Jesus In Islam

See also: Maryam (sura)

Muslims believe in the virginal conception of Jesus by Mary (ar: Maryam), which is recounted throughout several passages in the Qur'an. According to the Qur'anic narrative, Mary had withdrawn into a temple and was visited by an angel an agent of divine action or communication commonly identified in Islam with the angel Gabriel (ar: Jibreel) but also with the created spirit from God by which he enlivened Adam.He proclaimed to her the conception of Jesus. Mary was startled, for she had vowed her virginity to God and intended to retain it.The angel reassured her, stating that such a conception was easy for God, who wished to make from her a sign (aya) to men and a mercy (rahma) from Him.The Qur'an describes the conception as the result of a creative decree made by God, similar to the creation of Adam. Some Qur'anic exegetes describe the event of conception as the angel's breathing into the cloak of Mary; which, upon putting it on, resulted in Jesus being conceived. Afterwards, Mary withdrew to a distant place.

After delivering Jesus, Mary was overtaken by the pangs of childbirth, resting near the trunk of a palm tree. Jesus then addressed her from the cradle, to instruct her to shake the tree and obtain its fruits, and also to allay Mary's fears of a scandal surrounding his conception. She then showed the new-born to her family, and in silencing immodest rumors he declared: Lo, I am God's servant; God has given me the Book, and made me a Prophet. Blessed he has made me, wherever I may be; and He has enjoined me to pray, and to give alms, so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother.

Other references in hadith are:

When any human being is born. Satan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers, except Jesus, the son of Mary, whom Satan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead.

According to al-Tabari, this was due to the prayer of Mary's mother: I seek refuge in you for her and her progeny from the accursed Satan.

According to Islamic texts, Jesus was divinely chosen to preach the message of monotheism and submission to the will of God to the Children of Israel (bani israill). Muslims believe that God revealed to Jesus a new scripture, the Injil (gospel), while also declaring the truth of the previous revelation, the Torah. The Qur'an speaks favorably of the Injil, which it describes as a scripture that fills the hearts of its followers with meekness and pity. Muslims believe that these scriptures had become distorted over time in text, interpretation, or both.

The Qur'an states that Jesus was aided by a group of disciples (hawariyun) who believed in Jesus' message, and termed themselves the ansar (helpers) of God. He was also strengthened by the same holy spirit that visited his mother Mary.Jesus is also depicted in Islam as having been given miracles as evidence of his prophetic mission. Such miracles, all performed by the leave of God, include: speaking while still in the cradle;breathing life into clay models of birds;curing a leper and a life-long blind man;raising the dead;and requesting the descent of a table from heaven upon which was a feast, upon petition of his disciples. Some Muslim accounts also relate that the Islamic prophet Yahya ibn Zakariyya (known otherwise as John the Baptist) traveled to Palestine and met Jesus at the Jordan river.

Main article: Islamic view of Jesus' death

Islamic texts categorically deny the crucifixion and death of Jesus at the hands of the Jews.The Qur'an states that the Jews sought to kill Jesus, but they did not kill nor crucify him, although a likeness of it was shown to them. Instead, he was raised alive unto God:

That they said (in boast),We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of God:but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not: Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise.

According to some Muslim traditions, Jesus was replaced by a double; others suggest it was Simon of Cyrene, or one of the disciples such as Judas Iscariot. A minority of commentaries of Ismaili or rationalist (falasifa) leaning affirmed the crucifixion by arguing that Jesus body had been crucified, but his spirit had ascended. However, this interpretation was generally rejected, and according to the Encyclopedia of Islam, there was unanimous agreement amongst the scholars in denying the crucifixion.Modern commentators such as M. Hayek interpret the verse to say that the crucifixion seemed thus to them [i.e. the Jews].

See also: Second Coming

Muslims believe that Jesus will return at a time close to the end of the world. One Qur'anic verse alludes to Jesus' future return as follows:

According to Islamic tradition, Jesus' descent will be in the midst of wars fought by the Mahdi (lit. the rightly guided one), known in Islamic eschatology as the redeemer of Islam, against the Antichrist (al-Masih ad-Dajjal , false messiah ) and his followers.Jesus will descend at the point of a white arcade in Damascus, dressed in yellow robes - his head anointed. He will then join the Mahdi in his war against the Dajjal. Jesus, considered in Islam as a Muslim, will abide by the Islamic teachings. Eventually, Jesus will slay the Dajjal, and then everyone from the people of the book (ahl al-kitab, referring to Jews and Christians) will believe in him. Thus, there will be one community, that of Islam.

After the death of the Mahdi, Jesus will assume leadership. This is a time associated in Islamic narrative with universal peace and justice. Islamic texts also allude to the appearance of Ya'juj and Ma'juj (known also as Gog and Magog), ancient tribes which will disperse and cause destruction on earth. God, in response to Jesus' prayers, will kill them by sending a type of worm in the napes of their necks.Jesus' rule is said to be around forty years, after which he will die. Muslims will then perform the funeral prayer for him and then bury him in the city of Medina in a grave left vacant beside Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and Umar (companions of Muhammad and the first and second Muslim caliphs respectively).

Jesus is described by various means in the Qur'an. The most common reference to Jesus occurs in the form of "Ibn Maryam" (son of Mary), sometimes preceded with another title. Jesus is also recognised as a prophet ( nabi ) and messenger (rasul) of God. The terms wadjih ( worthy of esteem in this world and the next ), mubarak ( blessed , or a source of benefit for others ), abd-Allah (servant of God) are all used in the Qur'an in reference to Jesus.

Another title frequently mentioned is al Masih , which translates to the Messiah.This does not correspond to the Christian concept of Messiah, as Islam regards all prophets, including Jesus, to be mortal and without any share in divinity. Muslim exegetes explain the use of the word masih in the Qur'an as referring to Jesus' status as the one anointed by means of blessings and honors; or as the one who helped cure the sick, by anointing the eyes of the blind, for example.Qur'anic verses also employ the term kalimatullah (meaning the word of God ) as a descriptor of Jesus, which is interpreted as a reference to the creating word of God, uttered at the moment of Jesus' conception,or as recognition of Jesus' status as a messenger of God, speaking on God's behalf.

Theology

Islamic texts regard Jesus as a righteous messenger of God, and reject him as being God or the begotten Son of God. This belief, according to Islam, is tantamount to shirk, or the association of partners with God; and thereby a rejection of God's divine oneness (tawhid).A verse from the Qur'an reads:

In blasphemy indeed are those that say that God is Christ the son of Mary. Say: Who then hath the least power against God, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every - one that is on the earth? For to God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For God hath power over all things.

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is similarly rejected in Islam. Such notions of the divinity of Jesus, Muslims state, resulted from human interpolations of God's revelation.Islam views Jesus as an ordinary human being who preached that salvation came through submission to God's will and worshiping God alone. Thus, Jesus is considered in Islam to have been a Muslim, as with all prophets in Islam.

Precursor to Muhammad

Muslims believe that Jesus was a precursor to Muhammad, and that he announced the latter's coming. They base this on a verse of the Qur'an wherein Jesus speaks of a messenger to appear after him named Ahmad.Islam associates Ahmad with Muhammad, both words deriving from the h-m-d triconsonantal root which refers to praiseworthiness. Muslims also assert that evidence of Jesus' pronouncement is present in the New Testament, citing the mention of the Paraclete whose coming is foretold in the Gospel of John.Muslim commentators claim that the original Greek word used was periklutos, meaning famed, illustrious, or praiseworthy - rendered in Arabic as Ahmad; and that this was substituted by Christians with parakletos.

Ascetic literature

Jesus is widely venerated in Muslim ascetic and mystic literature, such as in Muslim mystic Al-Ghazzali's Ihya `ulum ad-Din ( The revival of the religious sciences). These works lay stress upon Jesus' poverty, his preoccupation with worship, his detachment from worldly life and his miracles. Such depictions also include advice and sermons which are attributed to him. Later Sufic commentaries adapted material from Christian gospels which were consistent with their ascetic portrayal. Sufi philosopher Ibn Arabi described Jesus as the seal of universal holiness due to the quality of his faith and because he holds in his hands the keys of living breath and because he is at present in a state of deprivation and journeying.

Meccan period

The widespread consensus is that the following verses were revealed in Mecca:

Qur'an 19:16-40
Qur'an 19:88-95
Qur'an 43:57-65
Qur'an 43:81-82
Qur'an 23:50
Qur'an 21:91-93
Qur'an 42:13-14
Qur'an 6:83-90

Medinan period

The list of verse belonging revealed in Medina are as follows:

Qur'an 2:87
Qur'an 2:135-141
Qur'an 2:252-253
Qur'an 3:42-64

Qur'an 3:55.And when Allah said: O Isa, [Jesus] I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so l will decide between you concerning that in which you differed.

Qur'an 3:81-85
Qur'an 33:7-8

Qur'an 4:155-159.Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened — Nay, but Allah set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few —
And because of their disbelief and of their speaking against Mary a tremendous calumny;
And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger — they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.
But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.
There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.

Qur'an 4:163-165

Qur'an 4:171.O followers of the Book! [The Bible] do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium [Jesus son of Mary] is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.

Qur'an 5:17-18
Qur'an 5:46-47

Qur'an 5:72-78.Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah, He is the Messiah, son of Marium; and the Messiah said: O Children of Israel! serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust.

Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve.

Qur'an 5:109-118.And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! [Jesus son of Mary] did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.

Qur'an 9:30-31

Qur'an 19:27-29. "Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing.
O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot.
Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy?
He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet,
And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive,
And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest.
Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!
Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.
It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.
And lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the right path.
The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day.
See and hear them on the Day they come unto Us! yet the evil-doers are today in error manifest.
And warn them of the Day of anguish when the case hath been decided. Now they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not.

Qur'an 61:6.And when Isa son of Marium [Jesus son of Mary] said: O children of Israel! surely I am the apostle of Allah to you, verifying that which is before me of the Taurat and giving the good news of an Apostle who will come after me, his name being Ahmad [Muhammad], but when he came to them with clear arguments they said: This is clear magic.

Qur'an 61:14

Qur'an