In Islam, Jesus (Isa; Arabic: ʿĪsā) is considered to be a Messenger of God and the Masih (Messiah) who was sent to guide the Children of Israel (banī isrā’īl) with a new scripture, the Injil or Gospel.
The belief in Jesus (and all other messengers of God) is required in Islam, and a requirement of being a Muslim. The Quran mentions Jesus twenty-five times, more often, by name, than Muhammad, four times. It states that Jesus was born to Mary (Arabic:Maryam) as the result of virginal conception, a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God (Arabic: Allah).
According to the popular opinion and Muslim traditions, Jesus was not crucified but instead, he was raised up by God unto the heavens. This “raising” is understood to mean through bodily ascension.
Many Muslims believe that Jesus will return to earth near the Day of Judgment to restore justice and to defeat Masih ad-Dajjal (“the false messiah”, also known as the Antichrist).
– Source: wikipedia
In the Quran, there are many stories about the life and teachings of Jesus. The Quran recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by God’s permission, and his life as a respected prophet of God. The Quran also repeatedly reminds that Jesus was a human prophet sent by God, not part of God Himself.
“And behold! God will say [i.e. on the Day of Judgment]: ‘Oh Jesus, the son of Mary! Did you say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God?’ He will say: ‘Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would indeed have known it. You know what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Yours. For You know in full all that is hidden. Never did I say to them anything except what You commanded me to say: ‘Worship God, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them while I lived among them. When You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a witness to all things’” (5:116-117).
– Source: www.about.com
Muslims believe that Jesus peace be upon him according to the Holy Quran is a wonderful, humble, generous messenger of God who came down and revealed God’s words to his people, the people of Israel. But Muslims do not believe that Jesus is God, nor they believe that God ever chose to come down to earth in a form of a man to die for our sins to purify us and forgive us.
According to Islam, Jesus never died on the cross, nor ever wanted to die on the cross, nor ever was born to die on the cross. Muslims believe that Jesus was sentenced to death, and people thought that he got executed on the cross. The Holy Quran rejects this idea, and claims that it is a false one. Jesus never died on the cross, nor he ever died for anyone’s sins.
– www.answering-christianity.com
Jesus and the unique method of his creation, his (perfected) status, and his apostleship to God, combine to create, within the Islamic context, a picture of a man who was both a servant and a friend (awliya) of God. He is also seen as a man who was a sign, a symbol granted to mankind by God, and a guide who awakens man to his nature, potential and relation to God.
“A ‘spirit of God’: of no other…. His relation towards his Lord is such, That he acts through it in superior and inferior worlds. God purified his body and elevated him in spirit, And made of him the symbol of His act of creation.” (Muhyi-d-Din Ibn Arabi.. The Wisdom of The Prophets. Gloucestershire; Beshara Publications. pg. 68)
– Source: www.islamfrominside.com
A Summary of the Points About Which Islam and Christianity Agree and Disagree:
Both Islam and Christianity: 1) revere Jesus and assert Jesus’ holiness, in the sense that he lived in the world while being pure and free of sin; 2) believe that Mary, Jesus’ mother, was decent, pure, and holy; 3) declare that Mary, a virgin, miraculously conceived Jesus; 4) assert that Jesus performed a number of miracles.
Concerning Jesus, Islam and Christianity differ in the following ways: 1) While Christianity asserts that Jesus is both human and divine, Islam does not accept the belief in Jesus’ divinity. Hence, while Christians worship Jesus, Muslims instead revere Jesus and believe in him as a prophet, using the Qur’an (not the Bible) as a reliable record of knowledge about Jesus; 2) Although Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God, Muslims assert that God does not give birth and therefore has no sons or children. God is not physical for Muslims; and hence for Muslims God cannot be a father. 3) On the one hand, Christianity declares that Jesus was crucified. On the other hand, Islam asserts that it only seemed like Jesus was crucified, and that God miraculously “took him up to God, Himself.” 4) While Christianity asserts that Jesus died in order to redeem the original sin of mankind or human sins as a whole, Muslims do not believe in Jesus as a redeemer and saviour, since they do not believe in original sin and since they do believe God’s grace, guidance (in the form of prophetic revelation–the word of God), and human effort are sufficient for redemption and salvation.
– Source: Dr. Alan Godlas (islam.uga.edu)