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Despite this strong objection to the worship of any creature other than Allah, the Qur'an itself relates an account of Allah commanding His angels to bow down in worship of someone other than himself. He commanded them to bow down before Adam!

And behold, We [God] said to the angels:  "Bow down to Adam."

-Surat-ul Baqara(2):34

Behold! Thy Lord said to the angels:  "I am about to create man, from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape. When I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."

-Surat-ul Hijr(15):28-29

What is significant about this is that surely Allah must have known that Adam would someday listen to the whispers of Satan [Shaitan] and bring about the fall of the entire human race. Yet, Allah who knows all things-past, present, and future-still commanded the angels to bow before the first man, Adam.

As we discuss now the issue of the worship of Isa Al-Masih, it is helpful to note the Qur'anic reference which compares Isa to Adam.

The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was.

-Surat-u Ali Imran(3):59

The Injil also speaks of the similarity of Isa to Adam and actually refers to him as the last Adam. This last Adam would succeed in leading the human race where the first Adam failed. Just as Allah gave the first Adam power and authority to rule over the entire earthly kingdom, so Allah gave this last Adam power and authority to rule over the whole heavenly kingdom-the very kingdom of Allah! The first Adam was of the earth; this other Adam, of heaven. Though the last Adam took on the created form of a human being, notice how the Injil reveals his true identity:

So it is written:  "The first man Adam became a living being;" the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.... The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. ...flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God , nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.... But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

-Injil, 1 Corinthians 15:45,47-50,57

From the above passage we see that this last Adam, who is Isa Al-Masih, has the power and authority to restore humankind to eternal life and to the spiritual presence of Allah, the Almighty,-the true Garden of bliss. Remember, this is the place of Adam's beginning before he disobeyed his Lord and was cast down to the earth. Isa has the power to bring about this spiritual restoration for all those who follow Him. The Holy Scriptures plainly declare:

For You [Allah] granted him [Isa] authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those You have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

-Injil, John 17:2,3

The Qur'an speaks of Isa as being honored both in this world and the next. Muslims know about the earthly honor attached to Isa Al-Masih simply by reading the Qur'an. He is described as having the power to heal the leper, open the eyes of the blind, raise the dead to life, and even create! (Surat-u Ali-Imran, 3:49.) But the Qur'an also speaks of the honor of the hereafter:

His name will be Christ Jesus [Al-Masih Isa], the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the hereafter, and of [the company of] those nearest to God.

-Surat-u Ali-Imran(3):45

Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in Power, Wise.

-Surat-un Nisaa(4):158

Unfortunately, many Muslims are not aware of the great honor bestowed upon Isa after the completion of his mission on earth. According to the hadith, Isa was raised only to the second level of heaven; others say the third level. But the Qur'an is clear in saying that Allah raised Isa Al-Masih to himself-in other words, to where Allah is. And most Muslims agree that Allah is not in the second or third level of heaven. Indeed, He is above all the levels of heaven!

The record of the Injil agrees with this exaltation of Isa Al-Masih. For example, we read this description:

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-Injil, Philippians 2:8-11

Speaking of this honor, Isa himself declared these words to his disciples:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

-Injil, Matthew 28:18

To this one to whom all power and authority has been given; to this one who submitted to the suffering of the Cross as the final great sacrifice of atonement and was called the "Lamb of God," we find even the hosts of angels giving worship:

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

-Injil, Revelation 5:11,12

But should this surprise us? Did not the scriptures speak of the similarity of Isa and Adam? And if Muslims believe that Allah did indeed command the angels to bow before Adam, then should we not expect to see the same for Isa Al-Masih?

Let us turn to one more description in the Injil that speaks of Isa's return to the earth. Remember, he is to be the Sign of the Hour. This is what the Holy Scriptures reveal:

With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. …he is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. …On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

-Injil, Revelation 19:11-16

In all of this, do we as mortal beings dare to refuse to bow to him whom Allah has appointed King of kings and Lord of lords? Furthermore, just as many Muslims kiss their holy book, which they revere as the Word of Allah, so sincere Christians kiss the feet of him who is the living Word of Allah, uncreated and forever eternal! It is extremely important to understand that these Christians do not bow to another god, nor do they bow to the human nature of Isa made of dust; rather they bow to his divine nature, which defines him as Allah's Word. In the Qur'anic account, angels bowed to a man made of clay; in the true Christian experience, believers bow to him who is Word of Allah, the image of the invisible God, and inseparable from Allah, from everlasting to everlasting-truly a description of divine essence!