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Jesus
and the Holy Quran
Taqiyyullah
Christians
all over the world observe the birth of Jesus Christ on
December 25th. The Muslims keep themselves aloof from observing
the day as if Christ is alien to them.
But
the Holy Quran recognises the prophethood of Abraham, Moses,
Jesus, and most of the other prophets that have appeared
in every part of the world, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) being
the last in the line. The Quran also makes no distinction
between them:
"Say:
We believe in Allah and (in) that which has been revealed
to us and (in) that which was revealed to Araham and Ismail
and Isacc and Jacob and the tribes and (in) that which was
given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any
distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit
(Muslims)". - Al Quran: Sura 2, verse 136. Al Baqarah
(The Cow)
Again
in verse 285 Sura Al Baqarah, it says: "The Messenger
believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord
and (so do) the believers. They all believe in Allah and
His angels and His Books and His messengers. We make no
difference between any of His messengers. And they say:
We hear and obey; our Lord, Thy forgiveness (do we crave),
and to thee is the eventual course".
The
Holy Quran speaks of Jesus Christ his mission, his teachings
and his followers in some 78 verses in many Suras namely
Al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, Al-Nisa, Al-Maidah, Al-Anam , Al-Araf,
Al-Bara's at, Yunus, Maryam, Al-Ambiya, Al-Ahjab, Al-Lumar,
Al-Shura, Lukhruf, Al-Hadi, Al-Saff, Al-Jinn, References
to Jesus Christ who is referrd to as I'sa alaihis Salam
in the Quran includes:
He is
a (Prophet) (19:30) Sura Maryam, the Arabic name for Mary;
he is a Messenger -- 4:157, 171 (Al-Nisa -- The woman);
he has a book (19:30); The sending of him is a 'Sign' (aya)
and 'mercy' (19:21); he and his mother are a "sign"
(23:50 -- Sura Al-Muminun the Believers); he is made on
"Example" parable (Mathal), 43:57, 59 (Sura Zukhruf
: Gold); he brought "proofs" (baiy a nat) and
"wisdom" (hikma) 43:63, 5:110); and was aided
by Allah with the ruh-al-Kudus (2:87, 5:110).
In Sura
3:44 (Al-Imran -- The Family of Amran) I'sa (pbth) is described
as exalted in this word and in the world to come and one
of the nearest to God. The Sura Reveals--
"When
the angels said 'O Mary, surely Allah gives the good news
with a world from Him (of one) whose name is the messiah,
I'sa son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and here
after and of those who are drawn nigh to Allah.'
In sura
19:30-31, he is called the blessed one, who got the word
of God while a child.
In sura
43:63, he is said to have come to be imbued with wisdom
in order to guide mankind in their controversies.
Sura
4, verse 171 reveals:
"O'ye people of the Book! Overstep not bounds in your
religion; and of God, speak only truth. The Messiah, Jesus,
son of Mary is only an apostle of God, and His word which
He conveyed into Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Himself.
Believe therefore in God and His apostles, and say not "Three"
(there is a trinity) -- Forbear -- it will be better for
you. God is only one God. Far be it for his glory that He
should have a son. His whatever is in the Heavens and whatever
in the Earth. And God is sufficient Guardian.
In the
verse 3:47 -- 48 it is revealed:
"And He will teach him the Book and the wisdom and
the Torah and the Gospel.”
"And (Make him) a messenger of the Children of Isreal
(Saying): I have come to you with a sign from your lord,
that I determine for you out of dust the form of a bird
then I breath into it and it becomes a bird, with Allah's
permission," and I heal the blind and the lepers, and
bring the dead to life with Allah's permission; and I inform
you of what you should eat and what you should store in
your houses. Surely there is a sign in this for you, if
you are believers."
Verse
49:
And (I am) a verifier of that which is before me of the
Torah, and I allow you part of that which was forbidden
to you; and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord,
so keep our duty to Allah and obey me.
Verse
50:-
Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. This
is the right path. (Siratul Mustakeem).
About the advent of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Jesus fortells
in Sura Saff (The Ranks) 61:6:
"And when Jesus son of Mary, said, O children of Israel
surely I am the messenger of Allah to you, verifying that
which is before me of the Torah and giving the good news
of a Messenger who will come after me, his name being Ahmad.” |