Episode 5: Was Jesus a Muslim?

Introduction

• Host: Matt Baker
• Episode Topic: Examining Jesus from a religious perspective, specifically within Islam
• Series Goal: To broaden understanding of diverse academic discussions about Jesus
• Expert Guest: Professor Gabriel Sahed Reynolds, who teaches Islamic studies at the University of Notre Dame and runs the YouTube channel Exploring the Quran and the Bible

Key Points

1. Different Perspectives on Jesus:

   • Secular Hypotheses: Previous episodes questioned if Jesus was the secret heir to the throne of Judea, a rebel leader, or a figure invented for political reasons.
   • Religious Perspective: This episode explores Jesus's importance in Islam, unlike the most familiar association with Christianity.

2. Islamic View of Jesus:

   • Jesus is considered a Muslim, which in Islam is anyone who submits to God or Allah.
   • Islam was not exclusively founded by Muhammad; followers of Islam believe that prophets, including Jesus, were Muslims in the sense that they submitted to God.

3. Prophet and Submission:

   • Jesus as a Prophet: Similar to other prophets in Islam, Jesus is seen as one who was sent by God to preach and guide people in worship and moral conduct.
   • Meaning of Islam: The word "Islam" means submission, and Jesus is viewed as a Muslim because he submitted to God's will.
   • Jesus's Mission: In Islam, Jesus was a prophet sent to guide the children of Israel back to God's teachings and laws, lightening their burdens but not negating Moses's laws.

4. Death and Return of Jesus in Islam:

   • Crucifixion: The Quran asserts that Jesus was not crucified, and instead, another man (possibly Judas or one of Jesus's disciples) was made to look like him and crucified.
   • Jesus's Ascension: It is believed Jesus was taken bodily to heaven without dying and will return in the end times as a champion for Muslim believers.

Conclusions

• Comparison with Christianity:

  • Similarities: Jesus seen as a compassionate figure in both religions, promoting mercy and forgiveness.
  • Differences: Christians view Jesus as fulfilling the law of Moses, while Muslims believe Jesus came to confirm the Torah and lighten the law, but he was not God in flesh as per Christian belief.

• Prophecy of Future Prophet:

  • Surah 61:6 of the Quran mentions Jesus’ announcement of a messenger to come after him, referred to as Ahmed, interpreted by Muslim scholars as a reference to Muhammad.

• The Term "Messiah":

  • Jesus is referred to as the Messiah (al-Masih) in the Quran, though it is interpreted differently from Christian or Jewish traditions. It signifies a title or name rather than a role of divine redemption as perceived in Christianity.

• Final Remarks:

  • Matt emphasizes he is not attempting to assert the correctness of any perspective but aims to provide a broader understanding of the context in which discussions about Jesus being a Muslim in Islamic theology are situated.

Additional Resources

• Explore different perspectives on global news and avoid echo chambers with Ground News for an expanded worldview. Use the link in the description for a discount.

Experts

• Professor Gabriel Sahed Reynolds: Islamic Studies, University of Notre Dame, YouTuber at Exploring the Quran and the Bible.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

This Markdown document summarizes Matt Baker's discussion in Episode 5 of his series on "Who was Jesus really?", specifically exploring the perception of Jesus within Islam with insights from Professor Gabriel Sahed Reynolds. It compares Islamic views with Christian perspectives, emphasizing understanding over persuasion. Additionally, it highlights Ground News as a tool for accessing diverse news perspectives.