Learning The Truth about 'Issa (Jesus) #1/4
by Brother Yahya Adel Ibrahim
All Praise is for Allah alone. He is the Rabb of
all that exists. Surely, we send the highest Salah
and Salam upon the Final Prophet, the leader of the pious and
upon his family, companions and those who follow their example with Ih�san till
the Day of Reckoning.
Amma Ba�du:
One of the greatest hurdles confronting Muslims today is a lack of knowledge
about certain essential beliefs that we as Muslims must unwaveringly adhere
to. Of the most pertinent issues facing Muslims living in localities that
are heavily influenced by western culture is how we view �Issa bin Marium
-Jesus the Son of Mary � �alihi as-Salaam (AS).
On a cyclical basis we are confronted with different "religious" occasions
that are marked by our Christian neighbours, co-workers and acquaintances.
It is paramount that we as Muslims have a firm understanding of what he
� �Issa (AS) represents to us as Muslims. Whether it is Easter Monday or
Christmas day, we as Muslims should know what Islam says about the issues
that are presented to us on a regular basis.
This four part series will attempt to expound upon the basic knowledge
that Muslims may already have. It will also seek to introduce evidences
from the Noble Quran and the Pure Sunnah with regards to issues that may
not have been discussed in detail before. There are four main issues regarding
�Issa bin Marium (AS) that we as Muslims must have knowledge of.
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The Muslim Nation is more Worthy of �Issa than all the
other nations.
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Who was Marium? And the Truth about the Immaculate Conception and the Birth
of �Isaa (AS).
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The Life and Near Death of �Issa (AS).
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The Inevitable Return of �Issa to Slay the Dajjal (One-eyed liar or the
Anti-Christ) and Lead the Muslim Nation.
We will attempt to deal with each of these four points � beginning here
with Part one � in a knowledge based manner. The opinions expressed will
be those that are held by the majority of the Scholars of Islam. The weaker
opinions or those that do not have an evidentiary basis will not be discussed
unless to show their inaccuracy or incorrectness. In discussing this issue
we will only turn to the verified sources of authenticity. We will only
narrate that which is accepted as true and verified by the Muslim scholars
of past and present. We will not look into sources that do not have an
Islamic basis. A Muslim writes this discussion for Muslims, from exclusively
Islamic scholarly sources. To debate these issues from others sources (Bible)
is a wholly separate discussion that has no place here.
The Muslim Nation is more Worthy of �Issa than all others
The one who claims that �Issa (AS) is God, or that �Issa (AS) is the Son
of God, or that God is a Trinity that includes �Issa is in fact the most
distant from the teachings of �Issa (AS) even if he calls himself a devout
Christian. Claiming love for someone implies that you adhere to what that
individual stood for and called to. �Issa (AS) was never one who claimed
any one of the previous three statements for himself. In fact neither did
his true followers. For this to become clear we will analyze four main
points:
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The Prophets of Allah are all Related.
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The Only accepted Deen (Religious Way of Life) is Islam.
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�Issa was but a humble Messenger and Prophet of Allah.
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�Issa distances himself from the slander and unjustified claims of Christians.
The Prophets of Allah are all related
Rasool ul Allah (SAAW) said:
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"I am the most worthy of �Issa bin
Marium in this life and in the hereafter." They (Sahaba) asked: "Why is
that O Messenger of Allah (SAAW)?" He (SAAW) replied: "The Prophets are
paternal (bloodline) brethren (from fathers side). Their mothers may be
different (races, peoples, bloodlines) yet their Deen is always one (Islam)."
Reported by Bukhari and Muslim. |
Therefore this necessitates that he who disputes the validity of one
of the true Prophets and Messengers has in fact reviled and disputed all
of them. One cannot believe in Muhammad (SAAW) and not believe in �Issa
(AS). Equally, one cannot truly believe in �Issa and not believe in Muhammad
(SAAW). To truly accept one Prophet or Messenger necessitates the acceptance
of all those who came before him and all who will come after him, ending
with Muhammad (SAAW).
This concept is clearly portrayed in the Quran. Allah (SWT) mentions
the first Messenger to humanity Nuh or Noah (AS) in the Quran. What is
very interesting is that Allah (SWT) states in Surat ash-Shu�arah (26:105)
that
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"Nuh�s people disbelieved the Messengers." |
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The point of relevance is that a plural (Messengers) is used in this
ayah, yet we know that there were no Messengers sent to his people or humanity
as a matter of fact. Allah only sent Nuh (AS) to his people and none other
before him. This same concept is further emphasized in the same Surat.
Allah (SWT) says:
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"�Ad�s people disbelieved the Messengers."
Ash-Shu�rah (26:123)
"Thamud�s people disbelieved the Messengers." Ash-Shu�rah (26:141)
"Lut�s (Lot�s) people disbelieved the Messengers." Ash-Shu�rah (26:160) |
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We know that to each of these people only one Messenger was sent to
them. Disbelieving in one Prophet or Messenger is disbelief in all the
Prophets and Messengers.
Allah (SWT) says:
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"The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in
what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers.
Each believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They
say,) �We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers.�"
Al-Baqarah (2:285) |
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Therefore all the Prophets and Messengers are a fraternity of brethren
through the lineage of their fathers. Even �Issa (AS), who was born without
a fathers� input into the equation of procreation is from the family of
Bani Israel the descendant of Ishaq (Isaac) son of Ya �qoub or Jacob (AS).
Even more important is to know that all the Prophets called to one and
the same thing �Islam. This brings us to the second point of our analysis:
The Only accepted Deen (Religious Way of Life) is Islam
Allah (SWT) says:
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"Truly the religion with Allah is Islam."
Ali-�Imran (3:19) |
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All of the Prophets and Messengers came calling to the one true faith.
They all were sent with one mission. They were selected to call people
to singling out only Allah in worship and to disavow all other gods or
deities while establishing Allah (SWT) alone as the One deserving all worship.
All the Prophets and Messengers called their respective peoples to Islam.
Nuh (AS) called to Islam: Allah (SWT) says:
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"(Nuh said) But if you turn away (from
accepting Islamic Monotheism) then no reward have I asked of you, my reward
is only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims!" Yunus
(10:72) |
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Ibrahim and Ya�qoub or Abraham and Jacob (AS) called to Islam: Allah
(SWT) says:
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"And who turns away from the religion
of Ibrahim (Abraham) except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him
in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, �Submit (Be Muslim)!� He said, �I have submitted
myself (I am Muslim) to the Lord of the all that exists.� And this (Islam)
was enjoined by Ibrahim upon his sons and by Ya�qoub (Jacob) saying, �O
My sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, die not then except
in the Faith of Islam (as Muslims).�
Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya�qoub? When he said to
his sons, �What will you worship after me (my death)?� They said, �We shall
worship your God (Allah) and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim, Isma�eel
(Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac). The One (God), and to Him we submit (are Muslim).�"
Al-Baqarah (2:130-133) |
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Musa or Moses (AS) came with nothing other than Islam. Allah (SWT) says:
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"And Musa said: �O my People! If you
have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims.�"
Yunus (10:84) |
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Yusuf or Joseph (AS) came calling his people to Islam. Allah (SWT) says:
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"(Yusuf supplicated) My Lord! You have
indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me something of the
interpretation of dreams � the (Only) Creator of the heavens and the earth!
You (O Allah) are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian) in this
world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim (submitting to
You alone) and join me with the righteous." Yusuf (12:101) |
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In turn, �Issa bin Marium (AS) came calling his people only to Islam.
Allah (SWT) says:
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"Then when �Issa came to know of their
disbelief, he said: �Who will be my helpers in Allah�s Cause?� The disciples
said: �We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness
that we are Muslims.�" Ali-�Imran (3:52) |
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And the finality of Prophethood, the Imam of the Messengers and the
Leader of the Righteous, Muhammad (SAAW) was sent calling all of humanity
not just a single people to Islam. Allah (SWT) says:
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"This day I have perfected your religion
for you (all humanity), completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for
you Islam as your religion." Al-Ma�idah (5:3) |
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The religion of all those truly sent by Allah as Messengers was Islam.
What is quite amusing to see is that there are those who accept the concept
of Monotheism (Jews and Christians) yet reject it at the same time. The
Jews reject known Prophets and Messengers of Allah. They at times went
as far as executing them. This was planned for �Issa as will be explained
later on in our discussions. Allah (SWT) describes this vividly in the
Quran:
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"Is it that whenever there came to you
a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some
you disbelieved and some you killed." Al-Baqarah 2:87 |
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On the other hand, those who claimed Christianity went too far in the
veneration of their Prophet and Messenger �Issa. They corrupted his teachings
by claiming for him things that he never stated for him self. They elevated
�Issa after his departing them to a paganistic status that nullified whatever
Monotheistic faith they had in their hearts. Allah (SWT) says:
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"And they say: �The Most Gracious (Allah)
has begotten a son (or offspring or children).� Indeed you have brought
forth (said) a most terrible, evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost
torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins,
that they ascribe a son (or offspring) to the Most Gracious.
But it is not befitting (the Majesty) of the Most Gracious (Allah) that
He should beget a son (or offspring).
There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious
as a slave." Marium (19:88-93) |
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Shaykhul Islam Ibn al-Qayyim has a beautiful poem dispelling the falsities
and irrational of Christians past and present. He poetically states:
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To the worshippers of the Messiah (�Issa) we put forth a question.
We seek an answer from those who have comprehension.
If a god was to be put to death by a people
Can he be truly godly?
Stranger than a god being interned in a grave,
Is being confined in a womb
Remaining for nine months
In darkness; nourished from his mothers blood
Finally exiting the birth canal a small weak child
With open mouth seeking a breast to suckle
Suckling thus necessitating urination and defecation
Is this the God that you claim?!
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Quite simply he is but a man who was chosen by Allah (SWT) as a caller
to guidance and righteousness. Allah (SWT) says:
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"The Messiah (�Issa) bin Marium, was
no more than a Messenger, many who were Messengers have passed away before
him. His mother (Mary) was a Sidiqah (believed in Words of Allah). Both
of them used to eat food (as all other human beings). Look how We make
the Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, examples) clear to them; yet look
how they are deluded away (from the truth)." Al-Ma�idah (5:75) |
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Some will ask, how can someone be born to a virgin mother and not be
divine?
Allah (SWT) answers:
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"Verily, the likeness of �Issa before
Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him (Adam) from dust, then (He)
said to him: �Be!� � and he was." Ali-�Imran (3:59) |
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Surely the creation of a complete physical man from dust is greater
than the creation of �Issa. If Adam (AS) is not thought of as being divine,
then why has the same claim been made for �Issa (AS)?
�Issa distances himself from the slander and unjustified claims of Christians.
Allah (SWT) gives us a glimpse of what will be spoken by �Issa on the Day
of Judgment in defense of himself and proclaiming his innocence and freedom
from the unjustified claims of those who ascribed to him abominable lies.
Allah (SWT) mentions this to us in the concluding verses of Surat al-Ma�idah.
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"And (remember) when Allah will say
(on the Day of Ressurection): �O �Issa, son of Marium! Did you say unto
men: �Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?��
He (�Issa) will say: �Glory is to You (Alone)! It was not for me to
say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You surely,
have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what
is in Yours; truly You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden
and (unseen).�
�Never did I say to them except what You (Allah) commanded me to say:
�Worship Allah, My Lord and Your Lord.� And I was a witness over them while
I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over
them; and You are a Witness to all things.�
�If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them,
verily, You, only You, are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.�
Allah will say: �This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from
their truth: Theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) �
they shall abide therein forever.� Allah is pleased with them and they
are pleased with Him. That is the great success (Paradise).
To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that
is therein, and He is Able to do all things." Al-Ma�idah (5:116-120) |
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These are the words of truth that are undeniable by the one who possesses
insight, rational and a clear understanding of Allah.
In our upcoming discussion we will analyze and discuss the Immaculate
Conception from the Muslim perspective. Who was Marium and why was she
chosen by Allah to carry �Issa (AS)? How was she made to conceive him?
What were the circumstances before and after the Miraculous birth of �Issa
(AS)?
These and other points will be discussed in part two of this four part
series seeking to learn about the slandered and oppressed Prophet and Messenger
of Allah �Issa bin Marium. |
