Throughout January there was much correspondence on the position of Christians and Jesus, peace be upon Him, in Islam. There were many who believed that Christians are considered infidels by Muslims. It is unfair to consider all Christians and Jews infidels, because the infidel is the one who knows the truth and denies it.
I believe that most of the followers of other religions do not know the true teachings of Islam. Thus, it is fair enough to call them non-Muslims. Islam should not be judged through the deeds of its followers but through the teachings of the Holy Koran and the words of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Islam teaches respect towards Christians and Jews, irrespective of theological differences and urges Muslims to dialogue and deal with them in the best way. Allah the Almighty says: "Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not, for your faith, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them, for Allah loves those who are just".
Christians and Jews are called "the people of the book" and "the people of the covenant" because they received revelation and they enjoyed a covenant of peace from the Muslim side. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever hurts a Jew or a Christian, I will be his enemy on Judgment Day". He also said: "Whoever kills a Jew or a Christian unjustly, will not even smell paradise."
Jesus, peace be upon Him, and Mary, may Allah be pleased with her, enjoy high status in Islam. Chapter 3 of the Holy Koran, entitled "The Family of Imran", and Chapter 19, entitled "Mary", and others, show exactly how great Jesus and Mary are depicted in Islam. Muslims believe in Jesus, peace be upon Him, as He is depicted in the Holy Koran, the Last Testament.
The existence of Jesus, peace be upon Him, at the second heaven, and other prophets in different heavens during the ascension of Prophet Muhammad, peace upon him, to the seventh heaven, does not reveal the exact ranks of Jesus and the other prophets and it was not meant for such a purpose.
Prophet Noah, peace be upon him, for example, is not mentioned among those prophets although he is one of the five greatest prophets in Islam.
Indeed there are other narrations in this regard, which mention different positions of the same prophets, and which reveal that Muhammad, peace be upon him, met the same prophets in different heavens and different occasions. The position of Jesus in the second heaven does not lower his status, just like when a prince comes down to the door of his palace to receive another prince, this does not lower his position. Certainly, the positions of the prophets in different heavens were not according to a chronological order, because Allah, the author of the Holy Koran is infallible.
The prophet's symbolic welcoming reception of Prophet Muhammad in heavens show the unity of the heavenly messages and the great love of the prophets for Muhammad, peace be upon him. It shows that the prophets are brothers, their Lord is one and their faith is the same.
Here lies the message: "We Prophets are brothers, you followers of different faiths, be brothers like us, live in peace and tolerance, co-operate against deception, poverty, diseases, injustice and immorality. Do your best to know and embrace the truth and come to us in Paradise".