What is the true image of Christ?
There is no physical description of Jesus in any of the canonical gospels, nor do the New Testament or historical writings include an accurate description of Christ's features during his time with his disciples. In general, the evangelical texts do not emphasize physical appearance.
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness" :
This is the second commandment of the Ten Commandments in the Bible, which states : " You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them" (Exodus 20:4-6).
The early prophets (peace be upon them) prohibited all forms of idolatry, including carved images, statues, icons, and idols, and did not allow representations of men or women in their sanctuaries and temples, in addition to forbidding prostration before them.
First-century rabbis strongly opposed the depiction of human figures and the placement of statues in temples.
Theologians such as Irenaeus (died around 202), Clement of Alexandria (died in 215), Lactantius (240-320 approx.), and Eusebius of Caesarea (died around 339) rejected the creation of images of Christ.
How did Jesus Christ come to be depicted as a white European man?
Roman and Byzantine Influence :
After the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Empire (4th century AD), Roman and Byzantine artists began depicting Christ with features similar to their own (rounded faces, light complexion).
During European colonial expansion (16th-19th centuries), this Europeanized image of Christ was spread in Africa, Asia, and the Americas as a tool to consolidate cultural hegemony, linking holiness with European identity.
Non-European Churches :
- In Africa, some churches depict Christ with black skin and African features.
- In Korea and Japan, images of Christ with Asian features are presented.
Prominent scholars and the Archbishop of Canterbury in England have called for reconsidering the depiction of Jesus as a white man.
The Painting of " The Last Supper " :
The Duke of Milan commissioned the artist Leonardo da Vinci to create this work, which was produced between 1495 and 1498 and is preserved in the refectory of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan (Italy). The painting depicts the scene of Jesus' last supper with his twelve disciples.
The Face of Christ in the Work of Da Vinci:
Da Vinci sought for the face of Jesus to convey innocence and beauty. After weeks of searching, he found a 19-year-old youth who served as a model for six months for the figure of Christ, which was later replicated in subsequent copies.
It is known that Da Vinci tended to depict men with feminine features, a common style during the Renaissance.
This was not the first representation of the Last Supper; the theme had already been painted dozens of times to decorate churches and monasteries.
Unlike other versions (earlier or later), which included halos over the heads of Jesus and the apostles (a symbol of holiness), Da Vinci omitted these elements.
Mario Taddei, an expert on Da Vinci's work, explains:
"I believe Da Vinci removed the halos to convey that those thirteen men at the table were ordinary and simple humans. There is no supernatural being in his Last Supper."
The statue of Christ in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a massive sculpture in the Art Deco style.
Located atop Corcovado Mountain (710 meters), it was designed by the Brazilian artist Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by the Frenchman Paul Landowski, being inaugurated on October 12, 1931. The features of Christ here differ completely from the classical representation by Leonardo da Vinci.
Historical and geographical evidence suggests that Jesus (Isa, peace be upon him), born and raised in the Middle East (historic Palestine), likely had physical characteristics consistent with the inhabitants of the region, including a brown or olive skin tone, distinct from the white European image prevalent in much of Western art.
It is worth noting that the Bible does not provide a detailed physical description of Jesus, according to Robin J. Whitaker Brombey, a scholar specializing in biblical studies at Trinity College of Theology.
Historical interpretation:
Wikipedia notes that Jesus probably had short hair and a beard, in line with Jewish customs of the time.
The historical Jesus, who lived over two thousand years ago, would have had a brown or olive complexion, typical of a Middle Eastern man.
Scientific explanation:
Scientific research on ancient skeletons in Palestine indicates that Jews of that era were more similar to Iraqi Jews, with dark or olive skin, dark or black hair, and brown eyes, according to Wikipedia.
Jesus in Islam:
In Islam, Jesus (Isa ibn Maryam, peace be upon him) is considered an honored prophet and a determined messenger with an elevated status. However, he is not the son of God nor a deity, as Christians believe. Muslims believe that he was born to the virgin Mary (Maryam) without a father, by a divine miracle, and was granted supernatural abilities, such as raising the dead and curing the blind and lepers with God’s permission, but he was a human like all the prophets.
As for the physical appearance of Jesus (peace be upon him), Islam does not focus on details of his looks, as the main emphasis is on his message, his call, his teachings, following his guidance, and believing in his prophethood—not on imagining his appearance.
Key points about Jesus in Islam :
1. Jesus was not God nor the son of God, but a noble prophet, and he did not command people to worship him.
2. His birth was a miracle (without a father), and his mother, Mary, was pure and immaculate.
3. Jesus was not crucified; God raised him to Himself, and he will return before the Day of Judgment (the descent of Jesus at the end of times).
Jesus did not explicitly mention in any of the four Gospels that he died to save humanity from sin. When asked what one could do to attain eternal life, Jesus answered that they should live according to the commandments (Matthew 19:16-17), meaning they should obey God’s law.
4. After the departure of Jesus, his teachings were distorted to the point that people began to say that he was God. Six centuries later, the truth about Jesus was revealed with the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and it will remain preserved forever in the Holy Quran.
5. Islam is not simply another religion, but it is the same message preached by Moses, Jesus, and Abraham. Islam literally means "submission to God" and teaches us to have a direct relationship with God. It reminds us that God created us and that we must not worship anyone except God. It also teaches us that God is not like any human being or anything we can imagine. The concept of God in the Quran is summarized in His saying:
"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent" (112 : 1-4).
Thus, Muslims today are the only ones who truly follow Jesus and his teachings.
6. It must be emphasized that worship is an exclusive right of God. Islam upholds the purest form of monotheism and does not accept that worship be directed to anyone other than God. Only God demands our obedience, and only He deserves our love.
7. Islam’s focus on monotheism is that the central message of all the prophets was to reveal God’s will and the correct way to worship Him. God has the exclusive right to be worshiped internally and externally, with our hearts and our actions. No one except Him should be worshiped, let alone associated in worship.
Salvation is only attained by worshiping God alone. A human must believe in God and follow His commandments. This is the same message taught by all the prophets.
Attributing to others—prophets, angels, Jesus, Mary, idols, or nature—any part of the worship that belongs solely to God, such as prayer, is called shirk (associating partners with God), the gravest sin. Shirk is the only sin that God does not forgive without repentance, because it negates the very purpose of creation.
8. Muslims today live in greater harmony with Jesus compared to Christians. Respecting and loving Jesus (peace be upon him) is a duty in Islam, and God emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus in numerous verses of the Quran.
