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Introduction
Readers of the Koran can find three particular verses concerning the Wisdom in the message of Christ, the Son of Mary.
The angel of revelation said to Mary that Allah, the Omniscient, will personally teach her son all promises and the law:
And He will teach him the Book, and THE WISDOM, and the Torah, and the Gospel. (Sura Al 'Imran 3:48)
وَيُعَلِّمُهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَة وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ (سُورَة آل عِمْرَان ٣: ٤٨)
We conclude from this revelation that Allah personally opened to Christ the Original Book (the Guarded Tablet) in heaven, and revealed to him the Wisdom of Solomon, the Law of Moses, and the Good News in the Gospel. Since Allah was personally his teacher, Christ possessed from birth the complete knowledge of the past, present and future – not only for this world but also for the hereafter.
After the resurrection of the Son of Mary to heaven, Allah talked with him and personally confirmed to him the revelation that was first given to Mary:
I have taught you the Book, and THE WISDOM, and the Torah, and the Gospel. (Sura al-Ma’ida 5:110)
وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَة وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيل (سُورَة الْمَائِدَة ٥: ١١٠)
The Everlasting One confirmed to the one born by His Spirit that He had granted him the Wisdom and the everlasting Knowledge of His Own self. Therefore, the Son of Mary possesses all-encompassing knowledge of time and eternity, which he implemented in his wise ways to advance his purposes.
A third verse in the Koran, speaking about the wisdom of Christ, confirms the two previous verses:
As 'Isa came with his proofs, he said: “I came to you with THE WISDOM and to clarify to you some of what you had been differing upon, therefore fear Allah and obey me.” (Sura al-Zukhruf 43:63)
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ عِيسَى بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِالْحِكْمَة وَلأُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ (سُورَة الزُّخْرُف ٤٣: ٦٣ )
Whoever contemplates the verses in Sura al-Zukhruf can discover that the people of Mecca had a hot discussion with Muhammad. They openly questioned him about 'Isa saying:
“Are our gods better or is he ['Isa]?” (Sura al-Zukhruf 43:58)
وَقَالُوا أَآلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ (سُورَة الزُّخْرُف ٤٣ : ٥٨)
The Koran’s answer to this question is that the Son of Mary is a “Slave” of the Almighty Allah, an “example to the sons of Israel,” and in himself “the Knowledge of the Hour” for the coming of the resurrection. (Sura al-Zukhruf 43:59-61)
٥٩ إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ ... وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَثَلاً لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ... ٦١ وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ ... (سُورَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ ٤٣ : ٥٩ - ٦١)
Muhammad revealed in these verses that the son of Mary came 600 years before him, with convincing proofs to the children of Jacob to free them from their self-deceit regarding faith and religion. From their severe differences in understanding the Torah, Christ guides them to the right interpretation to overcome the quarrels between them. The Son of Mary did not bring an army to solve these severe problems, and he did not act as a tyrant or as a warning dictator to frighten them, but he kindly came to them, filled with the Wisdom of Allah, and helped them to understand the Torah.
The Law of Moses was fully imposed at that time; however, the Jews differed in their interpretations of the law. Severe struggles arose among them. Christ guided them back to the divine right by heavenly wisdom. His purpose was to convince them so that they would follow his guidance. He expected from them a free-will obedience, which could produce in them enlightenment with understanding of revelation, to prepare them for the last day with its last hour that was coming over them.
The expression, “The Wisdom of Christ,” in the Koran does not mean a new Shari'a, but a kind and gentle guidance with much wisdom that opens itself to anyone who searches for truth. It generates understanding of the width and depth of the grace of God as well as peace and inner joy. The Wisdom of the Son of Mary offers a useful solution to quarreling parties so that they will accept the reconciliation and peace of God without losing face. Christ wanted, according to the Koran, to deepen his divided audience in the spiritual knowledge of God, widen their theological understanding in general, and reform their practical worship of the Almighty, in order to overcome the roots of their hateful division. He was devoted to preparing them for the fearful future that was coming upon them. The son of Mary expected that the children of Jacob would thankfully accept his Wisdom, be enlightened by his teachings, agree to his solutions and convincingly obey him so that peace and harmony would prevail.