Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 35
❖ The Question
A Christian posed three questions, claiming he would embrace Islam if satisfactory answers were given.
First question:
Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus) عليه السلام spoke in the cradle, while Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ did not. Does this not prove that ʿĪsā عليه السلام is superior?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
Why Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام Spoke in the Cradle
- Maryam عليها السلام, the mother of ʿĪsā, faced a false accusation of fornication from the Jews when she returned with her newborn.
- This grave slander required a divine miracle to prove her innocence.
- Allah caused the infant ʿĪsā عليه السلام to speak, proclaiming his prophethood and defending his mother’s chastity.
Why Such a Miracle Was Not Required for Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ
- The parents of the Prophet ﷺ were well-known to everyone.
- His mother faced no accusation or slander.
- Therefore, no miraculous infant testimony was needed.
Is Speaking in the Cradle a Measure of Superiority?
No — otherwise, by this logic, the infant who spoke to defend Jurayj the monk would also be considered superior to many great Prophets, including Ibrāhīm, Yaʿqūb, and Mūsā عليهم السلام — for whom no such incident is recorded.
Islamic Belief About All Prophets
- All true Prophets are Allah’s chosen servants.
- Muslims must believe in every one of them — from Ibrāhīm, Mūsā, and ʿĪsā عليهم السلام to Muḥammad ﷺ, the final Prophet from the lineage of Ismāʿīl عليه السلام.
True Criterion of Prophetic Excellence: Messengerhood
- The enduring miracle of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ is the Qur’ān, preserved in its original Arabic.
- In contrast, the original teachings of ʿĪsā عليه السلام in Aramaic are lost; the existing Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) were written later by followers of Paul.
Critical Issues with the Current Gospels
- Language gap: ʿĪsā’s language was Aramaic, but the Gospels are in Greek.
- Authorship uncertainty:
- Matthew narrates about “Matthew” in the third person, indicating he may not be the author.
- Mark and Luke were not disciples of ʿĪsā.
- John’s Gospel appears to have been written by someone else.
- Loss of authentic chains of transmission: Unlike the rigorously preserved Sunnah of Muḥammad ﷺ, Christian sources lack continuous, reliable isnād.
Paul’s Corrupt Teachings
Paul wrote:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”
(Galatians 3:13)
- Islam teaches that no Prophet is “accursed.” All are noble and sinless.
In contrast, ʿĪsā عليه السلام himself said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them…”
(Matthew 5:17–18)
Conclusion
- The cradle miracle of ʿĪsā عليه السلام served a unique purpose — defending his mother’s honor — not proving superiority over other Prophets.
- The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ’s excellence is established through his preserved revelation, global impact, and completion of prophethood.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
