Muslims believe that Jesus was a very important prophet of God, and that he was indeed the Messiah awaited by the Jews of ancient Palestine. Like Christians, Muslims believe Jesus' mission was to reestablish justice among people and rectify deviations that had developed in the religion of the One God. Muslims share with Christians belief in Jesus' unique birth and various miracles performed by him (by God's leave).



"Lo! The angels said: 'O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, of a son who shall become known as the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, of great honour in this world and in the life to come, and of those who are drawn near to God." (Qur'an, 3:45)

However, Muslims do not believe in Jesus' divinity, and do not consider Jesus the "Son of God," for to do so would contradict the Qur'anic concept of God's Unity (Oneness). Furthermore, since the concept of "Original Sin" does not exist in Islam, neither Jesus nor any other prophet or person plays a redemptive role in human salvation. In other words, there is no concept of "vicarious atonement" in Islam. Moreover, Muslims do not share the Christian belief in Jesus' crucifixion. According to the Qur'an, Jesus was assumed (taken up) to the realm of God to spare him such a fate.

In the Qur'an, God's creation of Jesus, who had no father, is likened to His creation of Adam, who had neither father nor mother. Both, fashioned out of earth's elemental components, are viewed as direct manifestations of God's Divine Command "Be!"