Answer: The Quran actually does say that Jesus did die - if it is read in Classic Arabic, the language it was written in originally. Because that language has changed so significantly, (the word in the Koran today for "virgin" was actually "fruit" in the original,) the translation of the Ayah (verse) in question - Surah 4:157, has a completely different meaning.

This is the current rendering of Surah 4:157 -

And their saying: "We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, Mary's son, God's messenger, and they have not killed him, and they have not crucified him/placed him on a cross, and but (it) resembled/was vague/was doubtful to them, and that those who disagreed/disputed in (about) him (are) in (E) doubt/suspicion from him, (there is) no knowledge for them with (about) him, except following the assumption , and they have not killed him surely/certainly.

The translation from the original Classic Arabic version reads -

وقولهم إنا قتلنا المسيح عيسى ابن مريم رسول
الله وما قتلوه وما صلبوه ولكن شبه لهم وإن
الذين اختلفوا فيه لفي شك منه ما لهم به من علم
إلا اتباع الظن وما قتلوه يقينا

Waqawlihim inna qatalna almaseeha AAeesa ibna maryama rasoola Allahi wama qataloohu wama salaboohu walakin shubbiha lahum wa-inna allatheena ikhtalafoo feehi lafee shakkin minhu ma lahum bihi min AAilmin illa ittibaAAa alththanni wama qataloohu yaqeenan

4.157 And their saying: "Certainly we killed The Messiah, Jesus, Mary's son, “Allah's” messenger”, and that they killed him, and that they crucified him, and certainly they alike, and certainly whom they followed in Him, certainly they (are) not in doubt from Him, on account of Him, from knowledge, except to follow the belief, and that they surely killed him.

(Note: Actually it was our sins that crucified Jesus (Isaiah 53:10) and the Gentiles hammered the nails.)

The following Ayah, Surah 4:158 reads -

But God rose him (Jesus) to Him, and God was/is glorious/mighty, wise/judicious.

So we can see from these verses, that Muhammad was sharing the Gospel message which he obviously believed or he would not have recommended his followers to read the Gospel as from the Lord. - "The Gospel and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord"...Al-Maida 6:68.

In this verse from the Quran, God declares that Jesus is to die -

3:55
When God said: "You Jesus I am, I am making you die and raising you to Me and purifying you from those who disbelieved, and making those who followed you above those who disbelieved to the Resurrection Day, then to Me your return, so I judge/rule between you in what, you were in it differing.”

Here God clearly states that Jesus is to die and be resurrected from the dead. This is the Gospel that has been prophesied in the Old Testament.

The prophet Daniel declares that – And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, - Daniel 9:26

The Prophet Isaiah tells us the reason why – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Note that God also states in 3:55, that Jesus’ followers are above those who do not believe the Gospel. Therefore, the persecution of Christians by Muslims who have not believed the Gospel is a great sin.

Today many Muslims try to discredit the Holy Bible saying it has been corrupted. They do this in order to try and explain the contradictions in the Quran, when in fact, many of those contradictions are due to the fact the language has changed - not the message which cannot be altered or corrupted, because the Quran tells us that the word of God cannot be corrupted because it is kept by the power of God. -

"It is the law of Allah which hath taken course aforetime. Thou wilt not find for the law of Allah aught of power to change" (Quran 48:23).

And the Quran also affirms that the Torah, Psalms and the Gospel are also God's word, therefore, the message cannot be altered. -

"We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light" ... (Q5:44).

"And already have we written in the Psalms after the reminder that the earth shall my righteous servants inherit" (Q21:105).

"Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous" 5:46).

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalms 12:6,7

     I would recommend to your Muslim friends that they obtain a translation of the Quran from the Classic Arabic.

Muslims also become defensive when they think that you are trying to convert them, when in fact, Christianity is not a religion that requires conversion, but rather is a relationship with God that is established by faith and acceptance of the Gospel, - that Jesus died and rose again to redeem us from our sins. Because Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God, the "conversion" the Bible speaks about referrs to the conversion from a state of sinfulness to sinlessness. See also our devotional "Be Converted."

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