What is the story of prophet jesus? Who is the prophet jesus in islam?
The Prophet who Cured the Ill and Raised the Dead JESUS -peace be upon him-
Jesus (as)
Jesus (as) graced the earth in Jerusalem six months after the birth of John (as). He is the last prophet sent to the Israelites.
Jesus (as) is also the fourth of five major prophets of supreme rank, referred to as ulu’l-azm. He is also known as Ruhullah, the Spirit of Allah (jj). While being an honorary title, this also points to the fact that, like Adam (as), the Almighty created him by breathing into him His spirit.
Jesus (as) became a prophet at the age of thirty, received the divine book Gospel and was raised to the heavens alive at the age of thirty-three.
As the final hour nears, he will return to earth, get married and have kids, meet with Mahdi (as), make Islam reign supreme across the world and pass away in Medina. He will then be buried next to the chamber in Medina, where the Prophet (as) is interred.
Mary (as), the mother of Jesus (as), descended from David (as). Her mother was Anne (Hunna) and her father, Imran.
Sources say Anne was unable to have any kids. So, she vowed:
“My Lord! If I have a child, I will dedicate him to the Temple!”
Not long after, she fell pregnant. The Qur’an recounts:
“When Imran’s wife said, ‘My Lord, I dedicate to You what is in my belly, in consecration. Accept it from me. Indeed You are Hearing, Knowing.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 35)
Soon, she gave birth to a girl and named her Maryam.
“And when she bore her, she said, ‘My Lord, I have given birth to a female child!’ -and Allah knew better what she had borne- ‘and a female is not like a male. I have named her Mary, and I entrust her and her offspring to Your care against the outcast Satan.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 36)
Until then, it was permissible and rewardable to devote male children to the Bayt Al-Maqdis. The devotees would stay there until they reached adolescence. After that, they were free to either remain or go wherever they wished. However, they could not leave until they reached puberty.
This applied only to sons. After the Almighty accepted the offering of Mary, however, daughters were also allowed to be dedicated to the Temple.
Anne handed her daughter Mary over to the Temple’s wardens. They cast lots to see who would take Mary in his care. The Almighty states:
“These are accounts from the unseen, which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast lots to see which of them would take charge of Mary’s care, nor were you with them when they were contending .” (Al-i Imran, 3: 44)
The lot fell on the imam of Bayt Al-Maqdis, Anne’s brother-in-law, Zechariah (as). He said:
“I am married to her aunt. I will take care of her.”
After Mary completed her period of being breastfed, she was allocated a room at the Temple. The Qur’an refers to this room as mihrab. The word also denotes any means of warfare. So, in that sense, this was a room of spiritual ordeal.
Only Zechariah (as) would enter the room to check up on Mary (as). This continued until she reached the age of twelve. Zechariah (as) would enter the room with his own key and lock it on his way out. He would come in once and drop off food to last her a day. Yet, upon entering, he would see different types of fruit inside the room. This would leave him startled. Upon asking where the fruit had come from, Mary (as) would reply, ‘from Allah (jj)’. These would be summer fruits in winter and winter fruits in summer. The Almighty declares:
“Thereupon her Lord accepted her with a gracious acceptance, made her grow up in worthy fashion, and charged Zechariah with her care. Whenever Zechariah visited her in the sanctuary, he would find provisions with her. He said, ‘Mary, where does this come from?’ She said, ‘It comes from Allah. Allah provides whomever He wishes without any reckoning.’” (Al-i Imran, 3: 37)
The Lord’s greatest blessings upon Mary (as) were:
Until then, only male children were dedicated to the Temple. Through the prayers of her mother, however, Mary (as) became the first female to be admitted.
The Almighty placed her in the care of Zechariah (as).
He fed her from the foods of paradise.
He made her meet Jibril (as), whom He only sends to prophets.
Her son Jesus (as) spoke in the cradle and responded to the slanders against her.
The Prophet (saw) says:
“Imran’s daughter Maryam was the best woman of the time. And Khadijah is the best woman of this nation of believers.” (Muslim, Fadailu’s-Sahabah, 69)
Mary (as) worshipped day and night. She became famous among the Israelites for her piety. She would perform extraordinary feats (karamah). The Qur’an has praised her as loyal (siddiqah).
Allah (jj) says:
“And when the angels said, ‘Mary, Allah has chosen you and purified you, and He has chosen you above the world’s women.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 42)
“Mary, be obedient to your Lord, prostrate and bow down with those who bow.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 43)
After these commands, Mary (as) became so pious that she would stand in prayer until her feet became swollen.
The Creator out of Nothing Can Also Produce a Child without a Father
When she was fifteen, Mary (as) got engaged to a carpenter by the name of Joseph (Yusuf Najjar). Before she got married, however, the Almighty inspired to her that she would give birth to a son without a father:
“When the angels said, ‘Mary, Allah gives you the good news of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah[1] Jesus, son of Mary, distinguished in the world and the Hereafter, and among those near to Allah.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 45)
The angels, again, said to Mary (as):
“He will speak to people in the cradle and in adulthood, and will be one of the righteous.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 46)
Thereupon:
“She said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a child when no human has ever touched me?’ He said, ‘So it is that Allah creates whatever He wishes. When He decides on a matter He just says ‘Be!’ and it is.’” (Al-i Imran, 3: 47)
The angels further said:
“And He will teach him the Book and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 48)
In the above verses, the term ‘angels’ refers to Jibril (as). The Qur’an refers to him in the plural to honor him.
The Almighty says:
“And mention in the Book Mary, when she retreated from her family to an easterly place.” (Maryam, 19: 16)
The ‘easterly place’, according to scholars of the Qur’an, is either the eastern wing of Bayt Al-Maqdis or the eastern part of Mary’s (as) home. It is said this is the reason Christians turn to the east when praying.
Before long, the Almighty sent down Jibril (as). The Qur’an states:
“So she secluded herself from them, whereupon We sent to her Our Spirit; and he appeared to her as a well-proportioned human.” (Maryam, 19: 17)
Here, the ‘Spirit’ is Jibril (as). He was sent as a well-proportioned young man so that Mary (as) would not feel afraid. Had Jibril (as) appeared in his original form, she would not have been able to withstand it.
Still, seeing a young man suddenly appear, Mary (as) felt nervous, as she was chaste and innocent. She was anxious, not knowing that the man was in fact Jibril (as). So:
“She said, ‘I seek the protection of the Merciful from you, should you fear Him.” (Maryam, 19: 18)
“He said, ‘I am only a messenger of your Lord that I may give you a pure son.” (Maryam, 19: 19)
“She said, ‘How shall I have a child, seeing that no human being has ever touched me, nor have I been unchaste?” (Maryam, 19: 20)
“He said, ‘So shall it be. Your Lord says, ‘It is simple for Me. And so that We may make him a sign for mankind and a mercy from Us. And this is a matter already decided.’” (Maryam, 19: 21)
Then, by the will of Allah (jj):
“She fell pregnant, and retreated with him to a distant place.” (Maryam, 19: 22)
As her labor pains increased and the time to give birth neared, Mary (as) withdrew beneath a dried-up palm tree. The Qur’an explains:
“The birth pangs brought her to the trunk of a date palm. She said, ‘I wish I had died before this and become a forgotten thing, beyond recollection.” (Maryam, 19: 23)
Finally, Jesus (as) was born beside a dry trunk. The Almighty had created him without a father.
Through His glory, Allah (jj) created Adam (as) from earth without a mother or father, Eve from Adam (as) without a mother, and Jesus (as) from Mary without a father,
There is similarity in the ways Adam (as) and Jesus (as) were born, in that they were both created through the command ‘Kun’ or ‘Be’. The Almighty underlines this in the Qur’an:
“Indeed the case of Jesus with Allah is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 59)
This not only points to the infinity of the Almighty’s power, it also proves Mary’s innocence (as) in the face of the vile slanders of the startled Jews.
Sources do not mention Jesus’ (as) exact date of birth; neither do the current Bibles. While one Biblical passage does suggest that Jesus (as) was born during the time of a Jewish king (Matthew, 2/1), Roman sources say the king had died before Christ. All the pieces of information clearly contradict one another, which means that Christmas can be nothing but a fabricated myth.
It is for the same reason that Catholics celebrate Christmas on the 24th-25th of December, while the Armenian church observes it on the 6th of January. Some Protestants do not even observe Christmas, saying its exact date is not given in religious sources.
Once Jesus (as) was born:
“Thereupon he called her from below her saying, ‘Do not grieve! Your Lord has made a spring to flow at your feet.’” (Maryam, 19: 24)
This is also interpreted as:
“Do not worry! Your Lord has created the baby beneath you as an honorable leader!”
The voice continued to say:
“Shake the trunk of the palm tree. Freshly picked dates will drop upon you.” (Maryam, 19: 25)
Even though it was winter, when Mary (as) shook the tree towards her, it suddenly started blooming with fresh dates. She helped herself to the dates and drank from the spring in front of her. The fact that the tree gave fresh dates was only to console Mary (as). She was told:
“Eat, drink, and be comforted. If you see any human, say, ‘Indeed I have vowed a fast to the Merciful, so I will not speak to anyone today.” (Maryam, 19: 26)
On top of the usual fast, it is narrated that the Israelites of the time also fasted by not talking to anyone. They sometimes observed both forms of fasting at the same time.
The birth of Jesus (as) sparked a series of rumors and slanders. The Qur’an explains what unfolded:
“Then carrying him, she brought him to her people. They said, ‘Mary, you have certainly come up with an odd thing!” (Maryam, 19: 27)
“Sister of Aaron! Your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste!” (Maryam, 19: 28)
The Aaron mentioned in the verse is not the brother of Moses (as). According to a stronger opinion among many others, this Aaron was Mary’s (as) brother. Like his parents, he was an honest and righteous man. So, the Israelites were saying they would never have expected the sister of someone so virtuous to commit adultery (!).
The Israelites kept taunting and insulting Mary (as). Yet, as she had been commanded, she patiently listened without speaking a word. Then, they began to increase their abuse. That was when divine help arrived.
The Qur’an explains:
“Thereupon she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we speak to a baby in the cradle?” (Maryam, 19: 29)
Allah (jj) gave his future prophet the ability to talk; and he began to speak from the cradle:
“He said, ‘Indeed I am a servant of Allah! He has given me the Book and made me a prophet!” (Maryam, 19: 30)
“He has made me blessed, wherever I may be, and He has commanded me with the prayer and alms for as long as I live.” (Maryam, 19: 31)
“…and to be good to my mother; and He has not made me a wretched bully.” (Maryam, 19: 32)
“Peace is to me the day I was born, the day I die and the day I am raised alive.” (Maryam, 19: 33)
The people around were astonished to hear a baby talk. Mary (as) was cleared of all blame.
After that, if any doubter asked Mary (as) where she got the baby from, she would simply point at the baby and say, “Let him speak!” And Jesus (as) would say:
“My mother is a chaste and honorable woman. You ignorant people! Do not blame my mother, who is a pillar of integrity! Know that the Lord has brought me into this world without a father. This is a miracle of Allah (jj)!”
People would then comment:
“This is a clear miracle from God. Otherwise, how can a newborn speak? This has to be from God…an event that shows His glory.”
Some people, however, retained their malice. The Qur’an states:
“That is Jesus, son of Mary, the real word; about who they are in doubt.” (Maryam, 19: 34)
The reason why the verse refers to Jesus (as) as the ‘real word’, is because he was brought into existence through the word, ‘Be’. The Qur’an further explains this elsewhere:
“And Mary, who guarded her chastity. We breathed into her Our spirit, and made her and her son a sign for all the nations.” (Al-Anbiya, 21: 91)
“And Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded the chastity of her womb. So We breathed into it of Our spirit. She confirmed the words of her Lord and His Books, and she was among the obedient.” (Al-Tahrim, 66: 12)
Jesus (as) speaking from the cradle did end the slanders, but not for long. An ignorant mob resumed saying, “How can a baby have no father!”
Then they remarked, “Zechariah must have done this! Who else but him!”
Shortly after, they caught Zechariah (as) alone at the Temple and shouted, “You slept with Mary!” before charging towards him. Zechariah (as) escaped and hid inside a tree hollow. Satan appeared in the guise of a man and pointed the mob to the tree, saying:
“Saw that tree in half! You have nothing to lose! Zechariah is hiding inside it!”
The vile mob immediately began to chop the tree down. As the saw began to split his head, Zechariah (as) was about to sigh with pain but heard a voice saying:
“Zechariah! Do not complain!”
And he did not. Zechariah (as) was patient and resilient as he was sawn in half, and martyred. In doing so, he reached majestic ranks.
Incidentally, Mary’s (as) former fiancée Joseph also faced the same slander.
To ensure that the miserable mob that martyred Zechariah (as) would not harm Mary and Jesus (as), the Almighty took them under His protection:
“And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, and sheltered them in a highland, level and watered by a stream.” (Al-Muminun, 23: 50)
It is said that ‘highland’ mentioned is in Egypt. Mary (as) and Jesus (as) stayed there for twelve years, during which a number of extraordinary incidents took place:
For a time, they stayed at a place, where the landowner once lost a bit of money. It was a house that lodged poor and underprivileged people. The landowner could not figure out who had taken the money. This made everyone a suspect, including Mary (as) herself, who became deeply distressed by the whole incident. Among the lodgers were two men, one blind and the other crippled. After seeing her mother upset, Jesus (as) looked at both and told them to:
“Take the money out of its hiding spot!”
Even though they had not said a word to anyone about their theft, Jesus (as) miraculously knew; and they had no choice but to return it. After the incident, Jesus’ (as) reputation grew.
Jesus (as) as Prophet
After staying in Egypt for twelve years, Jesus (as) returned to Jerusalem and settled in the town of Nazareth. It is for this reason that Christians were also called Nasrani, literally, those from Nazareth.
Jesus (as) was thirty when he became prophet. He immediately began calling people to believe that God is one.
The Almighty declares:
“Certainly, We sent Noah and Abraham and We proclaimed prophets from among their descendants and gave them the Book. Some of their descendants are guided, and many are transgressors.” (Al-Hadid, 57: 26)
It is understood that the four divine books mentioned in the Qur’an were revealed to the descendants of Noah (as) and Abraham (as).
“Then We followed them up with Our prophets and with Jesus son of Mary. We gave him the Gospel, and We put in the hearts of those who followed him kindness and mercy. But as for monasticism, We did not prescribe it for them. They innovated it only seeking Allah’s pleasure. Yet, they did not duly observe it. So, We gave the faithful among them their due reward, but many of them are transgressors.” (Al-Hadid, 57: 27)
Monasticism is a concept and way of living Christians introduced much later. Reports suggest that after Jesus (as), pagans tried to wipe out believers and heavily defeated them in three successive wars. Fearing there would be no one left to deliver the message, the believers who survived decided to no longer fight, and devote themselves to worshipping instead. They thus turned their backs to the tribulations of the time and showed sincerity in their religion by abstaining from worldly pleasures, including excessive eating and drinking, as well as marriage. They took refuge in mountains and caves, where they spent their time in deeds of worship. Most of those who remained, however, abandoned the religion of Jesus (as) and subscribed to the beliefs of kings. It was them who came up with the doctrine of trinity, and later, along with other deviancies, rejected the call of Prophet Muhammed (saw).
Jesus (as) continued to make the call. Yet, most of the people were mired in stubborn denial.
He showed many miracles. He told people that while he confirmed the Torah revealed to Moses (as), the Almighty had changed some of its rulings:
“And I have come to confirm the truth of the Torah before me, and to make lawful some things you had been forbidden from. I have brought you a sign from your Lord; so be wary of Allah and obey me.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 50)
“Indeed, Allah is my Lord and yours. So, worship Him. This is a straight path.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 51)
“And when Jesus son of Mary said, ‘Children of Israel! Indeed I am the prophet of Allah to you, to confirm the Torah before me, and to give the good news of a prophet after me, whose name is Ahmad.’Yet, when he brought them clear proofs, they said, ‘This is plain magic.” (Al-Saff, 61: 6)
The 14th section of the current Gospel of John quotes Jesus (as) as saying:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (Paraclete) to help you and be with you forever.” (John, 14/16-17)
And in the 16th section:
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate (Paraclete) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John, 16/7-9, 12-13)
Paraclete, translated as ‘the advocate’, comes from the Greek term periklutos, which means the ‘praised one’. Some Christians have interpreted this as ‘the savior’, while others have taken it more literally, as referring to ‘one of high praise’. It is therefore clear that the meaning of paraclete is one and the same as that of Ahmed and Muhammed.
The 97th section of the Gospel of Barnabas also includes the following:
“Then said the priest, ‘How shall the Messiah be called, and what sign shall reveal his coming?’
Jesus answered: ‘The name of the Messiah is admirable, for God himself gave him the name when he had created his soul, and placed it in a celestial splendor. God then said:
‘For your sake I will create paradise, the world, and a great multitude of creatures, to which I will make you a present; so that whoever blesses you will be blessed, and whoever curses you shall be accursed. When I send you into the world, I will send you as my messenger of salvation, and your word shall be true; such that even if heaven and earth shall fail, your faith never will.’
Ahmed is his blessed name.’
Then the crowd lifted up their voices, saying: ‘O God, send us thy messenger: O Ahmed, come quickly for the salvation of the world!’[2]
The deniers’ hatred of Jesus (as) had increased by the day. Realizing this, Jesus (as) picked twelve apostles from among his believers and asked:
“Who will help me in serving and protecting Allah’s (jj) religion?”
All twelve of them said, “We are your helpers! We will aid the way of Allah with everything we have! We have given our hearts to His religion! Bear witness that we are true believers devoted to your religion!”
The Qur’an recounts:
“And when Jesus sensed their faithlessness, he said, ‘Who will be my helpers toward Allah?’ The apostles said, ‘We will be the helpers of Allah. We have faith in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 52)
“O you who have faith! Be Allah’s helpers, just as Jesus son of Mary said to the apostles, ‘Who will be my helpers for Allah’s sake? ’The apostles said, ‘We will be Allah’s helpers!’ So a group of the Children of Israel believed, and a group disbelieved. Then We strengthened the faithful against their enemies, and they became the dominant ones!” (Al-Saff, 61: 14)
The Qur’an refers to the apostles of Jesus (as) as hawariyy. It comes from the Abyssinian word hawarya, which means helper or a chosen person.
The apostles are the twelve genuine believers, who kept faith with and helped Jesus (as) before anyone else. They have also been called ansarullah or helpers of Allah (jj). Jesus (as) chose them to spread the message of the Lord. The famous Barnabas, who wrote the Gospel of Barnabas, is also one of them.
The Feast From Heaven (Maidah)
The apostles asked Jesus (as) to pray for a feast to descend from the skies. Jesus (as) said:
“Do you doubt the power of the Lord? How can you dare ask for such a thing?”
“We have no hidden intention”, they explained. “We only want to attain the Lord’s grace and become even more content than we are.”
Jesus (as) took a bath and offered a two-rakah prayer. For humility, he wore some old clothes and pleaded to Allah (jj). He prayed for the feast and for that day to be festive.
His prayer was accepted and the feast (maidah) made its way down. It had a roasted fish. At the head of the fish, there was salt; and vinegar by its tail. The table was adorned with salads of many sorts. There was also some bread, as well as olives, cheese and honey.
This time the apostles said:
“Prophet of Allah…Show us a miracle within this miracle!”
Jesus (as) said to the fish:
“Come to life with the permission of the Lord of the universe!”
The fish came to life. The apostles were overcome with fear. Jesus (as) said:
“Fish…return to your former state with the permission of the Lord of the universe!”
The fish was, once again, dead. The apostles said:
“Spirit of Allah…please, eat first!”
“No”, said Jesus (as). “Whoever wanted this should eat!”
The apostles were still afraid. So, Jesus (as) said:
“Invite the poor and the ill. Let them eat from it!”
They sent for the poor and the ill. A total of 1,300 people arrived. They all ate; but by the time they were done, there was still more fish. Everyone who ate was cured. Those who did not, were left to regret it.
According to another narration, Jesus (as) had asked the apostles to fast for thirty days. After completing the fasting, they asked Jesus (as) for a feast, so that they could be sure their fasts had been accepted. They also asked that day to be a festive day and for the feast to be enough for everyone; all the rich, poor and ill.
Jesus (as) was concerned they would not be able to properly thank for such a blessing. He advised them against it.
However, the apostles insisted. Jesus (as) then stood to pray and the apostles lined up behind him in prayer. He began to plead to the Almighty in tears. Just as his supplication was coming to an end, a feast arrived from the heavens, carried by two men in turbans. Jesus (as) prayed for the feast to be a means of mercy and not of punishment.
As the table came closer, Jesus (as) stood before it and said:
He then lifted the cloth. There were seven fish, seven breads, vinegar, pomegranate and various fruits.
The feast kept arriving once every two days, over the next forty days. It would come at mid-morning. The rich, poor and everyone else would eat from it. At afternoon, the feast would then make its way back up, and cast its shadow on the ground.
Later, the Almighty banned the rich and the healthy from the feast. Those among them with malice in their hearts, did not take this well. They yielded to their egos; and angry at having been deprived from the feast, started ridiculing others.
“Do you really believe this feast is from God?” they mocked.
They were either 30 or 330 people. One night, divine wrath seized them, and they woke up as pigs. They received the punishment the Almighty had warned them of. Others saw them and became afraid. They sought Jesus’ (as) protection.
Those turned to pigs would signal Jesus (as) for a cure, each time they saw him. They would walk around him, using gestures to communicate. Jesus (as) would, at times, address them by their names. Hearing that, they would cry, and move their heads up and down, asking to be saved. Yet, as they had engaged in a great rebellion, they had gotten what they deserved. Three days later, all of them perished. Their carcasses also disappeared.
It is reported that when a pig walked past him, Jesus (as) would say, “Peace be to you!” Those around would ask:
“Why do you say that when these people have met divine punishment?”
He would reply, “Just so my mouth does not get used to bad words!”
The Qur’an talks about the feast in the following:
“Recall when the apostles said, ‘Jesus son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table from the sky?’ He said, ‘Fear Allah, if you are faithful.” (Al-Maidah, 5: 112)
“They said, ‘We want to eat from it, and it will put our hearts at rest. We will know that you have told us the truth, and be among the witnesses to it.” (Al-Maidah, 5: 113)
“Jesus son of Mary said, ‘Allah! Our Lord! Send down to us a table from the sky, to be a festival for us, and for the first and last among us; and as a sign from You. Provide for us, for You are the best of providers.” (Al-Maidah, 5: 114)
“Allah said, ‘I will indeed send it down to you. But if any of you disbelieve after this, I will indeed punish him like I have never punished anyone in all creation.” (Al-Maidah, 5: 115)
As understood by the Qur’an, the apostles wanted the feast only for their hearts to rest at ease. Otherwise, they had no doubt. They simply wanted to gaze at the scene of a divine miracle. Still, this was a request that came with great responsibility. Jesus (as) hence said:
“Fear Allah, if you are faithful!”
There are two points to note here:
Jesus (as) is saying, “Fear Allah from specifying the kind of miracle you wish to see!” Wishing for a miracle according to personal desire is to overstep one’s limits. It is a kind of effrontery. Also, asking for another miracle despite having previously seen so many others, is futile. For a believer, it is improper. It harms submission.
On the other hand, by saying “Fear Allah, if you’re a faithful”, Jesus (as) is signaling that the apostles need to stick to taqwa if they want to see their wish fulfilled.
Ammar ibn Yasir (ra) narrates the following from the Prophet (saw):
“The feast would descend from the heavens. It contained bread and meat. Those who ate from it were ordered not to betray it; not to take any of the food and hide it, or spare it for the next day. But they ignored the command and betrayed it. They took and hid food from the table. Thereupon, they were turned to monkeys and pigs.” (Tirmidhi, Tafsir, 5/3061)
Jesus (as) and the Apostles’ Journey to Nusaybin
Salman Farisi (ra) narrates the following:
Jesus (as) was tasked with going to Nusaybin (in present day Mardin, Turkey) to invite a king known for his arrogance and tyranny, to the truth. Before he went there in person, Jesus (as) first thought about sending a few of his disciples:
“Who will go?” he asked.
James (Yaqub) said, “I will.”
Jude Thaddeus (Tawman) and Simon (Shamun) joined him. Simon said:
“Spirit of Allah. If you allow me, I will go, too. But if I my find myself in trouble and call you, please do not withhold your help!”
Three of them set out. Simon waited at the city’s entrance.
“I will come if you need me”, he said.
James and Jude entered the city. They gathered the people and invited them to believe in God’s oneness. Yet, the people had already been duped by the slanders against Mary (as) and Jesus (as); thus, they not only rejected the call, they also cursed the two. They then arrested Jude and took him to the king. The king had Jude’s hands and legs cut off, eyes branded and thrown into prison.
Meanwhile, Simon entered the city in disguise. He approached the king without revealing his identity. In time, he struck a good bond with the king and became one of his close friends. Later, Simon asked for the king’s permission to see Jude and tell him a few things. The king allowed him to go. Inside the prison, the two apostles acted as if they did not know each other.
Simon asked, “What is it that you say, stranger?”
“All I say is that Jesus is the servant and messenger of Allah”, responded Jude.
“What proof does he have?” Simon inquired.
“He can cure all illnesses”, Jude said.
“Doctors can do that, too”, Simon replied. “Does he have another proof?”
“He can reveal what people hide inside their homes”, Jude said.
“Soothsayers can do that, too”, Simon responded. “What else?”
“He can mold a bird out of mud and make it fly”, Jude said.
“Magicians can do that, too”, Simon commented. “Anything else?”
“He can raise the dead!”
That is when Simon said, “Now, that is no human feat! Let us then call Jesus. We will believe in him, if he can really raise the dead.”
The king liked Simon’s offer. They immediately delivered the invitation. Soon, Jesus (as) arrived in Nusaybin and acted as if he did not know Simon.
“If you wish”, Simon suggested to the king, “let us test him through Jude.”
They brought Jude in. Jesus (as) rubbed his legs and arms, and Jude returned to his former state. He then wiped his eyes; and once again, Jude could see.
Simon turned to the king and said, “This is genuine proof that this man is a prophet!”
He then turned to Jesus (as) and asked, “Could you tell us what the people assembled here ate at this evening and what they are hiding at home?”
Jesus (as) told them one by one.
They then asked him to mold a bat out of mud. Jesus (as) molded a bat and made it fly. They next asked him to cure the ill. He did. He was finally asked to raise a dead; but not just anyone. They wanted Jesus (as) to raise Noah’s (as) son, Sam. With the permission of Allah (jj), Jesus (as) raised Sam.
The people asked Sam, “Were you this old when you died?”
“No!”, he replied. “I thought the Day of Judgment had arrived!”
Sam then affirmed that Jesus (as) is a prophet and died once more.
After having witnessed so many clear miracles, the king and his soldiers believed in Jesus (as).
This incident shows that a Muslim must have reason and sense, and act with prudence. The truth cannot be said everywhere. Sometimes it is better to wait and lay the groundwork.
Habib the Carpenter
Jesus (as) sent another two apostles; this time to Antioch. They called on the people to give up worshipping idols and embrace the truth. Yet, the pagan king had the two apostles arrested and thrown into prison.
Jesus (as) thereupon sent Simon, the leader of the apostles, to Antioch.
Again, Simon struck a friendship with the king. After gaining influence in the king’s inner circle, he gently invited them to the truth. The king and his men liked what they heard. They embraced the truth. The people, however, did not.
A man by the name of Habib the Carpenter heard about the people’s protests, and ran out of his house on the other side of the city. He told the people that he had wholeheartedly accepted the call of these envoys and advised them to do the same. But not only did the ignorant mob not listen to him, they yielded to their anger which had now reached boiling point and martyred Habib on the spot.
The Qur’an recounts the incident:
“Cite for them the example of the inhabitants of the town when the apostles arrived.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 13)
“When We sent to them the two, they rejected both of them. Then We reinforced them with a third, and they said, ‘We have indeed been sent to you.’” (Ya-Sin, 36: 14)
“They said, ‘You are nothing but humans like us! The Merciful has not sent down anything, and you are only lying.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 15)
“They said, ‘Our Lord knows that we have indeed been sent to you.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 16)
“…and our duty is only to communicate in clear terms.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 17)
“They said, ‘Indeed, we take you for bad luck. If you do not give up we will stone you, and you will surely meet a painful end.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 18)
“They said, ‘Your bad luck is with you. What if you are being warned? Rather, you are a wasteful lot!” (Ya-Sin, 36: 19)
“Then a man from the outskirts of the city ran to them, hurriedly. He said, ‘My people! Follow the apostles!” (Ya-Sin, 36: 20)
“Follow them who do not ask you for any reward, while they are rightly guided.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 21)
After hearing that advice, the mob turned to him and yelled:
“So, you, too, are of their religion?” The man then replied:
“Why should I not worship Him who has originated me, and to whom you will be brought back?” (Ya-Sin, 36: 22)
“Should I take gods besides Him? If the Merciful desired to cause me any distress, they could not help me in any way, nor could they rescue me!” (Ya-Sin, 36: 23)
“I would then indeed be in manifest error.” (Ya-Sin, 36: 24)
“I truly have faith in your Lord, so listen to me!” (Ya-Sin, 36: 25)
“He was told, ‘Enter paradise!’ He said, ‘Alas! If only my people knew that my Lord forgave me and made me one of the honored!” (Ya-Sin, 36: 26-27)
Abu Mujahid says:
“The most foolish of all creation, is the ego. It always wants things that are bad for it.”
So, the city’s foolish people snubbed Habib’s wonderful invitation; and as it conflicted with their personal desires, they accused him of brining bad luck. Habib had only wanted what was good for them, both in this life and the next. They instead chose to follow their egos, rejected faith and, in doing so, laid waste to their eternity.
Jesus’ (as) Ascension to Heaven
The Israelites had proven to be slack in obeying the religion sent to Moses (as). They remonstrated and deviated entirely from the true path. Although the prophets who followed constantly warned them, they were too disobedient to listen. They even went so far as to become ‘prophet killers’.
By the time Jesus (as) arrived, the Israelites were scattered. They were waiting for a savior. They wanted the awaited prophet to be an aggressive fighter with brute force. They supposed only a prophet with these qualities could deliver them from captivity and take them to the world’s riches.
Thus, when Jesus (as) arrived to save them, the Israelites found him too gentle, and did not wish to believe him.
Despite it all, Jesus (as) showed patience and tried to cultivate peace on earth and between people. He strived to save the Jews from their deviant path. Yet, the Jews already had the blood of prophets on their hands. Now, they were annoyed by Jesus (as), and decided to deal with him the same way. They first began by terrorizing both Jesus (as) and those around him.
The tyranny reached such a point that apostles Judas, Ishar and Judah renounced their faith. On top of that, Judas acted as an informer to a mob of Jews that included the murderers Zechariah (as) and John (as). He told them of Jesus’ (as) whereabouts. However, he was soon met with divine wrath. As punishment, he was made to look like Jesus (as) and the Jews crucified him instead. Jesus (as), on the other hand, was raised to the skies.
There are various views regarding Jesus’ (as) ascent to heaven:
Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates that a group of Jews insulted Jesus (as) and his mother Mary (as). So, Jesus raised his hands and prayed:
“Oh Lord! You created me with the command ‘Be!’ Curse those who malign us!”
Allah (jj) accepted the prayer and transformed the slanderers and mockers into monkeys and pigs.
It was after this point that the Jews decided to murder Jesus (as). They paid Judas a few pennies and found out where Jesus (as) was. Jibril (as), however, remained by Jesus’ (as) side. The Qur’an states:
“And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 253)
Ultimately, the Almighty raised Jesus (as) to the heavens. Jesus (as) was 33 years old at the time.
When the Jews stormed inside Jesus’ (as) home, the Almighty made Judas assume the appearance of Jesus (as); and the Jews killed him instead. Allah (jj) declares:
“And for their faithlessness, their monstrous slander against Mary. and for saying, ‘We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the prophet of Allah!’. They neither killed nor crucified him, but that is how it was made to appear to them. Those who differ concerning him are surely in doubt about him. They have no knowledge of it beyond conjecture. And they certainly did not kill him.” (Al-Nisa, 4: 156-157)
“Rather Allah raised him up toward Himself. And Allah is the Mighty, the Wise.” (Al-Nisa, 4: 158)
Allah (jj) protected Jesus from the Jews and prevented them from murdering him. That is certain. Also certain is the fact that Allah (jj) raised Jesus (as) to a rank by His side. As to the manner and time in which this incident took place, there are a number of reports. Most scholars say that Allah (jj), through His power, lifted Jesus (as) to his specific position in the heavens, to be sent back down before the final hour. Then, all Christians will become Muslim and Islam will be the only religion on earth.
The Qur’an says:
“Then they plotted against Jesus, and so did Allah. And Allah is the best of devisers.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 54)
“When Allah said, ‘Jesus, I shall take your soul and raise you up toward Myself. I shall clear you of slanders of the faithless, set those who follow you above them until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me will be your return, whereupon I will judge between you about which you had differed.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 55)
“As for the faithless, I will punish them with a severe punishment in the world and the hereafter. And they will have no helpers.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 56)
“But as for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, He will pay them their rewards in full. And Allah does not like the wrongdoers.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 57)
After the Ascension of Jesus (as)
Gradually after Jesus (as) was raised to the heavens, Christians split into 72 groups. The doctrine of trinity was invented. The Jacobite Church said:
“God was incarnate in Jesus. He assumed Jesus’ form and appeared in his shape. Therefore, God is Jesus.”
This view has its roots in Indian philosophy. Jerusalem was constantly under the influence of Rome and the Indian civilization. A strand of Indian philosophy holds that God descended on earth and became incarnate in Krishna, who was born from a mother and father. Krishna, hence, became the creator, God.
Yet, the Qur’an states:
“They are certainly faithless who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary.’ But the Messiah had said, ‘Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever ascribes partners to Allah, Allah will forbid him from paradise, and his refuge will be the fire. Wrongdoers will not have any helpers.’” (Al-Maidah, 5: 72)
“The Messiah, son of Mary, is but a prophet. Certainly, other prophets have passed before him. His mother was truthful. Both of them would eat food. Look how We clarify the signs for them, and yet, look how they go astray!” (Al-Maidah, 5: 75)
In these verses, the Almighty reveals that the doctrine of trinity, which ascribes partners to Him, is nothing but deviation.
The 72 sects that formed following the ascension of Jesus (as) can be classified under three groups:
Those who say “Jesus was God among us, but now he is gone”;
Those who say “Jesus was the son of God, but he is now gone”;
And those who say, “Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, who graced him by raising him to the heavens.”
The first two strayed away from the path of truth, while the third are true believers.
The Jews continued tormenting the apostles. The true apostles braved all the torture with patience. One of them was Barnabas. In the 216th, 217th, 220th, 221st and 222nd sections of his gospel, Barnabas gives the following detail on Jesus’ (as) final days:
“When the Roman soldiers entered the home of Jesus (as) to detain him, with the order of God, the four archangels carried him out of the window and raised him to the heavens. The soldiers shouted:
‘You are Jesus!’ and got hold of Judas. And despite all his pleas, they killed Judas on the cross.
Jesus later appeared to his mother Mary and the apostles. He said to his mother:
“As you can see, dear mother, I was not crucified. Judas was crucified in my place. Beware Satan; for he will try to deceive you by making the world appear charming!”
After praying to the Lord to protect the believers, Jesus (as) turned to the apostles and said:
“May the grace and mercy of Allah be upon you!”
Following these words, the four archangels once again raised him to the heavens.
Forty years after Jesus’ (as) ascension (around 70 CE), the Romans under general Titus sacked Jerusalem. They killed many Jews and took the rest as prisoners. They burnt the Torah, as well as the other books. By the time they were done, Jerusalem was in ruins and the Temple of Solomon was destroyed, except for the Western Wall. Today, the Jews call it the Wailing Wall, and shed tears beneath it in memory of the destruction. The Jews were unable to recover, as they were scattered into exile as outcasts, often reviled.
After Judas became an apostate, the apostles chose Matthias to replace him. They spread out to other regions to deliver the message of Jesus (as).
Once the message started to spread, Jews joined forces with Romans, Greeks and other pagans to wipe this religion out. Former Jews who had accepted Jesus’ (as) message were thrown in front of lions. They suffered enormous tyranny and torture.
In Yemeni city of Najran, the Jewish leader Dhu Nuwas and his men would throw believers who desisted Judaism into pits of fire, and watch them burn. Despite this, none of the loyal believers of Jesus (as) would waver, as they fearlessly walked to their deaths for what they believed in. The Qur’an refers to these believers as the ‘People of the Ditch’:
“By the sky with its houses, by the Promised Day, by the Witness and the Witnessed, killed were the Men of the Ditch! The fire, abounding in fuel, above which they sat, as they were themselves witnesses to what they did to the faithful.” (Al-Buruj, 85: 1-7)
This cruelty was not the end of it. They made plans to wipe out the religion of Jesus (as). A Jew by the name of Paul wrote many epistles, often mixing them with his own lies. He presented himself as a follower of Jesus (as), only to say:
“Jesus is the son of God!”
Paul also said wine and pork were permissible, and that it was useless to observe the Sabbath or for males to get circumcised. Thus, he effectively got rid of all the commands of Moses’ (as) law. He said deeds are unnecessary and that faith alone is enough. Jesus (as), on the other hand, had observed the law of Moses (as). A passage of the Bible in fact quotes Jesus (as) as saying:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew, 5/17)
For that reason, Jesus (as) prayed in Jewish houses of worship, got circumcised, abstained from consuming wine or pork; and called on others to do the same. Paul and his friends, on the other hand, legalized these bans without having any authority from the Almighty or Jesus (as), and corrupted Christianity by shaping it in line with their egos.
Paul said, “God is one, His attributes are three.” He merged the religion with Platonic philosophy, which has:
An invisible creator,
A visible and knowable vizier or helper of the creator, referred to as logos,
A visible and knowable universe.
Paul regulated Christianity along those lines:
God as Father
Jesus as Son
The Holy Spirit
Christianity was thus infiltrated by the doctrine of trinity.
The conditions at the time were also fertile for this belief to take hold. People did not like Judaism, as they found it too conservative. On the other hand, a belief that centred on trinity seemed closer to the pagan religions they had inherited from their forefathers.
From this perspective, Christians divided into two:
Paulists. They grew strong, as they had kings who believed in them.
Paul became Christian after the ascension of Jesus (as). He then took this faith away from its origin and transformed it into a system of belief based on trinity. He wrote 14 separate epistles, which would later become the basis of the four gospels and form an important part of the current Bible. In Christianity, these epistles are as important as the four gospels.
Barnabists, who said “Jesus (as) is a man and prophet, who can never be worshipped.” Ebionites led by apostle Jacob also defended the same belief. Yet, they remained weak, as they found no support from kings.
Meanwhile, Paulists became more hostile by the day, gradually melting the influence of Barnabists. Also, the clerics that gathered for the Council of Nicaea in 325 organized by Emperor Constantine, canonized four gospels from among numerous others, and ruled the gospel of Barnabas invalid. These are the gospels of Luke, John, Mark and Matthew. The Church scrapped all the other gospels, saying they were fabricated.
From that point onward, only these four distorted gospels were officially written and read. Thus, despite being the most reliable of them all, the Gospel of Barnabas disappeared along with the rest. Barnabas was among the first apostles. He had accurately written down what he saw and heard from Jesus (as). Yet, as this did not suit the interests of Paul the Jew and his followers, they ostracized Barnabas. As a result, based on the decision taken in the Council of Nicaea, Christians today do not even regard Barnabas, who was martyred thirty years after the ascension of Jesus (as), an apostle. They accept Thomas instead.
After Barnabas, a priest known as Arius struggled against Paulists. He was consequently excommunicated. He then went to Egypt, and was martyred while trying to spread belief in the oneness of God.
The Church’s response to Arius’ criticisms did not satisfy even Christians. When conditions were ripe, similar criticisms emerged throughout the later periods and shook the authority of the Church and its official doctrine. To respond to these questions, reunite Christianity and most importantly determine the principles of the Christian faith, bishops convened for many other councils and came up with different rulings in each.
For instance, in the First Council of Nicaea in 325, Jesus was declared god; while in the Council of Constantinople (present day Istanbul) held in 381, the Holy Spirit was also accepted as god, with which the circle of trinity was completed. While the Council of Ephesus in 431 adopted Mary as the mother of God, the 451 Council of Chalcedon saw debates surrounding the nature of Jesus, which led to splits within the Church. The eighth council, held once again in Istanbul set off another argument, this time about the origin of the Holy Spirit. Following long debates, Christianity split into the Catholic Church based in Rome and the Orthodox Church based in Istanbul. And in the 16th century, the Protestant sect emerged in reaction to the oppressive scholasticism of the Catholic Church.
The fact that the most fundamental principles and essential beliefs of Christianity –which concern all Christians- were determined by human beings, clearly shows the extent in which Christianity has been distorted and corrupted. Plus, the decisions taken in each of these councils often contradict one another. No other religion on earth has been as manipulated, added to or subtracted form, as Christianity.
As for the reason why so many bibles were written:
According to the doctrine of trinity accepted by the current distorted version of Christianity, there is God, His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Many clerics of this belief wrote bibles casually, claiming they were inspired to do so by the Holy Spirit. They explained this through vague and confused terms, like how the Holy Spirit – Jibril or Gabriel – is the spiritual force that inspires the heart. There is no clear explanation. Even today, there are people who write bibles under this pretext.
The Second Coming of Jesus (as)
As the Day of Judgment nears, Jesus (as) will return from the heavens to earth. There are many hadith about this. The Qur’an also says:
“Indeed he (Jesus) is a portent of the Hour; so do not doubt it and follow Me. This is a straight path.” (Al-Zukhruf, 43: 61)
Here, Jesus (as) is referred to as a portent, a sign of the coming of the final hour, which points to how he will return as the time draws near. The relevant word is ilm, which means knowledge; but it has also been recited as alem, a sign.
After his return, Jesus (as) will rule by the law of our Prophet Muhammed (saw).
He will join Mahdi (as), who will obliterate Dajjal. Mahdi (as) will be a descendant of the Prophet (saw) and will transfer the rule over to Jesus (as).
The Prophet (saw) has said:
“If I live long enough, I would like to meet Jesus. If I do not, whoever among you sees him, send him my greetings.” (Ibn Hanbal, II, 298)
The second coming of Jesus (as) will serve as a means of mercy for entire humanity. Another hadith states:
“Jesus will land wearing a two-piece garment of the color of red soil. He will break the cross, slay the pig, abolish the jizya (poll) tax (off non-Muslims) and call people to Islam. In that time, Allah will eliminate all religions apart from Islam. The earth will meet peace, through the blessings of which the lions will eat with camels, and kids will play with snakes.” (Ibn Majah, Fitan, 33, No. 4077)
And in another hadith:
“I promise by the Almighty One in who has my life in His Hand, time is near for Mary’s son Jesus to land as a judge to rule among you with justice (Islamic law), to break the crosses, slay the pigs, abolish the jizya (poll) tax from the people of the book (i.e. Judaism and Christianity will no longer exists and people of those faiths will all become Muslim). Wealth will then increase to such an extent that nobody will accept it; and a single prostration will be better than the world and everything in it.”
The narrator of this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (ra) adds:
“If you wish, read the verse, ‘There is no one among the People of the Book who will not but believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them.’ (Al-Nisa, 4: 159)” (Bukhari, Buyu, 102; Anbiya, 49; Muslim, Iman, 242)
The Miracles of Jesus (as)
With the permission of Allah (jj), Jesus could:
Raise the dead.
Cure the ill.
Know what people ate and hid in their homes.
Mold a bird out of mud and make it fly.
He received a feast from the heavens.
He heard and knew what people spoke around him even in his sleep.
He received food and fruits from the heavens whenever he wished.
He heard what was spoken near and far.
When the angels gave Mary (as) the news about the birth of Jesus (as), they said:
“He will be a prophet to the Children of Israel, and declare, ‘I have certainly brought you a sign from your Lord: I will create for you out of clay the form of a bird, then I will breathe into it, and it will become a bird by Allah’s permission. I heal the blind and the leper, and revive the dead by Allah’s permission. And I will tell you what you have eaten and what you have stored in your houses. There is indeed a sign in that for you, should you be faithful.” (Al-i Imran, 3: 49)
And elsewhere in the Qur’an:
“The day Allah will gather the prophets and say, ‘What was the response to you?’ They will say, ‘We have no knowledge. Indeed, You are the Knower of all the unseen.” (Al-Maidah, 5: 109)
“When Allah will say, ‘Jesus son of Mary! Remember My blessing upon you and your mother. I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so you would speak to the people in the cradle and in adulthood. I taught you the Book and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. You would make a bird from clay, with My permission; you would breathe into it and it would become a bird, with My permission. You would heal the blind and the leper, with My permission, and raise the dead, with My permission. And I held off the evil of the Children of Israel from you when you brought them clear proofs, whereupon the faithless among them said, ‘This is nothing but plain magic!’” (Al-Maidah, 5: 110)
[1]. Messiah is the nickname of Jesus (as). It is originally a Hebrew word meaning ‘anointed’.
[2]. For similar passages, see the 39th and 41st chapters of the Gospel of Barnabas.
Source: The History of Prophets in Light of The Qur’an, THE CHAIN OF PROPHETS, Osman Nuri TOPBAŞ, Erkam Publications
