In Islamic belief, Jesus is a honored prophet whose miracles reveal the power of the Creator — never a claim to godhood.
The Core Truth in One Sentence
Every miracle attributed to Jesus in the Quran happens “by the permission of God” (bi-idhni Allah). This recurring phrase is the key to understanding Islam’s view of Jesus. Muslims revere him as a mighty prophet. Yet they firmly reject the idea that he is God or the son of God. The miracles serve one purpose: proving he was sent by God, not that he was God.
Six Miracles Recorded in the Quran
The Quran records six major miracles of Jesus. Most have parallels in the Bible. Two appear only in the Quran.
Speaking as an Infant
Jesus spoke from the cradle. This miracle appears only in the Quran. When Mary faced accusations from her people, the infant Jesus defended his mother. He said, “Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet” (19:30). This miracle cleared Mary’s name from the moment of his birth.
Fashioning a Bird from Clay
Jesus shaped a bird from clay. He breathed into it, and it became a living bird by God’s permission. This miracle does not appear in the canonical New Testament. However, a similar account exists in the non-canonical Infancy Gospel of Thomas. The Quran states: “I create for you from clay the shape of a bird, then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by the permission of God.”
Healing the Blind and the Leper
This miracle closely parallels the Gospel accounts. The Quran says: “I heal the blind and the leper by the permission of God.” Notably, the Arabic word al-akmah means specifically born blind, not blinded later in life.
Raising the Dead
Jesus raised the dead by God’s permission. This ranks among the most astonishing miracles. The Quran states: “I bring the dead to life by the permission of God.” Some Quranic commentators mention he raised four specific people. However, the exact number is not stated in the Quran itself.
Knowing Hidden Things
Jesus could tell people what they had eaten and what they stored in their homes. The Quran says: “I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses.” This miracle has no parallel in the Bible.
The Heavenly Table
This miracle gives Chapter Five of the Quran its name: Al-Ma’idah, “The Table.” The disciples asked Jesus to pray for a table to descend from heaven. It would serve as a confirmation of faith and a lasting memorial. God granted the request. Yet He warned that anyone who disbelieved afterward would face unprecedented punishment.
Miracles in the Quran and the Bible
| Miracle | Quran | Canonical Bible | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant speech | ✓ | ✗ | Quran only |
| Clay bird | ✓ | ✗ | Quran only |
| Healing blind/leper | ✓ | ✓ | Shared |
| Raising the dead | ✓ | ✓ | Shared |
| Knowing hidden things | ✓ | ✗ | Quran only |
| Heavenly table | ✓ | ✗ | Quran only |
Why “By God’s Permission” Matters So Much
The phrase “by the permission of God” repeats throughout the Quranic passages about Jesus’ miracles. This repetition is no accident. It carries a core theological claim.
First, it draws a clear line between the Creator and the created. The power behind the miracle comes from God. Jesus served only as the instrument. As Jesus himself says in the Quran: “I do this by the permission of God.”
Second, it echoes the miracle of his birth. Jesus was born of a virgin. That miracle alone shows God can create however He wills. God created Adam from nothing, Eve from one person, and Jesus from a woman without a man. Each method displays God’s absolute power.
Finally, it fits the Quran’s pattern for all prophetic miracles. Every prophet received signs suited to his era. Moses faced the magicians of Pharaoh. Jesus faced a people advanced in medicine. Muhammad faced a people mastered in eloquence. Miracles are “signs” (ayat) that point to God — never to the miracle worker himself.
How Muslims View Jesus’ Status
The Quran honors Jesus profoundly. It calls him Al-Masih (the Messiah), “a Word from God,” and “a Spirit from God.” Muslims believe he was born of a virgin, performed miracles, was raised to heaven, and will return before the Day of Judgment.
Yet the Quran is equally clear: Jesus was a man, a servant of God, and a messenger. He was not crucified. Instead, God raised him to Himself. He never claimed to be divine. On the contrary, he taught people to worship the One God alone.
This position forms the deepest divide between Islam and Christianity. Both faiths affirm that Jesus worked miracles. Yet they read those miracles in radically different ways. For Muslims, the miracles prove prophethood. For Christians, they prove divinity. The Quran’s answer is decisive: if Jesus performed miracles by his own power, he might be God. The constant refrain “by God’s permission” exists precisely to prevent that conclusion.
Jesus in Islamic Faith
For Muslims, belief in Jesus is part of faith itself. Anyone who denies Jesus as a prophet is not a true Muslim. The name “Jesus” (Isa) appears twenty-five times in the Quran. That is more often than the name “Muhammad” appears. He stands among the five greatest messengers, alongside Abraham, Moses, Noah, and Muhammad.
Jesus’ miracles serve one central function in the Quran: guiding people to the One God. Every miracle ends with “by God’s permission.” Each points to the same conclusion. God alone creates. God alone provides. God alone gives life to the dead. The miracle is never the destination. It is a signpost.
Conclusion
The Quranic miracles of Jesus — infant speech, the clay bird, healing the blind, raising the dead, revealing hidden things, and the heavenly table — all carry one qualifier: “by the permission of God.” These miracles confirm Jesus’ prophethood. They simultaneously deny his divinity. For Muslims, Jesus is a noble messenger. His miracles display God’s power, not his own. This position honors Jesus deeply while holding fast to Islam’s most central principle: the absolute oneness of God.
Reference: https://quran.com/
