Question 1

What do Muslims believe about Jesus (Isa) and Mary (Maryam)?

Accepted Answer

ʿĪsā son of Maryam is a slave of Allah and His Messenger, His word which He cast to Maryam, and a soul created by Him — not His son, nor a partner, nor part of a trinity. Maryam is the most virtuous woman of the worlds in her time, a chaste and truthful woman (siddīqah), but she is not divine; she ate food, as did her son. We affirm his miraculous birth without a father, his miracles by Allah's permission, his being raised alive to the heaven, and his return at the end of time to break the cross, kill the swine, and rule by the Sharīʿah of Muhammad (ﷺ). Whoever ascribes divinity or sonship to ʿĪsā or his mother has disbelieved.

Question 2

Who is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

Accepted Answer

He is Muhammad ibn ʿAbdillāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muttalib, of Quraysh, of the Arabs, of the descendants of Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm — the Seal of the Prophets, the Imam of the pious, the leader of the white-blazed on the Day of Resurrection, the Beloved of the Lord of the Worlds. Allah sent him as a mercy to the worlds, with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over every religion. His Sharīʿah abrogates what came before; his Sunnah is preserved; obedience to him is obedience to Allah; love of him takes precedence over love of self, parent, child, and all of mankind. He delivered the message, fulfilled the trust, advised the Ummah, and strove in the way of Allah a true striving until certainty came to him.

Question 3

What do Muslims believe about Jesus (Isa) and Mary (Maryam)?

Accepted Answer

Muslims hold Jesus (`Isa ibn Maryam`) and his mother, Mary (Maryam), in very high esteem, as affirmed in the Qur'an and Sunnah. To believe in him as a prophet of God is a mandatory part of Islamic faith.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, in his commentary on "Al-`Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah," explains the mainstream Islamic position. This position is a middle path between the Jewish stance, which rejected and slandered him and his mother, and the Christian stance, which exaggerated his status to the point of divinity.

Islam teaches that Jesus was a servant of Allah and His messenger (`abd Allahi wa rasuluhu`), one of the most resolute of the messengers (`ulul-`azm`). He was created miraculously without a father by the command of Allah, "Be," and it was. Mary, his mother, was a truthful and chaste virgin (`siddiqah`), chosen by Allah above the women of the worlds.

Allah gave Jesus clear miracles as signs of his prophethood: he spoke as a baby in the cradle, healed the leper and the blind, and brought the dead back to life—all by the permission of Allah, not by his own power. However, Islam vehemently rejects the notion that Jesus is God or the "son of God." Ascribing divinity to him, his mother, or anyone else is considered the greatest sin of `shirk` (polytheism).

Muslims also do not believe that Jesus was crucified. Rather, Allah saved him from his enemies and raised him up to the heavens alive. A core part of Islamic eschatology is the belief that he will return to Earth before the Day of Judgment, where he will follow the law of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, kill the Antichrist (Dajjal), break the cross, and establish justice.

Question 4

What is the significance of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)?

Accepted Answer

The Night Journey (al-Isra’) and the Ascension (al-Mi’raj) was one of the great miracles bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). According to Shaykh Ibn Baz, its significance is multifaceted, confirming the high status of the Prophet and establishing the central pillar of prayer.

This miraculous journey occurred in one night and was a physical journey with both body and soul, not merely a dream. The first part, al-Isra, was the journey from al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. There, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led all the other prophets in prayer, signifying his leadership and the comprehensive nature of his message. This part of the journey is mentioned directly in the Qur’an.

The second part, al-Mi’raj, was his ascension from Jerusalem through the seven heavens. The most profound significance of this event is that it was where the five daily prayers were directly enjoined upon the Muslim ummah by Allah Himself, without any intermediary. Initially, fifty prayers were prescribed, but after the counsel of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Prophet’s repeated requests to Allah, they were mercifully reduced to five, while retaining the reward of fifty. This demonstrates the immense importance of Salah in Islam, as it is the only act of worship commanded in such a manner.

The event was also a major test of faith. The believers, led by Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, accepted it without hesitation, while the disbelievers of Quraysh mocked it. Shaykh Ibn Baz also emphasizes that while the event itself is a cornerstone of faith, there is no authentic evidence for its exact date. Therefore, singling out the 27th of Rajab or any other night for celebration is considered a prohibited innovation (bid’ah), as neither the Prophet nor his companions did so.

Question 5

What is the significance of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)?

Accepted Answer

Shaykh Ibn Baz explains that the incident of al-Isra' wa al-Mi'raj is one of the great signs of Allah demonstrating the truthfulness of His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his high status before Allah. It was a physical journey, not a dream, from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and then an ascension through the heavens.

This miraculous event served several purposes. It was a great honor and a form of consolation for the Prophet after the difficulties he faced during the 'Year of Sorrow', in which he lost his beloved wife Khadijah and his protective uncle Abu Talib. During this journey, Allah showed His Prophet some of His greatest signs, as mentioned in the Qur'an.

Of utmost significance is that the five daily prayers (Salat) were made obligatory upon the Muslim Ummah during the Mi'raj. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken up to a level where he heard the scratching of the pens, and Allah directly enjoined the prayers upon him and his nation. This highlights the supreme importance of Salah as a pillar of Islam, being the only act of worship legislated in such a direct and exalted manner.

Furthermore, the Prophet led the other Prophets in prayer in Jerusalem, signifying his leadership and the comprehensive and final nature of the message he brought. The journey confirmed the links between the message of Islam and the previous divine messages.

Question 6

Why are images of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) not allowed?

Accepted Answer

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' (al-Lajnah ad-Da'imah) has ruled that it is haram (forbidden) to produce or circulate images purporting to be of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), or any of the Prophets and Messengers.

The primary reason for this prohibition is to act as a barrier (sadd ad-dhara'i') against the means that lead to shirk (polytheism). The scholars explain that the first instance of shirk in humanity occurred among the people of Prophet Nuh (Noah), when they made images and statues of righteous men who had passed away (Wadd, Suwa', Yaghuth, etc.) in order to remember them. Over time, the reason for the images was forgotten, and people began to worship the images themselves.

A second crucial reason is that no one knows the exact appearance of the Prophet (ﷺ). The descriptions in the hadith provide an idea of his noble features but are not sufficient to create an accurate portrait. Therefore, any image would be based on imagination and conjecture, which amounts to a form of lying about the Prophet (ﷺ), and it opens the door to people depicting him in a manner that is disrespectful or does not befit his high status.

Furthermore, the prohibition is an extension of the general prohibition in the Sunnah on making images of animate beings (`tasweer`). The hadith evidence for this is extensive, with the Prophet (ﷺ) stating that the makers of images will be among those most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection, and that the angels of mercy do not enter a house containing an image. Protecting the image and status of the prophets is of the utmost importance to safeguarding the core message of Tawhid (pure monotheism).

Question 7

Who are the 25 Prophets mentioned in the Quran?

Accepted Answer

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen explained in his commentary on al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah that belief in the prophets and messengers is the third pillar of Iman (faith). This includes believing in those whom Allah has named in the Qur'an and those He has not. While the true number of prophets is known only to Allah, He has mentioned 25 of them by name in the Qur'an.

It is obligatory to believe in all of them collectively and individually. Allah says, "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.'" (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:285).

The 25 prophets mentioned by name are:

1.  Adam
2.  Idris (Enoch)
3.  Nuh (Noah)
4.  Hud
5.  Salih
6.  Ibrahim (Abraham)
7.  Lut (Lot)
8.  Isma'il (Ishmael)
9.  Ishaq (Isaac)
10. Ya'qub (Jacob)
11. Yusuf (Joseph)
12. Ayyub (Job)
13. Shu'ayb
14. Musa (Moses)
15. Harun (Aaron)
16. Dhul-Kifl (Ezekiel)
17. Dawud (David)
18. Sulayman (Solomon)
19. Ilyas (Elijah)
20. Al-Yasa' (Elisha)
21. Yunus (Jonah)
22. Zakariyya (Zechariah)
23. Yahya (John the Baptist)
24. 'Isa (Jesus)
25. Muhammad

(Peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all).

Notably, 18 of these prophets are mentioned together in Surah al-An'am, verses 84-86. The remaining seven are mentioned in various other places throughout the Qur'an.

Question 8

Who are the 25 Prophets mentioned in the Quran?

Accepted Answer

Belief in the prophets and messengers is a pillar of Islamic faith (Iman). Allah has sent numerous prophets to guide humanity, some of whom are mentioned by name in the Qur'an and others are not. As Muslims, we are obligated to believe in all of them without distinction. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, like other scholars, affirmed that the Qur'an specifically names twenty-five prophets and messengers.

Eighteen of these prophets are mentioned together in Surah al-An'am (6:83-86): Abraham (Ibrahim), Isaac (Ishaq), Jacob (Ya'qub), Noah (Nuh), David (Dawud), Solomon (Sulayman), Job (Ayyub), Joseph (Yusuf), Moses (Musa), Aaron (Harun), Zechariah (Zakariyya), John (Yahya), Jesus ('Isa), Elias (Ilyas), Ishmael (Isma'il), Elisha (al-Yasa'), Jonah (Yunus), and Lot (Lut).

The remaining seven are mentioned elsewhere in the Qur'an: Adam, Idris, Hud, Salih, Shu'ayb, Dhul-Kifl, and the seal of the prophets, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all).

It is essential to believe in all of these prophets by name and to hold the general belief that Allah sent many other prophets and messengers whose names we do not know. The Qur'an states, "And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those We have not related to you" (Ghafir 40:78). This comprehensive belief is a requirement of faith.

Question 9

Who is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

Accepted Answer

He is Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim, from the tribe of Quraysh, born in Makkah, Arabia. He is the final prophet and messenger sent by Allah to all of humanity, jinn and mankind alike. His lineage traces back to the Prophet Isma'il, the son of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon them all).

Allah sent him as a mercy to the worlds, to guide people from the darkness of polytheism and ignorance to the light of monotheism (Tawhid) and knowledge. He received his first revelation at the age of forty in the cave of Hira, when the angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to him with the first verses of the Qur'an. For thirteen years in Makkah, he called people to worship Allah alone and to abandon the idolatry that was rampant. He and his followers faced severe persecution for their beliefs.

Following this period, he migrated to the city of Madinah, an event known as the Hijrah, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Madinah, he established the first Islamic state, uniting the various tribes under the banner of Islam. From there, the message of Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.

He is the ultimate role model for Muslims in all aspects of life, from worship and ethics to governance and personal conduct. His teachings and life example, known as the Sunnah, are the second source of Islamic law after the Qur'an. Allah describes him in the Qur'an as being upon an 'exalted standard of character'. He passed away in Madinah at the age of sixty-three.

Prophets & Messengers

What do Muslims believe about Jesus (Isa) and Mary (Maryam)?

Who is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

What is the significance of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)?

Why are images of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) not allowed?

Who are the 25 Prophets mentioned in the Quran?

Explore other topics

Explore other sections