Message #21776

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum Salam and peace to you too. 

The term Messiah is mentioned in the Noble Quran for Prophet Essa, son of Virgin Maryam, but it does NOT have the same reference nor the same definition as in Christianity. 

First let me quote the Quran Verses containing the word “Messiah.”

“And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Maryam, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them;”  4:157 An-Nissa.

"(And remember) when the angels said: O Maryam! Indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Maryam, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah)."  3:45  Al-Imran.

"O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Maryam, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Maryam, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender."  4:171 An-Nissa.


According to altered Christianity, the connotation within the word ‘Messiah’ is to be “anointed” (smear or rub with aromatic oil, typically in a religious ritual).  In olden times, priests and kings were anointed as part of the consecration ceremony (the action of making or declaring an individual or entity as sacred).  This is NOT the concept in the Noble Quran at all. To be anointed or to be an anointer in Islamic concept does not refer to the worldly ceremony of rubbing oil on the body of a saint.  That is nonsense.  Messiah in the Quran has a very simple and straight reference.  It means a special person chosen by The Almighty for a special mission (Monotheism or Tawheed).  Though Essa, son of Virgin Maryam, is specifically called the Messiah by the people, generally and by definition all Prophets were “anointed” by The Almighty in the sense that they were all specially chosen by The Almighty for a specific and special purpose, that is, to deliver the message of Tawheed (Monotheism).   

Thus, as a Quran reader you will also observe that as symbolic of Essa's (son of Virgin Maryam) prophethood chosen by The Almighty as His messenger, Allah Almighty mentions the word "Messiah" but never the word "Christ" which is typically used by the Christians because of their very different approach alluding to the practice of anointing according to non-Islamic traditions.

But the biggest violation of Christianity in regard to the use of the word “messiah” is their association of this word with the concept of trinity which is shirk and a very serious violation in the Sight of Allah Almighty to be completely rejected by all true believers.  This is a transgression that will NOT be forgiven on the Day of Judgement, if a person dies with the burden of this sin without rejecting it and repenting.

Hadith scholars are of the view that the Quran has referred to Essa, son of Virgin Maryam, by the name Messiah because this was the name commonly used for Essa in pre-Islamic Arabia.  This view is wholly wrong.  Regaradless of whether or not the people of pre-Islamic Arabia used the term ‘messiah,’  the Noble Quran stands independently for the Truth regardless of what the people say.  The Quran does NOT mention any word as a jargon, which is being misconstrued by the people, without correcting it. 

To conclude, the Noble Quran addresses Essa, son of Virgin Maryam, as Messiah because of the privileges bestowed on him by The Almighty.


Related posts:

-  Origin of the name Christ
-  How Christianity drifted away from Monotheism
-  Complete rejection of crucifixion of Essa son of Virgin Maryam as confirmed in the Noble Quran
-  Total rejection of Christian polytheism in the Words of The Almighty
-  Origin of the name Jesus