The Christian calendar dates from the birth of Jesus; the Muslim calendar dates from Muhammad's migration (hijra) to Medina (known then as Yathrib). So the Muslim calendar's year 1 is 622 A.D. on the Christian calendar. Muhammad was familiar with the religion of the Jews and of Jesus.

It is readily apparent that Muhammad was familiar with the Christian lore surrounding Jesus' life and death. After Muhammad related his experience with Gabriel on Mount Hira to his wife Khadija, she visited her cousin Waraqa, who had become a Christian and read the scriptures and learned from those that follow the Torah and the Gospel. There can be no doubt Muhammad knew what Khadija learned about Jesus and the earlier prophets.( p. 107, The Life of Muhammad, A. Guillaume.)

Did Muhammad try to fashion his role as prophet after the life of Jesus? Certain events related in the Koran and the Traditions would lead one to that conclusion. Following are some examples (excerpts paraphrased) from A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad and the Koran:

1. Ishaq relates the following about Islam and Muhammad. (p. 117, op. cit., A. Guillaume.):

People began to accept Islam, both men and women, in large numbers until the fame of it was spread throughout Mecca, and it began to be talked about. Then God commanded His apostle to declare the truth of what he had received and to make known His commands to men and to call them to Him. (p. 117, op. cit., A. Guillaume.)

Three years elapsed from the time that the apostle concealed his state until God commanded him to publish his religion, according to the information which has reached me (Ishaq). Then God said, 'Proclaim what you have been ordered and turn aside from polytheists.' ... (p.117, ibid., A. Guillaume,)

Jesus' whereabouts were not known for three years before he began his ministry. So there is no apparent record of activity during those three years of absence.

2. Ishaq states that 'Ali b. Abu Talib** said: When these words ' Warn thy family, thy nearest relations' came down to the apostle he called me and said, 'God has ordered me to warn my family, and nearest relations and the task is beyond my strength.'

I know that when I made this message known to them I should meet with great unpleasantness so I kept silence until Gabriel came to me and told me that if I did not do as I was ordered my Lord would punish me. So go get some food ready with a leg of mutton and fill a cup with milk and then get together the sons of 'Abdu'l-Muttalib so that I can address them and tell them what I have been ordered to say.' ...There were forty men more or less including his uncles Abu 'Talib, Hamza, al-'Abbas, and Abu Lahab. When they were assembled he told me to bring in the food which I had prepared for them, and when I produced it the apostle took a bit of the meat and split it in his teeth and threw it into the dish. Then he said, 'Take it in the name of God.' The men ate till they could eat no more and all I could see ( in the dish) was the place where their hands had been. And as sure as I live if there had been only one man he could have eaten what I put before the lot of them. Then he said, 'Give the people to drink', so I brought them the cup and they drank until they were all satisfied, and as sure as I live if there had been only one man he could have drunk that amount. (p. 117f, A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad.)

Cf. the story of Jesus feeding a multitude. Jesus took five barley loaves and two small fishes to feed the multitude of about five thousand and when all had eaten the remains were gathered and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves that remained... (John 6: 9-13; Mark 8:1-9.)

Also the story of Jesus' Last Supper at which he took bread, blessed and broke it and said to his disciples,"Take it, this is my body" then took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying. "Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28.)

[** I. Ishaq's method of proof of sources to the Traditions of Muhammad entailed a long line of witnesses ,e.g.  (from p. 117, ibid. A. Guillaume):

3. Ishaq relates that Buraq, the animal whose every stride carried it as far as its eye could reach on which the prophets before him used to ride was brought to the apostle and he was mounted on it. His companion (Gabriel) went with him to see the wonders between heaven and earth, until he came to Jerusalem's temple. (p.182, A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad.)

Cf. the story of Jesus' ride into town on a donkey. And when they came nigh to Jerusalem..., he sent forth two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go your way into the village over against you:.. you shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him." And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him...And Jesus entered into Jerusalem. (Mark 11:1-11.)

4. Ishaq writes about the twelve leaders of Muhammad: 'Abdullah b. Abu Bakr told me that the apostle said to the Leaders: 'You are the sureties for your people just as the disciples of Jesus, Son of Mary, were responsible to him, while I am responsible for my people, i.e. the Muslims.' They agreed. (p.204, A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad.)

Cf. Sura 5:15: Of old did God accept the covenant of the children of Israel, and out of them we raised up twelve leaders, and God said, 'Verily, I will be with you...'

Cf. the twelve men who became the disciples of Jesus, as Muhammad admitted. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot...(Matthew 10: 1-4.)

There may be other examples that parallel the lives and behaviors of Muhammad and Jesus, which would only add plausibility to the theory that, while Muhammad insisted that "Jesus, Son of Mary" (as Muhammad referred to him) could not be the Son of God, he nonetheless emulated him as one of the prophets and did try to fashion his role as prophet after that of Jesus. As further examples are uncovered, they will be added to this chapter as illustrations.