تويت
Jesus the Messiah : What does Islam say about him
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To a sincere seeker of wisdom …
Preface
It confers upon me and any Muslim in the world a great honour and privilege to write about one of the greatest messengers who walked on this earth.
My aim with this concise booklet, to briefly highlight the most important aspects of this great messenger of Allah, Jesus the Messiah (peace and blessing be upon him), and the message with which he came.
I would like you, the respected reader, to know that throughout the booklet I will refer to Almighty God as ‘Allah’. Allah is a unique name and an exclusive title that no one except Him has been called throughout history.
Abdullah
***
Prophethood : to convey the Divine message
Islam is a religion and a way of life in tune with the reason and logic endowed on us humans by our Creator. There is no mystery and no ambiguity in the final divine message that has been sent to all mankind. “Allah desires to explain to you, and to guide you into the ways of those before you, and to turn to you (mercifully), and Allah is Knowing, Wise. And Allah desires that He should turn to you (mercifully), and those who follow (their) lusts desire that you should deviate (with) a great deviation. Allah desires that He should make light your burdens, and man is created weak.” [The Qur’an, 4:26-28].
Islam is the submission to the Creator of the heavens and earth by performing righteous deeds and avoiding prohibitive actions. A person who submits his will to the will of Allah is therefore a Muslim: “Whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold: and with Allah rests the end and decision of (all) affairs.” [The Qur’an, 31:22].
As Muslims, we believe in all the prophets of Allah, as this is one of the six pillars of faith in our religion. The six pillars of faith are: 1. The belief in Allah 2. The belief in His angels 3. The belief in His books 4. The belief in His prophets 5. The belief in the Day of Judgment. 6. The belief in Predestination, whether good or bad.
The belief in the prophets of Allah
Islam links us with all the noble prophets of Allah since it is based on their pure teachings. Muslims believe in all the prophets of Allah making no distinction in the belief towards them. “The messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the believers. Each one (of them) believes in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the end of all journeys.” [The Qur’an, 2:285]. Consequently it is a major sin in Islam to disbelieve in any of the prophets of Allah: from Adam to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them).
It is with the concept of the unity of God and the unity of Prophethood that their religion is described as one, for they all called people to believe in One God, Allah i.e. to devote worship sincerely to Him Alone (Monotheism). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The prophets are like brothers from one father; their mothers are different but their religion is one” [Bukhari, 3443]. With regards to laws, each of them had his own given law that was amenable and apt for a particular time and for a specific community to run their lives accordingly. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way” [The Qur’an, 5:48].
Out of all the prophets of Allah, Allah (may He be exalted) has favored five prophets i.e. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon them) referring to them as the messengers of great-will. This is in consideration to the enormity of the task and mission that Allah has bestowed upon them: “The same religion has He established for you (O Muhammad) as that which He enjoined on Noah – that which We have sent by inspiration to you - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein” [The Qur’an, 42:13].
***
The Virgin Mary
Jesus’ mother, Mary (peace be upon her), received special attention in the noble Qur’an even though all the prophets with the exception of Adam had mothers. “And when the angels said: O Mary! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world” [The Qur’an, 3:42]. Interestingly, an entire chapter in the glorious Qur’an is dedicated to, and named, after Mary (Chapter 19 ‘Maryam’). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) has said: “Mary is the best among the women during her time” [Bukhari, 3531].
Mary (peace be upon her), received the glad tidings that Allah would bestow upon her a child, whom He would create with the word ‘Be’ and ‘it is’. “O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him: his name will be Jesus the Messiah, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.” [The Qur’an, 3:45-46]. But then Mary replied surprisingly, “My Lord! How can I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The Qur’an, 3:47] The reply was : “Even so (it will be), Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is.” [The Qur’an, 3:47]. Therefore we believe that Jesus was born miraculously without any male intervention.
Ibn Abbas (a companion of prophet Muhammad) narrates: “When the signs of pregnancy appeared on her, with her was a righteous man from among her relatives who worshipped in the temple with her, he was called Joseph the carpenter. When he saw that her belly had become swollen he found it strange. Then he decided to think well of her because of what he knew of her innocence, honour, religious commitment and worship. But he could not stop thinking about this matter. So he said, speaking indirectly: “O Mary, I am going to ask you about something, so do not get alarmed.” She said, “What is it?” He said: “Has any tree or plant ever grown without a seed? Has any child ever been born without a father?” She said: “Yes, I understand what you are referring to. As for whether any tree or plant has ever grown without a seed, when Allah first created trees and plants He created them without seeds. And has any child ever been born without a father? Allah created Adam without either a father or a mother.” So he believed her and left her alone.” [Ibn Katheer (3/117)].
Allah is absolutely perfect in His powers of creation. He creates what He wills, how He wills, when He wills. He created Adam without a father or a mother, He has caused the descendents of Adam to have both a father and a mother, and He created Jesus from his mother without a father. Glory be to the All-Knowing Creator: “The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. The Truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt.” [The Qur’an, 3:59-60].[/CENTER]
To a sincere seeker of wisdom …
Preface
It confers upon me and any Muslim in the world a great honour and privilege to write about one of the greatest messengers who walked on this earth.
My aim with this concise booklet, to briefly highlight the most important aspects of this great messenger of Allah, Jesus the Messiah (peace and blessing be upon him), and the message with which he came.
I would like you, the respected reader, to know that throughout the booklet I will refer to Almighty God as ‘Allah’. Allah is a unique name and an exclusive title that no one except Him has been called throughout history.
Abdullah
***
Prophethood : to convey the Divine message
Islam is a religion and a way of life in tune with the reason and logic endowed on us humans by our Creator. There is no mystery and no ambiguity in the final divine message that has been sent to all mankind. “Allah desires to explain to you, and to guide you into the ways of those before you, and to turn to you (mercifully), and Allah is Knowing, Wise. And Allah desires that He should turn to you (mercifully), and those who follow (their) lusts desire that you should deviate (with) a great deviation. Allah desires that He should make light your burdens, and man is created weak.” [The Qur’an, 4:26-28].
Islam is the submission to the Creator of the heavens and earth by performing righteous deeds and avoiding prohibitive actions. A person who submits his will to the will of Allah is therefore a Muslim: “Whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold: and with Allah rests the end and decision of (all) affairs.” [The Qur’an, 31:22].
As Muslims, we believe in all the prophets of Allah, as this is one of the six pillars of faith in our religion. The six pillars of faith are: 1. The belief in Allah 2. The belief in His angels 3. The belief in His books 4. The belief in His prophets 5. The belief in the Day of Judgment. 6. The belief in Predestination, whether good or bad.
The belief in the prophets of Allah
Islam links us with all the noble prophets of Allah since it is based on their pure teachings. Muslims believe in all the prophets of Allah making no distinction in the belief towards them. “The messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the believers. Each one (of them) believes in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the end of all journeys.” [The Qur’an, 2:285]. Consequently it is a major sin in Islam to disbelieve in any of the prophets of Allah: from Adam to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them).
It is with the concept of the unity of God and the unity of Prophethood that their religion is described as one, for they all called people to believe in One God, Allah i.e. to devote worship sincerely to Him Alone (Monotheism). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The prophets are like brothers from one father; their mothers are different but their religion is one” [Bukhari, 3443]. With regards to laws, each of them had his own given law that was amenable and apt for a particular time and for a specific community to run their lives accordingly. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way” [The Qur’an, 5:48].
Out of all the prophets of Allah, Allah (may He be exalted) has favored five prophets i.e. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon them) referring to them as the messengers of great-will. This is in consideration to the enormity of the task and mission that Allah has bestowed upon them: “The same religion has He established for you (O Muhammad) as that which He enjoined on Noah – that which We have sent by inspiration to you - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein” [The Qur’an, 42:13].
***
The Virgin Mary
Jesus’ mother, Mary (peace be upon her), received special attention in the noble Qur’an even though all the prophets with the exception of Adam had mothers. “And when the angels said: O Mary! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world” [The Qur’an, 3:42]. Interestingly, an entire chapter in the glorious Qur’an is dedicated to, and named, after Mary (Chapter 19 ‘Maryam’). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) has said: “Mary is the best among the women during her time” [Bukhari, 3531].
Mary (peace be upon her), received the glad tidings that Allah would bestow upon her a child, whom He would create with the word ‘Be’ and ‘it is’. “O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him: his name will be Jesus the Messiah, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.” [The Qur’an, 3:45-46]. But then Mary replied surprisingly, “My Lord! How can I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The Qur’an, 3:47] The reply was : “Even so (it will be), Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is.” [The Qur’an, 3:47]. Therefore we believe that Jesus was born miraculously without any male intervention.
Ibn Abbas (a companion of prophet Muhammad) narrates: “When the signs of pregnancy appeared on her, with her was a righteous man from among her relatives who worshipped in the temple with her, he was called Joseph the carpenter. When he saw that her belly had become swollen he found it strange. Then he decided to think well of her because of what he knew of her innocence, honour, religious commitment and worship. But he could not stop thinking about this matter. So he said, speaking indirectly: “O Mary, I am going to ask you about something, so do not get alarmed.” She said, “What is it?” He said: “Has any tree or plant ever grown without a seed? Has any child ever been born without a father?” She said: “Yes, I understand what you are referring to. As for whether any tree or plant has ever grown without a seed, when Allah first created trees and plants He created them without seeds. And has any child ever been born without a father? Allah created Adam without either a father or a mother.” So he believed her and left her alone.” [Ibn Katheer (3/117)].
Allah is absolutely perfect in His powers of creation. He creates what He wills, how He wills, when He wills. He created Adam without a father or a mother, He has caused the descendents of Adam to have both a father and a mother, and He created Jesus from his mother without a father. Glory be to the All-Knowing Creator: “The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. The Truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt.” [The Qur’an, 3:59-60].[/CENTER]
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