Tuesday 16 August 2011

A brief look at ‘Eesa (Jesus) – peace be upon him

 

Could you give us a brief description of ‘Eesa (peace be upon him)?

Praise be to Allaah. 

·                
Maryam the daughter of ‘Imraan was a pious and righteous woman…
She strove hard in worship until she had no peer in matters of worship…
The angels gave her the glad tidings that Allaah had chosen her: 

“And (remember) when the angels
said: ‘O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allaah has chosen you, purified you
(from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the
‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn) (of her lifetime).’

O Maryam! ‘Submit yourself with obedience to your
Lord (Allaah, by worshipping none but Him Alone) and prostrate yourself,
and bow down along with Ar-Raaki‘oon (those who bow down)’”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:42-43] 

·                
Then the angels gave Maryam the glad tidings that Allaah would
bestow upon her a child, whom He would create with the word “Be! And
it is.” This child’s name was the Messiah ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus son
of Mary)… He would be held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter,
and he would be a Messenger to the Children of Israel… He would teach
the Book and wisdom, and the Tawraat (Torah) and Injeel (Gospel) … And
he would have attributes and miracles that no one else would have, as
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“(Remember) when the angels said:
‘O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allaah gives you the glad tidings of a Word
[“Be!” — and he was! i.e. ‘Eesa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)] from
Him, his name will be the Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary),
held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of
those who are near to Allaah.

He will speak to the people, in the cradle and in
manhood, and he will be one of the righteous.’

She said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when
no man has touched me.’ He said: ‘So (it will be) for Allaah creates
what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!”
and it is’” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:45-47] 

·                
Then Allaah tells us the rest of the glad tidings of the angels
to Maryam of her son ‘Eesa (peace be upon him), and of the honour of
‘Eesa, and how He would support him with miracles: 

“And He (Allaah) will teach him
[‘Eesa (Jesus)] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless
speech of the Prophets, wisdom), (and) the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel).

And will make him [‘Eesa (Jesus)] a Messenger to the
Children of Israel (saying): ‘I have come to you with a sign from your
Lord, that I design for you out of clay, a figure like that of a bird,
and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allaah’s Leave; and I
heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to
life by Allaah’s Leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you
store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.

And I have come confirming that which was before me
of the Tawraat (Torah), and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden
to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord. So fear
Allaah and obey me.

Truly, Allaah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship
Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path’”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:48-51] 

·                
Allaah is absolutely perfect in His powers of Creation. He creates
what He wills, how He wills… He created Adam from dust without a father
or a mother, and He created Hawwa’ from the rib of Adam from a father
but without a mother. He has caused the descendents of Adam to have
both a father and a mother, and He created ‘Eesa from his mother without
a father… Glory be to the All-Knowing Creator. 

·                
Allaah has explained clearly in the Qur’aan how ‘Eesa was born.
He says (interpretation of the meaning: 

“And mention in the Book (the Qur’aan,
O Muhammad, the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion
from her family to a place facing east.

She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them;
then We sent to her Our Rooh [angel Jibreel (Gabriel)], and he appeared
before her in the form of a man in all respects.

She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious
(Allaah) from you, if you do fear Allaah.’

(The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your
Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’

She said: ‘How can I have a son, when no man has touched
me, nor am I unchaste?’

He said: ‘So (it will be), your Lord said: ‘That is
easy for Me (Allaah). And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind
and a mercy from Us (Allaah), and it is a matter (already) decreed (by
Allaah)’ ”[Maryam 19:16-21]   

·                
When Jibreel told her that, she submitted to the will and decree
of Allaah, and Jibreel breathed into the sleeves of her garment: 

“So she conceived him, and she withdrew
with him to a far place (i.e. Bethlehem valley about 4-6 miles
from Jerusalem).

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk
of a date palm. She said: ‘Would that I had died before this, and had
been forgotten and out of sight!’”[Maryam 19:22-23] 

·                
Then Allaah provided Maryam with water and food, and commanded
her not to speak to anyone: 

“Then [the babe ‘Eesa (Jesus) or
Jibreel (Gabriel)] cried unto her from below her, saying: ‘Grieve not:
your Lord has provided a water stream under you.

And shake the trunk of date palm towards you, it will
let fall fresh ripe dates upon you.

So eat and drink and be glad. And if you see any human
being, say: “Verily, I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allaah)
so I shall not speak to any human being this day”’”[Maryam 19:24-26] 

·                
Then Maryam came to her people, carrying her child ‘Eesa. When
they saw her, they thought that she had done a terrible thing and they
denounced it, but she did not respond to them. She indicated that they
should ask this infant, and he would tell them. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“Then she brought him (the baby)
to her people, carrying him. They said: ‘O Mary! Indeed you have brought
a thing Fariyy (a mighty thing).

O sister (i.e. the like) of Haaroon (Aaron)! Your
father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was
an unchaste woman.’

Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk
to one who is a child in the cradle?’”[Maryam 19:27-29] 

·                
‘Eesa replied to them straight away, even though he was a child
in the cradle: 

“He [‘Eesa (Jesus)] said: ‘Verily,
I am a slave of Allaah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a
Prophet;

And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has
enjoined on me Salaah (prayer), and Zakaah, as long as I live.

And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant,
unblest.

And Salaam (peace) be upon me the day I was born,
and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!’”[Maryam 19:30-33] 

This is the information about ‘Eesa ibn Maryam,
the slave and Messenger of Allaah. But the People of the Book differed
concerning him. Some of them said that he was the son of God, and some
said that he was the third of three (“trinity”), and some said that
he was God, and some said that he was a slave and Messenger of God.
This last view is the correct view. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Such is ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam
(Mary). (It is) a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute).

It befits not (the Majesty of) Allaah that He should
beget a son [this refers to the slander of Christians against Allaah,
by saying that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is the son of Allaah]. Glorified (and Exalted)
be He (above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing,
He only says to it: “Be!” and it is.

[‘Eesa (Jesus) said]: ‘And verily, Allaah is my Lord
and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path. (Allaah’s
religion of Islâmic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His Prophets).’

Then the sects differed [i.e. the Christians about
‘Eesa (Jesus)], so woe unto the disbelievers [those who gave false witness
by saying that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is the son of Allaah] from the Meeting
of a great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection, when they will be thrown
in the blazing Fire)”[Maryam 19:34-38] 

·                
When the Children of Israel deviated from the Straight Path and
overstepped the limits set by Allaah, they did wrong and spread corruption
on earth, and a group among them denied the resurrection, Reckoning
and punishment. They indulged in their desires and in physical pleasures
without expecting to be brought to account. At that point, Allaah sent
to them ‘Eesa ibn Maryam as a Messenger, and taught him the Tawraat
and Injeel as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And He (Allaah) will teach him
[‘Eesa (Jesus)] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless
speech of the Prophets, wisdom), (and) the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel).

And will make him [‘Eesa (Jesus)] a Messenger to the
Children of Israel”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:48] 

·                
Allaah revealed to ‘Eesa ibn Maryam the Injeel (Gospel) as guidance
and light, confirming that which had come before it in the Tawraat: 

“and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel),
in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Tawraat (Torah)
that had come before it, a guidance and an admonition for Al-Muttaqoon
(the pious)”[al-Maa’idah 5:46 – interpretation of the meaning] 

·                
‘Eesa (peace be upon him) foretold the coming of a Messenger
from Allaah after him, whose name would be Ahmad. This is Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“And (remember) when ‘Eesa (Jesus),
son of Maryam (Mary), said: ‘O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger
of Allaah unto you, confirming the Tawraat [(Torah) which came] before
me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name
shall be Ahmad.’ But when he (Ahmad, i.e. Muhammad) came to them with
clear proofs, they said: ‘This is plain magic’”[al-Saff 61:6] 

·                
‘Eesa (peace be upon him) called the Children of Israel to worship
Allaah alone, and to obey the rulings of the Tawraat and Injeel… He
started to dispute with them and to explain the error of their ways.
When he saw how stubborn they were and how the signs of kufr were manifest
among them, he stood among his people, saying, Who will be my helpers
in the cause of Allaah? The disciples believed in him, and their number
was twelve. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Then when ‘Eesa (Jesus) came to
know of their disbelief, he said: ‘Who will be my helpers in Allaah’s
Cause?’ Al-Hawaariyyoon (the disciples) said: ‘We are the helpers of
Allaah; we believe in Allaah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e.
we submit to Allaah).’

Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and
we follow the Messenger [‘Eesa (Jesus)]; so write us down among those
who bear witness (to the truth, i.e. Laa ilaaha illallaah — none has
the right to be worshipped but Allaah)”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:52-53] 

·                
Allaah supported ‘Eesa with great miracles which remind us of
the power of Allaah, lift the spirit and promote faith in Allaah and
in the Last Day. He made something like the shape of a bird from clay,
and blew into it, and it became a bird, by Allaah’s leave. 
He healed the blind and the leper, and brought the death back
to life by Allaah’s leave. He told the people what they were eating
and what they were storing in their houses. So the Jews to whom Allaah
had sent ‘Eesa became hostile towards him and tried to the people away
from him, so they disbelieved in him and accused his mother of immorality. 

·                
When they saw that the weak and poor believed in him, and were
gathering around him, they formed a plot to kill him. So they provoked
the Romans against him, and they made the Roman governor think that
the call of ‘Eesa contained a threat against (Roman) power. So he (the
Roman governor) issued orders that ‘Eesa should be arrested and crucified.
But Allaah caused a hypocrite who had betrayed him to the Romans to
look like ‘Eesa. The soldiers arrested him, thinking that he was ‘Eesa,
and crucified him. But Allaah saved ‘Eesa from the cross and from death,
and Allaah tells us about the Jews (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And because of their saying (in
boast), ‘We killed Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the
Messenger of Allaah,’ — but they killed him not, nor crucified him,
but it appeared so to them the resemblance of ‘Eesa (Jesus) was put
over another man (and they killed that man)], and those who differ therein
are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing
but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. ‘Eesa (Jesus),
son of Maryam (Mary)]:

But Allaah raised him [‘Eesa (Jesus)] up (with his
body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allaah is
Ever All Powerful, All Wise”[al-Nisaa’ 4:157-158]

 ·                
So Eesa (peace be upon him) did not die, rather Allaah raised
him up to Himself, and he will descend before the Day of Resurrection
and will follow Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He will prove the Jews to be wrong
in their claim to have killed ‘Eesa and crucified him. And he will prove
the Christians to be wrong who exaggerated about him and said that he
was God, or the son of God, or the third of three. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose
hand is my soul, the son of Maryam will descend among you as a just
judge. He will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the jizyah,
and money will become so widespread that there will be no one who will
accept it.” (Agreed upon; narrated by Muslim, no. 155). 

·                
When ‘Eesa comes down before the Day of Resurrection, the People
of the Book will believe in him, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“And there is none of the people
of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him [‘Eesa
(Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allaah and a human
being] before his [‘Eesa (Jesus) or a Jew’s or a Christian’s] death
(at the time of the appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day
of Resurrection, he [‘Eesa (Jesus)] will be a witness against them”

[al-Nisaa’ 4:159] 

·                
‘Eesa ibn Maryam is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah
sent him to guide the Children of Israel and to call them to worship
Allaah alone, as Allaah says to the Jews and Christians (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“O people of the Scripture (Christians)!
Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah aught but
the truth. The Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no
more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, (‘Be!’ — and he was)
which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him;
so believe in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three (trinity)!’
Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allaah is (the only) One Ilaah (God),
glory is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs
all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allaah
is All Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs”[al-Nisaa’ 4:171]

 ·                
Saying that ‘Eesa is the son of God is a monstrous saying and
a great evil.  

“And they say: ‘The Most Gracious
(Allaah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews
say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allaah, and the Christians say that
He has begotten a son [‘Eesa (Jesus)], and the pagan Arabs say that
He has begotten daughters (angels and others)].’

Indeed you have brought forth (said) a 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 or children)
to the Most Gracious (Allaah).

But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most
Gracious (Allaah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children).

There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes
unto the Most Gracious (Allaah) as a slave[Maryam 19:88-93] 

·                
‘Eesa ibn Maryam is a human being, a slave of Allaah and His
Messenger. Whoever believes that the Messiah son of Maryam is God is
a disbeliever (kaafir). 

“Surely, they have disbelieved who
say: Allaah is the Messiah [‘Eesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary)’”[al-Maa’idah
5:72]

·                
Whoever says that the Messiah is the son of God or the third
of three is also a disbeliever: 

“Surely, disbelievers are those
who said: ‘Allaah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).” But there
is no Ilaah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One
Ilaah (God —Allaah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily,
a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them”[al-Maa’idah
5:73] 

·                
The Messiah son of Maryam was a human being. He was born from
a mother; he ate and drank, got up and went to sleep, suffered pain
and wept… and God (Allaah) is far above all of that, so how could he
be God? Rather he is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger: 

“The Messiah [‘Eesa (Jesus)], son
of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers
that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddeeqah
[i.e. she believed in the Words of Allaah and His Books]. They both
used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allaah does not eat).
Look how We make the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.) clear to them; yet look how they are deluded away
(from the truth)”[al-Maa’idah 5:75] 

·                
The Jews, Christians, crusaders and their followers distorted
the religion of the Messiah, and deviated and changed it. They said
(may Allaah curse them) that Allaah sent forth his son the Messiah to
be killed and crucified as a sacrifice for mankind – so it doesn’t matter
if anyone does whatever he wants, because Jesus will carry all his sins
for him… And they spread that belief among all the Christian groups
until it became a part of their beliefs. All of this is falsehood and
is lies against Allaah, and speaking about Him without knowledge. Rather
“every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds”. Man’s life cannot
be sound or correct unless they have a path to follow and limits at
which to stop. 

·                
Look at how they fabricate lies against Allaah, and speak about
Allaah with no guidance: 

“Then woe to those who write the
Book with their own hands and then say, ‘This is from Allaah,’ to purchase
with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written
and woe to them for that they earn thereby” [al-Baqarah 2:79] 

·                
Allaah has taken from the Christians the pledge that they will
follow ‘Eesa and follow that which he brought, but they changed and
distorted that; they differed then they turned away. So Allaah will
punish them with enmity and hatred in this world, and with torment in
the Hereafter, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And from those who call themselves
Christians, We took their covenant, but they have abandoned a good part
of the Message that was sent to them. So We planted amongst them enmity
and hatred till the Day of Resurrection (when they discarded Allaah’s
Book, disobeyed Allaah’s Messengers and His Orders and transgressed
beyond bounds in Allaah’s disobedience); and Allaah will inform them
of what they used to do”[al-Maa’idah 5:14] 

·                
On the Day of Resurrection, ‘Eesa will stand before the Lord
of the Worlds, Who will ask him before the witnesses what he said to
the Children of Israel, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And (remember) when Allaah will
say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)!
Did you say unto men: “Worship me and my mother as two gods besides
Allaah?”’  He will say: ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to
say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would
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 aught except what You (Allaah)
did command me to say: “Worship Allaah, 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. (This is a great admonition and warning to the Christians of
the whole world).

If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You
forgive them, verily, You, only You, are the All Mighty, the All Wise”’

[al-Maa’idah 5:116-118] 

·                
Allaah has created kindness and mercy among the followers of
‘Eesa and the believers. They are closer in friendship to the followers
of Muhammad than anyone else, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Verily, you will find the strongest
among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who
are Al-Mushrikoon, and you will find the nearest in love to the believers
(Muslims) those who say: ‘We are Christians.’ That is because amongst
them are priests and monks, and they are not proud”

[al-Maa’idah 5:82] 

‘Eesa ibn Maryam was the last of the Prophets
sent to the Children of Israel. Then after him Allaah sent Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him), from among the descendents of Ismaa’eel, to all of mankind.
And he is the last of the Prophets and Messengers. 

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