Questions Other faiths and new Muslims

Did Allah create Jesus?

Checked by our team

Short answer

Yes. Muslims believe Jesus is a created human being and one of the greatest prophets. Allah created him in the womb of the virgin Mary without a father, by His command Be. The Quran compares his creation to Adam's, who had neither father nor mother. Only Allah is uncreated and eternal.

Hanafi position

Belief that Isa is a created servant and messenger of Allah, not eternal and not divine, is part of the creed of all Muslims. Believing that he is God or the Son of God contradicts tawhid, the oneness of Allah.

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

The Quran answers the question directly: the example of Jesus with Allah is like that of Adam. Allah created Adam from dust and said Be, and he was. If Adam, with no father and no mother, is a created human, then Jesus, with a mother and no father, is created too. His miraculous birth shows Allah's power, not that he shares in divinity.

The Quran calls Jesus Allah's word and a spirit from Him. Muslims understand word to mean that he came into being through Allah's word Be, and a spirit from Him to mean a soul created by Allah and honoured by being linked to Him, just as the Kaaba is called the House of Allah. Neither phrase means he is part of God. See does the Quran call Jesus the word of God.

The Quran also points to plain signs of his humanity: he and his mother both ate food. As a baby in the cradle, his first words were: I am the servant of Allah. On the Day of Judgement Allah will ask him whether he told people to worship him, and he will deny it.

None of this lessens him. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever bears witness that Jesus is Allah's servant and messenger, His word and a spirit from Him, enters Paradise. Loving Jesus as a created prophet is part of a Muslim's faith. Read more on is Jesus God in Islam and Prophet Isa.

The evidence

Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:59

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴿٥٩﴾

Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.

Jesus was created by Allah's command, like Adam.

Quran 3:59, translation by Sahih International

Quran, Surah Maryam 19:35

مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍۢ ۖ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴿٣٥﴾

It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

Allah has no son; He creates by saying Be.

Quran 19:35, translation by Sahih International

Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:75

مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌۭ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ ﴿٧٥﴾

The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.

Jesus and Mary were human beings who needed food.

Quran 5:75, translation by Sahih International

Sahih al-Bukhari 3435

Sahih

... وأن عيسى عبد الله ورسوله وكلمته ألقاها إلى مريم ...

"And that Jesus is Allah's servant and messenger, and His word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him."

The Muslim belief about Jesus, stated by the Prophet ﷺ.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3435 · Sahih · Read on sunnah.com

Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.