Whenever I get the privilege to talk to my Christian friends, the most often question asked is, "do the Muslims believe in Jesus Christ?" and once they know that Muslims do believe in Jesus, they are interested in knowing what does the Holy Quran say about this mighty messenger of God. This humble and brief attempt will try to provide some satisfactory answers. Islam is the only religion in the world, besides Christianity, that makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus. No Muslim is a Muslim if he/she doesn't believe in Jesus. Jesus has been mentioned 25 times in the Holy Quran by name. He is always referred to as "son of Mary", a respectful term which no one can deny. Chapter xxix is named after his mother, Maryam (Mary). His miraculous birth is mentioned at two different places. The nature of his true mission along with his miracles have been described clearly. Even though, Muslims do not believe in him as the only begotten son of God or God or part of the Trinity, he and his mother enjoy more respect in the Holy Quran than found in the Bible. Following are a few excerpts from the Holy Quran.

Jesus: birth explained: (i) Like Adam: "The similitude of Jesus before Allah is that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be": and he was" (3:59) (ii) Word from God....?

Jesus: a righteous prophet of God: "..and Zakariya and John and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous.." (6:85)

Jesus: no more than an apostle: "... Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, And his Word, Which He bestowed upon Mary, And a Spirit proceeding from Him.." (4:171)

Jesus: Apostle to Israel: "..We granted our favor to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel." (3:49-51)

Jesus: Not God : "...And (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One God: There is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him:(Far is He)from having the partners they associate (with Him)." (9:31)

Jesus: Not son of God: " ...the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth;(in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say..."

Jesus: his miracles: (i) "...And behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, By My leave. And thou breathest into it, and it becometh a bird By My leave,(ii) And thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, By My Leave,(iii)And behold! thou bringest forth the dead By My Leave...And the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic' (5:110)????

Jesus: not crucified: " That they said (in boast), 'we killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah"; but they killed him not, nor crucified him. Only a likeness of that was shown to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge. But only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not: nay Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in power, wise." (4:157) My dear friends I welcome you to investigate the religion of Islam. This is a very serious matter upon which our salvation depends.