Question
How can Jesus be considered a prophet by Muslims if they say His claims were false. Being wrong once nullifies your vaildity as being called a prophet. Example: He said He would be coming at the right hand of the Father. Any Jew can tell you that no MAN can sit at the throne of God. Another example: He said “if you have seen me then you have seen the Father”. He made references to being the I AM of the Old Testament. He did not leave an option of simply being called a prophet. He is either all that He said He was and Lord of all, or He knew He wasnt who He said He was and lied, or He thought He was who He said was but was crazy. LORD, LUNATIC, or LIAR. Those are the options. Please inform me how anyone can call him only a good teacher or a prophet if they think He was wrong about His identity. Thank you and I will respect your answer.
Answer
No Muslim, with even the smallest hint of knowledge, would say that Jesus’ claims were false. What you seem to have misunderstood is that Muslims do not accept what is attributed to Jesus through certain writers of the Bible. If indeed Jesus were to sit at the “right hand of the Father,” then surely it will not only contradict but negate the belief that Jesus and God are one in the same as you seem to imply in the “I am” quote you have provided. Nevertheless this reply will not be regarding the concepts of the Bible and their correct understanding but rather a focus on the Muslim understanding of Jesus. Concepts regarding Jesus crept up into the Bible long after Jesus existence on earth. Hence no one can say for certain whether what is said of him is factual. Another thing to consider is that some of the Bible authors are not very well known or not known at all and only Church tradition holds them to be the writers of the books headlining their names. Thus, the Muslim view does not come from Biblical fact or fiction but rather what is mentioned of Jesus in the Qur’an. Jesus is the son of Mary, the prophet of God who was given revelation and a Sign to humanity. Any verses in the Bible, assuming the correct interpretation, that contradict the Qur’an are rejected and cannot be considered an authentic rendering of Jesus’ sayings.
Jesus is neither “lord,” “lunatic,” nor “liar.” No true Muslim would even consider thinking such a thing. He is a prophet and a messenger of the Almighty born of His command through the Virgin Mary.
Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; “He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.” She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said: “Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is! “And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message): “‘I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah’s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe; “‘(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me. “‘It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'” Ala Imran 3:45-50
I hope I have clarified the issue.
God knows best.