Category: Jesus

Christian and Islamic view of the man on the cross

The Qur’an is not a work of literary narrative, as is the Bible. As a scripture that provides guidance (huda) and a reminder (tadhkira) to humankind, it gives more emphasis to spiritual edifications than to providing a full account of facts. So, the Quran’s main concern with the Jesus story, too, is not to give a full account of the Jesus story, but rather to put it in the right theological perspective. That is probably why, although it contains detailed narratives about the birth and mission of Jesus, it tells us almost nothing about his passing. For it does not consider the passing of Jesus—just like that of Abraham, Moses, or Muhammad himself—as an event with major theological significance.

In contrast, the passing of Jesus—or, more precisely, his Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension—is crucial for Christianity. “If Christ has not been raised,” Paul famously wrote to the Corinthians, “then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14) No wonder what ultimately became the very symbol of Christianity was the sign of the cross, which stands for the crucifixion—and not the sign of the fish, as it was among the earliest Christians.

In fact, the Qur’an does mention the cross, but only in passing, and only in an unaffirmative way. This mention, which led to disputes between Muslims and Christians for centuries, occurs in a Qur’anic passage that condemns a group of Jews that was apparently present in Medina. They are cursed, because “they disbelieved and uttered a terrible slander against Mary.” Furthermore:

And [they] said, “We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of God.” They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear like that to them. Those that disagreed about him are full of doubt, with no knowledge to follow, only supposition. They certainly did not kill him. God raised him up to  Himself. God is almighty and wise. Quran 4:157-158

The key statement here, “it was made to appear like that to them,” or shubbiha la-hum, has led to endless speculations. Most Muslim exegetes, both in the classic era and the modern age, inferred from this phrase a theory of “substitution.” Accordingly, Jesus was not crucified, but somebody was “substituted” in his place— perhaps one of his disciples, or Judas Iscariot who betrayed him, or Simon of Cyrene who helped him carry the cross.

Yet this “substitution” theory, which is still almost the standard view among Muslims today, raises lots of questions. Fakhraddin al-Razi, the medieval scholar, addressed some of them frankly in his major exegesis of the Qur’an. “God was no doubt capable of delivering Jesus from the hands of his enemies by simply taking him up to heaven,” he first reminded. “What then,” he asked, “is the purpose of casting his likeness on another man, except to condemn an innocent man to death to no purpose?” He also made the following observation, which is in fact a good reminder for all religious believers that their arguments against the rival tradition can turn back on themselves:

All Christians in the world, with all their great love for Jesus and their extremist beliefs concerning him, have reported that they witnessed him being crucified and killed. If we were to deny this, we would cast doubt on the principle of tawatur [universally accepted transmission]. Casting doubt on this principle would also necessitate casting doubt on the prophethood of Muhammad and Jesus, and even on their very existence, as well as the existence of all other prophets, and that would be untenable.

Other Muslim commentators took a second and less radically rejectionist interpretation of “appearance,” arguing that Jesus was indeed crucified but he did not die on the cross. He rather secretly survived his execution, they suggested, despite his “appearance” of death. Ahmadiyya Muslims, an unorthodox sect of Islam, take this line. They even believe that after surviving the cross, Jesus moved to Kashmir, an area in the northern Indian subcontinent, to live there and ultimately to die a natural death. Hence in the Kashmirian city of Srinagar, there is still a highly revered “tomb of Jesus.”

Yet there is a third and radically different interpretation of the Qur’an’s verdict on the cross—a road much less taken. It begins by noting the context of the statement “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him.” The context is a polemic against certain Jews— not Christians—who, apparently, both slandered Mary and also took pride in claiming “We killed the Messiah.” (No wonder in Talmudic literature there is a narrative which “proudly proclaims Jewish responsibility for Jesus’ execution.”66) To these people the Qur’an says, no, “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear like that to them.”

In other words, the Qur’an is only telling us that Jews did not crucify and kill Jesus. It does not say nobody did that. It does not say, for example, that Romans did not crucify and kill Jesus, which was, of course, what really happened according to the canonical gospels.

Some scholars think that this third interpretation of the Qur’an’s interpretation of the cross may be compatible with the Christian version of the story. One was the late William Montgomery Watt, one of the most eminent Western scholars of Islam. He argued that a Christian could in fact accept the Qur’an’s statement on the crucifixion, “since the crucifixion was the work of Roman soldiers… [and] since the crucifixion was not a victory for the Jews in view of [Jesus’] resurrection.”

However, while this third interpretation makes it possible to reconcile the Qur’an with the story of the cross related in the canonical gospels, it probably cannot be reconciled with the theology of the cross related in Paul’s letters. Accordingly, the crucifixion was a cosmic event in which Jesus suffered as an atonement for the sins of all humankind. This theology not only has no trace in the whole Qur’an, it also goes against some of its core doctrines—such as that sin is strictly personal, and “no burden-bearer can bear another’s burden.” (Qur’an 35:18 53:38) It also is theologically unnecessary, for the Qur’an does not share the theology of the Fall as well, which according to Christianity made every human being inherently sinful and thus in need of a savior.

 

Excerpted from the book “The Islamic Jesus” by Mustafa Akyol. 

Explaining Trinity and Triune GOD

Trinity Explained. Triune God Explained. Does God Has To Be Triune In Order To Be Loving? Who was the GOD of Islam loving before creation? Christian Triune God is loving cause they are 3 person and have been loving each other for ever Eternally.

I thought this was a well thought out and put together video explaining the concept of the Trinity.  Thank you “Truth Shall Prevail” for producing such an excellent response to such a common Missionary argument.

You can see more of their videos you can subscribe to their youtube channel here:

 

Jesus As A Biblical Prophet

Christians have always searched for the answer to their enigma (Jesus’ nature). However, the answer is right in front of them! While there are no verses in the entire Bible where Jesus explicitly states his deity, there are verses that state his prophethood. Some Christians agree that Jesus is a prophet amongst other characteristics; yet this article examines some of the verses proving that Jesus could have only been a prophet and not God. Let’s start by examining this verse:

John 12:49 – 

“For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.”

We see the clear distinction between God and Jesus by the acknowledgment that Jesus has no authority to speak on his own. Interesting to see that Jesus (supposedly God) has no authority, wonder who has it then? On the contrary, Jesus is commanded by God which dictates to him what to say. Now why would “God” need God to tell him what to do?! Christians would hold on to the claim that it is the “human” nature of Jesus that is commanded and commissioned. But to say that Jesus was imperfect (needing the Father to tell him what to say) in his human nature while he was perfect in his God nature implies two different persons,two minds, two wills, and two characters occupying one body. This is not acceptable because according to the Nicene Creed Jesus was only one person and not two. Furthermore, what’s a prophet according to the bible? We find the following verse contains the definition:

Deuteronomy 18:18 – 

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

A prophet is someone with no words of his own but with words of a higher authority, and is someone who is commanded. These criteria fit Jesus in light of the John 12:49. The latter only makes sense if Jesus is a prophet that’s conveying God’s message not his own. Again, why would God need himself to convey his own message? This brings us to the following verses. Jesus, in fact, wasn’t sent with words of his own:

John 14:24 

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.


John 7:16

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not mine, but His who sent me.’”

Again, it is obvious that Jesus wasn’t sent to inform his believers of “his law and message” (if he was God). He was sent as a messenger from God to guide us to the right path. In these two verses prior mentioned, it is clear that neither the “words” nor the “doctrine” is Jesus’; it is God’s. This means that Jesus is not the source of Christianity per se because it is God that states the pillars of “true” Christian faith. If Jesus was God, his words and doctrines would be his as well since “he and the father are one”. There wouldn’t be any need to differentiate between what is for Jesus and what is for God… If you apply prophethood to Jesus, the verses make sense. After all, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a prophet is: “one who utters divinely inspired revelations”. This can be applied to Jesus because he is uttering God’s words and His doctrines.

Not only did Jesus not have any words of his own (John 14:24, John 7:16), in fact he couldn’t do anything on his own. He needed God…

John 5:30 – 

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. 

Jesus even acknowledged the fact that God gave him power:

John 13:3 – 

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God.

The key word in this verse is “given”. Jesus is not the source of power or authority, God is. So, again there’s a disparity between “giver” (source) and the receiver (dependent). Jesus is not a dependent being on his own, he needs God. This further disproves his deity and gets us closer to establishing the fact that Jesus is simply a prophet.

Matthew 21:10-11 – 

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Luke 24:19 – 

“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people”

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible (Luke 24:19) 

A prophet – A teacher sent from God. They did not now call him the “Messiah,” for his “death” had led them to doubt that, but they had no doubt that he was a distinguished “prophet.” The evidence of that was so clear that they “could” not call it in question.

Mighty in deed – Powerful in working miracles, in raising the dead, healing the sick, etc.

In word – In teaching.

Before God and all the people – Manifestly; publicly. So that “God” owned him, and the people regarded him as a distinguished teacher.

So, did people whom Jesus performed miracles to consider him as God? No!A prophet is also provided with miracles; it is consistent with being a prophet and is nothing new… Speaking about miracles, some Christians tend to use Jesus’ miracles as a proof for his deity. However, who gave Jesus his power and his miracles? It is God.

Acts 2:22 – 

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.”

Most importantly, what did Jesus say about himself?

Matthew 13:57 – And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

Luke 13:33 – 

In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day–for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

Now, did Jesus say I am God and I came down to this earth to spread my word?! No! He said I am a prophet! How clearer can it get? So, until someone can show me where Jesus explicitly says I am God, I’m still going to believe what Islam said about him; Jesus is a prophet.  I’d like to end with this monotheistic verse

Mark 12:29 – Jesus answered, “The most important is “Here, O Israel:  The Lord our God is one Lord.”

Notice how Jesus includes himself with the people by saying our God. Jesus does have a God after all… I guess the question is: could God have a God? Furthermore, if you combine Mark 12:29 (and many other verses like it which can be found in the bible …) with all the verses proving Jesus’ prophethood and all the verses challenging Jesus’ deity ( John 14:28, 8:28, 5:19; Mark 13:32, 10:18; Matthew 27:46, 26:39, Luke 2:52, 22:43, 6:12… )  you do get a coherent concept. A concept of Jesus the prophet which is far more logical than that of the trinity…

Finally, who is Jesus (PBUH) in Islam? Jesus (PBUH) is a revered prophet of Allah (SWT):

In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: “Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every – one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things. – (The Noble Qur’an – Al Mâ’idah 5:17)

Certainly they disbelieve who say: “Surely Allah, He is the Messiah, son of Maryam”. And the Messiah said: “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord, surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust. – (The Noble Qur’an – Al Mâ’idah 5:72)
“The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!” – (The Noble Qur’an – Al Mâ’idah  5:75).
Say: “Praise be to Allah, who begets no son, and has no partner in (His) dominion: Nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation: yea, magnify Him for His greatness and glory! – (Al Isrâ’ 17:111)

Conclusion :

O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not “Trinity”: desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. – (The Noble Qur’an – An Nisâ’ 4:171)

And Allah Knows Best.