Is it Correct to Call a Nasrani a “Masihi”? Qur’anic Explanation
(Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam)
Is it correct to call “Nasraniyyah” (Christianity) as “Masihiyyah” and to refer to a Nasrani (Christian) as “Masihi”?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
It is certain that after the advent of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the attribution of the Christians (Naṣārā) to ʿĪsā (Jesus) عليه السلام is no longer valid. If they were truly the followers of ʿĪsā عليه السلام, they would have inevitably believed in Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, because ʿĪsā عليه السلام himself gave glad tidings of his coming.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِذ قالَ عيسَى ابنُ مَريَمَ يـبَنى إِسرءيلَ إِنّى رَسولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيكُم مُصَدِّقًا لِما بَينَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ التَّورىةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسولٍ يَأتى مِن بَعدِى اسمُهُ أَحمَدُ فَلَمّا جاءَهُم بِالبَيِّنـتِ قالوا هـذا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ ﴿٦﴾ [Sūrah al-Ṣaff: 6]
"And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Indeed, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah, and bringing glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad. But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: This is obvious magic."
ʿĪsā عليه السلام informed his people about the coming of the Final Messenger ﷺ so that they would believe in him and accept his religion. To give such news without benefit is impossible for a Prophet — and certainly, ʿĪsā عليه السلام was that Prophet who gave this glad tidings.
The above verse shows that when the promised Messenger ﷺ came with clear signs, the Christians rejected him and called him a magician.
By denying Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Christians in fact denied ʿĪsā عليه السلام, since it was he who foretold the coming of the Prophet ﷺ. Hence, their claim to belong to ʿĪsā عليه السلام is false. If they were truly “Masīḥīs,” they would have believed in the Prophet ﷺ whom ʿĪsā عليه السلام announced.
Allah ﷻ took a pledge from all Prophets to believe in and support Muhammad ﷺ:
﴿وَإِذ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ ميثـقَ النَّبِيّـۧنَ لَما ءاتَيتُكُم مِن كِتـبٍ وَحِكمَةٍ ثُمَّ جاءَكُم رَسولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِما مَعَكُم لَتُؤمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ قالَ ءَأَقرَرتُم وَأَخَذتُم عَلى ذلِكُم إِصرى قالوا أَقرَرنا قالَ فَاشهَدوا وَأَنا۠ مَعَكُم مِنَ الشّـهِدينَ ﴿٨١﴾ [Sūrah Āl ʿImrān: 81]
The Prophet mentioned here, to whom all others were bound to give support, is none other than Muhammad ﷺ.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَأَنزَلنا إِلَيكَ الكِتـبَ بِالحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِما بَينَ يَدَيهِ مِنَ الكِتـبِ وَمُهَيمِنًا عَلَيهِ فَاحكُم بَينَهُم بِما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلا تَتَّبِع أَهواءَهُم عَمّا جاءَكَ مِنَ الحَقِّ﴾ [Sūrah al-Māʾidah: 48]
This confirms that the Qur’an is the guardian and confirmer of previous revelations.
Calling a Nasrani “Masīḥī” is inaccurate, because:
Hence, it is not correct to call them “Masīḥīs.”
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam)
❖ Question
Is it correct to call “Nasraniyyah” (Christianity) as “Masihiyyah” and to refer to a Nasrani (Christian) as “Masihi”?
❖ Introduction
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
It is certain that after the advent of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the attribution of the Christians (Naṣārā) to ʿĪsā (Jesus) عليه السلام is no longer valid. If they were truly the followers of ʿĪsā عليه السلام, they would have inevitably believed in Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, because ʿĪsā عليه السلام himself gave glad tidings of his coming.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِذ قالَ عيسَى ابنُ مَريَمَ يـبَنى إِسرءيلَ إِنّى رَسولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيكُم مُصَدِّقًا لِما بَينَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ التَّورىةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسولٍ يَأتى مِن بَعدِى اسمُهُ أَحمَدُ فَلَمّا جاءَهُم بِالبَيِّنـتِ قالوا هـذا سِحرٌ مُبينٌ ﴿٦﴾ [Sūrah al-Ṣaff: 6]
"And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Indeed, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah, and bringing glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad. But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: This is obvious magic."
ʿĪsā عليه السلام’s Glad Tidings and Its Purpose
ʿĪsā عليه السلام informed his people about the coming of the Final Messenger ﷺ so that they would believe in him and accept his religion. To give such news without benefit is impossible for a Prophet — and certainly, ʿĪsā عليه السلام was that Prophet who gave this glad tidings.
The above verse shows that when the promised Messenger ﷺ came with clear signs, the Christians rejected him and called him a magician.
Rejecting Muhammad ﷺ is Rejecting ʿĪsā عليه السلام
By denying Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Christians in fact denied ʿĪsā عليه السلام, since it was he who foretold the coming of the Prophet ﷺ. Hence, their claim to belong to ʿĪsā عليه السلام is false. If they were truly “Masīḥīs,” they would have believed in the Prophet ﷺ whom ʿĪsā عليه السلام announced.
Allah’s Covenant with the Prophets
Allah ﷻ took a pledge from all Prophets to believe in and support Muhammad ﷺ:
﴿وَإِذ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ ميثـقَ النَّبِيّـۧنَ لَما ءاتَيتُكُم مِن كِتـبٍ وَحِكمَةٍ ثُمَّ جاءَكُم رَسولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِما مَعَكُم لَتُؤمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ قالَ ءَأَقرَرتُم وَأَخَذتُم عَلى ذلِكُم إِصرى قالوا أَقرَرنا قالَ فَاشهَدوا وَأَنا۠ مَعَكُم مِنَ الشّـهِدينَ ﴿٨١﴾ [Sūrah Āl ʿImrān: 81]
The Prophet mentioned here, to whom all others were bound to give support, is none other than Muhammad ﷺ.
The Qur’an Confirms Muhammad ﷺ as a Verifier of Previous Scriptures
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَأَنزَلنا إِلَيكَ الكِتـبَ بِالحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِما بَينَ يَدَيهِ مِنَ الكِتـبِ وَمُهَيمِنًا عَلَيهِ فَاحكُم بَينَهُم بِما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلا تَتَّبِع أَهواءَهُم عَمّا جاءَكَ مِنَ الحَقِّ﴾ [Sūrah al-Māʾidah: 48]
This confirms that the Qur’an is the guardian and confirmer of previous revelations.
Conclusion
Calling a Nasrani “Masīḥī” is inaccurate, because:
- They have denied the glad tidings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ given by ʿĪsā عليه السلام.
- This denial is, in reality, a denial of ʿĪsā عليه السلام himself.
- Therefore, their claim of being followers of al-Masīḥ (Jesus) is false.
Hence, it is not correct to call them “Masīḥīs.”
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
