what dose the quran say about Jesus biing the word

[faithimsb]

in 1 John 5:7 state that there is three that bear record in heaven, so i just want to know what the quran say about Jesus being the word.

[heisonly1]

in 1 John 5:7 state that there is three that bear record in heaven, so i just want to know what the quran say about Jesus being the word.

Hi there,

This topic has already been discussed in some detail on another thread in the Islamic section.

see: http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=73126

A short answer to your question:

From a Trinitarian perspective, the eternal attribute or aspect of God - His Word (Logos), (which was uttered by God to create the heavens,) was actually a personal being that was distinct from God Almighty. From an ontological perspective, both God and His Word shared the same divine nature, however functionally; the eternal Word (Logos) of God was subordinate to God in authority. Trinitarianism suggests that God’s eternal attribute is not impersonal, rather The Word of God was a personal being that possessed its own self awareness.

That is, when the Word of God converses with God Almighty they address each other as “I”, “You” and ‘Us’, that indicates each ‘person’ possesses their own self-awareness as two distinct entities. The Word of God was a ‘He’ not an ‘IT’

The eternal Word of God, later became Jesus, the Man/god on earth approx 2000years ago. In other Words, Jesus pre-existed as the Eternal Word of God that subsisted with God from the beginning of time. (above was a very brief and inadequate summary of the Trinitarian theology)

From an Islamic perspective, The Word of God did not and never did possess It’s own self-awareness as an independent personal entity that existed alongside God at any time. This would be a breech of pure monotheism from an Islamic perspective.



The Word comprises part of the eternal nature of God in a manner that befits his majesty that is not anything like his creation. It is not a distinct entity that possess It’s own self awareness by which It converse with God. The Word of God is an impersonal attribute. The Word of God is an ‘IT’ not a ‘HE’ or ‘SHE’.



If God’s Command - His Word – is a personal entity that possesses it’s own self-consciousness and shares the same divine essence of God Almighty, then from an Islamic perspective, this translates as two gods that each possess their ownself awareness, converse with one another, which share the same eternal divine essence.



Islamically, these two personal entities are identified as gods, where as from a Trinitarian perspective, the terminology used to describe these two gods are ‘persons’

In the Quran it states:

3.45 Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word (BE) from Him (God): his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God;

3.46 "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

3.47 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!

3.48 "And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel,”

From a very simplified Islamic perspective, God’s creation of Jesus was like the creation of Adam, who had neither father nor mother. "The similitude of Jesus before God is that of Adam; He created him from dust then God uttered his command and said 'BE', and he (Jesus) was." (3:59)

Jesus was created by the Word, he was not The eternal Word of God.

3.47 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!

[mastralvarado]

If God’s Command - His Word – is a personal entity that possesses it’s own self-consciousness and shares the same divine essence of God Almighty, then from an Islamic perspective, this translates as two gods that each possess their ownself awareness, converse with one another, which share the same eternal divine essence.

Islamically, these two personal entities are identified as gods, where as from a Trinitarian perspective, the terminology used to describe these two gods are ‘persons’

This dualism you mention is not part of Islam. You want answers they are all here. So don't go about making stuff up!!

See this page:
http://www.answers-to-muslims.com/index.html
or
http://www.answers-to-muslims.com/ht...ers_index.html

[Krusader]

Here is some insight into what the Quran teaches, and how it confirms that Jesus is God's Word:

"The Qur'an gives Jesus some very unique titles, not given to other prophets. The Qur'an calls Jesus a spirit proceeding from God. (Sura 4:171) This phrase could mean merely that Jesus was an apostle. But it could also mean that Jesus' spirit was God's own spirit coming directly from God. Christians believe this second explanation. They use various Bible references:

"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9b)

"I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)

The Qur'an calls Jesus God's Word. (Sura 4:171) The Bible also specifically calls Jesus God's Word.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

"The Word became flesh and lived for awhile among us." (John 1:14a)

Not only were Jesus' words God's words, but Jesus himself is God's Word, God's message for mankind."

Full text: http://www.injil.org/Peace/c22.htm

[heisonly1]

Here is some insight into what the Quran teaches, and how it confirms that Jesus is God's Word:

"The Qur'an gives Jesus some very unique titles, not given to other prophets. The Qur'an calls Jesus a spirit proceeding from God. (Sura 4:171) This phrase could mean merely that Jesus was an apostle. But it could also mean that Jesus' spirit was God's own spirit coming directly from God. Christians believe this second explanation. They use various Bible references:

"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9b)

"I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)

The Qur'an calls Jesus God's Word. (Sura 4:171) The Bible also specifically calls Jesus God's Word.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

"The Word became flesh and lived for awhile among us." (John 1:14a)

Not only were Jesus' words God's words, but Jesus himself is God's Word, God's message for mankind."

Full text: http://www.injil.org/Peace/c22.htm

"Spirit proceeding from Him"....

In the Quran and the authentic traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), different titles are given to different prophets (pbut). Whenever a title is given to a prophet (pbuh), it does not necessarily mean that the other prophets do not have the same characteristic or quality. For e.g. Prophet Abraham (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Khaleelullah, a ‘friend of God’. This does not indicate that all the other Prophets (pbuh) were not the friends of God. Prophet Moses (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kaleemullah, indicating that God spoke to him. This does not mean that God did not speak to others. Similarly when Jesus (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah, "a word from God", it does not mean that no other Prophet was the "the word," of God. This will become transparent when we examine the true interpretation of the expression ‘Word of God’ and it’s association to the creation of Jesus and Adam (pbut).
As I will illustrate, from an Islamic perspective, the theological understanding of the nature and origin of the Spirit is in direct contradiction to your postulation that your Christology can be supported from Islamic sources.

From an Islamic theological perspective, the spirit or soul is not one of the attributes of God Almighty; rather it is one of the things that have been created by Him. It is mentioned in conjunction with God in some texts by way of honoring and exaltation of the thing, for God is its Creator and Sovereign, He takes the spirit (in death) whenever He wills and He sends it wherever He wills.

Some ignorant people interpret the following verses “a Spirit from him” to imply the Spirit was derived from the very nature or substance of God that was ‘begotten’ or emanated from within Himself to bring Jesus into being that shared the same substance.

“O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of God aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Mary, a Messenger of God and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit from Him; so believe in God and His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three)!’ Cease! (it is) better for you. For God is One God, glory is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And God is All‑Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

Among the other texts in which the spirit is mentioned in conjunction with God are the verses (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then He fashioned him (Adam) in due proportion, and breathed into him His soul…”[al-Sajdah 32:9]

This is speaking of Adam (peace be upon him).

God also says concerning Adam (interpretation of the meaning):

“So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) my spirit, `then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him”

What we say about the ‘spirit of God’ is the same as what we say about the “House of God”, the “she-camel of God”, the “slaves of God” and the “Messenger of God”.

All of these things are mentioned in conjunction with God by way of honoring and reverence of them.

And God says:

“She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [Spirit – Angel Gabriel] and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects.

18. She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (God) from you, if you do fear God.’

19. (The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’”

[Mary 19:17-19]

Here the word “ruh” (spirit) refers to the slave and Messenger of God Gabriel, whom God sent to Mary to give her the glad tidings. God mentions him here in conjunction with Himself in the phrase Our ruh or spirit by way of honoring him.

Simply mentioning something in conjunction with God does not mean that that thing is a Divine attribute or shares the nature of God. Specific created things may be mentioned in conjunction with God, however their attributes are not necessarily divine attributes.

The point is things that are mentioned in conjunction with God are of two types:

1 – Entities, which exist separately. These are mentioned in conjunction with God by way of honoring, such as the ‘House of God’ and the ‘she-camel of God’, “the messenger of God” and also the ‘spirit (ruh) of God’, which is not a divine attribute, rather it is something that exists separately.

Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) describes how a man dies and his soul or spirit (ruh) comes out: “It comes out flowing like a drop of water from the mouth of a vessel… and he (the Angel of Death) takes it, and when he takes it they (the angels) do not leave it in his hand for an instant but they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume… and there comes out from it a smell like the finest fragrance of musk on the face of the earth, and they ascend with it…”

The Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: “When the soul (ruh) is taken, the eyes follow it.” Narrated by Muslim, 920.

In other words, when the soul is taken the eyes follow it, watching to see where it goes.

All of this indicates that the soul is something that exists separately.

2 – Attributes of God, from an Islamic theological perspective, DO NOT exist separately or possess their own self-awareness, rather they need an entity to belong to, such as knowledge, will and power. If it is said, “the knowledge of God”, the “will of God” and so on, this is mentioning the divine attribute in conjunction with the One to Whom it intrinsically belongs.

The Ruh (Spirit) is something that is created and does not live forever, since God mentions that everything will die except God Almighty. The spirit or soul is something that will die and perish until God causes it to exist again on the day of resurrection.

God Almighty or anything that derives from His nature cannot cease to exist or die.

Christian Missionaries erroneously imply the word min (lit. from) stipulated in the verse ‘Spirit from Him’ implies being part of God and that the Ruh (spirit) is a part of God. In fact the word min here refers to the genesis of this Spirit. This spirit comes from God, its starting point and its origin is with God, because He is its Creator and Controller.

Ibn Kathir (may God have mercy on him) said:

The words in the verse and hadeeth, “a Spirit (Ruh) from Him” are like the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“And has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; it is all as a favour and kindness from Him”

[al-Jaathiyah 45:13]

“And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from God”
[al-Nahl 16:53]

“Whatever of good reaches you, is from God, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself”

[al-Nisa’ 4:79]

And God says concerning our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):

“Those who disbelieve from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al‑Mushrikoon, were not going to leave (their disbelief) until there came to them clear evidence.

2. A Messenger (Muhammad) from God, reciting (the Qur’aan) purified pages [purified from Al‑Baatil (falsehood)]”

[al-Bayyinah 98:1-2]

These are all things that exist separately, originate from God, and they are all created things.

To apply your Christology to the proceeding verses would means that all things must also be a part of Him since all is ‘from Him’. Exalted and glorified is God above all the misguidance they attribute to the Most Wise.

“From Him” means that it comes from God and is created by Him, not as you erroneously imply “that Jesus' spirit was God's own spirit coming directly from God.”

Furthermore, the phrase “ Spirit of God” relates to Jesus, since he was breathed into his mother by the angel Gabriel (peace be upon), and she became pregnant with him from that breath.

God commanded Gabriel (peace be upon) to blow through the neck of Mary’s garment, and this breath went down and by the permission of God entered her womb. God has explained how He created Jesus (peace be upon him), as He said (interpretation of the meaning):

“And she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Mary], We breathed into her through Our Ruh — [Gabriel]” [al-Anbiya’ 21:91]

Jesus is distinguished from the rest of mankind by the fact that his Virgin mother miraculously became pregnant with him from this breathing of God through the spirit Gabriel, hence he is called a spirit of God to signify the nature of his creation through the breathing of the Spirit

The similitude of the creation of Jesus with the breath of God is in the likeness of the creation of Adam:

“Then He fashioned him (Adam) in due proportion, and breathed into him His spirit…”[al-Sajdah 32:9]

This is speaking of Adam (peace be upon him).

God also says concerning Adam (interpretation of the meaning):

“So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) my spirit, `then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him”

That which God breathes into existence is a creation of God that does not share his nature or substance.

For example, in the Quran it mentions:

48. "And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel,

49. "And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God’s permission; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;

50. "'(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.

51. "'It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"

These verses explain the Jesus was able to make a bird from clay and then breath into it, which caused it to exist and come to life by God’s Leave. Just as Gabriel did with the case of Jesus, when he breathed in to Mary that caused the creation and birth of Jesus. Both the Bird and Jesus were created as a result of the breath of God through Jesus and Gabriel respectively, that transparently shows that the bird and Jesus or mankind do not share the nature or substance of God Almighty!

‘Abd-God ibn Mas’ood, who said: “The Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him), who is the most truthful (of human beings) and his being truthful (is a fact) told us: ‘The constituents of one of you is gathered in his mother’s womb for forty days, then it becomes a clot of blood within another period of forty days. Then it becomes a lump of flesh, and forty days later, God sends His angel to it to breathe into it the soul. The angel comes with instructions concerning four things, so the angel writes down his livelihood, his death, his deeds and whether he will doomed or blessed.” (Reported by Muslim, 1528).

[heisonly1]

Continued - "God's Word"

Regarding the contextual understanding of the expression 'His Word' and it’s association with Jesus, the Quran proclaims the following:
“This is a part of the news of the Unseen, which We reveal to you (O Muhammad). You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary; nor were you with them when they disputed.

45. (Remember) when the angels said: ‘O Mary! Verily, God gives you the glad tidings of a Word from Him, his name will be the Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to God.

46. He will speak to the people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous.’

47. She said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said: ‘So (it will be) for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “BE !” — and it is.

The literary context or contextual meaning of the proceeding verses, in conjunction with other verses that mention the creation of Jesus demonstrate, in several ways, that he was a created being that was created BY The Word of God, NOT that he was the Word of God.

For example, it clearly means that Jesus was created, as it says, “So (it will be) for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!” —and it is”.

As God says elsewhere (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the likeness/similitude of Jesus before God is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” — and he was” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:59]

These verses are in direct contradiction to your Christology since, as a Trinitarian, you proclaim the Jesus is not created and has always subsisted from eternity.

And God says in Sura 19 (interpretation of the meaning):

“Such is ‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). (It is) a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute).

It befits not (the Majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glorified (and Exalted) be He (above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, He only says to it: “BE!” and it is”

[Maryam 19:35]

When examining the verses that stipulate God’s Command – His Word ‘BE’ the literary context illustrates that which originates as a Result of God’s command is a creation of God that does not share his nature or essence.

Take for example the following verses:

16:40 "Verily! Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it "BE!" - and it is"

2:117. “The Originator of the heavens and the earth: When He decrees a matter, He says to it: "BE," and it is.”

36: "Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like thereof?" - Yes, indeed! for He is the Creator Supreme, of skill and knowledge (infinite)! 82. Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, "BE", and it is! 83. So glory to Him in Whose hands is the dominion of all things: and to Him will ye be all brought back

40:68 “It is He Who gives Life and Death; and when He decides upon an affair, He says to it, "BE", and it is.

Jesus is described as a ‘Word from Him’ or ‘His Word’ to contextually signify that he was created by the Command of God. The expression is appropriate for Jesus since he was not created in the usual way in which others are created, rather he was created in an extraordinary way: he was created by the command of God: “Be!” This is the Word (BE) in question; he was not created by means of a male fertilizing a female, as is the usual way in which God creates human beings, hdence God has honored him with the Title a 'God's Word'.

Although both the Qur'an and the Bible evaluate and name the qualities of Jesus that are similar, the theological connotations and meanings associated with these expressions are contradictory.
Adam (peace be upon him) was also created BY the Word of God so therefore he legitimately could also be referred to as a ‘Word from Him’ or ‘His Word.’ However God Almighty decreed that he should identify Adam (peace be upon him) with a honorable title ‘Father of mankind’ to signify the beginning or origin of mankind.

The fact that ‘Jesus (peace be upon him) creation is result of a Word from God (BE) and a spirit created by Him, as is indicated in the texts of the Quran, does not mean that he is part of God who emerged from Him and is connected to His essence as your Christology erroneously assumes. Glorified and exalted be God far about what the misguided proclaim!

“Verily, the likeness/similitude of Jesus before God is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” — and he was” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:59]