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Jesus
Christ was mentioned in several verses in the Qur'an. Some of the verses
repeat the same accounts described in other place; it is the
characteristics of the Qur'an to repeat some accounts wherever God
decide it necessary. In the following, we will give some of the verses
that describe the birth of Jesus, and the nature of his message. Many of
these verses repeatedly reaffirms the fact that Jesus is not a God or a
son-of-God, but he is `the Son of Mary', i.e. he is a human being and a
son of a human being. The
number preceding each verse indicate the chapter number and the verse
number. Some remarks and annotations are added wherever it is needed. 2:87. We
gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of prophets.
We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, Clear Signs and strengthened him with
the holy spirit. It is that whenever there comes to you a Prophet with
what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride. Some ye call
imposters and others ye slay. The
above verse is one among several verses in Chapter 2 that describes the
misdeeds of the Children of Israel and their wrong doings. God is
addressing the Israelites and reminding them with the many prophets that
were sent to them. Jesus is reaffirmed here as one of the prophets that
were sent to the Israelites. 2:135.
They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided to
salvation." Say thou: "Nay! I have chosen the religion of
Abraham, who joined not partners with God." 2:136.
Say ye: "We believe in God, and in the revelation given to us, and
to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes. And in that given to
Moses and Jesus, and in that given to all Prophets from their Lord. We
make no difference between one and another of them; and we submit to God
as Muslims." Verse
2:135 states that the Jews and the Christians have deviated from the
Abrahamic faith by ascribing other gods to God, and by claiming that He
begot sons. The next verse affirms that the Qur'an is a continuation to
the true and undistorted revelations that were given to all the prophets
before Muhammad. Then in
Chapter 3, we read more than twenty verses that give more details about
the story of Mary and her son Jesus. 3:42.
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God has chosen thee and purified
thee - chosen thee above all women of all nations (and times). The
above verse glorifies Mary and set her stature above all women of all
nations and of all times, including the Arab women and Prophet
Mohammed’s own mother, daughters and wives. This verse in one clear
argument that refutes the theory which claims Muhammad as the author of
the Qur'an. For if Muhammad was indeed the author of the Qur'an, why
would he make Mary, an Israelite woman, above the Arab women including
his own mother, daughters and wives? He could have modified the last
part of the above verse to read: `..above all Israelite women'. 3:43.
"O Mary! worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself, and bow down
(in prayers) with those who bow down." 3:44.
This is part of the hidden knowledge which we reveal unto thee (O
Muhammad!); Thou was not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as
to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary; nor was thou
with them when they disputed and argued. 3:45.
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God gives thee glad tidings of a
Word from Him; his name will be Jesus, the Son of Mary, held in honor in
this world and the Hereafter, and amongst those close to God." 3:46.
"He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity, and he
shall be amongst the righteous." 3:47.
She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man had
touched me?" He said: "Even so: God creates what He wills;
when He has decreed a plan, He but says to it `Be,' and it is
done!" The
above verses describe the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of
his mother. It is simply that God says: `Be', and it is done. 3:48.
And God will teach him the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. 3:49.
And he will be appointed a Prophet to the Children of Israel
proclaiming: `I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. In that I
make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe
into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal those born
blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God's leave. And I
declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely
therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe. The
above verses describe some of the miracles that proves the prophethood
of Jesus. All these miracles were by God's leave and permission. 3:50.
“I have come to you to attest the Torah which was before me, and to
make lawful to you part of what was before forbidden to you; I have come
to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.” 3:51.
“It is God who is my Lord and your Lord; so worship him. This is a way
that is straight.” 3:52.
When Jesus found unbelief on their part he said: "Who will be my
helpers to the work of God?" The Disciples said: "We are God's
helpers; we believe in God, and do thou bear witness that we are
Muslims." 3:53.
"Our Lord! We believe in what thou hast revealed, and we follow the
Prophet; then write us down among those who bear witness." 3:54.
Then the unbelievers plotted and planned, and God too planned, and the
best of Planners is God. 3:55.
Behold! God said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to
Myself, and clear thee of the falsehood of those who blaspheme; I will
make those who follow superior to those who reject faith, to the day of
Resurrection; then shall ye all return unto Me, and I will judge between
you of the matters wherein ye dispute." The
above verse tells the truth about the myth of crucifixion of Jesus.
Jesus was raised to the heavens; he was not crucified, as the Christians
believe it. This fact will be mentioned clearly in another verse. 3:56.
"As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible
agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to
help." 3:57.
"As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them
in full their reward; But God loves not those who do wrong." 3:58.
This is what We rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of
Wisdom. 3:59.
The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam: He created him
from dust, then said to him, "Be"; and he was. The
above verse refutes the claim that Jesus is son of God. The fact that
Jesus has no father and was conceived miraculously does not prove his
divinity and that he is the son of God. Adam is just like Jesus; both
have no father. Why not also claim that Adam is a son of God? 3:60.
The truth comes from God alone; so be not of those who doubt. 3:61. If
anyone disputes in this matter with thee (O Muhammad), after full
knowledge has come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together, our
sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves;
then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of God on those who
lie!" The
above verse instructed Prophet Muhammad to challenge the Jews in Madina
who rejected him and accused him that he was a liar. It is worthy to
note that the Jews in Madina declined Mohammed’s challenge;
apparently, they know who was the liar! 3:62.
This is the true account: There is no gods Except (one) God; and God is
indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise. Then, in
Chapter 4, we read more verses that tell different aspects of the story
of Jesus the Christ. The verses tell us how the Jews mistreated Jesus
Christ and his mother. The Jews thought that they have killed Jesus and
crucified him. But the Qur'an states definitely that they did not kill
him, for Jesus was raised to the heavens. 4:156.
That they rejected faith, and they uttered against Mary a grave false
charge; 4:157.
That they boasted: "We killed Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, the
Apostle of God"; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so
it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of
doubts, with no certain knowledge but only conjecture to follow. For a
surety they killed him not; 4:158.
Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise; 4:159.
And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him
before his death; and on the Day of Judgement he will be a witness
against them. Then, we
read in the Qur'an some verses that discuss the myth of trinity and the
myth of Jesus the son-of-God. 4:171.
Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, was no more than an Apostle of God, and
His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him; so
believe in God and His Apostles. Say not "Trinity"; desist, it
will better for you. For God is one God; Glory be to Him; Exalted is He
above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on
earth. And enough is God as a disposer of affairs. The
above verse gives the most powerful argument against those who claim
that Jesus is the son of God. Children are continuation of their
fathers. The need to beget children is a human characteristics that
indicates the weakness of humans and their limited life span. God is
Almighty; He has no beginning and no end; He existed forever in the
past, and He will continue to exist forever in the future; He need no
help and no children. 4:172.
Christ disdains not to serve and worship God, nor do the Angels, those
nearest to God. Those who disdain His worship and are arrogant, He will
gather them all together unto himself to answer. 4:173.
But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their
due rewards,- and more, out of His bounty. And those who are disdainful
and arrogant, He will punish. In
Chapter 5, we also read several verses in several places that discuss
the distorted beliefs of the Christians. The following verse gives
another argument to refute the theory of Jesus-is-God or
Jesus-is-son-of-God. The verse reminds the people with the weakness and
fragility of Jesus. How could a weak human being be a God or a son of
God? 5:19. In
blasphemy indeed are those who say that God is Christ, the Son of Mary.
Say: "Who then has the least power against God, if His Will were to
destroy Christ the Son of Mary, his mother and all-everyone-that is on
earth? For to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and
all that between. He creates what He pleases. For God Has power over all
things." 5:75.
They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ, the Son of Mary."
But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! Worship God, my Lord and
your Lord. Whoever joins other partners with God, God will forbid him
the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will be no helpers for
the wrong doers." The
above verse states that Jesus himself had nothing to do with the myth of
his divinity. He was another servant to God, the only Lord. 5:76.
The do blaspheme who say: "God is one of three in a Trinity";
for there is no gods except one God. If they desist not from their word
of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers
among them. 5:77.
Why turn they not to God, and seek His forgiveness? For God is
Oft-Forgiving, and Most Merciful. 5:78.
Christ the Son of Mary was no more than an Apostle; many were the
Apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth.
They had both to eat food (for sustenance). See how God does make His
Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are eluded away from the
truth! The
above verse gives yet another argument to refute the divinity of Jesus.
Both Jesus and his mother needed to eat food for sustenance. Clearly,
this is not a characteristics of a God! 5:79.
Say: "Will ye worship, besides God, something which has no power
either to harm or benefit you? But God, He hears and knows all
things." 5:80.
Say: "O People of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the bounds
(of what is proper), trespassing beyond the truth. Nor follow the vain
desires of people who went wrong in times gone by, who misled many and
strayed (themselves) from the even way." The
above verse warns against over-zealousness in glorifying the prophets.
Prophets are humans like us whom God selected to convey His guidance to
people. Prophets are not Gods! 5:112.
One-day will God gather the Apostles together, and ask: "What was
the response ye received (from men to your teaching)?" They will
say: "We have no knowledge; it is Thou Who knows in full all that
is hidden." 5:113.
Then will God say: "O Jesus the Son of Mary! Recount My favor to
thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the Holy
Spirit, so that thou did speak to the people in childhood and in
maturity. Behold! I taught thee The Book and Wisdom, The Torah and the
Gospel. And behold! thou make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a
bird, by my leave. And thou breath into it, and it becomes a bird, by my
leave. And thou heal those born blind, and the lepers, by my leave. And
behold! Thou bring forth the dead, by my leave. And behold! I did
restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou did
show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: `This is
nothing but evident magic.' 5:114.
"And behold! I inspired the Disciples to have faith in Me and Mine
Apostle. They said, `We have witness that we bow to God as
Muslims.'" 5:115.
Behold! the disciples said: "O Jesus the Son of Mary! can thy Lord
send down to us a Table set (with viands) from heaven?" Said Jesus:
"Fear God, if ye have faith." 5:116
They said: "We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts, and
to know that thou have indeed told us the truth; and that we ourselves
may be witnesses to the miracle." 5:117.
Said Jesus the Son of Mary: "O God our Lord! Send us from heaven a
Table set (with viands), that there may be for us-for the first and the
last of us-a solemn festival and a Sign from Thee; and provide for our
sustenance, for thou are the best sustainer (of our needs)." 5:118
God said: "I will send it down unto you; but if any of you after
that resists faith, I will punish him with a penalty such as I have not
inflicted on anyone among all the peoples." In
verses 119 and 120 of Chapter 5, Jesus disclaims (shall on the day of
judgement) that he ever asked his people to worship him and his mother,
as Gods. 5:119.
And behold! God will say: "O Jesus the Son of Mary! Did thou say
unto men, `Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God'?"
He will say: "Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right
(to say). Had I said such a thing, Thou would indeed have known it. Thou
know what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou
know in full all that is hidden." 5:120.
"Never said I to them august except what Thou did command me to
say, to wit, `Worship God, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness
over them whilest I dwelt amongst them; when Thou did take me up, Thou
was the Watcher over them, and Thou are a witness to all things." 5:121.
"If Thou do punish them, they are Thy servants; if Thou do forgive
them, Thou are the Exalted The Wise." 5:122.
God will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from
their truth; theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, as their
eternal home. God well-pleased with them, and they with God; that is the
great Salvation." In
Chapter 19, called Maryam (Mary), a detailed account of the story of the
conception of Jesus and his birth is given: 19:16.
Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family
to a place in the East. 19:17.
She placed a screen between herself and them. Then We sent to her Our
Angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. 19:18.
She said: "I seek refuge from thee to God, Most Gracious; Come not
near me if thou do fear God." 19:19.
He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord to announce to
thee the gift of a holy son." 19:20.
She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched
me, and I am not unchaste?" 19:21.
He said: "So it will be; thy Lord said, `That is easy for Me: and
We wish to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us'; it is a
matter So decreed." 19:22.
So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. 19:23.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree; she
cried in her anguish: "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would
that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" 19:24.
But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve
not! for thy Lord has provided a rivulet beneath thee"; 19:25.
"And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let
fall fresh ripe dates upon thee." 19:26.
"So eat and drink and cool thine eye. And if thou do see any man,
say. `I have vowed a fast to God, Most Gracious, and this day will I
enter into no talk with any human being.'" 19:27.
At length she brought the babe to her people, carrying him in her arms.
They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing have thou brought!" 19:28.
"O sister of Aaron! thy father was not a man of evil, not thy
mother a woman unchaste!" 19:29.
But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who
is a child in the cradle?" 19:30.
He said: "I am indeed a servant of God: He has given me revelation
and made me a prophet." 19:31.
"And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on
me Prayer and Charity as long as I live." 19:32.
"He has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or
miserable." 19:33.
"So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the
day that I shall be raised up to life again." 19:34.
Such was Jesus the Son of Mary: it is a statement of truth, about which
they vainly dispute. 19:35.
It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son.
Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it,
"Be," and it is. In
Chapter 61, more verses about Jesus are given. In these verses, Jesus
prophesied the coming of a Prophet whose name is `Ahmad' which is
another name of Prophet Muhammad: 61:6.
And remember, Jesus, the Son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel!
I am the Prophet of God sent to you confirming the Torah which came
before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Prophet to come after me, whose
name shall be `Ahmad'." But when he came to them with Clear Signs,
they said: "This is evident sorcery!" 61:7.
Who do greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against God; even as
he is being invited to Islam? And God guides not those who do wrong. 61:8.
Their intention is to extinguish God's Light (by blowing) with their
mouths. But God will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though
the Unbelievers may detest it. 61:9. It
is He Who has sent His Prophet [Muhammad] with Guidance and the Religion
of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the
Pagans may detest it. |
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