Short answer
In Islam, Jesus (Isa) is one of the greatest prophets and messengers of Allah, born of the virgin Maryam without a father. The Quran calls him al-Masih, the Messiah. Muslims love and honour him, but do not believe he is God or the son of God, or that he was crucified.
Belief in Isa as a prophet and messenger is part of iman: denying his prophethood is disbelief, and so is believing he is divine. He is a servant of Allah, created by His command, and one of the five greatest messengers (ulu al-azm).
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran gives Isa titles no other prophet shares. He is al-Masih (the Messiah), a word from Allah given to Maryam, and a spirit from Him (4:171). He spoke as a baby in the cradle and his first words were "I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet." He healed the blind and the leper and raised the dead, all by Allah's permission, and he was given the Injil (Gospel).
The Quran also makes clear what he is not. "The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger" (5:75), and both he and his mother ate food, a sign of being human. It tells Christians not to say "Three", since Allah is one God, exalted above having a son. Muslims call him the Messiah because the Quran does, but not in the sense of a divine saviour who dies for sins.
A Muslim's faith is not complete without him. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever bears witness that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, and that Isa is the servant of Allah, His messenger and His word, will enter Paradise. His mother Maryam is honoured too: a whole surah carries her name.
Muslims also believe Isa was raised alive and will return before the end of time; see Do Muslims believe Jesus will return? For his full story, read Prophet Isa, and for how the two faiths compare, Islam and Christianity.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:45
إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًۭا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾
[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah].
The angels give Maryam news of Isa and name him the Messiah.
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:171
يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌۭ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَٰثَةٌ ۚ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا لَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌۭ ۘ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًۭا ﴿١٧١﴾
O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.
Isa is a messenger and a word from Allah, not divine, and Allah is one.
Quran, Surah Maryam 19:30
قَالَ إِنِّى عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِىَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّۭا ﴿٣٠﴾
[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.
Isa's own first words describe him as Allah's servant and prophet.
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:75
مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌۭ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ ﴿٧٥﴾
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.
Shows his humanity and his rank as a messenger.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3435
Sahih... وَأَنَّ عِيسَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ وَكَلِمَتُهُ ...
"And that Isa is the servant of Allah, His messenger and His word."
Belief in Isa as Allah's servant and messenger is part of the testimony that leads to Paradise.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fiqh al-Akbar (Imam Abu Hanifa), Section on the prophets. Affirms all the prophets, their protection from sin and their being servants of Allah.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.