'What may be surprising is that the series is not being made for US TV, but in Tehran.'

A film about Jesus from an Islamic perspective should be welcomed, says Steve Tomkins

‘Jesus the Spirit of God’ is a major 20-part TV series coming this year, depicting the life and teaching of Jesus.

The director says he wants viewers to know the truth about Jesus, and believes that ‘peace, friendship and justice will be attained’ wherever his teachings are followed.

Nothing too shocking there.

What may be surprising is that the series is not being made for US TV, but in Tehran.

Nader Talebzadeh, the director, is a Shia Muslim, and is making it because Jesus is recognised as a prophet in Islam.

Bridge

He hopes ‘to make a bridge between Christianity and Islam’, while also correcting the story of Jesus, which Christians have got wrong.

So what exactly is the position of Jesus in Islam? Called Isa in Arabic, he is mentioned in 93 verses of the Qu’ran. He is a major and unique prophet of God. The major differences with Christianity are that Jesus is in no way divine, and that (as most Muslims understand it) he was not crucified.

The Qu’ran includes the virgin birth, adding that Jesus spoke in the cradle. It says that (as an adult) he taught Islam, though not quoting any of his teaching except a prediction of the coming of Muhammad. It says that he healed the blind and lepers and raised the dead – and made clay birds come to life (a story from one of the gospels of Thomas).

‘Assuredly they did not kill him,’ the Qu’ran says. ‘Rather, God raised him to himself.’ On the day of judgment he will be a witness against Christians and Jews.

While explicitly denying that Jesus is the son of God, the Qu’ran calls him the Messiah, the Word of God and the Spirit of God – things which make him unique among the prophets.

Later Muslim traditions have added to this portrait. There are stories of him turning children into pigs and dying 10 garments in different colours from one vat. Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, looks to Jesus as an ascetic saint.

Tradition

In Shia tradition especially, he will come again to join the Mahdi’s fight against the antichrist. “He will be symmetrical in stature, of reddish-white complexion, lank-haired… He will come down in a greenish-yellow garment, break crosses, kill pigs, abolish the poll tax…” He will wage war until all non-Islamic religion is destroyed.

There is clearly much common ground between here between Islam and Christianity, as well as important differences. Much like Christians share the Hebrew scriptures with Jews, while understanding and using them very differently.

Can focussing on this common ground, as Talebzadeh hopes, promote friendship between Christians and Muslims? It can go either way. Sometimes, when it comes to religion, looking at what we have in common only highlights what we don’t.

But anything that helps Muslims and Christians see each other as family rather than strangers and enemies has to be worth a try, and worth our gratitude.