A messenger of God comes to deliver God’s message, and it is this message that should be valued and pursued throughout one’s life. However, people often shift their focus from the message to the messenger, losing sight of the true purpose of their coming. This is evident, for example, in how many Christians have become fixated on Jesus’ identity rather than the teachings he brought.
The figure of Jesus has long stood at the center of theological debates, cultural discourses, and personal devotions. As history unfolds, it becomes clear that his mission was to convey the word of God, to share a transformative message that could reshape humanity’s relationship with God, scripture, and each other. However, what began as a simple yet profound delivery of divine wisdom became overshadowed by an intense fixation on Jesus himself—his identity, nature, and relationship to God. This shift in focus has led many to miss the very essence of his mission, drawing attention away from his message to his supernatural nature. Instead of focusing on his teachings, many individuals focus instead on his nature, death, and relationship with God.
Jesus’ Primary Mission: Delivering the Word of God
When we look at the teachings of Jesus, his purpose seems straightforward: to bring the word of God to humanity. He often described himself as a servant and a messenger. In passages like John 5:30, Jesus makes it abundantly clear: “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Here, Jesus emphasizes his role as a conduit—an instrument of God’s will. The teachings about how to properly apply God’s laws, the importance of humility and repentance, and the coming kingdom were his real gifts to humanity, encouraging transformation through action and inner reflection with one’s connection to God.
The parables he used, such as the story of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and others, were simple yet layered narratives intended to teach moral truths, inspire humanity to rise above selfish pursuits, and apply the appropriate spirit of God’s laws. Much of his emphasis was on spiritual awakening, repentance, compassion, and love—values that bring individuals closer to God, truth, and righteousness.
The Shift to Jesus’ Identity
Despite Jesus’ consistent focus on the message that God commissioned him to deliver, his identity became an increasingly dominant topic of conversation. This began early, with his own disciples often misunderstanding his purpose. In Mark 8:29, when Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is, Peter responds, “You are the Messiah.” This recognition—while correct—immediately opened the door to debates about what the title actually meant. The Jews of the time had differing expectations for the Messiah: Was he to be a warrior king, a political savior, or some heavenly figure? Instead of focusing on what Jesus taught, people—then and now—became consumed with trying to understand the metaphysical nature of who he was.
This obsession grew even more pronounced as Christianity developed. The early church councils, such as Nicaea and Chalcedon, spent immense time and energy attempting to define Jesus’ nature—was he fully God, fully man, or somehow both? These debates not only led Christians to fundamentally flawed and blasphemous understandings, but they also drew attention away from Jesus’ core teachings: worshipping God alone, upholding scripture over tradition, following the law while embracing its spirit, and transforming from a follower of worldly desires to a follower of God.
Nowhere Does Jesus Demand Belief in Metaphysics for Salvation
Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus state that in order for one to have salvation, one needs to have the right metaphysical understanding of who he was. Instead, Jesus consistently emphasized faith, repentance, and obedience to God’s commandments. In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” His teachings point toward practical expressions of faith—love, compassion, forgiveness, and service—as the true markers of a believer, rather than abstract theological beliefs about his divine nature.
When Jesus was asked directly about inheriting eternal life, his responses focused on actions and the condition of the heart. For example, in Luke 10:25-28, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He highlights love for God and love for one’s neighbor as the core requirements. There is no insistence on understanding his divine nature or the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Similarly, in Matthew 19:16-22, when the rich young ruler asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life, Jesus tells him to keep the commandments and to give to the poor. Again, Jesus places the emphasis on moral behavior and selflessness, not on metaphysical doctrines about his identity. The simplicity of his responses to such profound questions indicates that salvation, according to Jesus, is about the transformation of the heart and living in accordance with God’s will, rather than having an intellectual grasp of his being.
Missing the Purpose: The Cost of Fixation
The consequences of this fixation on Jesus’ identity can be seen even today. Many Christians define their faith by affirming doctrines like the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, and his resurrection. These teachings not only go against basic truths they also completely divert away from the teachings Jesus’ gave his life to share with the world. How often do we see discussions centered on metaphysical doctrines instead of the pressing moral questions of our time—how to love our neighbors, how to forgive those who wrong us, how to care for the marginalized?
Jesus himself seemed less interested in theological debates and more interested in actions. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus speaks of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the imprisoned as the true markers of righteousness. Yet many of his followers today seem more preoccupied with affirming his divine identity rather than embodying the compassion he so clearly prioritized. By becoming fixated on the nature of Jesus, many miss out on what he actually sought to change: our hearts and our relationships with others.
The Message Over the Messenger
The danger of focusing on the identity of a messenger rather than the message is not unique to Christianity. Throughout history, we see similar patterns. People become fascinated by the deliverers of God’s message rather than the message they were commissioned by God to deliver.
A Similar Pattern in Islam: From the Quran to the Person of Muhammad
A similar pattern of shifting focus can also be observed within Islam. The Quran is clear about being the ultimate source of guidance, emphasizing God’s direct message to humanity. The Quran is presented as a divine revelation intended to guide individuals toward righteousness, moral behavior, and closeness to God. It is proclaimed as the only book of law for its adherents. However, over time, the focus for many Muslims shifted from the Quran to the person of Muhammad, resulting in an elevation of his life and actions—hundreds of years after his death—through the Hadith and Sunnah.
6:112 We have permitted the enemies of every prophet—human and jinn devils—to inspire in each other fancy words (Hadith), in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.
6:113 This is to let the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to such fabrications, and accept them, and thus expose their real convictions.
6:114 Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt.
6:115 The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
The Hadith and Sunnah are collections of sayings, actions, and approvals attributed to Muhammad, compiled into collections centuries after his life, and this heavy focus on this corpus over the Quran has shifted the focus for Muslims from the religion that Muhammad taught to a religion about Muhammad. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes that the sole duty of God’s messenger is to deliver God’s message and warns against elevating intermediaries, yet the Muslim community, in its zeal to elevate the prophet, has diverted attention away from God’s message in the Quran to focusing on false narrations regarding the life and person of the Prophet.
This shift is due to humans’ need to elevate the ones they follow, as well as a reaction to the rise of Christian doctrines regarding Jesus. Just as Christians became preoccupied with Jesus’ divine nature, Muslims sought to exalt their own prophet in response, building narratives that depicted Muhammad in a unique light to demonstrate his importance and favor with God. This created a culture where the supposed words, actions, and even the smallest habits of Muhammad became a focal point, not unlike the focus on Jesus’ divine nature in Christianity.
Yet, the Quran emphasizes repeatedly that Muhammad is merely a messenger. In Surah Al-Kahf (18:110), Muhammad is instructed to say, “I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your God is one God.” The message is clear: Muhammad’s role was to deliver God’s word, not to become an object of reverence or a model for every conceivable action. Much like Jesus, the message Muhammad delivered, the Quran, emphasized the importance of worshipping God alone and living a righteous life in accordance with divine commands.
The Misconception of Following Every Facet of Muhammad’s Life
Nowhere in the Quran are individuals required to imitate every facet of the prophet’s actions—how he slept, drank, ate, or even used the restroom. These details, even if the Hadith and Sunnah narrations were accurate, have no place in the religion. The excessive focus on mundane aspects of Muhammad’s personal life detracts from the broader and more impactful teachings that the Quran provides. The prophet’s role was to be a messenger, not an idol for imitation in every conceivable way.
The Quran encompasses any examples that are necessary for us to know regarding the prophet’s life. Often, Muslims will cite the following verses to attempt to give credence to the Hadith and Sunnah.
33:21 The messenger of GOD has set up a good example for those among you who seek GOD and the Last Day, and constantly think about GOD.
However, the Quran explains that their example is already in the Quran and it is specified in the proceeding verses.
33:22 When the true believers saw the parties (ready to attack), they said, “This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us, and GOD and His messenger are truthful.” This (dangerous situation) only strengthened their faith and augmented their submission.
Additionally, we see elsewhere in the Quran that this expression is also utilized towards Abraham, and again, his example is found in the Quran and not in some other source.
60:4 A good example has been set for you by Abraham and those with him. They said to their people, “We disown you and the idols that you worship besides GOD. We denounce you, and you will see nothing between us except animosity and hatred until you believe in GOD ALONE.” However, a mistake was committed by Abraham when he said to his father, “I will pray for your forgiveness, but I possess no power to protect you from GOD.” “Our Lord, we trust in You, and submit to You; to You is the final destiny.
This approach of elevating the personal habits of Muhammad has diverted the attention of many Muslims from the real substance of their faith—the Quran. It has led to an adherence to cultural practices and traditions that often contradict the simplicity and universality of the Quran’s teachings. Much like how Christians became focused on understanding the divine nature of Jesus rather than following his teachings, Muslims today often become preoccupied with replicating Muhammad’s life in minute detail rather than internalizing the principles of justice, compassion, and devotion laid out in the Quran.
The Cost of Shifting Focus
The consequences of this shift are evident in the contemporary Muslim world. The focus on Hadith and Sunnah has led to the complete abandonment of the Quran. Yes, Muslims will memorize and beautifully recite the Quran. Still, when it comes to actually upholding it, they often struggle to find even a single law of the Quran that they uphold without some alteration or distortion due to their devotion to the Hadith corpus. While Muhammad’s life may be intriguing for historians, it has no function in the religion. Unfortunately, the obsession with every aspect of his behavior has turned him into an idol for the Muslim masses.
Instead of focusing on the transformative power of the Quranic message—emphasizing justice, care for the needy, humility, and devotion to God alone—many Muslims become engrossed in debates about the minutiae of Muhammad’s personal habits. The result is a faith that is more concerned with the outward imitation of the Prophet based on their fabricated Hadith rather than an inward transformation through the Quran’s message.
The Parallels Between Christianity and Islam
The error among Christians who focused on the metaphysical nature of Jesus is strikingly similar to that of Muslims who shifted their attention from the Quran to the Hadith and Sunnah. Both groups, in their devotion to understanding and venerating their respective messengers, have lost sight of the essence of the divine message they brought. Jesus and Muhammad both came to point humanity towards God, to emphasize righteousness, compassion, and devotion. Yet, followers became more interested in the messengers themselves—Jesus’ divinity in Christianity and Muhammad’s every action in Islam—than in the messages they conveyed.
The transformative potential of both Christianity and Islam lies not in metaphysical debates or in rigidly following every supposed action of a prophet, but in embodying the core teachings of God’s words they gave their life to deliver. Both Jesus and Muhammad sought to guide humanity toward a closer relationship with God, but this goal is often obscured by the focus on their personhood rather than their purpose.
Conclusion: Focus on the Message
We must learn from the past and avoid repeating the same mistakes. Jesus came to deliver the word of God—to inspire change, compassion, and a deeper connection to the Creator. Yet, the fixation on his identity has often overshadowed his fundamental mission of sharing God’s message. Similarly, Muhammad was sent to deliver the Quran, but the emphasis on narrations collected centuries after his death has shifted focus away from the core Quranic teachings of monotheism and righteous living. This has caused many to mistakenly equate righteousness with imitating 7th-century Arab culture rather than upholding the message of the Quran alone.
45:6 These are GOD’s revelations that we recite to you truthfully. In which Hadith other than GOD and His revelations do they believe?
45:7 Woe to every fabricator, guilty.
45:8 The one who hears GOD’s revelations recited to him, then insists arrogantly on his way, as if he never heard them. Promise him a painful retribution.
If we truly wish to obey God and His messengers, we must redirect our focus to the scriptures—the messengers divinely commissioned message. We should embody these teachings with sincerity and dedication, avoiding the distractions of theological speculation or false narrations that prompt us to imitate trivial, non-substantiated details of the messengers’ lives. By centering our faith on the core teachings of scripture, we can follow the path of the messengers and avoid the pitfalls of Hell.
25:27 The day will come when the transgressor will bite his hands (in anguish) and say, “Alas, I wish I had followed the path with the messenger.
25:28 “Alas, woe to me, I wish I did not take that person as a friend.
25:29 “He has led me away from the message after it came to me. Indeed, the devil lets down his human victims.”
25:30 The messenger said, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.”