Yet for all of this respect, the Qur'an denies Christ his identity as the Saviour and Lord of mankind. The Qur'an presents a very well defined idea of prophethood and then applies this role of prophet to Jesus and most of the other major Old Testament figures. It is the idea of prophethood it applies mostly to Muhammad, and this idea is then read back to all major prophetic figures in the past. A Prophet is anyone directly inspired by God. A Messenger is one to whom God has entrusted a special mission.
Messengers are usually also prophets and often come with books of revelation.
This message fits with the Islamic doctrine of salvation that all one must do is repent of sin, believe in God, and do the right good works to be saved. Muslims believe that all of the Old Testament prophets had this same ministry as prophets. Totally absent from the Qur'an's view of prophethood is any reference to Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah to come, any reference to calling the Israelites back to their covenant with God centered on the sacrificial system of the Temple, and any expansion in revelation concerning God's plans for mankind or any other covenants like the Davidic covenant or the New covenant. The Islamic idea of prophethood is strictly linear without development calling people back to the same basic religion. According to the Qur'an, Moses received a book called the Taurat, David a book called the Zabur, and Jesus a book called the Injil or Gospel.