Centuries-old wars between Muslims and Christians, crusades and Islamic conquests in Europe have led to the fact that in the minds of many people there is a persistent stereotype that there are insoluble contradictions between both of these religions. This is not surprising - the average person will say so. Don't we remember how the Muslim conquerors forced captured knights to step on the crucifix and renounce the Savior?
But movie and book stereotypes are one thing, and historical and religious facts are another. The reality is much more complicated. Jesus Christ in Islam, unlike Judaism, occupies a place of honor. Of course, Muslims do not consider him the Son of God, but still he has the rank of prophet among them. Let's look into this.
Meaning and mission
Jesus in Islam is a "Nabi". This title is given to the greatest prophets. According to the interpretation of Islam, God sent him to the Jewish people to confirm the fidelity of the Pentateuch (Tawrat) and bring a new Scripture - the Injil. This is how the Gospel is respectfully called in the Muslim world. This is the new law of Allah. Therefore, Christ is also called sent by God (rasul).
Muslims also deny that Jesus came to the people to atone for their sins. From their point of view, everyone should be judged according to their deeds. He came to show people the right path to God, to give them the Injil - “Scripture, good news.”
Other titles
Jesus is called by different names in Islam. Muslim tradition speaks of him as “Abdullah” (servant of God). In the Koran, Christ is often called “masih”, that is, Messiah. However, Islamic theologians do not recognize the meaning that the Jews put into this title.
Although some other interpretations of this biblical and Koranic character coincide with Christian ones. We know that Christ often called himself the Word. But even in the Koran, his name is adjacent to such epithets as “kalima” or “kaul-al-hakh”. It means "the Word of Allah" and "the saying of truth." Isa is also called "al-shahid", that is, the Witness (or martyr) of God. It is also a sign of Judgment or Resurrection (“Alam”).
Immaculate Conception
Prophet Isa is a significant character in Islam. The Koran's account of his birth and life largely coincides with the Christian Gospel. For example, there is a legend about the miraculous birth of a prophet without the participation of a man. Angels - or some “perfect man” - announced to his mother, Maryam, that she would bring an amazing son into the world. This will happen because Allah willed it so.
The son of Maryam - the angels prophesied - will perform miracles and preach the truth to people. No wonder the Koran calls Christ the new Adam. After all, he, too, was created according to the word of God.
Birth
Jesus Christ in Islam was created by Allah Almighty like the prophet Adam, without a father, by the will of the Lord, by the command of Allah “ Be ”: “ Truly, Isa (Jesus) is like Adam before Allah. He created him from dust, and then said to him: “Be!” - and he arose ” (3:59).
Muslims believe and are convinced of the virgin birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus is described in detail in the Holy Qur'an: his mother Mary received a sign, an angel in the guise of a perfect man told her that she would give birth to a son who was destined to perform miracles and preach the Scriptures:
«So the angels said: “O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah rejoices you with the news of a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). He will be honored in this world and in the Hereafter and will be one of those close to him. He will talk to people in the cradle and adults and will become one of the righteous.” She said: “Lord! How can I have a son if no man has touched me.” He said: “So Allah does what He wills! When He makes a decision, He only has to say: “Be!” - how it comes true. He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, the Taurat (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel) » (3:45-48).
The role of the Islamic "Madonna"
Christ is the only Islamic prophet whose full name mentions his mother rather than his father. Muslims call him Isa ibn Maryam. The Koran and tradition claim that the prophet immediately after his birth began to talk to his mother, which already indicates the unusualness of this child. According to Islamic legends, Maryam gave birth to a son under a palm tree, and as a reward for her torment, she received wonderful fruits from this tree, and a spring gushed under it.
Jesus also made his mother promise that she would not tell people anything about his miraculous birth. But the Jews learned that Maryam had given birth to a son without a husband, and decided to stone her. Then the child spoke to them and declared himself a messenger of Allah and a prophet. But the Jews still did not believe it and sent a request to the Roman governor to punish Maryam for her debauchery.
Then the son and mother were forced to flee to Egypt. A special sura in the Koran is dedicated to the woman who gave birth to the prophet. It’s called “Maryam”. Jesus is constantly called the son of Mary, although it is not customary in Arab culture to use the mother's name as a designation of relationship.
The history of the prophet Isa in Islam
When the boy turned twelve, Maryam returned to Judea with him. They settled in the city of Nasir (as Nazareth is called in the Koran). When the prophet Isa grew up and was thirty years old, he began to preach his teaching to the people of Israel. He could resurrect the dead and cure diseases, in particular leprosy. The Muslim Jesus could reveal everything secret and hidden, opened the eyes of the blind and could even breathe life into clay figurines of birds.
He urged people to follow the new law that he brought with him. These commandments canceled the old, outdated ones. He convinced people to worship God according to the new law. Many began to listen to him, and some even became his devoted disciples, apostles (“khavariyun”). God sends bread from heaven to them when they ask for it. Jesus is inspired and helped by the Holy Spirit (ruh al-qudus).
Crucifixion of Isa in Islam according to the Koran
Many Jews not only did not believe the new prophet, but in every possible way interfered with him and tried to kill him. In the end, Isa ibn Maryam became so hated by them that they slandered him to the Roman governor. They declared that this prophet was in fact a rebel and a troublemaker, that he wanted to rebel, drive out the invaders and become king of the Jews. Then the Romans ordered the preacher to be seized and crucified according to their laws, as having opposed the power of Caesar.
Muslims have several versions regarding the arrest of Isa. Some say that knowing that they would come for him, the prophet called the bravest of the apostles to go to the cross in his place and ascended to Allah. The Romans mistook the disciple for Christ and crucified him. Another story tells that there was a traitor among the apostles. And when soldiers burst into the house where Isa and his disciples were, the renegade was with them to point out the prophet. Then Allah took Christ to himself, and gave the traitor his appearance. He was captured and crucified.
Be that as it may, the Koran only says that the prophet was not killed, that the Jews only imagined it. They announced to everyone that he had died, but in fact Jesus ascended to God. He will be next to Him until the Day of Judgment comes.
Death or Ascension?
The Holy Quran denies the death of the prophet Jesus on the cross: it indicates that his enemies testified to such a death of Jesus. The Holy Book of the Koran says: “ And for their disbelief and uttering their great slander against Maryam. And for their statement: “Verily, we have killed the Messiah, Isa, the son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah!” But they did not kill him, and they did not crucify him, but it only seemed to them. Indeed, those who disagree on this matter are in doubt and do not know anything about it, but only follow guesses. Indeed, those who disagree about this are definitely in doubt about it. They have no knowledge about this other than following an assumption. And they did not kill him with certainty ” (4:156-157).
According to the Koran, Prophet Isa was ascended to heaven, and he will remain in heaven until the approach of the Day of Judgment.
According to Ibn Kathir, a famous exegete of the Qur'an and an Arab historian of the fourteenth century, Ibn Abbas testified that another person was crucified in place of the prophet Isa.
When the prophet Isa and his twelve or thirteen companions were in the house shortly before sunset on Friday, they were surrounded by people, and Isa knew that these people were going to break into the house if he did not come out to them. Then he turned to his companions with the question: “ Who wants to become like me and be my companion in paradise? " One young man volunteered, but Jesus said that he was too young for this, and again asked the same question to the companions, and then asked a third time, but none of the companions volunteered. And then Isa said to the young man: “ You will be him!” ", and Allah Almighty changed the appearance of the young man so that he became completely similar to the prophet Isa. The roof of the house opened, and Jesus fell into a slumber and ascended to heaven. The words of Allah Almighty are quoted in the Holy Quran: “ Oh, Isa! I will give you peace and lift you to Myself. I will cleanse you from those who disbelieved... ” (3:55). After the prophet Jesus ascended, the companions left the house, and Isa’s fellow tribesmen pointed to the young man, mistaking him for the prophet Isa. The young man was captured, a crown of thorns was placed on his head and crucified on the cross. (The story was narrated by Ibn Abu Hatim with an authentic isnad).
The Gospel of Basilides gives the same account of events as was reported in 117-138 AD in Alexandria: it also states that Simon of Cyrene was crucified in Jesus' place.
There is another version according to which the prophet was betrayed by one of the apostles, who brought guards to the house. Then the apostle was ordered to enter the house and bring Isa to the guards, and when the apostle entered the house, the prophet ascended to heaven, and Allah Almighty gave this apostle the appearance of Isa, and when he went out to the guards, they grabbed him and crucified him on the cross in the image of a prophet . According to the thirteenth-century Islamic historian Ibn al-Athir, the Apostle Jude was most likely the traitor to the prophet.
Isa and Muhammad
Are these two characters as opposed to each other as is commonly believed? Isa in Islam is the prophet of the true religion. She was like this until Muhammad appeared. After all, people, as Muslims believed, rejected Jesus and did not follow him. Then God sent another messenger to them. Therefore, in his sermons, Isa also predicts the appearance of the prophet Mohammed. The Koran pays great attention to this figure. Much more is said about Isa than about all other prophets. It is mentioned 25 times in the Muslim holy book.
Jesus in the Koran
The Holy Quran says more about Prophet Isa than about other prophets: Jesus is mentioned twenty-five times in the Quran. It is known from the history of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ the Muhajirs read Surah “Maryam” before the Ethiopian Negus (ruler of Ethiopia) as proof that the sermons of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are close to Christianity.
Jesus in Islam is identified with the prophet Isa, but the Holy Book of the Koran rejects the idea of the Trinity and denies the Christian idea of Jesus as God and the Son of God. The Holy Qur'an emphasizes that Jesus is the servant of God:
«They said [Christians and Jews]: “Allah has taken a son for Himself.” Most pure is He! On the contrary, what is in heaven and earth belongs to Him. Everyone submits to Him alone » (2:116)
Second coming
The meaning of the name Isa in Islam is inextricably linked with the prophetic meaning of his mission. For Muslims, Christ often coexists with Muhammad. Islamic tradition also shares the belief in the second coming. There are several stories (hadiths) about this event. According to them, Isa, who is now in heaven, next to God, will appear in Palestine (or will descend to the minaret of the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, Syria). He will be dressed in white robes, his hands will rest on the wings of angels, and his hair will appear wet even if it has not been touched by water.
In anticipation of this, a new carpet is laid in front of the mosque every day. Jesus will destroy the False Messiah and establish the kingdom of justice - the true Sharia. Then he will die and be buried in Medina, in the Prophet's Mosque. Even now, pilgrims and visitors can see the place prepared for Isa next to Muhammad. And on the Day of Judgment Allah will resurrect him, and he will be one of the main witnesses against the infidels.
The Nature of Christ
Jesus in Islam is one of the most important prophets and is second in importance only to Muhammad. The main difference between Muslims and orthodox Christians is that the former do not recognize the Trinity and consider calling Christ the Son of God blasphemous.
On the other hand, in the Qur'an Isa is called "mukarrabun". This means “closer of Allah”, “friend of God”. Therefore, some theologians believed that this prophet was at least partially an angel. And in some areas of Islam, it is Isa who is the object of special veneration. Some historians believe that Muslims first encountered Christians when church orthodoxy was not yet fully established. These were times of controversy among the very followers of Jesus regarding his nature. In addition, during that era there were serious discussions regarding the veneration of the crucifixion and the cult of saints, which was rejected by many Christian dissidents as superstition and paganism. It is this stage that is recorded in the Koran. Perhaps Muhammad, having witnessed these conflicts, also perceived the worship of holy places and relics as idolatry.
Miracles of the Prophet
In those days, people who knew how to cure various diseases were considered the most honorable and respected. Isa was not a doctor, but from his touch people recovered from serious illnesses. They regained their sight and stood on their feet after many years without moving. One day Isa made a bird out of clay, blew on it, and the bird came to life. It was truly a great miracle. But Isa was not the reason for this. It is the Almighty Lord who gives life to whomever He wishes, just as He wished to be born to Isa when he had no father.
Soon the prophet Isa had disciples - noble apostles. One day they came to the prophet and asked for a miracle. They wanted Allah Almighty to send down treats from the sky. Prophet Isa did not like their request. After all, he knew that a person should believe in Allah not at all because some miracles are performed, but because the Almighty Allah created us precisely in order to worship Him. The apostles said that they did not doubt for a second that Allah is the Lord of the worlds, but they really wanted to taste the gifts from his mercy. Then Isa raised his hands to the sky and asked Allah to send down treats to people. Allah Almighty answered Isa’s prayers and granted the Apostles what they wanted.
Many people saw this miracle and wished to partake of the gifts of the Almighty. At first, both the poor and the rich tried these gifts, but then Allah Almighty commanded Isa to inform him that these treats were only for the poor, at which the rich became very angry with the prophet Isa.
Prophet Isa called on people to worship Allah alone and no one else along with Him. People really liked this call. Many followed the prophet Isa.
Muslims and Christians
Respect for the followers of Islam's second prophet is prescribed in the Koran. Christians there are called “people of the Book” or “ahl-al-kitab”. Isa ibn Maryam, of course, for Muslims is devoid of divine nature and is not one of the persons of the Trinity, and they consider belief in this to be a delusion. However, the Koran directly indicates that the “Nazarenes” came closest to love and true teaching. It even speaks of special respect for monks and clergy who do not suffer from pride and do not rise above others, but humbly serve God.
Christians, especially those who follow the commandments, should be treated with tolerance. If a discussion arises with them, then you need to give convincing and better arguments. And if Christians begin to get angry and “disorderly,” then you should simply leave and not argue with them, saying: “You have your Scripture, and we have ours, so let everyone believe in what has been revealed to him.” At least that's what the holy book of Islam says.
Jesus (peace be upon him) in Islam is the messenger of Allah
Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), in Islam - “Isa”, a particularly revered prophet, the last before Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He is also called in the Qur'an al-masih ("messiah"), Ibn Maryam ("son of Maryam"), "abd Allah ("slave of Allah"), rasul Allah ("messenger of Allah"), salih ("righteous man"), kalima (“word”) of Allah, kaul al-haqq (“utterance of truth”), etc. A revelation was sent down to him - the Injil.
The name of Isa occupies a special place in the Koran. Many Christians do not know that the true respect that a Muslim shows for Jesus and his mother Mary comes from the source of his faith, the Qur'an. A Muslim does not pronounce the name of Jesus without calling him Hazrat Isa (highly revered Jesus) or Isa alaihis-salaam (Jesus, peace be upon him). If a Muslim mentions the name of Jesus (peace be upon him) without these words of respect, he will be considered disrespectful and rude. Few Christians know that in the Koran the name of Jesus is mentioned 25 times, and the 19th sura (chapter) of the Koran is dedicated to his mother Maryam. He is a prophet and messenger of Allah. He was ascended to Allah in heaven and is like Adam, because. also created by Allah. Finally, he is especially associated with Muhammad, for he predicted his appearance. Like Muhammad, he was visited by the rooh al-qudus (“holy spirit”), usually identified with Jibril (the Christian archangel Gabriel). At the same time, the Koran emphasizes that Isa is a man, a slave of Allah, and in no way his son or a deity. The idea of the trinity, which is understood as three deities - Allah, Isa and the “holy spirit”, is especially rejected in the Koran; the divinity or birth of God of his mother Maryam is rejected.
The Koran tells in some detail about the miraculous birth of Isa, that according to the word of Allah, while remaining a virgin, she will give birth to a son who will be the messenger of Allah, a preacher of the Scriptures and a miracle worker. The child who was born told her that Allah would ease her torment by giving fruits from the palm tree under which she gave birth and by making a spring flow under it. He ordered her to remain silent when they questioned her. She was silent in response to the reproaches of her relatives, but a newborn baby spoke instead of her, declaring that he was the messenger of Allah.
The Koran denies the death of Jesus on the cross, assuring that, contrary to the claims of his enemies, they “did not kill him or crucify him, but it only appeared to them.” Isa was ascended to paradise, where he will remain until the onset of the Judgment. On the Day of Judgment, he will appear before Allah, like other prophets, and will testify against the unbelievers. A hint of the second coming of Isa is considered to be an indication that he will be a “sign” of the upcoming Judgment.
In Muslim legends about the end of the world, Isa resides in paradise and will descend from there on the eve of the end of the world, fight with the Dajjal and defeat him. Then he will die and be buried in Medina next to Muhammad (peace be upon them both), and then he will be resurrected along with everyone else. In Medina, next to the grave of Muhammad (peace be upon him), they show the place reserved for the burial of Isa (peace be upon him).
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What the Quran says about Jesus
“Such is Isa, son of Maryam! This is the true Word about which they dispute" (Quran 19:34)
Do followers of Jesus know their Messiah the way Muslims know him? Do they love him the way Muslims love him? What is known about the place of Jesus in Islam? As a rule, only that the Koran denies the divine nature of the Messiah, recognizing him only as a prophet-messenger. However, we cannot limit ourselves to just this statement, because it does not fully convey the true position of Jesus in this religion. Yes, there are many reproaches in the Koran addressed to Christians, but not a single one addressed to Jesus. On the contrary, every verse of the Quran dedicated to him or Mary is filled with exceptional veneration. Allah firmly pointed out the contradictions between what was revealed to Jesus and what numerous Christian sects argued and argue about.
The greatest misconception among Christians is that Muslims do not believe in Jesus. In reality this is not the case. On the contrary, Muslims revere Isa bin Mariyam; he is the second most important “prophet” in Islam. In the Koran, the followers of Jesus are called “ahl al-kitab” (people of the book, i.e. the Bible), the attitude towards them is positive: “And, undoubtedly, you will find that those who say: “We Nazarenes." And this is because among them there are priests and monks who are devoid of pride and do not rise above others” (Quran 5:82). Despite this, Muslims believe that the Bible has been corrupted over many centuries and reject it in its current form as used by the Christian Church.
On the other hand, some Christians are convinced that the Koran commands Muslims to kill Christians if they refuse to convert to Islam. This prejudice is not true. The Koran specifically stipulates that in relation to “ahl al-kitab” (Christians and Jews), the faithful should be guided not by hatred, but by respect and tolerance: “In religion, (the Almighty) has prescribed for you what He commanded Noah, that We revealed to (Muhammad) what We commanded Abraham, Moses and Jesus, (saying): “Observe religion and do not be divided” (Quran 42:13). And in another place: “Say: “We believe in Allah and in what was revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, in what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets by their Lord. We make no distinction between them and surrender to Him” (Quran 2:136). When Muslims debate with the People of the Book, they are obliged to avoid anything that causes grief or promotes enmity: “If you enter into a dispute with the People of the Book, then give them the best arguments. And do not argue with those of them who are outrageous. Say: “We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was sent down to you. Our God and your God are one, and we surrender to Him” (Quran 29:46).
Jesus is mentioned in the Koran in 15 suras, 93 verses. It is these verses that form the basis of the Muslim belief about Jesus. At the same time, for example, 502 verses are dedicated to Moses, 245 verses are dedicated to Abraham. However, according to Ali Merad, a prominent scholar in the field of Islamic-Christian dialogue, the atmosphere that surrounds the Messiah in the Koran, his description, arouses in the souls of Muslims a love that is many times stronger than the love for other prophets of the pre-Islamic era.
Allah in the Quran rejects all fictions regarding him and his mother Mary (peace be upon them both): “Those who said: “Truly, Allah is the Messiah, the son of Maryam (Mary),” did not believe.” Say: “Who can hinder Allah even a little if He wants to destroy the Messiah, the son of Maryam (Mary), his mother and everyone on earth?” To Allah belongs the power over the heavens, the earth and everything in between. He creates whatever he wants. Allah is capable of everything” (Quran 5:17). “Allah said: “O Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Have you told people: “Accept me and my mother as two gods along with Allah?” He said: “Glorified are You! How could I say something that I have no right to say? If I said that, You would know about it. You know what is in my soul, but I do not know what is in Your Soul. Verily, You are the Knower of the unseen” (Quran 5:116). As can be seen from these verses in Islam, Jesus is not perceived as the second person of the Trinity, but only as the messenger of God.
Regarding another important dogma of Christianity about the crucifixion, the Koran says: “Here Allah said: “O Isa (Jesus)! I will give you peace and lift you to Myself. I will cleanse you from those who did not believe, and I will exalt those who followed you until the Day of Resurrection above those who did not believe. Then you will have to return to Me, and I will judge between you on that in which you differed in opinion" (Qur'an 3:55), in another surah: "... and they said: “Verily, we have killed the Messiah Isa (Jesus), the son Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah." However, they did not kill him or crucify him, but it only seemed to them. Those who argue about this are in doubt and know nothing about it, but only follow assumptions. They didn't really kill him (or didn't kill him with certainty) Oh no! It was Allah who raised him to Himself, for Allah is Mighty and Wise” (Quran 4:157-158). So Jesus did not die and was not crucified, since God, in His mercy, exalted him to Himself, thereby confirming the special exalted status of the Messiah, as a prophet and as a man. Even as a baby, he could speak and the connection with the Creator was already present then. “She pointed to him (Mary) and they said: “How can we talk to a baby in a cradle? He said (Jesus): “Verily, I am a slave of Allah. He gave me the Scripture and made me a prophet. He made me blessed wherever I was and commanded me to perform prayer and give zakat as long as I live. He made me respectful to my mother and did not make me arrogant and unhappy. Peace be with me on the day I was born, on the day I pass away, and on the day I am raised to life. This is Isa, son of Maryam! This is the true Word about which they dispute” (Quran 19:29-34).
Jesus in the Koran is the servant of God (Abdallah), but most often he is called Jesus, son of Mary (16 times - Jesus, son of Mary, 17 - Son of Mary), while in the Gospels this expression appears only once. And the very honor of mentioning the name of his mother along with the name of the prophet shows their special position in Islam, despite the fact that it is not customary for Arabs to indicate kinship by mentioning the name of the mother. At the same time, by the grace of the Most High, the praise of Mary points to the human essence of Jesus himself, because he was born from an ordinary woman.
“O people of the Book! Do not be excessive in your religion and speak only the truth about Allah. Messiah Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), is the messenger of Allah, His Word that He sent to Maryam (Mary), and the spirit from Him. Believe in Allah and His messengers and do not say: “Trinity!” Stop it, it will be better for you. Verily, Allah is the only God. He is pure and far from having a son. To Him belongs what is in heaven and what is on earth. It is enough that Allah is the Trustee and the Guardian!” (Quran 4:171). The words of Allah, the spirit of God, the Messiah (masih - anointed; according to Tabari's commentary, “he who is washed is cleansed from all sin.” Like Adam, He was created by the Divine command “Be!”, and not simply born, like all other people, and not simply chosen by God, like all the other prophets: “Verily, Isa (Jesus) is like Adam before Allah. He created him from dust, and then said to him: “Be!” - and he came into being” (Quran 3:59).
The Koran does not at all emphasize the significance of the prophet Isa; on the contrary, it only emphasizes his difference from other prophets. It was he who was born from the Virgin: “He (Archangel Gabriel) said: “Truly, I was sent by your Lord to give you a pure boy.” She said (Mary): “How can I have a boy if I have not been touched by a man and I have not been a harlot?” (Quran 19:20-21); It was he who was taken alive by God into heaven: “Because they did not believe, they raised a great slander against Maryam (Mary) and said: “Truly, we killed the Messiah Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), the messenger of Allah.” However, they did not kill him or crucify him, but it only seemed to them. Those who argue about this are in doubt and know nothing about it, but only follow assumptions. They didn't really kill him (or didn't kill him with certainty). Oh no! It was Allah who raised him to Himself, for Allah is Mighty and Wise” (Quran 4:156-158). In these passages we see another proof of the special place of Isa, among those close to the Creator (al-muqarrabun). In addition to all the well-known names and epithets, Allah in the Quran calls Jesus as follows: the son of Mary (ibn Maryam), the Messiah (al-Masih), the Witness of God (al-shahid), the Sign of the Day of Judgment, the day of Resurrection (ala).
In addition to the Koran, there is a second legislative source in Islam that explains in practice the instructions given by Allah to people - these are the hadiths (sayings or actions) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Despite the fact that the hadiths refer to a person (the prophet Muhammad), they are accepted in Islam along with the Koran. The Quran says about Muhammad: “He does not speak on a whim. This is just a revelation that is inspired (from above)” (Quran 53:3-4). In the hadiths, the Messiah appears as the conqueror of the dajjal (Antichrist), the restorer of the true faith in one God, establishing the kingdom of peace and justice on earth for 40 years: “... And recalling the coming of the false messiah, he [Jesus] added: “I will come down from heaven and I will kill him. People will return to themselves when the peoples of Gog and Magog rush from all sides and rush towards them, greedily absorbing water and devastating everything in their path. People will cry out to God - and I will call on Him. God will destroy these monsters and the earth will be filled with the stench of their decay. And people will cry out to God again - and I will call on Him. God will send down rains from heaven that will carry away their corpses and wash them into the sea. Then the mountains will be overturned and the earth will become smooth like the vault of heaven. It was revealed to me that when all this happens, the Hour will inevitably approach for people, like a woman undergoing pregnancy, whose parents do not know when it will be resolved” (Ibn Majah). In another hadith from Saeed bin al-Musayabb, who heard from Abu Hurayrah, who said: “The Messenger of Allah said: “I swear by the One in whose hands my life is. Soon, very soon, the son of Mary will come down to you as a just judge. He will break crosses, kill pigs, abolish taxes on Gentiles, and increase wealth so much that no one will desire it anymore. And it will be so that one prostration will become preferable to the earthly world and everything that is in it.” When Jesus comes on the eve of the Day of Judgment, he will confirm the law of Muhammad, the last prophet, and restore it. Jesus will be a fair judge, because at that time there will be no more Muslim sultan, no judge, no mufti. The Creator will take Knowledge from people. When Jesus descends, he will know, by the will of the Most High, everything that he needs to be able to judge between people. The believers will gather around him and proclaim him to be their judge, because there will be no one more God-fearing than him.
Jesus in the Gospel
What does the canonical Christian Gospel say about the divinity of Jesus? Surprisingly, there is not a single unequivocal statement by Jesus about his divinity. Moreover, the modern canonical Gospels indicate that if Jesus had declared his divinity, this would have been regarded as a terrible blasphemy for the Jews. This sin was punishable by death in Jewish society. “We do not want to stone You for a good deed, but for blasphemy and because You, being a man, make Yourself God” (John 19:7) - this was his accusation of blasphemy before Pontius Pilate. As punishment they said: “We have a law, and according to our law He must die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Thus, the term “Son of God” in Christianity has acquired a much greater meaning than just a human Messiah with ordinary human nature. "You make Yourself God." That was the point. Therefore, if Jesus, contrary to Jewish religion and tradition, would have said this, he would never have gained popularity in Judea.
The Koran denies many episodes of the life of Jesus described in the Gospels. This primarily refers to his redemptive mission, as well as his trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. For example, it is alleged that the Jews, having accused him of witchcraft and rejected his prophetic mission, decided to crucify and kill him. However, Allah protected His Messenger and raised him to Himself before they did this: “and they said: “Verily, we have killed the Messiah Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah.” However, they did not kill him or crucify him, but it only seemed to them. Those who argue about this are in doubt and know nothing about it, but only follow assumptions. They didn't really kill him (or didn't kill him with certainty). Oh no! It was Allah who raised him to Himself, for Allah is Mighty and Wise” (Quran, 4:157-158). According to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, another man similar to him was crucified. Therefore, the Koran says that those who talk about his crucifixion are deeply mistaken and that they have no facts about it except assumptions.
The events surrounding the arrest of Isa (Jesus) are described by the outstanding interpreter of the Koran, Ibn Kathir. He wrote: “When Allah sent Isa ibn Maryam to the Jews with clear signs and guidance, they envied his prophecy and the amazing miracles that Allah had bestowed upon him. The way he, with the permission of Allah, healed the blind and lepers, revived the dead, etc. One day he molded a bird from clay and breathed life into it: it turned into a living bird, and people saw it fly into the air by the will of Allah, He is Almighty and Great. Despite this, they considered him a liar, resisted him and tried with all their might to harm him, until the Prophet of Allah Isa stopped living with them in the cities and went to wander with his mother. But they were not content with this and slandered him before the then ruler of Damascus, a pagan Greek who worshiped the planets. The Jews presented this matter to the ruler as if there was a man in Jerusalem who was sowing confusion among the people, misleading them and inciting his people against his power. The ruler was angry and sent a letter to his governor in Jerusalem with orders to seize this man, crucify him and put a wreath of thorns on his head. When the governor of Jerusalem received the letter, he obeyed and went with a group of Jews to the house where Isa was. At that moment he was with twelve or thirteen of his companions. They say that this happened on Friday, closer to sunset, that is, on Saturday evening. They surrounded the house, and when he (Isa) felt that either they would inevitably break in or he should go out to them, he said to his companions: “Who wants to become like me and be my companion in paradise?” One young man volunteered, but Isa considered him too young for this. He repeated his words a second time, and a third, but no one except this young man responded. Then Isa said: “You will be him!” And Allah changed his appearance to the appearance of Isa so that they became completely similar. Then a hole opened in the roof of the house and Isa fell into a doze. In this state, he ascended to heaven, as the Almighty said about it: “Here Allah said: “O Isa (Jesus)! I will give you peace and lift you to Myself. I will purify you from those who disbelieve, and I will exalt those who follow you until the Day of Resurrection above those who disbelieve” (Quran 3:55). When he ascended, his disciples came out. The Jews, seeing this young man, mistook him for Jesus, seized him at night, crucified him and put a wreath of thorns on his head. The Jews announced to everyone that they had achieved his crucifixion and boasted about it. Some of the people believed it. Only those who were in that house with Jesus and witnessed his ascension remained.
Also, the Koran does not recognize the teaching of Jesus as universal: “He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, the Taurat (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel). He will make him a messenger to the children of Israel (Israel): “I have brought you a sign from your Lord. I will create for you the likeness of a bird from clay, blow on it, and it will become a bird with the permission of Allah. I will heal the blind (or deprived of sight from birth; or having weak eyesight) and the leper, and I will raise the dead with the permission of Allah. I will tell you about what you eat and what you store in your homes. Indeed, in this there is a sign for you, if only you are believers. I have come to confirm the truth of what was in the Taurat (Torah) before me, and to allow you part of what was forbidden to you. I have brought you a sign from your Lord. Fear Allah and obey me. Verily, Allah is my Lord and your Lord. Worship Him, for this is the straight path!” (Quran, 3:48-51). This is also stated in the Gospel of Matthew: “He answered and said: I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24) - arguing that the mission of Jesus was limited to one nation.
Finally, in the Koran, Isa predicted the coming of the last prophet to all humanity - Muhammad: “But Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O sons of Israel (Israel)! I have been sent to you by Allah to confirm the truthfulness of what was in the Taurat (Torah) before me, and to convey the good news of the Messenger who will come after me, whose name will be Ahmad (Muhammad).” When he came to them with clear signs, they said: “This is obvious witchcraft” (Quran, 61:6). This is another confirmation that the Islamic religion did not appear out of nowhere, but is a natural continuation of the ideas and traditions of ancient monotheism. Continuity of faith is one of the main ideas of Islam. The prophecy of Muhammad, according to Muslim primary sources, was the logical conclusion of the chain of prophecies in human history starting with Adam.
The purpose of Islam, like any final Word, is not to accuse previous scriptures, but only to bring clarity to questions of dogma and to indicate the truth by eradicating lies. For Muslims, Jesus is much more than one of the prophets sent by God to the children of Israel. As the second Adam, he embraces all of humanity, and as a sign for worlds and people, together with his mother Mary, he illuminates the entire history of mankind.
Eldar Ziganshin
whyislam.ru - Why Islam?
My Almighty Allah and your Lord commanded Muslims to tell Christians not to worship Jesus Christ as God.
He is just one of the prophets of Allah like Adam, Noah, David, Moses, Solomon, Jacob and Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them).
All prophets are Muslims, they were sent to tell people that their God, Allah, is One and Almighty. All people must exclusively worship Allah and this is the True Path.
But time passed after Jesus, the priests deliberately distorted the Bible, came up with the dogma of the Trinity and that Jesus died for their sin.
Think for yourself, if someone killed someone and he is not guilty and not a sinner, because Jesus Christ will supposedly bear his sin. It doesn’t happen like that, oh reasonable people! If he is guilty, then he must bear responsibility, right?!
Muslims love Jesus as the one prophet of Allah, there is no need to slander him. Jesus did not say, I am God and worship me. Jesus said, I am a slave and messenger of Allah, worship the only God Allah!
The famous academician, major general, scientist Konstantin Pavlovich Petrov made a sensational statement that today’s Bible was deliberately distorted by priests.
The teachings of Jesus Christ have been distorted. There are 4 versions of the Bible, the Bible from Luke, from John, from Mark and from Matthew. Where is the Bible from Jesus Christ himself?! It does not exist because the True Bible has not been preserved.
