Jesus, Prophet of Islam - The Islamic Bulletin

Jesus in Qur'an 311

Fortunately not all of the People of the Book oppose the Muslims
with the same degree of intensity:

You will certainly find that the most implacable of peo­

ple in their enmity towards those who believe are the

Jews and those who worship idols, and you will cer­

tainly find that the nearest in their affection towards

those who believe are those who say, 'Surely we are

Christians.' That is because there are priests and monks

among them, and because they are not proud.

And when they listen to what has been revealed to the

Messenger, you see their eyes fill with tears as they

recognise the truth. They say, 'Our Lord, we believe­

so record us as being among those who bear witness.

And how can we not believe in God and in what has

come to us of the truth - and (how can we not) hope

that our Lord willlead us in (to the Garden) with the

people who are righteous?' And God has rewarded them

for what they say, with Gardens underneath which riv­

ers flow, in which they shall dwell for ever -and that is

the reward for those who do good. And as for those who

disbelieve and deny Our signs - these are the people of

Hell. (Qur'an 5: 82-86).

It is clear from the Qur'an, however, that wherever their sympa­
thies may lie, those Christians who refuse to accept Islam are more
closely allied with the Jews than with the Muslims, andGod warns
the Muslims not to take them as their friends:

And the [ews will not be pleased with you, and neither

will the Christians, until you follow their system. Say:

'Surely the guidance of God is the only guidance.' And

if you were to follow their desires, after the knowledge

which has come to you, you would not have in God any

friend or helper.Thoseto whomWe have given the Book

and who read it as it should be read, these believe in it­

and as for whoever rejects it, then these are the losers.

(Qur'an 2: 120-121).