Perhaps the sharpest difference between Islamic and Christian teaching about Jesus concerns the end of his earthly life.
"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise."
Qur'an 4:157–158On the basis of this passage, mainstream Islamic belief holds that Jesus was not crucified and did not die on the cross. Instead, God saved him from that fate and raised him — alive, in body and soul — to Himself.
The phrase translated "made to resemble him to them" (shubbiha lahum) has been the subject of extensive classical commentary. The most widely held view among Sunni scholars, going back to early exegetes, is that God caused someone else to appear in Jesus's likeness, and that person was crucified in his place, while Jesus himself was raised up before the crucifixion took place. Various reports differ on exactly who this was — some suggest a volunteer among the disciples, others a betrayer — but the Qur'an itself does not specify, and this remains a matter on which classical scholars differed in detail while agreeing on the central fact: Jesus himself was not killed.
A minority of more recent scholars have argued the verse only denies that Jesus's enemies killed him with the intent and understanding they believed (i.e., they did not "achieve" killing the true Messiah in the way they thought), leaving room for various readings of the sequence of events. Despite this diversity of detail, there is consensus across mainstream Sunni and Shia Islam on the core doctrine: Jesus was rescued from crucifixion and raised to God.
Islamic belief, based on this verse and supported by Hadith, holds that Jesus was raised to the heavens alive — not merely in spirit, but in body and soul together — and that he remains alive there until his appointed return before the Day of Judgment (see the next chapter).
"[Mention] when Allah said, 'O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve...'"
Qur'an 3:55This verse contains the word mutawaffika, sometimes rendered "cause you to die" and sometimes "take you [in sleep/completely]" — a term that has generated theological discussion, but which the dominant Sunni position reads, in light of 4:157–158, as referring to God's taking of Jesus up to Himself rather than a worldly death at that time.
The Islamic rejection of the crucifixion is closely tied to the Islamic rejection of the idea of atonement through the death of a divine or semi-divine figure. In Islamic theology, each soul is responsible for its own deeds, and God forgives sin directly through repentance and mercy — there is no theological need for a sacrificial death to redeem humanity.
"That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another."
Qur'an 53:38