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Friday Khutbah Library
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Prophet Jesus in Islam
Suggested: Friday, 25 December 2026
· 16 Rajab
jesus
isa
prophets
christianity
interfaith
Summary
Muslims love and honour Prophet Jesus. This khutbah presents the Islamic understanding of Isa, alayhis salam, and corrects common misconceptions.
Part One — First Khutbah
Opening — Khutbat al-Hajah
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ
Innal hamda lillah, nahmaduhu wa nasta'eenuhu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na'udhu billahi min shururi anfusina wa min sayyi'ati a'malina. Man yahdihillahu fala mudilla lah, wa man yudlil fala hadiya lah.
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Wa ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
"Ya ayyuhalladheena amanut-taqullaha haqqa tuqatihi wa la tamutunna illa wa antum muslimun." (Aal 'Imran, 3:102)
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
"Ya ayyuhannas uttaqu rabbakumul ladhi khalaqakum min nafsin wahidatin wa khalaqa minha zawjaha wa baththa minhuma rijalan katheeran wa nisa'a. Wattaqullahalldhee tasa'aluna bihi wal-arham. Innallaha kana 'alaykum raqeeba." (An-Nisa, 4:1)
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَخَيْرَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلَّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ
Amma ba'd. Fa inna khairal hadeethi kitabullah, wa khayral hadyi hadyu Muhammadin sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, wa sharral umuri muhdathatuha, wa kulla muhdathatin bid'ah, wa kulla bid'atin dalalah, wa kulla dalalatin fin-nar.
Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
A Prophet We Love and Honour
Brothers and sisters, at a time of year when the world around us is focused on Jesus, it is fitting that we clarify the Islamic position — not to attack or diminish, but to honour 'Isa ibn Maryam, 'alayhis salam, in the way Allah honoured him.
Muslims love Jesus. We believe in him. We honour him. No person can be a Muslim without believing in 'Isa, 'alayhis salam.
The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:
أَنَا أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ الْأَنبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلَّاتٍ
"I am the closest of all people to 'Isa ibn Maryam, in this world and the next. The Prophets are brothers of one father with different mothers (i.e. one faith, different laws)." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3443; Sahih Muslim, 2365)
Who Was 'Isa According to the Quran?
1. Born miraculously — without a father. Allah says:
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
"Inna mathala 'Isa 'indallahi ka mathali Adam. Khalaqahu min turabin thumma qala lahu kun fa yakun." (Aal 'Imran, 3:59)
"Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: Be — and he was."
If Adam's creation without father or mother does not make him divine, then 'Isa's creation without a father does not make him divine either.
2. A Prophet and Messenger. He was sent to the Children of Israel with a message:
وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
"And (he will be) a messenger to the Children of Israel: Indeed, I have come to you with a sign from your Lord." (Aal 'Imran, 3:49)
3. He performed miracles — by Allah's permission. He healed the blind and the leper, raised the dead — but always "by Allah's permission" (bi idhnillah). The miracles were from Allah, not from 'Isa himself.
4. He was not crucified. Allah says:
وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ
"Wa ma qataluhu wa ma salabuhu wa lakin shubbiha lahum." (An-Nisa, 4:157)
"They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear so to them."
5. He was raised to Allah. He is alive, and he will return before the Day of Judgement:
بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ
"Bal rafa'ahullahu ilayh." (An-Nisa, 4:158)
"Rather, Allah raised him to Himself."
What 'Isa Was Not
With love and respect, we must be clear about what the Quran says:
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
"Laqad kafaral-ladheena qalu innallaha huwal-maseehu-bnu Maryam." (Al-Ma'idah, 5:72)
"They have certainly disbelieved who say: Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary."
'Isa himself will deny being worshipped on the Day of Judgement:
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ
"I said not to them except what You commanded me — to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." (Al-Ma'idah, 5:117)
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Aqulu qauli hada, wa astaghfirullaha li wa lakum wa li sa'iril muslimeen, fas taghfiruh, innahu huwal Ghafurur Rahim.
Part Two — Second Khutbah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Bismillah, wal hamdulillah, was-salatu was-salamu 'ala Rasulillah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Brothers and sisters,
Your Takeaway — Two Actions This Week
First: Learn more about 'Isa, 'alayhis salam, from the Quran. Read Surah Maryam (Chapter 19) and Surah Aal 'Imran (Chapter 3) this week. You will find a beautiful, respectful, and accurate account of his life that deepens your love for this noble Prophet.
Second: When the topic of Jesus comes up with non-Muslim friends or colleagues, share the Islamic perspective with confidence and respect. We don't diminish Jesus — we elevate him to his true status: a mighty Prophet and Messenger, born miraculously, who called people to worship One God alone.
This is a bridge — not a barrier — between us and our Christian neighbours. We share a love for 'Isa. We differ on his nature. And we can discuss this with mutual respect and genuine curiosity.
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا
"Say: O People of the Book, come to a word that is common between us and you — that we worship none but Allah and associate nothing with Him." (Aal 'Imran, 3:64)
Closing Du'a
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الْإِسْلَامَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ
Allahumma a'izzal islama wal muslimeen.
اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ
Allahumma irham al-muslimeena fee kulli makaan.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allahumma a'inna 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba'da idh hadaytana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah, innaka antal Wahhab.
أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ
Aqimis-salah.