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who was jesus?

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who was jesus?
tibet
12/24/02 at 20:42:07
i was just wondering according to the Qu'ran who he was; are their any similarities to the christian jesus etc.
also i was wondering if allah and the god of the christian bible are the "same" or have any similarities.
i just wanted to properly inform one of my friends.

thanks....tibet  ;D
Re: who was jesus?
Kathy
12/25/02 at 00:25:23
[slm]

I just used this tonight for class. It is heavily edited from (www.islam-qa.com):

Maryam the daughter of ‘Imraan was a pious and righteous woman…… She strove hard inworship until she had no peer in matters of worship… The angels gave her the glad tidings that Allahswt had chosen her: “And (remember) when the angels said: ‘O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah swt 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 (Allah swt, 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 Allah swt would bestow upon her a child, whom He would create with the word “Be! And it is.” This child’s name was the Messiah ‘Jesus ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary)... He would be held in honor 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 Allah swt says :“(Remember) when the angels said: ‘O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah swt gives you the glad tidings of a Word [“Be!” —— and he was! i.e. ‘Jesus (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)] from Him, his name will be the Messiah ‘Jesus (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 Allah swt. 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 Allah swt creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!” and it is’” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:45-47]
      Then Allah swt tells us the rest of the glad tidings of the angels to Maryam of her son ‘Jesus (peace be upon him), and of the honor of ‘Jesus, and how He would support him with miracles: “And  He (Allah swt) will teach him [(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 [‘Jesus (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 Allah swt’s Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah swt’’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 Allah swt and obey me. Truly, Allah swt is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path’’[Aal ‘Imraan 3:48-51]
     Allah swt 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 ‘Jesus from his mother without a father... Glory be to the All-Knowing Creator. Allah swt has explained clearly in the Qur’aan how ‘Jesus 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 (Allah swt) from you, if you do fear Allah swt.’’ (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 (Allah
swt). And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah swt), and it is a matter (already) decreed (by Allah swt)’’ “[Maryam 19:16-21]            

     Praise be to Allah swt. Allah commanded Jibreel to blow through the neck of Maryam’s garment, and this breath went down and by the will of Allah swt entered her womb, so it became a soul that Allah swt had created. Allah swt has explained how He created ‘Jesusa (peace be upon him), as He said : “And she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Maryam (Mary)], We breathed into (the sleeves of) her (shirt or garment) [through Our Rooh - Jibreel (Gabriel)]” [al-Anbiya’’21:91][al-Tahreem 66:12]

     The aayah :“(The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son’’ [Maryam 19:19] –– indicates that the one who blew into her was Jibreel, who does not do anything except by the command of Allah swt.

      When Jibreel told her that, she submitted to the will and decree of Allah swt, 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 Allah swt provided Maryam with water and food, and commanded her not to speak to anyone: “Then [the babe ‘Jesus (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 (Allah swt) so I shall not speak to any human being this day”Maryam 19:24-26]
     Then Maryam came to her people, carrying her child ‘Jesus. 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. Allah swt says :“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]

     Jesus replied to them straight away, even though he was a child in the cradle: “He [‘Jesus] said: ‘Verily, I am a slave of Allah swt, 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!’[Maryam19:30-33]

     Allah swt says :“And (remember) when ‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: ‘O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah swt 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]
     Jesus (peace be upon him) called the Children of Israel to worship Allah swt 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 Allah swt? The disciples believed in him, and their number was twelve. Allah swt says :“Then when ‘Jesus (Jesus) came to know of their disbelief, he said: ‘Who will be my helpers in Allah swt’’s Cause?’’ Al-Hawaariyyoon (the disciples) said: ‘We are the helpers of Allah swt; we believe in Allah swt, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allah swt).’‘Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger [‘Jesus (Jesus)]; so write us down among those who bear witness (to the truth, i.e. Laa ilaaha illAllah swt —— none has the right to be worshipped but Allah swt)”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:52-53]

       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 ‘Jesus contained a threat against (Roman) power. So he (the Roman governor) issued orders that ‘Jesus should be arrested and crucified. But Allah swt caused a hypocrite who had betrayed him to the Romans to look like ‘Jesus. The soldiers arrested him, thinking that he was ‘Jesus, and crucified him. But Allah swt saved ‘Jesus from the cross and from death, and Allah swt tells us about the Jews :“And because of their saying (in boast), ‘We killed Messiah ‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah swt,’’ — but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared so to them the resemblance of ‘Jesus (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. ‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)]: But Allah swt raised him [‘Jesus (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah swt is Ever All Powerful, All Wise”[al-Nisaa’’ 4:157-158]  

     So Jesus (peace be upon him) did not die, rather Allah swt raised him up to Himself, and he will descend before the Day of Resurrection and will follow Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be
upon him). He will prove the Jews to be wrong in their claim to have killed ‘Jesus 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 Allah swt 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 ‘Jesus comes down before the Day of Resurrection, the People of the Book will believe in him, as Allah swt says:“And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must
believe in him [‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allah swt and a human being] before his [‘Jesus (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 [‘Jesus (Jesus)] will be a witness against them” [al- Nisaa’’ 4:159]
     Jesus ibn Maryam is the slave of Allah swt and His Messenger. Allah swt sent him to guide the Children of Israel and to call them to worship Allah swt alone, as Allah swt says to the Jews and
Christians :“O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah swt aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a
Messenger of Allah swt and His Word, (‘Be!’’ — and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so believe in Allah swt and His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three (trinity)!’’ Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah swt 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 Allah swt is All Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs”[al-Nisaa’’ 4:171]

     Saying that ‘Jesus is the son of God is a monstrous saying and a great evil. “And they say: ‘The Most Gracious (Allah swt) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah swt, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Jesus (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 (Allah swt). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allah swt) 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 (Allah swt) as a slave[Maryam 19:88-93]
     Jesus ibn Maryam is a human being, a slave of Allah swt and His Messenger. Whoever believes that the Messiah son of Maryam is God is a disbeliever (kaafir). “Surely, they have disbelieved who say: Allah swt is the Messiah [(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: ‘Allah swt 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 ——Allah swt). 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 (Allah swt) is far above all of that, so how could he be God? Rather he is the slave of Allah swt and His Messenger: “The Messiah [‘(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 Allah swt and His Books]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah swt 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]

     Allah swt has taken from the Christians the pledge that they will follow ‘Jesus and follow that which he brought, but they changed and distorted that; they differed then they turned away. So Allah swt
will punish them with enmity and hatred in this world, and with torment in the Hereafter, as Allah swt says :“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 Allah swt’’s Book, disobeyed Allah swt’s Messengers and His Orders and transgressed beyond bounds in Allah swt’’s disobedience); and Allah
swt will inform them of what they used to do”[al-Maa’’idah 5:14]
     On the Day of Resurrection, ‘Jesus will stand before the Lord of the Worlds, Who will ask him before the witnesses what he said to the Children of Israel, as Allah swt says :“And (remember) when Allah swt will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O  (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: “Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah swt?”’’ 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 (Allah swt) did command me to say: “Worship Allah swt, 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]      
     Allah swt has created kindness and mercy among the followers of ‘Jesus and the believers. They are closer in friendship to the followers of Muhammad than anyone else, as Allah swt says :“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]
     Allah swt, may He be glorified and exalted, tells us that Jesus (upon whom be peace) was raised up to heaven just one time, in the aayah :“But Allah swt raised him up (with his body and soul) unto
Himself...” [al-Nisa’’ 4:158] and Allah swt does not tell us that Jesus was sent back to this earth. So those who claim that Jesus was sent back to this earth have to bring us evidence and proof. If they cannot do that –– and they will never be able to do it –– then their argument has no basis. Allah swt says “And (remember) when Allah swt said: ‘O J(Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you [of the forged statement that ‘Jesus (Jesus) is Allah swt’’s son] of those who disbelieve, and I
will make those who follow you (monotheists, who worship none but Allah swt) superior to those who disbelieve [in the oneness of Allah swt, or disbelieve in some of His Messengers, or in His Holy Books] till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute.”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:55]

     Allah swt’s statement that He raised Jesus up to heaven is also a refutation of the Jews’ claim to
have killed him. Allah swt, may He be glorified and exalted, says :“Because of their breaking the covenant,
and of their rejecting the aayat (signs) of Allah swt, and of their killing the Prophets unjustly, and of their
saying, ‘Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e., we do not understand what the Messengers say)’’
–– nay, Allah swt has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.
     And because of their (Jews’) disbelief and uttering against Maryam (Mary) a grave false charge (that she had committed illegal sexual intercourse);And because of their saying (in boast), ‘We killed Messiah
‘Jesus (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah swt’ –– but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of ‘Jesus (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., ‘Jesus  son of Maryam (Mary)]. But Allah swt raised him [(Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah swt is Ever All- Powerful, All-Wise.And there is none of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), but must believe in him [‘Jesus (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allah swt and a human being], before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he [(Jesus)] will be a witness against them.”[al-Nisa’’ 4:155-159]
     Roles of Jesus

Jesus (peace be upon him) has two roles:
 1- His first role, which was before Allah swt raised him up to heaven when the Jews wanted to  crucify him. His role at that time was, like that of any other Prophet, to convey the Message. Allah swt gave him the Injeel (Gospel) to confirm the Tawraat (Torah), and He gave him miracles which
 are well known, such as healing the blind and lepers, and raising the dead by Allah swt’’s leave, and other well known miracles.
 “He called his people to worship Allah swt Alone and to believe in Him alone (Tawheed), and he was a witness against them throughout his stay among them.”
 2- His second role will come at the end of time, when the Dajjaal will emerge. Allah swt will send ‘Jesus down to the earth, and he will be a leader of the believers who will rule them according to the Islamic sharee’’ah. He will kill the Dajjaal, and the Mahdi will appear during his time. Blessings will come down from Allah swt such that the milk of one camel will be sufficient for a large number of people, and wealth will be abundant. During his time Ya’’jooj and Ma’’jooj (Gog and Magog) will
 emerge and will spread mischief throughout the earth. “Allah swt will destroy them and ‘Jesus (peace be upon him) will rule the earth according to Islamic sharee’’ah, until he dies and the Muslims offer the funeral prayer for him.” Then Allah swt will send a cool breeze which will take the soul of every believer, and after that none will be left except the most evil of people, upon whom the Hour will come.
Re: who was jesus?
Abu_Hamza
12/25/02 at 00:59:29
Hi Tibet,

"Allah" is simply the Arabic word for "God."  Even Christians and Jews whose mother tongue is Arabic say "Allah" when referring to "God."  However, the God that Muslims believe in is not exactly the same God as the Christians.  This is because Muslims do not believe in the cocnept of Trinity.  The God of Muslims is what Christians refer to as God the Father.  Him, and only Him, is who Muslims refer to as God when they say "Allah."  The Holy Spirit and Christ are not to be included in the definition of "Allah" (or God, for Muslims).

Now, to answer your first question about Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) ....

The Qur'an, which is the holy book of guidance for Muslims, talks a lot about Jesus and his mother Mary.  It talks a lot about his life, from his birth until the attempt of his crucifixion, his mission, his miracles, and so on.  The best thing to do if you wanna know about what the Qur'an says about Jesus is to open up a translation of the Qur'an that has an index, and then look for "Jesus" in the index.

In brief though, Muslims consider Jesus to be an Apostle - a Prophet - of God.  Not only that, but they regard him as one of the greatest Prophets to ever walk this earth.  According to the Qur'anic teachings, those who believe and follow in the original teachings of Jesus will inherit Paradise and will dwell therein forever.  His teachings, according to the Qur'an, were inherently the same as those of Moses and Abraham who came before him.  Jesus came to complete the Law - the Torah - and not to abolish it.  His Message was simple: to have faith in the One True God, without any partners, and to love and worship Him by fulfilling His Commandments.  

Jesus was born miraculously to the virgin Mary.  His birth without a father was a miracle like the miracle of the creation of Adam from nothing.  He also performed other miracles throughout his life, including healing the blind and the lepers, and raising the dead back to life.  But all this he did with the Power from God, not by his own accord.  He was no different than those Prophets who came before him, like Moses, who also performed miracles by God's leave.  Jesus was a human, a Prophet, and nothing more.  And the Qur'an is vehement about this - that it does not befit God to have a partner, nor a son.  

The people of his time tried to kill Jesus by crucifying him.  And they almost did.  But the Qur'an says that they actually failed in their attempt.  God saved Jesus from the plot of his enemies, and raised him up unto Himself before they could crucify him.  But it appeared to the people that Jesus had been crucified, and they rejoiced foolishly in their apparent success.  

Since then, people have constantly argued about the reality of Jesus.  Some say to this day that he was a liar.  Some say he was a lunatic.  Some say he was God Himself or the son of God.  But the truth, according to the Qur'an, is that he was only a man - an apostle from God - sent to guide mankind to what is right.  And he will come once again, towards the end of time, to complete his life, to reveal the truth about himself, and to fight those who have spread corruption, mischief and terror on earth.  He will establish, along with the help of an army of believers, the Kingdom of God on this earth.  And then he will die as a man, and be buried as a man, and then be raised up on that Day when all will rise in front of God to give an account of their earthly lives.  

His account, of course, will be clear.  And he will be in the highest abodes of Paradise.  

May Allah grant Peace and Mercy to the soul of Jesus (pbuh), and make us among those who truly follow his path, and the path of all the Apostles and Messengers, especially that of Muhammad (pbuh) - the seal of them all.

Hope that helped.


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