Born without a father, spoke from the cradle, and his first words were "I am the servant of Allah".
قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ
His story
An angel came to Maryam with the news of a son. "How can I have a son when no man has touched me?" "So it will be. Allah creates what He wills" (3:47, 19:16-22).
When she brought him to her people, they accused her. She pointed to the baby. From the cradle he said: "I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet… and made me dutiful to my mother, and has not made me arrogant" 19:29-32.
By Allah's permission he made birds out of clay and breathed into them, healed the blind and the leper, and raised the dead (3:49, 5:110). He gave the good news of a messenger to come after him, named Ahmad 61:6.
He was not killed and not crucified. Allah raised him up to Himself 4:157-158. The Prophet ﷺ said he will come down again as a just judge Bukhari 3448.
His words on the Last Day: "If You punish them, they are Your servants. If You forgive them, You are the Mighty, the Wise" 5:118. The Prophet ﷺ recited this, raised his hands, said "my people, my people", and wept Muslim 202.
Moments
- 01
From the cradle
Maryam came back to her people carrying the baby, and they accused her. She pointed to him. "How can we speak to a child in the cradle?" And the baby spoke: "I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, and commanded me to pray and give charity as long as I live, and to be dutiful to my mother."
- 02
Birds of clay
Isa shaped birds out of clay, breathed into them, and they became birds. He healed the blind and the leper and brought the dead to life. Every miracle comes with the same words: "by Allah's permission." The power was Allah's. He was the servant who carried it.
- 03
The disciples
When Isa sensed disbelief from his people, he asked: "Who are my helpers for Allah?" The disciples answered: "We are the helpers of Allah. We believe in Allah, so bear witness that we are Muslims."
- 04
Ahmad
Isa told the Children of Israel: "I am the messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Torah before me, and bringing good news of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." The good news he brought.
- 05
Raised up
They did not kill him and they did not crucify him; it was only made to appear so to them. Allah raised him up to Himself. And the Prophet ﷺ said the son of Maryam will descend among us as a just judge.
What he did when…
Among the very first things Isa said about himself, as a baby in the cradle, was: "He has made me dutiful to my mother, and has not made me arrogant or wretched." Before the miracles, before the message: kindness to his mother.
He would be given miracles no one else had, and his first words were not "I am great". They were "I am the servant of Allah." The more Allah gives you, the more reason to be humble.
From the cradle, 'Isa spoke of his whole life in one sentence of peace: "Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised alive." He was not afraid to mention the end. He asked for it to be met with peace.
If your child carries this name
عيسى 'Isa
'Isa is a name of humility and mercy. A child named 'Isa should be gentle with his mother first.
Sources on this page
Quran 3:49Quran 3:52Quran 4:157-158Quran 5:110Quran 19:27-34Quran 19:30Quran 19:32Quran 19:33Quran 61:6Quran 61:14Sahih al-Bukhari 3448
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.