One of the methods that Islam uses to acclimate the West and non-Muslims is the claim that Muslims honor Jesus and believe in His second coming. In Islam, Jesus is identified with the name Isa. While it is true that Christ is included in the Koran and Islamic teachings as a great prophet, the beliefs involving Christ are pretty opposite to the reality of the Trinity, the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and the second coming, going out of its way to alter, downplay, or even refute these concepts.
The ascension of Mohammed. Public Domain.
First of all, Islam absolutely dismisses the identity of Christ as the Son of God. If one goes into the Dome of the Rock, the mosque built on the site of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem and the spot where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to Heaven with the Angel Gabriel, one would find an inscription on the inside of the dome in Arabic:
O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion
nor utter aught concerning God save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit
from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and say not ‘Three’ – Cease! (it is)
better for you! – God is only One God. Far be it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is
in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And God is
sufficient as Defender. The Messiah will never scorn to be a
servant unto God, nor will the favored angels. Whoso scorneth
His service and is proud, all such will He assemble unto Him.
Oh God, bless Your Messenger and Your servant Jesus
son of Mary. Peace be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies,
and the day he shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary, (this is) a statement of
the truth concerning which they doubt. It befitteth not (the Majesty of) God that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! – Sourced from Islamic-Awareness.org.
So, Islam denies Jesus as the Son of God and the Trinity. This is the former location of the Temple as well as where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed. This is the land that was sacred: where God had His throne on Earth for a time making it the Holy Mountain in line with Eden and Sinai. In full rebellion of this fact, the Muslim caliphate placed a monument on top of it denying the divinity of Christ in exhaustive detail.
Deposizione dalla Croce Cat. no. 74 in Vittoria Garibaldi: Perugino. Public Domain.
Second, Islam teaches that Jesus was not crucified¹. Instead of being crucified Christ is taken by Allah to Heaven and another person appearing to be Jesus is crucified instead. Islam teaches that Jesus never died and therefore was never resurrected. Christianity places this event, the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as the pivotal moment where Satan loses and death is no longer a barrier between the individual and Heaven. Sin cannot exist in the presence of God. Death is the consequence of sin and Jesus committed no sin. The physical manifestation of God on Earth, the death of Jesus is the ultimate act of sacrifice and is able to wash away all sin as long as the individual fully acknowledges their sinful nature, accepts the sacrifice of Christ for their sins, and makes Christ their Lord and master. John 3:16 states:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Islam denies this supreme act of love which is the cornerstone of God’s plan of salvation. No religion that denies the Son and the crucifixion can be said to be of Yahweh, the God of gods. As Christians we have to understand this fact and then trust in Jesus when we witness to others, be they Muslims, Atheists, or any other group that has not accepted the Gospel into their hearts.
¹ “Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.” CARM.org, CARM, 28 Sept. 2017, carm.org/islam-crucifixion-of-jesus.