In Islam, Jesus is viewed as an icon of asceticism \u2014 a moral, spiritual and social role model. Ibn Arabi described Jesus as \u201cthe epitome of sainthood\u201d, whereas al-Ghazali called him \u201cthe prophet of the soul\u201d. Quite obviously, such descriptions are unique in their own way, and are different from the Christian narrative of a Divine Jesus.<\/p>\n
In fact, even when Islam talks about the mother of Jesus, Virgin Mary, the focus is not on the miracle itself but on the miraculous birth. The Virgin Mary, or Maryam, holds an exalted spiritual position. Prophet Muhammad described her as one of the four \u201cperfect\u201d women in the history of humanity. She is also the only woman mentioned by name in The Quran, and there is an entire chapter named after her<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, for Muslims, the Virgin Birth is not proof of the divinity of Jesus, but that of special status of Jesus. Islam rejects the Christian concepts of Trinity, Crucifixion and Resurrection. According to Islamic narrative, Jesus was not crucified, but risen bodily to Heaven by God. This is where Islam and Christianity differ. To quote the Christian theologian Jonathan Bartley:<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a fundamental tension at the heart of interfaith dialogue that neither side wants to face up to, and that is that the orthodox Christian view of Jesus is blasphemous to Muslims and the orthodox Muslim view of Jesus is blasphemous to Christians.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Another viewpoint in this context is the fact that Islamic conception of Jesus \u2014 devoid of divinity and outside the Trinity \u2014 is in sync with the beliefs of the earliest Jewish and Christian sects, primarily the Ebionites and Nazarenes, who viewed Jesus as Messiah, but not as Son of God. As such, Muslim Jesus is the historical Jesus, as claimed by Cambridge academic John Casey:<\/p>\n \u201cIslam\u2019s Jesus is what Jesus might have been without St. Paul or St. Augustine or the Council of Nicaea.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This can be traced back to the underlying concept of Islam in itself: Islam, unlike other faiths, is an intellectual and moral acknowledgment of the Sovereignty of One True God, sans the additional mythological luggage.<\/p>\n Islam and Christianity: Two Faiths, One God<\/strong><\/p>\n Amidst such differences, why can it not be possible to seek reasons for reconciliation between Christianity and Islam? After all, Jesus is indeed an esoteric part of Islamic faith and practice. Unlike Jewish tradition that by and large rejects Jesus, Islamic tradition has a place for Jesus at the very core of its devotion. This very idea of a Muslim Jesus is enough to fortify the resolve for peace between the two communities.<\/p>\n The Islamic view of Jesus is a salutary reminder of the times when both Christians and Muslims were more open to each other. In modern times, though, there is a tendency among Christians to claim \u2018ownership\u2019 over Jesus Christ \u2014 our Saviour, our Lord Jesus, our Messiah, not yours!<\/em> On the other hand, certain Muslims too have nowadays started viewing Jesus as an icon of private reverence \u2014 our views towards\u00a0Jesus are more respectful than yours!<\/em><\/p>\n However, such differences should not hinder the desire for co-existence \u2014 let us not forget that interfaith dialogue starts from acceptance and recognition of existing differences. Furthermore, in spite of doctrinal differences between Christianity and Islam, there are many areas of significant overlap as well \u2014 both Christians and Muslims believe that before the end of the world, Jesus Christ will return and defeat the Antichrist (In Islam, referred to as Masih ad-Dajjal or The False Prophet).<\/p>\n As such, as 2014 comes to an end, let us hope that in the coming days, both Muslims and Christians learn to live together in peace, and the differences between the two faiths lead to informed arguments, not uninformed attacks. After all, this is what The Quran has ordered us to do (29:46):<\/p>\n And argue not with the People of the Book (that is, Jews and Christians) unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: \u201cWe believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our Allah and your Allah is One, and unto Him we surrender.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n _____________________________<\/p>\n Sufyan bin Uzayr is the author of <\/em>Sufism: A Brief History<\/a>. He writes for several print and online publications and regularly blogs about issues of contemporary relevance at Political Periscope<\/a>. You can email him at sufyanism@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"bible-quran\"](\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/bible-quran.jpg\")
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