Looking only at the Quran, what do we learn about Isa (Jesus in the Quran) and what do we learn about Muhammad? Who should we trust?
Many believe that Muhammad was perfect, or almost near perfect. He is said to be in an almost sinless state. But is this what the Quran actually says?
Sinfulness of Mo; Sinlessness of Isa:
- Surah 47:19
“So know that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women…”
Muhammad is explicitly commanded to seek forgiveness for his sin (Arabic: dhanbika).
- Surah 48:1–2
“Indeed, We have given you a clear victory, that Allah may forgive you your past and future sins…”
This again is a clear reference to Muhammad as a sinner.
- Surah 40:55
“So be patient… and ask forgiveness for your sin…”
Again, Muhammad is instructed to seek forgiveness.
- Surah 110:3
“Then glorify the praise of your Lord and ask His forgiveness…”
This was revealed near the end of Muhammad’s life and commands him to seek forgiveness.
- Surah 4:106
“Seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
The surrounding context concerns a legal dispute in which Muhammad was initially inclined to defend the wrong person before receiving correction.
Then there’s the hadith that shows us he regularly was asking God to forgive him.
| Hadith | Asking for Forgiveness |
|---|---|
| Bukhari 6307 | “I seek Allah’s forgiveness… more than seventy times a day.” |
| Muslim 2702 | “Repent to Allah, for I repent one hundred times a day.” |
| Muslim 2702a | “My heart becomes covered…” |
| Muslim 591 | “He sought Allah’s forgiveness three times” after every prayer. |
Some will say that these ayas in the Quran and narrations in the hadith are just Muhammad being humble. But we have no indication to believe anything other than that he recognized his sinfulness.
Now let’s compare that to Isa, the name for Jesus in the Quran. Does it say the same of him? That he is regularly asking for forgiveness? None. Not at all. So let’s compare:
Muhammad
- Quran 47:19 – “Ask forgiveness for your sin…”
- Quran 40:55 – “Ask forgiveness for your sin…”
- Quran 48:2 – “…that Allah may forgive you your past and future sins.”
- Quran 110:3 – “…seek His forgiveness.”
Isa
- Quran 3:45 – “Honored in this world and the Hereafter.”
- Quran 3:46 – “One of those brought near (to Allah).”
- Quran 19:19 – The angel says he is a “pure son” (ghulāman zakiyyan). The Arabic word zakiyy carries the sense of pure or undefiled.
- Quran 21:91 and 66:12 praise Mary for her chastity and present Isa’s birth as miraculous.
Then let’s look further, to when they were young.
In Their Youth:
1. Jesus was untouched by Satan at birth
Abu Hurairah reported that Muhammad said:
“No child is born except that Satan touches him when he is born, and he starts crying because of Satan’s touch, except Mary and her son.”
Reference:
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Prophets, Hadith 3431 (Darussalam numbering)
- Also in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4548 (Book of Tafsir, on Quran 3:36)
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Virtues, Hadith 2366
2. Muhammad’s chest was opened and his heart washed
Anas ibn Malik narrated:
“Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah while he was playing with the other boys. He took him, laid him on the ground, split open his chest, removed his heart, and extracted from it a clot, saying: ‘This was the portion of Satan in you.‘ Then he washed it in a golden basin with Zamzam water, restored it, and returned it to its place.”
Reference:
- Sahih Muslim, Hadith 162 (Book of Faith)
In Regards to Salvation:
Let’s compare:\
| Muhammad (Quran & Hadith) | Jesus (Quran, Hadith & Bible) |
|---|---|
| Muhammad said, “By Allah, though I am the Messenger of Allah, I do not know what will be done with me or with you.” (Sahih al-Bukhari; numbering varies by edition.) | Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) |
| The Quran does not explicitly describe Muhammad as presently being in Paradise. | The Quran says Allah raised Jesus to Himself (Quran 4:158; 3:55). |
| Muhammad died and, according to mainstream Islamic belief, awaits the Day of Resurrection. | According to authentic hadith, Jesus will return before the Day of Judgment, defeat the Al-Masih ad-Dajjal, establish justice, and then die a natural death (Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim). |
It is Jesus who was raised to himself. It was Jesus who will return on the Day of Judgment. Furthermore:
It was Jesus who was the Word of Allah, the Spirit from Allah, the Messiah, and a sign to all mankind.
- The Word of Allah: Quran 3:45; 4:171
- A Spirit from Allah: Quran 4:171
- The Messiah (al-Masih): Quran 3:45; 4:157; 4:171; 5:17; 5:72; 5:75; 9:30
- A Sign to all mankind: Quran 21:91; 23:50 (also see 19:21, where Jesus is described as “a sign” (āyah) to humanity)
If you want to be especially precise, you could write:
According to the Quran, Jesus alone is called “the Messiah” (Quran 3:45; 4:157; 4:171), “His Word” (Quran 3:45; 4:171), “a Spirit from Him” (Quran 4:171), and “a sign for mankind” (Quran 19:21; 21:91; 23:50).
Conclusion:
Isa (Jesus), according to the Islamic literature, is far above Muhammad. Jesus is the sinless one.
Who would you rather follow?