Who Is Issa al-Masih?

The Qur'an itself tells us to make no distinction between the prophets. And yet, when you read what the Qur'an says about Issa al-Masih, the language changes. It grows. It lifts.

The Qur'an calls him by names it gives to no other messenger. Al-Masih, the Messiah. Kalimatullah, the Word of Allah. Ruh-ul-Lah, a Spirit from Allah. Rahmah, the Mercy of Allah. Zakiy, the Sinless One. Muqarrab, the one brought near to Allah.

The Qur'an does not elevate one prophet above another. But the Qur'an speaks about this one prophet in language it reserves for him alone. Why would Allah do that? Why would He place these names in His book, and no other?

This is a question every honest reader of the Qur'an eventually has to ask. Nuh is a prophet. Ibrahim is a prophet and a friend of Allah. Musa is a prophet, a messenger, and one who spoke with Allah. Each carries his own honour. But read what the Qur'an places upon Issa al-Masih.

Messenger. Word. Spirit. Three titles in a single ayah. Each one weighty. Each one given to him. The Qur'an does not explain why. The Qur'an simply records it. Allah chose to speak of this one man in this way. If Allah placed these titles in His book about one messenger and no other, is He pointing at something?

When the Qur'an calls Issa the Word of Allah, it does not say he carried a word from Allah. Every prophet carried a word from Allah. Only Issa is called the Word.

His Word. Not a word. His. Sent down. Not composed. Sent. The Word of Allah was sent from Allah into the womb of Maryam, became a human being, and lived among us. The Qur'an is precise. What does it mean for Allah's own Word to take a body and be sent to us?

Yes. The Qur'an records it plainly. Maryam had brought the baby to her people. They accused her. She pointed to the infant.

Read it slowly. The infant Issa declares his own nature. He pronounces peace over his own birth, his own death, and his own resurrection. No other prophet speaks from the cradle. No other prophet announces peace over his own death while still a nursing child. What is Allah trying to show us?

Chosen above the women of all nations. Named, when countless others were not. A whole surah carries her name. Allah does not do this by accident. The only reason Maryam is named in the Qur'an is the one who came through her. Why would Allah honour a mother this way, unless the one she bore was like no other?

Four things are listed. He creates living birds from clay. He heals those born blind. He heals the lepers. He raises the dead. Ibrahim did not raise the dead. Musa did not create life from clay. Only Issa. Creating life from clay is what Allah did with Adam. To give this authority to one man, by His own leave, is no small thing. What is Allah saying about the one He chose to do this?

He was taken. He was raised. He is with Allah now. The Qur'an does not say his story is over. It says he is with Allah, and he is coming back. He is alive. He is the Sign of the Hour. The Qur'an does not speak this way of any other prophet. Every other messenger went the way of all flesh. Issa was taken differently. If he is still alive and returning, what does Allah want from us between now and then?