What do we learn from Prophet Eisa (Jesus) PBUH

What do we learn from Prophet Eisa (Jesus) PBUH?=

God’s messenger= s and Prophets serve as examples for us in their character and behavior. They app= lied God’s message I their life and showed us how we should react to the t= ests and trials that we face

Prophet Eisa (PBUH) i= s unique because of his miraculous birth, and because the Christians misunderstand h= is nature and mission.

We will discuss the f= ollowing concepts:

1-Muslims believe in = Eisa (Jesus) PBUH as God’s prophet & Messenger

2-The birth of Eisa i= s certainly miraculous

2-Allah gave him powe= rs not given to other human beings

4-Eisa did not say th= at he was divine, despite some references in the Bible

5-How do we deal with= the celebration of his birth or Christmas?

6-Muslim scholars dis= agree about Jesus death

Muslims believe in Eisa (Jesus) PBUH as God̵= 7;s Prophet & Messenger to the Children of= Israel

Muslims believe in all God’s prophets, and do not say : “We believe in some and reject others”. The Jews only believe in the Messengers sent to them, but do= not believe in Jesus or Muhammad (PBUH) as God’s messengers. The Christia= ns do not believe in Muhammad (PBUH) as God’s messenger or in the Qur’an as a divine revelation. The Qur’an emphasizes that Musli= ms believe in all God’s Messengers & Prophets:

Say: "We believe in Allah, and= in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isa= ac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: we make no distinction between one and another a= mong them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam)."

= ; Al-Imran 3: 84

And:

Those who deny Allah and His Messengers, and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His Messengers, saying: "We believe in some but re= ject others": and (those who) wish to take a course midway.

&n= bsp; An-Nesa’a 4: 150

They are in truth (equally) Unbelievers; and We have prepared for Unbelievers a humiliating Punishment.

&n= bsp; An-Nesa’a 4: 151

To those who belie= ve in Allah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of the Messeng= ers, We shall soon give their (due) rewards: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

&n= bsp; An-Nesa’a 4: 153

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

(The Prophets are paternal brothers, related to each other)

The Qur’an states that Jesus (PBUH) was sent as a Messenger to the Childr= en of Israel:

"And (appoint him) a Messenger to the Children of Israel, <= o:p>

&n= bsp; Al-Imran 3: 49

The message of Eisa (Jesus) PBUH) to his people: worship and serve God, my Lord= and your Lord:

When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come= to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me.

&n= bsp; Az-Zukhruff 43: 63

"For Allah, H= e is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way."

&n= bsp; Az-Zukhruff 43: 64

The miraculous birth of Eisa (Jesus Christ) PBUH=

The Qur’an rela= tes to us the birth of Jesus (PBUH):

She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.=

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 17

She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah." =

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 18

He said: "Nay, I am only a Messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the g= ift of a holy son."

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 19

She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am n= ot unchaste?"

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 20

He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith, 'That is e= asy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us= ': it is matter (so) decreed."

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 21

So she conce= ived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 22

And the pain= s 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!"

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 23

But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; <= /o:p>

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 24

"And sh= ake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree; it will let fall fresh ripe dat= es upon thee.

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 25

"So eat= and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowe= d a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with = any human being'"

&n= bsp; Marium 19: 26

Certainly being born from a mother and no fathe= r is miraculous. But God created Adam from no father or mother, and created eve = from the rib of Adam. Therefore, God has the power and ability to create whateve= r He wishes and decrees:

= The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from du= st, then said to him "Be": and he was.

= &= nbsp; Al-Imran 3: 59

If people wonder how such a creation can occur, Marium herself did wonder about that. The Answer given to her is that God does whatever He wills and that t= he creation of Eisa in such a way has been willed by Allah and decreed as a si= gn from God and as a mercy:

= She said: "O my Lord! how shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: when He h= ath decreed a Plan, He but saith to it, `Be', and it is! =

= &= nbsp; Al-Imran 3: 47

= And

= She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and = I am not unchaste?"

= &= nbsp; Marium 19: 20

= He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith, 'That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': it is matter = (so) decreed."

= &= nbsp; Marium 19: 21

Does the creation of Eisa in such a way make him Divine? And did Eisa say that he is= the son of God?

= ;

In the Qur’an Eisa (PBUH) never said that he was divine or the son of Go= d. The Qur’an denies the divinity of Jesus and emphasizes his humanity: =

= That they should invoke a son for (Allah) Most Gracious. <= /p>

= &= nbsp; Marium 19: 91

= For it is not consonant with the majesty of (Allah) Most Gracious that He should b= eget a son.

= &= nbsp; Marium 19: 92

= And

= And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! didst thou say unto = men, 'Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah'?" He will sa= y: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I = said such a thing, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all tha= t is hidden.

= &= nbsp; Al-Maeda 5: 116

= "Never said I to them aught ex= cept what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when thou didst take me up thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to= all things.

= &= nbsp; Al-Maeda 5: 117

= And

= Christ, the son of Mary, was no mor= e than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His moth= er was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded aw= ay from the truth!

= &= nbsp; Al-Maeda 5: 75

In contrast, in the Bible that the Christians read today some verses allege th= at Jesus is divine: In John 1, 35 and in Luke 1-35, Jesus is called the son of God.

Christians also believe that salvation can only occur through Jesus Christ, who sacrif= iced his life and died on the cross to atone for the sins of the world. Unless o= ne is born again he cannot be saved.

The Qur’an is very clear that those who claim that Jesus is divine have rejected faith:

They do blaspheme who say: "Al= lah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode. Th= ere will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.

&= nbsp; Al-Maeda 5: 72

Those who say that Je= sus is the son of God, or that God exists as one in a holy trinity also have rejec= ted faith:

They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: f= or there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among the= m.

&n= bsp; Al-Maeda 5: 73

Jesus was given the a= bility to perform miracles: does this make him divine?

The Qur’an explains that God gave Jesus (PBUH) the ability to perform miracles:

-Restore sight to the blind

-Cure the Leper

-Give life back to the dead

-Tell others what they store in their homes

"And (appoint him) a Messenger to the Children of Israel, (= with this message): "I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in tha= t 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 Allah's leave: and I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah'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;

&n= bsp; Al-Imran 3: 49

"(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before m= e. 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 Allah, and obey me.

&n= bsp; Al-Imran 3: 50

The Qur’an explains that it is God who allowed Jesus to perform these miracles, and that these miracles were necessary to convince his people of = the authenticity of his Prophet hood:

Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And beho= ld! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it, and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest fo= rth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the Clear Signs, and the Unbelievers among them said: `This is nothing but evident magic.'

&n= bsp; Al-Maeda 5: 110

The ability to perform miracles does not mean that Jesus is Divine or the son of God. Other Prophets and messengers from God were able to perform miracles. Again these miracles were intended to convince their people. For example Mo= ses was given nine clear signs. Among these signs are his staff which turned in= to a serpent and swallowed the magic of Pharaoh’s magicians, and his staff that parted the red sea, allowed the children of Israel to escape to safety, w= hile Pharaoh and his soldiers were drowned, and Moses hand that became glistening white:

To Moses We did give nine Clear Signs: ask the Children of Israe= l: when he came to them, Pharaoh said to him: "O Moses! I consider thee, indeed, to have been worked upon by sorcery!

&n= bsp; Al-Isra’a 17: 101

And:

(Allah) said, "Throw it, O Moses!"

&n= bsp; Ta Ha 20: 19

He threw it, and behold! it was a snake, active in motion. =

&n= bsp; Ta Ha 20: 20

(Allah) said, "Seize it, and fear not: We shall return it at once to its former condition."

&n= bsp; Ta Ha 20: 21

"Now draw thy hand close to thy side: it shall come forth w= hite (and shining), without harm (or stain), - as another Sign, -

&n= bsp; Ta Ha 20 : 22

So (Moses) threw his rod, and behold, it was a serpent, plain (f= or all to see)!

&n= bsp; Ash-Shura’a 26: 32

And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all behold= ers!

&n= bsp; Ash-Shura’a 26: 23

And:

Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.

&n= bsp; Ash-Shura’a 26: 63

And We made the other party approach thither. =

&n= bsp; Ash-Shura’a 26: 64

We delivered Moses and all who were with him; =

&n= bsp; Ash-Shura’a 26: 65

But We drowned the others.

&n= bsp; Ash-Shura’a 26: 66

In the Bib= le other Prophets were able to perform miracles, including giving life to the dead.

= ;

Jesus Chri= st (PBUH) did not die on the cross as the Christians believe and claim

The Qur’an is clear that Jesus (PBUH) was not crucified nor did he die on= the cross:

That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son = of Mary, the Messenger of Allah"; 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 of a surety they killed him not.

&n= bsp; An-Nesa’a 4: 157

Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

&n= bsp; An-Nesa’a 4: 158

How was Jesus raised up to Allah? The traditional classic view is that Jesus was lifted in body and spirit and is alive in heaven, and that he will come down before the Day of Judgment and rule as a Muslim. The other view is that he = dies like any other human being and other prophets.

How do we = as Muslims deal with non-Muslim holidays?

As a Muslim minority living in this country we cannot escape the Christmas hol= iday season, and we are affected by it directly or indirectly. Christmas is an official holiday, and the majority of Americans shop, whether they are Christians or not. Our children are affected by Christmas as well. Schools close and there is a long Christmas holiday in schools and universities.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us: (Allah has replaced other feasts with two better feasts for you: Eid Al-Fitr (Eid celebrating the end of the fasting month o= f Ramadan) and Eid Al-Adha (Eid celebrating the Hajj when the pilgrims gather in Mena = on the 10^th day of Zul-Hijja). So Muslim holidays are these two Eid= s or feasts. Does that mean we cannot join our non-Muslim friends and wish them = well on their Eids or feasts or celebrations? No, we should wish them well and congratulate them, in the same way that they wish us well and congratulate = us in our Eids or celebrations.

Can we join in the celebration of non-Muslim holidays as a social event? Some Muslims will say: this is forbidden for the Prophet (PBUH) said that Muslims have only two Eids, no more and we cannot celebrate other events. If we do = that we decrease our Islam and we do something that is not sanctioned or permitt= ed. Others say: As long as we take this opportunity to educate our children abo= ut Prophet Eisa (PBUH) and join the larger community that we live in, in celebrating the holiday as a social event, there is nothing wrong, and it s= hows solidarity rather than isolating ourselves from our larger community. =

I believe that this decision is an individual one, and each can make his deci= sion without being blamed or accused. Obviously the Islamic center does not celebrate non-Muslim holidays, but at the same time, it has no policy of preventing its members from doing what they want as individuals.

As part of this community Muslims should not isolate themselves, or segregate. Otherwise, such isolation will lead to suspicion and will foster prejudice = and stereotyping. Being part of our larger Cincinnati community means that we care and that we reach out. We feel happy when our community is happy and we are sad when a tragedy afflicts our community. We offer solutions to problems and we provide directions and guidance.

Our success and our own existence depend on cooperating with other individuals = and institutions in our community and in developing good relations and building bridges. It is in this light that we as American Muslims living in Cincinnati must un= derstand our role, and must understand how best to apply Islamic guidelines in our l= ife.

Muslim vie= ws regarding Prophet Eisa (Jesus) PBUH

BS= Foad, M.D 2009

Muslims believe in Jesus (PBUH) as God’s prophet & Messenger to the Child= ren of Israel

“And a messenger to the Childr= en of Israel” Al-Imran 3: 49

“Say: “We believe in All= ah, and in what was revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismai’l, Isaac, J= acob, the tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and the Prophets from the= ir Lord. We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to All= ah we bow in Islam” Al-Imran 3: 84

The birth of Jesus was miraculous but that does not make him divine<= /span>

“She said: “How shall I = have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste”. He said: “So it will be: Your 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” Marium 19: 20 & 21

Jesus being born from a mother and no father is certainly miraculous, but God created Adam from no father or moth= er, and created Eve from the rib of Adam:

“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him “Be” and he was” Al-Imran 3: 59

Allah creates whatever He wishes and decrees “When We want to create or will anything We say to it “Be” and it is” An-Nahl 16: 40

Jesus did not say that he was God or the son of God

“Behold! Allah will say: ̶= 0;O Jesus the son of Mary, did you say: “worship me and my mother as gods= in derogation to Allah?” He will say: “Glory to You, never could I= say what I had no right to say. H= ad I said such a thing, You would indeed have known it. You know what is in my heart, though I know not what is i= n your heart, for You know in full all that is hidden. Never did I say to them anything except what You commanded me to say: “Worship Allah, my Lord= and your Lord” Al-Maeda 5: 116 & 117

The Qur’an emphasizes the huma= nity of Jesus (PBUH): “Christ, the son of Mary, was no more than a messeng= er, many were the messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They both had to e= at their daily food. See how Allah does make His signs clear to them, yet they are delude= d away from the truth” Al-Maeda 5: 75

“They do blaspheme who say: “Allah is Christ the son of Mary”. Christ said: “O Childr= en of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord” Al-Maeda 5 : 72=

“They do blaspheme who say: “Allah is one of three in a Trinity, for there is no god except One G= od”

Al-Maeda 5: 73

Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles, but this does not make him divin= e

“I have come to you, with a si= gn 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 Allah’s leave; an= d I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I give life to the dead, by Allah’s leave, and I declare to you&= nbsp; what you eat and what you store in your homes” Al-Imran 3: 49<= o:p>

Other Prophets were given the abilit= y to perform miracles like Moses (PBUH) who was given clear signs from Allah to convince his people that indeed he is a messenger from God

Jesus was not crucified, nor did he die on the cross

“That they said “We kill= ed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah” but they did not kill him, nor crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no certain knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for surely they killed him not. No, Allah raised= him up unto Himself, and Allah is exalted in power, wise” An-Nesa’a= 4: 157 & 158

How do we, as American Muslims, deal with Christmas and its activities?

There are two views: One view is that Muslims are only allowed to celebrate two holidays: Eid Al-Fitr (the end of= the fasting month of Ramadan), and Eid Al-Adha (the 10^th day of Zul-Hijja when the pilgrims perform the rites of Hajj in Mena). Any other celebration is forbidden. The other view is that we can express our solidar= ity with our non-Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues, and wish them well a= nd join the celebration as a social event, and not isolate ourselves from the larger community.