Question from a Christian about Prophet Isa in The Quran
InteResting reading… As a devoted christian, I of course know , what the bible says about Jesus/Isa.
It is therefore very interesting for me to get to know, what the quran says about him.
especially the “Al Muharrar Al Wajiz” ,which to some extent bears the same message as the revelation of st. john, the theologian. ( correct me if i´m wrong)
i have a question to this: The article states: All muslim agree to have faith upon the content of hadith mutawatir . Should the term muslim be understoon as, a person WHO submits til the will of god or does it Refer to, a peson of the islamic faith?
In my personal view, Jesus certainly is very much alive. i have witnessed terminally sick people recovering to perfect Health by praying to Jesus/isa and being prayed for.
I am very keen to learn more about islam and the quran, as i, beeing the christian i am, have sworn to protect the children of Abraham.
And you are perfectly right, god knows best, god is greater.
sincerely
Tim
Answer:
In the name of Allah, peace and prayer of Allah be upon His messenger.
This is the first time we hold a serious discussion regarding religion with a christian. Thus, we apologize if we couldn’t make a comparison with what stated in your bible, and we are only focusing on the explanation of Isa (Jesus) and the religious concept that he taught, according to what we found inside the Qur’an. There are several points that we’d like to tell you regarding prophet Isa and his teaching.
Firstly: Concerning the principle of Tawheed (The Oneness of God)
The Qur’an explained that all prophets and messengers sent by Allah, have a single, similar mission, that is to teach people to believe in oneness of God, and do not assign any partners to Him. And Prophet Isa was no exception. He was also sent by Allah in order to teach people about the oneness of God, so that all men would worship Allah alone and none other than Him
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
“We raised a Messenger in every community (to tell them): “Serve Allah and shun the Evil One.” Thereafter Allah guided some of them while others were overtaken by error. Go about the earth, then, and observe what was the end of those who rejected the Messengers, calling them liars.” (QS. An-Nahl/The Bee: 36).
Thaghut or the evil one, is every creature that is worshipped beside Allah.
Allah also decreed,
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
“Never did We send any Messenger before you to whom We did not reveal: “There is no god but Me. So serve Me alone.”(QS. Al-Anbiya/The Prophets: 25).
Verses that mention about similar matter are scattered inside the Qur’an. May the two verses above suffice you.
Secondly: Who was Prophet Isa and his mother, Maryam (Mary)?
We firmly believe that both muslims and christians agree that Jesus and his mother, Mary, were human. Creature, created by God. Allah decreed,
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
“Surely, in the sight of Allah, the similitude of the creation of Jesus is as the creation of Adam whom He created out of dust, and then said: “Be,” and he was. “(QS. Ali Imran/The Family of Imran: 59)
Among the proofs that Prophet Isa and his mother Mary were merely human, was that they ate foods and lived just like other human being. Allah decreed,
مَا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ الطَّعَامَ
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger, before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away! “ (QS. Al-Maidah/The Table Spread: 75).
We agree that both Isa and his mother Mary were slaves of God who were very close to Him, the special creatures in the side of God. Which means that they were people who were very obedient to their God. However, although they were special and close to God, would they automatically become God? Or, have one of the attribute of God?
We believe that all of us will agree in the answer of : No. Because it is impossible for a mere creature to be like God, or even to have one attribute of God. This was the teaching of Prophet Isa, as Allah revealed in the Qur’an:
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ
“And imagine when thereafter Allah will say: “Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to people: ‚’Take me and my mother for gods beside Allah?’, “
So what was the answer of Prophet Isa for this question?
قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ إِنْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
and he will answer: “Glory to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to. Had I said so, You would surely have known it. You know all what is within my mind whereas I do not know what is within Yours. You, indeed You, fully know all that is beyond the reach of perception.” (QS. Al-Maidah/The Table Spread: 116).
Therefore, Allah severely rebuts those who assumed that Isa was the son of God and a part of the trinity concept of God. .
وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَلَدًا ( ) لَقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْئًا إِدًّا ( ) تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنْشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا ( ) أَنْ دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَنِ وَلَدًا ( ) وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّحْمَنِ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا
“They claim: “The Most Compassionate Lord has taken a son to Himself.” (88) Surely you have made a monstrous statement. (89) It is such a monstrosity that heavens might well-nigh burst forth at it, the earth might be cleaved, and the mountains fall (90) at their ascribing a son to the Most Compassionate Lord. (91) It does not befit the Most Compassionate Lord that He should take a son. (92)” (QS. Maryam: 88 – 92).
Allah also disgraced people who made creature as a part of the trinity concept of God.
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِلَّا إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ
“Those who said: “Allah is one of the Three,” certainly they disbelieved, for there is no god save the One God. And if they do not give up this claim, all who have disbelieved among them shall be subjected to painful chastisement.”(QS. Al-Maidah/The Table Spread: 73).
We don’t really know what exactly the status of Prophet Isa to the christians. What is clear to us is, if the christians believe that Prophet Isa is the son of God, then there are many things that confuse us regarding this belief, such as:
- How come God appointed His creature of mankind to be His son? What we know is that this is one of the beliefs of the pagans who assumed that god did have children. A primitive and unreasonable belief.
- If Prophet Isa was the son of God, then why did God let him crucified – as depicted by the picture of statue that are widely used and displayed by the christians? Instead, the son of God should posses a magnificent power, particularly just to fight against several troops who intended to kill him.
- If the reason for the crucifixion was for expiation of sin, and Prophet Isa let those deviant people crucified him, it is still confuse us. Expiating or atoning for sin, by crucifixion, isn’t it a terrible teaching?
- Some might reasoned that it is a matter of principle that should be followed without criticism. But if that so, still we do not get it. If it is indeed a principle, then why such principle is not followed by the followers of Isa?. We never heard that there was a movement of Pope or pastors that hang or crucify themselves as a form of expiation of sins for their followers. Isn’t the principle of a prophet is something that should be followed and preserved?
Thirdly, The status of Prophet Muhammad and Isa
To us, Prophet Isa and Muhammad shared a similar status. Both were human being, creature of Allah, which He sent down as a prophet and messenger. We believe that Prophet Muhammad is the last prophet, who became the last of prophets sent to the earth. In the Qur’an, Allah decreed that Prophet Isa had revealed the news of the coming of this last prophet.
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
“And call to mind when Jesus, son of Mary, said: “O Children of Israel, I am Allah’s Messenger to you, I verify the Torah which has come before me, and I give you the glad tiding of a Messenger who shall come after me, his name being Ahmad.” Yet when he came to them with Clear Signs they said: “This is sheer trickery.” (QS. Ash-Shaf/The Ranks: 6).
And we have a very strong suspicion that the truth is, inside the bible, it was mentioned about the coming of this last prophet. It means that the christians have agreed that there would be prophet who would be the last of the prophets. What makes us curious is that why, until now, the christians refuse to believe in this last prophet? Fine, let’s assume that the christians do not admit that Muhammad is the last prophet. But don’t they believe that there would be the last prophet, after Isa? Then, if it was not Muhammad, when will the last prophet come?
Fourthly: We’d like to criticize your statement; “In my personal view, Jesus certainly is very much alive. I have witnessed terminally sick people recovering to perfect Health by praying to Jesus/isa and being prayed for.” Before we continue, we’d like to tell that it should be differentiated between treating and curing. Man could treat, but he couldn’t cure. Because to us, the only One that could cure is The Lord, The Creator. A man, no matter who he is, will not be able to heal others. Even though he was a prophet.
That is why, when muslims wished for the curing of their disease, they would go to a doctor, or traditional healer, then they would pray to Allah to cure them. Therefore, we consider your statement above to be problematic. How could Prophet Isa cure people, while according to your belief, he had been crucified? How could Prophet Isa was able to help other people, but when he was crucified, he couldn’t help himself?
In your statement above, you reasoned that curing through prayer was proven and happened. As you said, “I have witnessed terminally sick people recovering to perfect Health by praying to Jesus/isa and being prayed for.” To us, this is an incorrect reason. Because being proven to heal is not a reason to justify a wrong practice of treatment. The buddhists sought after the cure by praying to the statue of buddha sidharta, and yet they were cured. Is this fact a reason to say that the statue of buddha sidharta is ‘alive’?. The hindus sought after the cure by praying to the statue of vishnu, and they were cured. Is this a reason to justify that the statue of vishnu is ‘alive’?. There were so many people who went to the shaman (sorcerer) to treat their diseases, and then got cured. Is it a proof that the practice done by that shaman is justifiable? There were some people who sought after the cure by sucking animal’s blood, or even men’s blood, then got cured. Is that means that their practice is justifiable?
As there were people who wished to be rich, then he utilized unlawful ways to obtain wealth, such as by practicing magic or black magic, and he succeeded. Is that means that his way was justifiable?
Therefore, once again we emphasize here that whether an action of a man is correct or not, that couldn’t be measured with an instant result. Because Allah the Almighty and Most Powerful above all might have granted the person’s wish, even though he achieved it by violating the laws. It was not because Allah agree with what he did, but because Allah gave pleasures to all of His creatures.
Fifthly: The Meaning of Muslim
Etymologically, muslim indeed means “a surrendering, and obeying person to the laws of God. But terminologically, muslim means a person who obeys the rules of the prophet that was sent to him. Thus, muslim means those who obey the rules taught by Prophet Muhammad -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-. Allah dubbed it as the religion of Islam.
وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ( ) الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“And ordain for us what is good in this world and in the World to Come for to You have we turned.” He replied: “I afflict whomsoever I wish with My chastisement. As for My Mercy, it encompasses everything. I will show Mercy to those who abstain from evil, pay Zakat, and have faith in Our Signs.” (Today this Mercy is for) those who follow the ummi Prophet, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel that they have. He enjoins upon them what is good and forbids them what is evil. He makes the clean things lawful to them and prohibits all corrupt things and removes from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them. So those who believe in him and assist him, and succor him and follow the Light which has been sent down with him, it is they who shall prosper.” (QS. Al-A’raf/The Height: 156 – 157).
When the prophet came, there should be no other teaching followed but the teaching that he conveyed. As when Prophet Isa came, all jews should obey him. And that is the meaning of Islam. If it is not so, then what is the advantage of Allah sending His messengers, whereas they (the people of that era) were free to choose and follow the other teaching?.
وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“And whoever seeks a way other than this way of submission – Islam – will find that it will not be accepted from him and he will be among the losers in the Life to Come.” (QS. Ali Imran/The Family of Imran: 85).
Lastly, our apology, we actually are curious about this discussion. Because you asked about explanation regarding Prophet Isa, and Islam, according to what revealed inside the Qur’an. Whereas we haven’t agreed before about whether or not the information inside of the Qur’an can be acknowledged by all parties. Because what we’ve heard was that the christians do not acknowledge the Qur’an as the Book of Allah. If the christians do not acknowledge the Qur’an, then how can we assure you with the answers that come from the it?
Almost all religions and cults (sects) have a holy book. And to us, the only holy book that is still authentic from God is the Qur’an. Aside from it, are man-mad books or holy book from God that already been changed.
Therefore, we always preserve the authentic text of the Qur’an. If it has to be translated, then the authentic text of the Qur’an, as it was originally revealed, should still be included.
As for the bible, we’ve ever heard that even the christians themselves are doubting the authenticity of it. Even, some of them believe – and not just doubt – that the bible has been changed. Therefore, almost all of the christians never know about the authentic text of the bible. Why wasn’t it be preserved? Isn’t it the God’s Book?. They just got the translation version without the authentic text included.
In our view, it seems like the christians rarely open their holy book. Some of the christians just touch their bible once every sunday. The rest of their days are dedicated to their daily activities. Only a small amount of pupil of the church who study seriously about the bible. And that is because of the demands of their profession as candidates for pastor.
It is different with the muslims. The Qur’an becomes their daily guide book, regardless of their background. It means that it applies to all muslims, not just to their scholars. Because the Qur’an is taught to everyone, from babies who are just starting to talk to the elderly. No matter what their profession and sex are. We find plenty of worthy conclusions when we study the Qur’an. And we believe that even for just reciting it, we will get some rewards from Allah.
Why isn’t the bible in the hand of the christians treated similarly by its followers, as we muslims do to the Qur’an?. The answer is, if we may tell the result of our analysis, probably because the bible doesn’t include the authentic language/text of it, as when it first descended (revealed).
And Allah knows best.
Article of www.whatisQuran.com