The Origins of Christianity from an Islamic Perspective

According to Muslim scholars, the word "Nazarenes" is a better word to describe present day Christians. The word "Christianity" implies that there is an adherence to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the beliefs and practices of the people. This is not true. Muslim scholars discouraged the use of the word "Christianity" to describe the distorted teachings of Jesus (AS). They also discouraged the use of the term "Christians" to describe the followers of this distorted teaching of Jesus (AS)..We call Christians, "Nasara" or Nazarenes and their religion we call the religion of the Nazarenes.

Nazarene puts the religion into the right context because it was intended to be local. Nazarene localizes it to Nazreth, the town of its origin. Only Islam is the global religion for all mankind. The Prophet (SWAS) said:  “Every prophet used to be sent to his own local people and I was sent to the whole mankind”. In the Quran, Prophet Jesus (AS) is reported to have said: “And I have come as a messenger to the Children of Israel”.

Jesus (AS) was sent to complete the message of Musa (AS) by calling the Bani Israel to return to the pure monotheism, righteousness, love and compassion. His message was resisted strongly by the Jews. It was revealed by Allah to Jesus son of Mary after people of Israel went astray from the teachings of Musa (AS) and divided into so many sects. 

Jesus (AS) was born to his mother Mary who was a daughter of Imran – a great man in the Bani Israel. Before Mary's mother became pregnant vowed to devote her  newborn baby to serve Allah in the masjid. When she realized that the baby was a girl she was somewhat disappointed. Nevertheless, Prophet Zackaria (AS) who was married to the sister of Mary’s mother, adopted and took care of her in the masjid. Mary was a good worshiper of Allah. Allah describes the prayer of Mary – a prayer that included ruku, sujood and standing position like we have in Islamic prayer. It was also a congregational prayer.

“O Mary, submit to your lord, and prostrate and bow among those who bow”

Mary became pregnant without a husband. This became a great test to the people. It was a cause of the people who lacked belief in Allah’s miracle to grow astray. The first group accused Mary of sin. These are the Jews. The other group thought that Jesus was the son of Allah. These are the Christians.

Jesus (AS) was born in Bethlehem in Palestine. Allah made him speak in the cradle to testify of the purity of his mother of the accusations. Allah gave him miracles to proof his prophet-hood. He made a clay bird and after blowing into it it became alive. He was able to cure illnesses and raise the dead. Also he was able to tell people what they were eating and saving in their homes. Another miracle was the descending of a table came from heaven to be a feast for him and his disciples.

Jews did not tolerate his teachings of pure tauheed and corrections in their practices. They reached the Roman King of Palestine – Balatis and encouraged him to issue an order that Jesus (AS) should be killed. Jesus (AS) and his disciples when into hiding. One of the disciples told on him. When the people reached Jesus (AS) and his disciples, Allah raised Jesus to the heavens and made the one who told on him to look like Jesus (AS). The Romans mistook him for Jesus (AS) and crucified him instead.

We believe that Jesus (AS) will come back before the day of Resurrection to follow the Islamic teaching, to kill the pig and break the cross and die a normal death. He selected a number of disciples and 70 messengers who he taught and sent them to neighboring villages to spread the message of Truth.