'Isa

Isa, Jesus son of Maryam, is one of the greatest prophets in Islam. His story begins with the remarkable story of his mother, Maryam, a righteous woman chosen and purified by Allah.

An angel came to Maryam with news that she would have a son despite no man having touched her. She was astonished. The answer was that Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He says “Be,” and it is.

Maryam withdrew from her people during the pregnancy. When labor came, she was beside a date palm. Allah provided comfort, water, and ripe dates. She later returned carrying the infant Isa.

The people accused her. Maryam did not argue. She pointed to the baby. By Allah’s permission, Isa spoke from the cradle, declaring that he was a servant of Allah, that he had been given Scripture and made a prophet, and that he was commanded to pray and give charity and to be dutiful to his mother.

As Isa grew, Allah gave him the Injil and supported him with clear signs. The Qur’an describes miracles he performed by Allah’s permission: shaping the form of a bird from clay and it becoming alive, healing those born blind and those with serious skin disease, and bringing the dead to life. Every time the Qur’an mentions these extraordinary acts, the key phrase is “by Allah’s permission.”

Isa also told people of some things they ate and stored in their houses, by knowledge Allah gave him.

He called the Children of Israel to worship Allah. He confirmed the Torah that had come before him while making lawful some things that had been forbidden.

A group of disciples supported him. In one Qur’anic passage, they asked for a table spread with food to descend from heaven as a sign that would reassure their hearts. Isa prayed, and Allah answered with a warning that such a sign carried responsibility.

The Qur’an also addresses the end of Isa’s earthly mission differently from Christian theology. Islam teaches that Isa was not killed or crucified by his enemies in the way they claimed. Allah raised him to Himself. Muslims believe Isa will return before the end of time based on authentic hadith.

The miracle spotlight for Isa is extensive: the virgin birth, speaking in infancy, healing, giving life to a bird-shaped form of clay, bringing the dead to life, and other signs—all by Allah’s permission.

Illustration prompts must never show Isa or Maryam in a way that implies a prophet is visible. Use an empty cradle beside an oil lamp; a date palm beside a spring; clay bird forms resting on a work surface; a healed person’s discarded walking stick without showing the healing scene; a table spread with food under a luminous sky; and clouds over an ancient city to symbolize Allah raising Isa.

Activities can ask children to repeat the phrase **“by Allah’s permission”** whenever a miracle card appears. This protects the central Islamic belief that prophets do not possess independent divine power.

A comparison activity can explain respectfully that Muslims love and honor Isa but do not worship him. He is the Messiah, a messenger, and a servant of Allah.

The chapter ends with two connected lessons: miracles point to Allah’s power, and loving a prophet means following the truth he taught about worshiping Allah alone.