Prophets and Apostles have been given different titles and participated in many deeds, but Christ excelled them all. Let us now mention what the Qur'an has to say on this subject.

That he was the Word of God and his Spirit as we find in Sura al-Nisa' 4:169, The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary was only the Messenger of God, and His Word that he committed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. In Sura Al Imran 3:40, Mary, God gives thee good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary; high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God.

Tell me my friend, of whom, whether prophets or men, did the Qur'an state they were: God's Word or Spirit?

God has called some people Apostles, some prophets, some warners, some Preachers. But all these names are less than Word of God and Spirit of God which Jesus Christ was called. He is thus undoubtedly greater than all, particularly as the spirit is greater than the apostle because Spirit of God means God himself whereas His apostle is another individual.

Commentators such as Al-Razi, Al-Jalalayn and others have said that Christ was called the Word of God because he was called into being by a word without a father; therefore he is referred to as the Word. However, we would ask them, If that is so, why was not Adam, who was created by a word of command, also called Word of God and of his Spirit?

Does not this designation require the learned Muslim to look into the words word and spirit in the foregoing texts, which suggest, if not declare, Christ's pre-eminence and divinity?
He creates, as we find in Sura Al Imran 3:43: I will create for you out of clay as the likeness of a bird; then I will breathe into it, and it will be a bird, by the leave of God.

God has permitted his creatures to share with him in several attributes such as generosity, justice, mercy and charity. He also bestowed on his prophets the power to perform supernatural miracles and to foretell future events before they happened. This was for man's benefit and to authenticate their heavenly message. But he has left for himself some things which he will not share with anyone.

First, omnipresence, being present in every place (an imperceptible presence without limit), in order to be in total control and hear the call of every living soul world-wide, even simultaneously. But the creature cannot be present in every place at the same time. In summary, no person or king can be omnipresent, otherwise he would become God.

Second, omnipotence as an original not derived power. The prophets have performed amazing deeds and compelling miracles which no human can equal, but these were by God's enabling power and not intrinsic. For God alone is the cause of all causes and the fountain of all power. If anyone should acquire intrinsic power he would become like God and that is obviously absurd.

Third, creating and bringing a soul into being. This word signifies making or bringing into being something out of nothing and the dictionary definition is to bring into being or fashioning something like nothing before.

God Almighty has endowed prophets and apostles with power to raise the dead, heal the dumb, cure a variety of diseases and foretell events (before they happen). But he did not permit anyone to create or give the spirit except Jesus Christ. Why? Only because Christ is greater than the prophets and apostles and occupies a different position. Of whom was it said in the Qur'an that he created, even by his Lord's permission? This was not said of anyone, as anybody who is familiar with the Qur'an will confirm.

From the preceding verse you will see that the Qur'an asserts that Christ used to create birds in the same way that God created Adam, since he fashioned man from the soil of the ground and breathed on him the breath of life, and he became a living soul.
His miraculous birth as we read in Sura al-Nisa' 4:169, The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. Meaning that Christ was born without a father by the Holy Spirit in a supernatural manner. It is true, Adam had no father, but that was of necessity, since there were no human beings before him. As for Christ's birth it was not of necessity but purposed of God, a miracle to the world: ...and appointed her and her son to be a sign unto all beings (Sura al-Anbiya' 21:91). ...and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us (Sura Maryam 19:21).

Does not Christ's unusual birth capture the attention of the honest Muslim and bring him to a belief that Christ (Isa) had no equal among men, and that he occupies the highest station?
Eminence in this world and the next as we find in Sura Al Imran 3:40, Mary, God gives thee good tidings of a Word from him whose name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary; high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God.

Al-Kashaf has said, Eminence in this world means prophecy and precedence over men and in the next intercession and exaltation of position in paradise. Al-Razi and Jalal Ed Din al-Suyuti has expounded this verse in exactly the same way.

Regarding the eminence of Moses in Sura al-Ahzab 33:69, ...and he was high honoured with God. Al-Razi has expounded it as being knowledge. He has also said, in explaining the phrase 'high honoured with God' as follows: Not every eminent one is high-honoured because the people of Paradise are in ranks and degrees, therefore did God say, 'and you shall be three bands,' going on to, '...the outstrippers those are brought nigh the Throne' (Sura al-Waqi'a 56:7,10,11).

From a study of the Qur'an one learns that no one has been described as being eminent in this world and the next other than Christ (Isa), and none of the prophets and apostles enjoyed this distinction except him. Search and see, and afterwards please tell me why. Enquire after the reason, you will be amazed!
The absence of any mention of sin laid to his account (review the Fifth Discourse).
He raised him to heaven as we find in Sura Al Imran 3:48: When God said, 'Jesus, I will take thee to Me and will raise thee to Me, and I will purify thee of those who believe not.'

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