Did Jesus Pray Like a Muslim? Shaikh Saleh Academy

Prayer is one of the most important and prominent acts of worship that bring the servant closer to his Lord in Islam, as it is essential in the life of every Muslim. Prayer can be defined as regular sayings and actions that share in their origins some of what was mentioned by previous prophets, including Jesus, PBUH, as he was also commanded to pray. In this article, Sheikh Saleh Academy answers this question: did Jesus pray like a Muslim?

Did Jesus Engage in Prayer Rituals Similar to Those in Islam?

A Muslim must perform five daily prayers that include Ruku, Sujood, standing, and reciting the Holy Quran. Prayer is one of the basic pillars of Islam that shows humility and submission to Allah SWT. As for Jesus, it was mentioned that he always went to pray and communicate continuously with Allah SWT. From here come some questions such as: did Jesus pray like Muslims, which can be answered by contemplating some of the specifications of prayer mentioned in the Bible.

Jesus’ Prayer confirms the presence of Sujood and raising the hands when supplicating, etc., which shows the great similarity between Jesus’ prayer and the Muslim prayer.

How Jesus’ Practices Reflect Islamic Traditions

There are many practices of Jesus that reflect Islamic traditions, the most prominent of which is Sujood to Allah SWT, which shows humility, submission, and modesty to Allah SWT. It was part of the worship of Jesus, and it is one of the most prominent acts of prayer. On the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said:

“أقربُ ما يكونُ العبدُ من ربهِ وهو ساجدٌ، فأكثروا الدعاءَ”

“The closest a servant comes to their Lord is while they are prostrating, so make abundant supplication.

Read about: prayers during ramadan month

Did Jesus’ Prayer Resemble Islamic Salah

The prayer of Jesus is very similar to the prayer of Muslims, especially in the concept of submission, humility and communication with Allah SWT, which occurs when bowing and prostrating in Muslim prayer. It is mentioned in the Gospel that Jesus during his ordeal, would turn to Allah SWT sincerely and pray in humility and prostration.

Prayer in Islam also aims to strengthen the spiritual connection with Allah SWT, and this is similar to what Jesus, peace be upon him, used to do. In this regard, some may ask, “Can a Muslim Pray for a Non-Muslim?” No, this is not permissible.

Are there similarities between Jesus’ prayers and Islamic prayers?

There are many similarities between Jesus’ prayers and Islamic prayers in many different aspects, such as complete submission to Allah SWT, and prostration in prayer, which is one of the basic pillars of prayer. There is much evidence in the Bible for Sujood, as well as raising the hands when supplicating, which is also found in the Bible, and other similarities between Jesus’ prayer and Islamic prayer.

Prayer must be in Arabic, which answers the common question: can you pray in English Islam?

Read about: muslim prayer for woman

Can Jesus be considered a Muslim in the broader sense?

Muslims believe that Jesus, son of Maryam, peace be upon him, is a messenger of Allah SWT and a servant of His servants, sent by Allah SWT to the Jews to call them to monotheism, so he is not a Allah or the son of Allah as Christians claim. The first word that Jesus, peace be upon him, said when Allah SWT made him speak while he was a baby:

(قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِي الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا)

Qāla innī ʿabdu Allāhi ātānīya al-kitāba wa jaʿalanī nabiyyā.

“He said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.’”

Jesus came with the religion of Islam, which is the religion of all the prophets, and Muhammad, PBUH, is the seal of the prophets. Jesus, peace be upon him, did not die, but Allah SWT raised him up, and he will descend at the end of life and deny the Christians in their claim that he is the son of Allah or Allah. He also will not accept from them anything but Islam, and he will deny the Jews in their claim that they killed him. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said:

(وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَيُوشِكَنَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمْ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ) وفي رواية: لا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمْ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا مُقْسِطًا، فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلَ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعَ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَيَفِيضَ الْمَالُ حَتَّى لا يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ).

“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, the son of Maryam (Mary) is soon going to descend among you, and in another narration: ‘The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam descends among you as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pig, abolish the jizyah, and wealth will be so abundant that no one will accept it.’”

Some may ask how long does prayer last for a Muslim? Or how many rakat in each namaz? The answer is that this differs according to the prayer, it may be two rakats or three rakats or four rakats.

Read about: do muslims pray to muhammad

Do Muslims believe in Jesus?

Of course, all Muslims believe that Jesus is a messenger of Allah’s honorable messengers and a servant of His servants, and that he is not a Allah nor the son of Allah as the Christians claim, and that Allah SWT supported him with many signs and miracles that prove his truthfulness.

Muslims believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Maryam without a father, and this is not difficult for Allah SWT and His power, and that Jesus permitted the Jews some of what was forbidden to them, and that Allah SWT raised Jesus, peace be upon him, to heaven alive and his enemies, the Jews, did not kill him. Allah SWT said about the Jews:

(وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَى مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا (156) وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا (157) بَلْ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا)

Wa bikufrihim wa qawlihim ‘ala Maryama buhtanan ‘aziman (156) wa qawlihim inna qatalna al-maseeha ‘Isa ibn Maryama rasoola Allahi wa ma qataloohu wa ma salaboohu walakinn shubbihalahum wa inna alladhina ikhtalafuu feehi lafee shakkin minhoo ma lahum bihi min ‘ilmin illa ittiba’a az-zann wa ma qataloohu yaqeenan (157) bal rafa’ahoo Allahu ilayhi wa kana Allahu ‘azeezan hakeema.

“And [for] their disbelief and their saying against Maryam a great slander (156) and their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.’ But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. They did not kill him for certain (157). Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.”

Muslims also believe that the Messiah, Jesus, son of Maryam, was a human being, and that he gave his followers the good news of the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad, PBUH, and that Jesus, son of Mary, will descend at the end of time and the Christians will lie in their claim that he is the son of Allah or that he is Allah, and his enemies, the Jews, will lie in their claim that they killed him, and nothing will be accepted from the Christians except Islam, then he will die, peace be upon him, and the Muslims will pray over him and bury him.

Muslims also believe that Jesus, peace be upon him, will disown those who claimed that he was Allah on the Day of Judgment. Allah SWT said through Jesus, peace be upon him:

(مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ)

Ma qultu lahum illa ma amartani bihi an ‘budu Allaha rabbi wa rabbukum wa kuntu ‘alayhim shaheedan ma dumtu feehim falamma tawaffaytanee kunta anta al-raqeeba ‘alayhim wa anta ‘ala kulli shay’in shaheed.

“I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, a Witness.”

Unlock Your Potential!

Sheikh Saleh Academy is one of the best academies that teaches the Holy Quran, Arabic language, Tajweed, and Islamic sciences of various kinds, such as short Islamic stories and Islamic topics for kids. It has many experienced teachers who are keen to use innovative and modern methods to facilitate learning for new students. Don’t waste time and sign up now for one of these courses:

Ready to deepen your understanding of the Qur’an and Arabic? Join our one-on-one online classes with expert teachers today!

Islamic Studies Course

Did Jesus Pray Like a Muslim?