21 APRIL 2001, Page 29

Muslims and Jesus

From Mr David Watkins

Sir: You are mistaken (Leading article, 14 April). The discovery of Christ's body might benefit Judaism, but certainly not Islam, any more than proof that Moses was a charlatan would benefit Christianity. Devout Muslims do not believe in the Resurrection, but they firmly believe that Christ survived the crucifixion (or, more exactly, was never crucified — what died on the cross was a phantom, since God would never permit so great a prophet and saint to suffer the ignominy of a felon's death) and was transported into the seventh heaven.

Muslims also, unlike some Anglican bishops, believe that Christ was born of a virgin.

David Watkins

Cardiff