Here is the detailed overview of the Islamic perspective on Moses, Jesus, and Paul, written in an open, flowing narrative format.
1. Prophet Moses (Musa a.s.) in Islam
In Islam, Prophet Moses is revered as one of the greatest messengers of God, belonging to the elite group of prophets known as Ulul 'Azmi (those of strong resolve). He was sent specifically to guide the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
- Core Teaching: His foundational message was absolute Tawhid—the oneness of God—commanding his people to worship Allah alone and reject all forms of idolatry.
- The Law (Sharia): Through the revelation of the Torah (Taurat), God provided Moses with a strict, highly detailed system of laws. This covered everything from dietary restrictions and civil governance to rigorous ritual cleanliness and physical punishments. This firm legal framework was necessary to discipline and restructure the society of the Israelites at that time.
2. Prophet Jesus (Isa a.s.) in Islam
Islam holds Prophet Jesus in incredibly high esteem, viewing him purely as a human chosen to be a noble Prophet and Messenger of God. Islam strictly rejects the concept of his divinity, meaning he is not viewed as the Son of God or God incarnate.
- Core Teaching: Jesus arrived to continue the exact same lineage of monotheism taught by Moses. He was sent to correct the moral corruption of the Israelites and to soften the rigid formalism of the religious leaders who had become obsessed with outward rituals while losing the spirit of mercy and faith.
- Connection to Moses' Law: Jesus did not abolish the law of Moses. Instead, through the revelation of the Gospel (Injeel), he brought spiritual depth and divine concessions. By God's permission, Jesus lifted certain heavy restrictions that had been imposed during Moses' time, acting as a relief and mercy for the people.
- Crucifixion and End of Life: A fundamental difference in Islam is the absolute assertion that Jesus was not crucified and did not die on the cross. The Quran states that God saved him by raising him bodily to heaven, and the person who was actually crucified was someone else made to look exactly like him.
3. Paul in the Islamic View
Paul (Bulus) is not mentioned in the primary texts of Islam (the Quran or the Sahih Hadiths). However, he is analyzed extensively and critically by Muslim historians and scholars of comparative religion.
- The Shift in Theology: Islamic scholarship views Paul as the primary figure responsible for altering the original trajectory of Jesus’ teachings. While Jesus preached a code of moral righteousness and submission to the one God, Paul is seen as having restructured this into a brand-new theology centered around the person of Jesus himself (focusing on the crucifixion, original sin, and the atonement).
- Abolition of the Law: Paul's decision to drop the requirements of the Mosaic Law—such as abandoning the obligation of circumcision and declaring forbidden foods like pork to be permissible—is viewed in Islam as an unauthorized dismantling of the law. Scholars argue this was done as a strategic compromise to make the new faith more appealing to the Gentile (Greek and Roman) pagan world.
General Conclusion
From the Islamic standpoint, Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus walked the exact same path. They both taught the fundamental message of submission to the One True God, differing only in the specific legal codes tailored to their respective eras.
Conversely, the radical doctrinal differences found in modern Christianity today—such as the concept of original sin, the divinity of Christ, and the dismissal of the Old Testament law—are viewed by Islam as the products of Paul's theological revisions rather than the authentic teachings of Jesus. For Muslims, the pure, unadulterated monotheism taught by all these earlier prophets was ultimately restored, finalized, and sealed through the final Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ.