Islam regards Jesus as one of the greatest messengers God ever sent — a link in the same chain of prophecy as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad.
Islamic scholarship identifies five prophets as Ulul Azm — "those of firm resolve" — who were given the greatest trials and the greatest scriptures: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Jesus's inclusion in this group reflects the exceptionally high station Islam assigns him among the prophets.
"And [mention] when We took from the prophets their covenant, and from you, [O Muhammad], and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant."
Qur'an 33:7The Qur'an describes Jesus as a messenger sent specifically to the Children of Israel (Bani Isra'il), continuing and confirming the law of Moses while relaxing some of its restrictions. His central call, like every prophet before him, was to the worship of the One God alone.
"And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord... And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you... Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.'"
Qur'an 3:49–51This last sentence — Jesus instructing his followers to worship God, described explicitly as "my Lord and your Lord" — is cited throughout the Qur'an as the essence of his teaching, and Islam holds that the later doctrine of his own divinity was a departure from what he actually preached.
Muslims believe God revealed a scripture to Jesus called the Injil (Gospel), a book of guidance and light confirming the Torah. Islamic teaching holds that the original Injil was a revelation given directly to Jesus, distinct from the New Testament Gospels compiled later by his followers, and that parts of its original message were lost or altered over time.
"And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous."
Qur'an 5:46The Qur'an repeatedly calls Jesus al-Masih, "the Messiah," and describes him as a "Word" from God and a "spirit from Him" — titles of great honor that Islamic theology interprets carefully: they mark him as unique among the prophets, brought into being by God's direct command ("Be"), but not as sharing in God's essence or divinity.
"O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him."
Qur'an 4:171This same verse continues with one of the clearest Qur'anic statements against the doctrine of the Trinity:
"So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist — it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son."
Qur'an 4:171The Qur'an speaks of Jesus's disciples as sincere believers who supported his mission and affirmed their submission to God.
"And [remember] when I inspired the disciples, [saying], 'Believe in Me and in My messenger.' They said, 'We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [submitting to Allah].'"
Qur'an 5:111In this verse the disciples describe themselves with the Arabic word muslimun ("those who submit [to God]"), which is why Islamic tradition considers the original followers of Jesus to have been, in essence, upon the same core creed that Islam teaches: pure monotheism and submission to God.