Do We Pray for Prophets Jesus and Muhammad?

Under category: Refuting Misconceptions

indeed, prophet jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) is honored, as are all the other prophets. but islam does not give him any special honors on account of his miraculous birth. the qur’an tells us this in several places, as in surah 2 , verse 136 that give the meaning of:

*{say [o muslims]: “we believe in allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to abraham, ishmael, isaac, jacob, and to al-asbaat (the twelve sons of jacob), and that which has been given to moses and jesus, and that which has been given to the prophets from their lord. we make no distinction between any of them, and to him we have submitted [in islam].”}*

nearly identical to this is verse 3:84. we also have surah 2, verse 285 that means:

*{the messenger (muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his lord, and [so do] the believers. each one believes in allah, his angels, his books, and his messengers. they say: “we make no distinction between one another of his messengers”—and they say: “we hear, and we obey. [we seek] your forgiveness, our lord, and to you is the return [of all].”}*

also surah 4, verse 152 reads the meaning of:

*{and those who believe in allah and his messengers and make no distinction between any of them [the messengers], we shall give them their rewards, and allah is ever oft-forgiving, most merciful.}*

we honor and respect jesus as well as all the other prophets and messengers. we also can and do ask for allah’s peace and blessings on him, as well as on all the other prophets and messengers (peace and blessings be upon them all).

but we do not ask jesus or muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them both)—or any other prophet or messenger—to intercede to allah for us, or to grant us any favors. nor do we call any of their names in exclamation when surprised, upset, or in need of help. instead we should exclaim, “allah!” or “subhan allah (how perfect is allah!)” or “la ilaha illa allah! (there is no god but allah.)”

we always need to remember that all prophets were only human. whatever miracles they performed while they were living were done only by the power of allah. prophet jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken bodily to heaven, from where he will return before the end of time. but he—as well as all the other prophets and messengers who died—has no power to do anything for us. our prayers must be directed only to allah.