Is Jesus mentioned more than Muhammad in the Quran?
Yes, Jesus is mentioned by name more often than Muhammad in the Quran. The name Jesus ('Isa) appears 25 times, while Muhammad appears by name only 4 times (plus once as "Ahmad"). But the Quran speaks to and about Muhammad ﷺ constantly, so name counts don't measure importance.
The numbers
- Jesus ('Isa): 25 times by name, plus titles such as "the Messiah" (al-Masih) and "son of Mary" many more times.
- Muhammad: 4 times by name (3:144, 33:40, 47:2 and 48:29) and once as "Ahmad" (61:6).
- Moses: the most-named prophet, well over 100 times.
- Mary: the only woman named in the Quran, more than 30 times, with a whole chapter named after her. See What does the Quran say about Mary?
How the Quran honours Jesus
Many Christians are surprised by how warmly the Quran speaks of Jesus. It describes his miraculous birth, his miracles and his high rank:
Muslims love Jesus as one of the greatest messengers. The Prophet ﷺ said, "I am the closest of people to the son of Mary in this world and the Hereafter. The prophets are brothers" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3442). See Do Muslims believe in Jesus?
Why Muhammad is named so rarely
The Quran was revealed to Muhammad ﷺ. Most of it addresses him directly: "Say...", "O Prophet...", "O Messenger...". Hundreds of verses speak to him without using his name, so he is present on almost every page. The Quran also tells earlier prophets' stories to comfort him and teach his community, which is why Moses, Abraham and Jesus get so many mentions.
When his name is used, it often stresses that he is human and a messenger, nothing more:
What this tells us
The Quran isn't a biography of Muhammad ﷺ; it's guidance from Allah. Its frequent mention of Jesus and Mary shows that Islam sees itself as continuing the same message of one God. It also corrects beliefs about Jesus' divinity, presenting him as a noble prophet and servant of Allah. See Do Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah?
- Jesus is named 25 times; Muhammad 4 times, plus "Ahmad" once.
- Moses is the most-named prophet, and Mary is the only named woman.
- Most of the Quran addresses Muhammad ﷺ directly without naming him.
- Muslims honour Jesus as a great prophet, not as God.
People also ask
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Yes, you can usually take a non-Muslim friend to Jumu'ah. Most scholars allow it; check with the mosque, explain the dress code and seating.
Read the full answer →Can I still have Christian friends as a Muslim?
Yes, you can still have Christian friends as a Muslim. Islam commands kindness and justice to peaceful people (Quran 60:8), with a few limits.
Read the full answer →Can Muslims pray to Jesus?
No, Muslims can't pray to Jesus: dua is worship and belongs to Allah alone. How Muslims honor Jesus and what Jesus taught in the Quran.
Read the full answer →Can Muslims say "Namaste"?
It depends: many scholars let Muslims return namaste as a cultural hello, but avoid the bow and the yoga meaning of honouring the divine.
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