:115) — Al-Ma’ida (the Table) is the name of Surah 5.

The common phrase: Each miracle ends with “bi idhni Allah” (by permission of Allah) — emphasizing that ‘Isa’s miracles are divine grants, not his own divine power.

The Quranic Correction of Christian Theology

On the Crucifixion

“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.” (4:157)

“Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.” (4:158)

The Quran denies the crucifixion as the Christians understand it. Classical Islamic scholars differ on the exact meaning: some hold that a look-alike was crucified in ‘Isa’s place; others understand it differently. What is agreed: ‘Isa was not killed; he was raised to Allah.

On the Trinity

“O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, ‘Three’; desist — it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son.” (4:171)

“They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.’” (5:73)

‘Isa’s Own Testimony

“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.’” (5:116)

‘Isa’s Eschatological Role

Islamic tradition holds that ‘Isa will descend at the end of time. The key hadith (Muslim): “The Hour will not come until the son of Maryam descends as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the swine, and abolish the jizya, and wealth will be so abundant that no one will accept it.”

His descent marks:

The end of the Dajjal (the deceiving false messiah)
The establishment of justice on earth
His own death as a Muslim and burial in Medina

“There is not one of the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him before his death.” (4:159) — commonly interpreted as: at the moment of death, all will believe in ‘Isa’s true nature; or, before ‘Isa’s own death when he descends at the end of time.

The Ismaili Ta’wil of ‘Isa

In the Ismaili tradition, ‘Isa is the natiq of the fifth prophetic cycle. His asas (foundation/esoteric carrier) is Sham’un al-Safa (Simon Peter), who held the batin of the Christian revelation while ‘Isa carried its zahir.

The virgin birth as spiritual ta’wil: ‘Isa’s birth without a father is, in the ta’wil dimension, a sign of the Imam’s spiritual birth — not from worldly lineage alone, but from the divine’s direct will manifested through prophetic succession. The ruh (spirit) breathed into Maryam corresponds to the Universal Soul’s (‘aql and nafs) bestowal of prophetic rank.

Al-Masih (the Anointed): The title Masih in the Ismaili ta’wil refers to one who is “wiped” clean of the traces of worldly attachment — purified by the divine to carry the esoteric knowledge.

‘Isa’s mu’jizat as ta’wil subjects: The clay bird brought to life (17:9) is the ta’wil of the da’i giving spiritual life to the believer through the Imam’s knowledge; healing the blind represents giving esoteric insight to those who cannot see the batin; raising the dead represents spiritual resurrection through the da’wa.

'Isa ibn Maryam — Jesus in the Quran and Ismaili Ta'wil