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Islam holds Jesus (Template:Lang-ar `Īsā) to have been a messenger and a prophet of God who lived roughly between 8–2 BC/BCE to 29–36 AD/CE. The concept of prophecy in Islam is broader than Judaism and Christianity since Muslims distinguish between "messengers" (ar: rasul) and "prophets" (ar: nabi). The Qur'an gives him the unique title of the Messiah. According to the Qur'an, Jesus was one of God's most beloved messengers, a precursor to Muhammad, and was sent to guide the Children of Israel. The Qur'an tells of his miraculous birth to Mary (Arabic: Maryam), cites the miracles he performed by God's permission, and states that God raised him to His Presence. The Qur'an also alludes to Jesus' future return. Also Qur'an states that Jesus was not crucified and that God lifted him to heaven , and a famous hadith states that he will return to Earth before the Day of Judgment and defeat the Dajjal(Anti-Christ) and the enemies of Islam. The Islamic conceptualization of Jesus is similar to that of the Unitarian Christian tradition
Etymology
The Anglicized name of Jesus is derived from the Latin Iēsus, which in turn comes from the Greek Template:Polytonic (Iēsoûs). Based on some strong evidences from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, Western scholars are certain that Jesus' name was the Hebrew Yhōšua (יהושע) (Aramaic: Yēšua (ישוע)). Yhōšua (יהושע) originally meant "Yahweh helps," but was popularly understood to mean 'Yahweh saves'. Yhōšua (יהושע) is the name by which Moses called his successor as leader of the Israelites, known in English as Joshua.
The Qur'anic reference as 'Isa has puzzled the Western scholars and several theories have been proposed:
- The first theory is that "y-sh-' , the Hebrew consonants of Yeshua, have been reversed for some cryptic reason to give 's-y, the Arabic consonants of `Īsā." In support of this theory it has been said that "in ancient Mesopotamia certain divine names were written in one way and pronounced in another; for example EN-ZU was read ZU-EN"
- Another theory is that "the Jews called Jesus "Esau" (Hebrew 'Esaw) out of hatred and that Muhammad learned this name from them not realizing that it was an insult." In support of this it is said that the Arabic Esau is written as 'Isu and this might have been changed to `Īsā to assimilate it to other qur'anic names ending in -ā. In opposition to this theory, it has been said that there is no evidence that the Jews ever called Jesus Esau. Further, Muhammad criticized Jews for insulting Jesus' mother and that those Christians who were acquaintances of Muhammad would have corrected him had Muhammad not realized that it is a Jewish insult to Jesus.
- A third theory is that the Qur'an deliberately used the word `Īsā to assimilate it to Musa (Moses) because they were sometimes paired. This also occurs in some modern languages, f. e. slovak (Ježiš - Mojžiš) or czech (Ježíš - Mojžíš). Other examples of assonant pairs include Ṭālūt-Ḏj̲ālūt (Saul and Goliath), Yād̲j̲ūdj-Mād̲j̲ūd̲j̲ (Gog and Magog), etc
- The last theory is that Christians in Arabia had coined the term `Īsā from the Syriac forms of Yeshu or Ishu. The Arabic words that are borrowed from Aramaic or Syriac are often employed by 'ayn . Further the Manichaean fragments provide an evidence for dropping the final 'ayin of the borrowed Hebrew terms. But there is no evidence that the term `Īsā had been in use in pre-Islamic times. "There is however a monastery in Syria known as `Īsāniyya as early as 571 C.E."
In all probability though, the name Isa is the Arabised term for the Aramaic name from which Jesus was eventually derived.
Life
Birth
Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus through Mary, which is recounted throughout several passages in the Qur'an. In the Qur'anic story an angel appears before Mary to announce her the gift of a holy son. Mary is surprised and answers the angel that she is virgin. The angel replies "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us':It is a matter (so) decreed...when He determines a matter, He only says to it, 'Be', and it is." (, ) The Qur'an rejects the idea that virgin birth implies that Jesus is divine - the example of Adam is used in argument against such belief. Sahih Bukhari records that John was a cousin to Jesus. Soon after his birth, Jesus speaks as an infant to defend Mary from accusations of adultery. Two others are noted to have spoken as infants.
Other relevant verses from the Qur'an:
And she (Mary) who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our Spirit and made her and her son a sign for the nations.
— Qur'an,
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.
Mission
Muslims believe that God gave a Direct Revelation to Jesus, the Injil , while also declaring the truth of the previous revelation, the Torah. Muslims believe that they have been misinterpreted, misrepresented, mistranslated, passed over, and/or textually distorted over time, and that even the earliest manuscripts discovered by archaeologists reflect these changes. Muslims believe that the New Testament no longer represents the original revelation, which the Qur'an calls a "Light", guidance, and a divine scripture ().
Jesus is 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 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. Template:Stub-sect
Islamic view on his claimed death
Main article: Islamic view of Jesus' deathVerses , , and of the Qur'an touch the issue of the death of Jesus. According to verse the , the Jews sought to kill Jesus but they did not kill him nor crucify him but that it appeared so to them:
And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the messenger of God; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Jesus) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. Nay! God took him up to Himself; and God is Mighty, Wise.
— Qur'an,
Whether Jesus' was resurrected alive or dead, Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr, an 11th century Maliki jurist, writes that there have been differences of opinion on this issue. Although most Muslims believe that Jesus was resurrected alive but some contemporary scholars agree with `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas that Jesus died before ascension.
How Jesus was rescued from crucifixion, the Qur'an doesn't give much detail, hence there have been differences among Muslims. According to some, God replaced Jesus with a double. Others say God transformed another person, probably Judas Iscariot or Simon of Cyrene, to appear exactly like Jesus in order to deceive the Romans and be crucified in Jesus' stead. Some claim that this is evidence of Christian docetist theology influencing Islam at an early stage. Some Muslim rationalists disagreed with this version of the story and proposed that after the authorities failed to arrest Jesus, they knowingly crucified another person. Being kept at a distances, the crowds were misled into thinking that the substitute was Jesus as Jesus's appearance was disfigured by the ordeal. Another less well-known, but nonetheless widely held view (particularly in South Asia) is the so-called Swoon hypothesis: that Jesus didn't die on the cross, but merely fell unconscious, and was later revived in the tomb. The Muslim scholar Ahmed Deedat has been very influential in the spread of this view. Finally, other Muslims notably Mahmoud Ayoub hold that the Qur'an does not in fact deny the crucifixion of Jesus: among other textual and theological arguments, it is argued that the above verse "belongs not to history but to theology in the broadest sense" (like the Qur'anic statement that Mary, mother of Jesus, was a sister of Aaron)
On the interpretation of those scholars who deny the crucifixion, the Encyclopedia of Islam writes:
The denial, furthermore, is in perfect agreement with the logic of the Qur’an. The Biblical stories reproduced in it (e.g., Job, Moses, Joseph etc.) and the episodes relating to the history of the beginning of Islam demonstrate that it is “God's practice” (sunnat Allah ) to make faith triumph finally over the forces of evil and adversity. “So truly with hardship comes ease”, (XCIV, 5, 6). For Jesus to die on the cross would have meant the triumph of his executioners; but the Quran asserts that they undoubtedly failed: “Assuredly God will defend those who believe”; (XXII, 49). He confounds the plots of the enemies of Christ (III, 54).
On the interpretation of the minority of Muslims who accept the crucifixion, Mahmoud Ayoub, a professor of Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion states:
The Qur'an is not here speaking about a man, righteous and wronged though he may be, but about the Word of God who was sent to earth and returned to God. Thus the denial of killing of Jesus is a denial of the power of men to vanquish and destroy the divine Word, which is for ever victorious.
Second coming
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Most Muslims believe that Jesus is alive in Heaven, and will return to Earth to defeat the Dajjal (Antichrist). Ibn Hazm writes that there have been difference of opinion on second coming of Jesus. Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr writes that Sunnis accept the second coming through the individual reports by narrators who are of sound character. Some Islamic scholars like Javed Ahmed Ghamidi and Amin Ahsan Islahi question hadith regarding the second coming of Jesus, since, according to their understanding, it seems to contradict many verses of the Qur'an. Both views are discussed below:
Qur'an
In the following verses, refuters of Jesus' return translate the verb “mutavafika” (متوفيك) as the physical death of Jesus before ascension of his body while proponents translate it as the termination of Jesus' period on earth. Ali ibn Abu Talha, a Tabi‘in, has also reported that `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas said: Mutawaffika connotes Mumayyituka (I am going to give you death).
And when Allah said: O Jesus, I am going to terminate the period (or give you death or take you back) 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.
Refuters believe that the pronoun "him" in the following verse points to Muhammad while others believe that "him" points to Jesus. Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari has mentioned three possible interpretations of the verse; firstly, all the People of the Book will believe in Jesus before his death; secondly, all the People of the Book will believe in Jesus before their own deaths, and thirdly, all the People of the Book will believe in Muhammad before their deaths. Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr in his book Al-Tamhid has said that Imam Tabari opined that the verse is specific for the People of the Book of the times of Jesus and not for the People of the Book of all times. Amin Ahsan Islahi, however interprets that, everyone from among the People of the Book would believe in the Qur’an before Muhammad’s death.
And there is not one of the People of the Book but most certainly believes in this before his death, and on the day of resurrection he shall be a witness against them.
Refuters argue that Jesus' ignorance of his deification on day of judgement shows that he will not come back after his ascension. Traditionally, this verse hasn't been looked at from this angle.
And when Allah will say: O 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. I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: That serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord, and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things.
While commenting on following verse, Geoffrey Parrinder observes that there is no futurity in the grammar of the Qur’an to suggest a post-millennial death. The plain meaning seems to be his physical death at the end of his present human life on earth. However, proponents believe that the day of Jesus' rise would be when he will come again.
And peace on me (Jesus) on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life.
Refuters argue that the following verse is for present tense rather than future tense and he was a sign of the Judgement day for the direct addressees of the Qur'an. Proponents translate it for future tense and argue that after his second coming, he will be a sign for day of judgement.
And most surely he (Jesus) is a sign of the hour (Judgement day), therefore have no doubt about it and follow me: this is the right path.
Hadith
Most Muslims believe that Jesus will descend before the Day of Judgment and will slay al-Masīh al-Dajjāl (literally "the Deceiving Messiah," loosely the Antichrist; often referred to simply as "Dajjāl") at the Gate of Ludd in Palestine, They also believe that he will marry, die and be buried in the Masjid al Nabawi. During his life, he will have revealed that Islam is the true religion of God. Most Muslims give these hadith as proof of Jesus' second coming:
- Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts)."
- Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: "The Last Hour would not come until ... the time of prayer shall come and then Jesus (peace be upon him) son of Mary would descend and would lead them in prayer..." Template:Muslim
- Hudhaifa b. Usaid Ghifari reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion). He said: What do you discuss about? They (the Companions) said. We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), the Gog and Magog, and land-slidings in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly. Template:Muslim
- Also similar hadith in Template:Muslim,Template:Muslim,Template:Muslim
- "...He would then call (that young man) and he will come forward laughing with his face gleaming (with happiness) and it would at this very time that Allah would send Christ, son of Mary, and he will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damscus wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two Angels..." Template:Muslim
- "...and Allah would then send Jesus son of Mary who would resemble 'Urwa b Mas'ud. He (Jesus Christ) would chase him and kill him. ..." Template:Muslim
- Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (peace be upon him). He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine and abolish jizyah. Allah will cause all religions except Islam to perish. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him. Template:Abudawud
- How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and he will judge people by the Law of the Qur'an and not by the Law of the Gospel.
However, refuters of Jesus' return question many hadith including those in Sahih Bukhari and argue that as this event (if happens) would be an extra-ordinary event and still not discussed in the first book of hadith, Muwatta by Imam Malik.
In Islamic thought
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 (nabī) and messenger (rasūl) of God. The terms wadjih ("worthy of esteem in this world and the next"), mubārak ("blessed", or "a source of benefit for others"), `abd-Allāh (servant of God) are all used in the Qur'an in reference to Jesus.
Another title frequently mentioned in the al-Masīḥ, which translates to "the Messiah." This does not correspond to the Christian concept of Messiah, as Islam regards all prophets, including Jesus, to be normal men without any share in divinity. Muslim exegetes explain the use of the word masīh 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
Muslim understanding of the Trinity rejects the mainstream Christian view that Jesus was the Son of God, regarding belief in the Trinity as a blasphemous denial of tawhid (monotheism). The Qur'an states repeatedly that Jesus was only a human. Muslims do not believe 'Isa (Jesus) is God (in Arabic: Allah), nor that he was the "begotten" Son of God but rather only a man. The mainstream Christian belief, however, is that Jesus is the begotten, divine Son of God.
The Qur'an asserts that Jesus was a righteous Prophet and that he had a special relationship with God. Also, the Qur'an rejects the use of the word "begotten" when used to describe this special relationship Jesus had with God. "Begetting" is, by definition, having an offspring with characteristics of the parent. The Qur'an view such an act as undignifying to the majesty of God and an act of polytheism. The Qur'an also asserts that Allah is the Judge, that He does not die, thus no son is needed to carry out his work as He will not grow old nor die.
And they say: Allah has taken to himself a son. Glory be to Him; rather, whatever is in the heavens and the earth is His; all are obedient to Him.
— Qur'an,
The Qur'an asserts that Jesus was only a Prophet of God (not God himself) who worshipped God and taught his followers to do the same.
O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary is only a messenger of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Mary and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His messengers, and say not, "Trinity". Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one Allah; 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,
Minor beliefs
The quotes attributed to Muhammad (Hadith) contain additional information about Jesus.
- There were no prophets between Jesus and Muhammad.
- Muhammad describes Jesus as he appeared in a dream, and during Muhammad's ascension to Heaven. Jesus is medium in height with a red complexion and long, brown hair.
- On one occasion, when he witnessed a man stealing who denied it by swearing to God, Jesus suspected his own eyes rather than disbelieve the man's oath.
- In one narration, sins of several prophets are mentioned but nothing is mentioned of Jesus' sins.
- John was a cousin to Jesus.
References to Jesus in the Qur'an
- Meccan period
The widespread consensus is that the following verses were revealed in Mecca:
- , , , , , , ,
- Medinan period
The list of verse belonging revealed in Medina are as follows:
- , , , , , , ,, ,, ; , , ;, , , ,
See also
- Jesus
- Prophets of Islam
- Virgin Mary in Islam
- Itmam al-hujjah
- Sacrifice in Islam
- Islamic eschatology
- Gospel of Barnabas
- Infancy Gospel of Thomas
- Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an
- Christo-Islamic
- Jesus through Shiite Narrations
- Unitarianism
Notes
- Unlike prophets, messengers are given a message/scripture (ar: risalah) in book form. All messengers are prophets but not vice versa) cf John Esposito (2002), p. 12, see also Itmam al-hujjah
- ^ Encyclopedia of the Qur'an, Jesus
- The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, p.158
- ^ "Isa", Encyclopedia of Islam
- ^
- ^ Did Jesus Die, Joseph L. Cumming, Yale University
- ^ Neal Robinson, Crucifixion, Encyclopedia of the Qur'an
- Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr, Al-Istidhkar, Ist ed., vol. 26, (Cairo: Daru’l-Wa‘i Halb, 1993), p. 235
- Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr, Al-Tamhid, vol. 14, (Maktabah Al-Mu’id), p. 203
- Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali (Al-Azhari). "The thematic commentary of the Qur’an", explanation of verse 3:55
- Islahi, Amin. Tadabbur-i-Qur’an (1st ed.). Lahore: Faran Foundation. OCLC 60341215. vol.2, p.423
- "A History Of The Church, by Philip Hughes". Retrieved 27 August.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - M.M. Ayoub, Towards an Islamic Christology. II: The death of Jesus, reality or delusion, The Muslim World journal, 70 (1980), 91-121
- The death of Jesus: Reality or Delusion (Muslim World 70 (1980) pp. 91-121)
- Maratibul Ajmah, Ibn Hazm
- Khalid Zaheer, Descending of 'Isa, Understanding-Islam.com
- Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr, Al-Istidhkar, Ist ed., vol. 26, (Cairo: Darul Wa‘i Halb, 1993), p. 236
- Geoffrey Parrinder, Jesus in the Quran, p.121, Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 1996. ISBN 1-85168-094-2
- ^ Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, Qur'anic Verse regarding Second Coming of Jesus.
- ^ Tariq Hashmi. The Second Coming of Jesus. Renaissance - Monthly Islamic Journal, 14(9). September 2004.
- ^ Islahi, Amin. Tadabbur-i-Qur’an (1st ed.). Lahore: Faran Foundation. OCLC 60341215. vol.2, p.423
- Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr, Al-Tamhid, vol. 14, (Maktabah Al-Mu’id), p. 203
- Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, 1st ed., vol. 6, (Beirut: Dar Ahya al-Turath al- ‘Arabi, 2001), pp. 24-8
- Yusuf ibn Abd-al-Barr, Al-Tamhid, vol.14, (Maktabah Al-Mu‘id), p. 205
- Jhangeer Hanif. Why would Jesus come back?, Al-Mawrid
- Geoffrey Parrinder, Jesus in the Quran, p.105, Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 1996. ISBN 1-85168-094-2
- "She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!" - , cf. Encyclopedia of Islam
- Encyclopedia of Islam, "Isa" article
- 4.55.651
- Template:Bukhari-usc, Template:Bukhari-usc, and Template:Bukhari-usc
- Sahih Bukhari 4.55.653
- Sahih Bukhari 6.60.3
- Sahih Bukhari 4.55.640
References
- John L Esposito (2002). What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 0-19-515713-3.
External links
- The Mystery Of The Historical Jesus, a study of the historical Jesus in the Qur'an, the Bible, and historical sources
- Jesus Through The Eyes of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
- Jesus,Son of Mary - A Messenger of Allah
- Isa(Jesus) in the light of Islamic tradition
- Did Jesus Die, A BBC Film
- Status of Isa in Islam
- What the Quran says about Jesus son of Mary: Comparison with the Bible
- Qur'an Regarding the Death of Jesus
- Surah Maryam (Chapter Mary) Flash
- Isa and The Virgin Mary in Islam
- Isa in the Qur'an
- The Noble Qur'an
- The Qur'an on Isa' divinity
- Isa' second coming in Islam
- Isa the prophet of Allah
- The Gospel of Barnabas
- Jesus in Quran
- Islamic perspective on Jesus
- Chapters and verses containing the word 'Iesa/Jesus' in the Qur'an
- Jesus has Died: Quranic Proofs
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