Welcome back to the continuation of our story of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him). In the first part, we discussed about his miraculous birth, his teachings, and his significant role in Islamic theology. As we continue the story, we will further reveal the remarkable events that occurred during his mission and the enduring lessons his life imparts. You can read the first part here.
The Miracles of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him)
Allah said:
[The Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel] and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel;
And when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind [from birth] and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is not but obvious magic.” (Ch 5:110 Quran)
Allah gave him the power to create birds, heal the blind, heal the leper, and raise the dead, all by his permission.
Prophet Eesa’s (Jesus, Peace be upon him) Brings the Dead to Life
Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) continued to pray to Allah for mercy on his people and to teach his people to have mercy on one another and to believe in Allah. Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) continued his mission, aided by divine miracles. Some Qur’anic commentators said that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) brought four people back from the dead:
A friend of his named Al-Azam, an old woman’s son, and a woman’s only daughter. These three had died during his lifetime. When the Jews saw this they said: “You only resurrect those who have died recently; perhaps they only fainted.” They asked him to bring back to life Sam the Ibn Noah. When he asked them to show him his grave, the people accompanied him there.
Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) invoked Allah the Exalted to bring him back to life and behold, Sam the Ibn Noah came out from the grave gray-haired. Jesus asked: “How did you get gray hair when there was no aging in your time?” He answered: “O Spirit of Allah, I thought that the Day of Resurrection
had come; from the fear of that day my hair turned gray.”
Allah Sends the Disciples a Feast as a Miracle for Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him)
Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) continued calling people to Almighty Allah and laying down for them what might be called “the law of the Spirit.” Once when standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples, Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) saw that those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, and the downtrodden, and their number was small.
Some of the miracles that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) performed had been requested by his disciples, such as their wish for a “holy table” to be sent down from heaven. Allah the Exalted said:
[And remember] when the disciples said, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven?” [Jesus] said, “Fear Allah, if you should be believers.”
They said, “We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses.”
Said Jesus, the son of Mary, “O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers.
Allah said, “Indeed, I will send it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you – then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.” (Ch 5:112-115 Quran)
It was related that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) commanded his disciples to fast for thirty days; at the end of it, they asked Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) to bring food from heaven to break their fast. Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) prayed to Allah after his disciples had doubted Allah’s power. The great table came down between two clouds, one above and one below, while the people watched.
Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) said: “O Lord, make it a mercy and not a cause of distress.” So it fell between Jesus’ hands, covered with a napkin. Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) suddenly prostrated and his disciples with him. They sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. Jesus said:
“The one who is the most devout and most righteous may uncover the table, that we might eat of it to thank Allah for it.” They said: “O Spirit of Allah, you are the most deserving.” Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) stood up, then performed ablution and prayed before uncovering the table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The disciples said:
“O Spirit of Allah, is this the food of this world or of Paradise?” Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) said to his disciples: “Did not Allah forbid you to ask questions? It is the divine power of Allah the Almighty Who said: ‘Be,’ and it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allah warning of great punishment for unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of the matter.”
It is said that thousands of people partook of it, and yet they never exhausted it. A further miracle was that the blind and lepers were cured.
Allah Questioned Those Worshipping Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him)
The Day of the Table became one of the holy days for the disciples and followers of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him). Later on, the disciples and followers forgot the real essence of the miracles, and so they
worshipped Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) as a god.
Almighty Allah declared:
And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.
I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
If You should punish them – indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them – indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
Allah will say, “This is the Day when the truthful (like Prophet Eesa) will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. (Ch5:116-119 Quran)
The Jews Plot to Kill Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him)
Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) went on his mission until vice knew that its throne was threatening to fall. So the forces of evil accused him of magic, infringement of the Law of Moses, and allegiance with the devil.
And when they saw that the poor people followed him, they began to scheme against him. The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the Jews, began to meet to plot against Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him). The plan took a new turn. When the Jews failed to stop Prophet Eesa’s (Jesus, Peace be upon him) call, they decided to kill him.
The chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best way of getting rid of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him). While they were in such a meeting, one of the twelve apostles of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him), Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked: “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” Judas
bargained with them until they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver known as shekels.
The plot was laid for the capture and murder of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him). It was said that the high priest of the Jews tore his garment at the meeting, claiming that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) had denied Judaism. The tearing of clothes at that time was a sign of disgust.
The Torture of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him)
The priests had no authority to pass the death sentence at that time, so they convinced the Roman governor that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) was plotting against the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take immediate action against him. The governor ordered that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) be arrested.
According to the Book of Matthew, Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) was arrested and the council of the high priests passed the death sentence upon him. Then, they began insulting him, spitting on his face and
kicking him. It was the Roman custom for the condemned to be flogged before they were executed. So Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) be flogged.
The Law of Moses stipulates forty lashes, but the Romans had no limit, and there were brutal lashes. After that, Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him)was handed to the soldiers for crucifixion. They took off his clothes and kept them. They put a crown of thorns on his head to mock him. According to custom he carried his cross on his back to increase his suffering.
Prophet Eesa’s (Jesus, Peace be upon him) Crucifixion – Bible Version
Finally, they reached a place called Golgotha, meaning the Place of Skulls, outside the walls of Jerusalem. Instead of giving him a cup of wine diluted with scent to help lessen the pain on the cross, the soldiers gave Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) a cup of vinegar diluted with gall. Then they crucified him and, as a further mockery, two thieves with him. So it is written in the Bible.
Prophet Eesa’s (Jesus, Peace be upon him) Crucifixion – Quranic which is the Truth
But Islam came with views quite different from what was related by the Christians with regards to both the end of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) and his nature. The Glorious Qur’an affirms that Allah the Exalted did not permit the people of Israel to kill Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him) or crucify him.
What happened was that Allah saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. They never killed Prophet Eesa (Jesus, Peace be upon him), they killed someone else.
And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him [i.e., Jesus] before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness. ( Ch 4:157-159 Quran)
There is a hadith regarding the second coming of Prophet Eesa Just Before the Day of Judgement, and his Mission. Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “By Allah, the son of Mary will descend as a just ruler. He will abolish the cross, kill the swine, and annul the tribute, but he will leave the she-camel such that no one collects from it. He will cause rancor, hatred, and envy to disappear, and he will call people to give their wealth in charity but no one will need it. Sahih Muslim 155
Allah also says:
[Mention] when Allah said, “O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ. (Ch 3:55 Quran).
Refutation of the Christians’ Claiming That Jesus is the Son of God
And they (Jews and Christians) say, “The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.” You have done an atrocious thing (you have said terrible statement)
The heavens almost rupture (break) therefrom and the earth almost splits open and the mountains almost collapse in devastation. That they attribute to the Most Merciful (Allah) a son.
And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.
He knows their number and counted them a [full] counting. And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone. (Ch 19:88-95 Quran)
Allah also says:
O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limit in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.
Never would the Messiah reject to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever reject His worship and is arrogant – He will gather them to Himself all together.
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or helper. (Ch 4:171-173 Quran)
Allah Affirmed His Oneness and Disclaims Begetting Anyone
The pagans once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): “To whom is your Lord related, is it His original ancestors and His various branches of descendants?”
It is also reported that the Jews said: “We worship Ezra, the Son of Allah,” and the Christians said: “Jesus is the Son of Allah,” and the Magians said: “We worship the sun and the moon,” and the Pagans said: “We
worship idols.”
In response to all of them Allah revealed some of His attributes: Unity, Uniqueness, and other substantives:
And say, “Praise to Allah, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification.” (Ch 17:111 Quran)
Allah say in another chapter:
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, “Then who could prevent Allah at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?” And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.
But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His beloved.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination.
O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, “There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner.” But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allah is over all things competent. (Ch 5:17-19
Quran)
And lastly, Allah says:
Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
We ask Allah to grant us steadfastness in our faith and strengthen our hearts upon Islam. Guide us to follow the righteous path and help us embody the virtues exemplified by your prophets. We ask You to open the hearts of those who follow other religions and guide them to the true path of Islam. Bless us all with Your mercy and forgiveness. Ameen.
May Allah accept our efforts and guide us to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
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