Does the Qur'an state that Jesus was crucified?

Sources

• ✓ 4:157 · An-Nisaa

  4:157 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ٱلْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًۢا

  And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.

• ✓ 4:158 · An-Nisaa

  4:158 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًۭا

  But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 4:158

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 4:158

  This verse criticizes the great sins committed by the Children of Israel, which earned them God's curse, rejection, and removal from the path of guidance. Among these sins were breaking the covenants and promises they had made with God and rejecting His signs — the proofs and miracles witnessed by the prophets, peace be upon them. The phrase "and killing the prophets without right" refers to their many crimes and transgressions against God's messengers. They unlawfully killed a great number of the prophets, peace be upon them. Regarding their claim, "Our hearts are sealed," Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Ikrimah, al-Suddi, Qatadah, and others explain that it means their hearts were covered or veiled. This is similar to the disbelievers' claim mentioned elsewhere that their hearts are in coverings and their ears are heavy, creating a barrier between them and the message. Some say the claim means their hearts were vessels that contained knowledge, but this view is less likely given the context. God says, "Rather, God has set a seal upon them because of their disbelief." This means that despite their excuse, their hearts were truly sealed with disbelief, nullifying their claim. Their denial in every aspect is overturned. The phrase "then they will believe in only a few" means their hearts remained inclined toward disbelief, arrogance, and little faith. "And because of their disbelief and their uttering against Mary a great slander" refers to their accusation of Mary, the mother of Jesus, with a grave false charge — namely, that they slandered her by calling her a fornicator, and similarly denied her son. This curse from God follows them until the Day of Judgment. When they said, "We killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of God," it was a mocking claim meant to ridicule. Historical reports tell that when God sent Jesus with signs and guidance, the Jews envied the miracles given to him — healing the blind and lepers, raising the dead by God's permission, and breathing life into clay birds — yet they rejected and opposed him. They sought to harm him until it became such that Jesus did not openly stay among them but rather traveled frequently with his mother. They eventually conspired with the secular king of Damascus at that time, a polytheist from the star-worshippers known as the Jews' enemies. He was informed that a man was causing sedition near the sacred place. The king ordered his governor to protect himself against this person, crucify him, and place thorns on his head. When this order was received, the governor complied, going with a group of Jews to Jesus's home, where Jesus was gathered with his disciples. Realizing they would inevitably enter and capture him, Jesus asked, "Who among you can have my likeness thrown upon him and be my companion in Paradise?" A young man volunteered, and God cast Jesus's likeness upon him. A skylight opened, Jesus was taken up in a sleep, and the Jews crucified the likeness thinking it was Jesus. This deception caused confusion among the Christians as well, except those with Jesus in the house who saw him raised. This entire event was part of God's trial for His servants and contains immense wisdom. God revealed the truth clearly in the Quran — that Jesus was neither killed nor crucified but rather it was made to appear so to them. Those who argued about this event are left in doubt and confusion without true knowledge. God raised Jesus to Himself, preserving him alive, and he will descend before the Day of Judgment. Regarding the phrase, "And indeed, among the People of the Scripture there is none but will surely believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them," scholars have differing interpretations. The most authentic explanation is that every member of the People of the Book will believe in Jesus before his actual death — that is, before the death of Jesus himself. This occurs when he descends to defeat the false messiah (the Dajjal), uniting all religions into one true faith: the pure religion of Abraham. Others interpret the phrase to mean everyone will believe in Jesus at the moment of confrontation with death, acknowledging the truth regardless of prior disbelief, but that that faith will not benefit them if too late. There are also reports and numerous hadiths narrated from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ describing the return of Jesus before the Hour. He will come as an upright judge, break the cross, kill the pig, abolish the jizya tax, cause wealth to overflow so much that no one will accept charity, and establish justice. He will call people to worship God alone without partner, remove hatred, and peace will prevail. He will live forty years on earth after his return, then die and be honored with Muslim funeral rites. Moreover, Jesus will kill the anti-Christ (Dajjal) near the gate of Ludd. These authentic narrations indicate this return is a definite sign of the approaching Hour. These various traditions also provide detailed physical descriptions of Jesus and the Dajjal, as well as signs accompanying their appearance. Thus, the verse confirms God's raising Jesus alive and refutes Jewish and Christian distortions about his death or divine status. It denotes that prior mixing and confusion will be resolved, and all People of the Book will acknowledge the truth of Jesus's prophethood before the end. On the Day of Resurrection, Jesus will bear witness to their deeds, for he conveyed God's message fully, testified to God's lordship, and now stands as a witness over them.