Saturday, July 21, 2007

The Crucifixion and the Quran


It is commonly held in Islam that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ did not occur.
It is stated in the Quran, That they said (in their 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-
Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise-
Q 4:157-158.
Most Moslems believe this to mean that Jesus Christ never died, but simply ascended up to heaven. Yet the Quran quotes Jesus as saying, "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)"- Q 19:33. What an awesome presentation of the Gospel in that verse! Clearly the Gospels were well known to Mohamed as he received the Quranic revelation. Did he really intend to say that Jesus would not be killed? Or that He would not be crucified? Doubtful.
In fact, I don't see in Q 4:157-158 a denial of Christ's death, nor yet a denial of His crucifixion. Actually, I see a harmony between the text of that Surah, and John's gospel, when Jesus said, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.- Jn 10.17-18.
It is so then that Jesus was not actually killed by the Jews, but it only appeared to them that they crucified Him, when in fact, He laid His own life down for us on the cross. It is not that He simply appeared to die on the cross as a docetic type of epiphany, with someone else being the actual victim (as portrayed in the apocryphal gospel of Barnabas). This need to have Jesus "trick" the Jews is not necessary if we realize that the Quran is not actually denying His crucifixion, nor yet His death. And to consider that He was raised up to life, and subsequently raised up to Allah, as is also in harmony with Christian Scripture (Jn 20.9-17; Acts 1.2-3, 9). Thus the Quran tells us, 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- Q 4:159. To this Jesus also said of Himself, I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.- Jn 8.24, and again Scripture says, ...that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.- Jn 20.31.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Mr.Leon.

I bet you like the Movie Narnia. Lets get to the subject anyway :)
First of all let me clear u with so many allegations u put against Quran
No 1>that they didn't kill Him, nor did they crucify Him. But it was made to appear to them so. And those who dispute therein are full of doubts(1). They have no certain knowledge(2); they only follow conjecture(3). For of a surety, they killed Him not.{Holy Quran 4:157}

1."Full of Doubts!" — In a state of confusion.
2. "Without Knowledge!" — In ignorance.
3. "Only follow Conjecture!" — Guess work—Fiction!




The above verse clears the misconception of the Jews and the Christians that Jesus (pbuh) was not crucified and was not killed meaning he didn’t die neither was he crucified. JESUS (PBUH) WAS RAISED UP ALIVE

I guess u can understand that

Now No.2>"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)".

The Qur'an mentions that Jesus (pbuh) said "Peace is on me the Day I was born, the day that I die". (Q-19-33) "It is not stated the day that I died". It is in the future tense and not in the past tense.

There is nothing doubtful about the above two verses as they aren’t contradicting. The more important point is that Jesus never died according to Islam. There is a similar Verse to 19:33 in the Noble Quran that was mentioned to another Messenger of GOD: "So peace on him [Yahya, or John the Baptist] the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life! (The Noble Quran, 19:15)" This Noble Verse (19:15) is similar to 19:33, where it does not at all state that any Messenger of GOD was crucified or will die twice!. The reason why no Messenger of GOD will ever die twice is because Allah Almighty said clearly in His Noble Book that every soul He creates (this includes all of His Messengers and Prophets even Jesus) shall taste death once;”Nor will they [all humans who end up in heaven] there taste death, except the first death; and He will preserve them from the penalty of the blazing fire. (The Noble Quran, 44:56)".
.

No 3>About Mohammed (pbuh), he was an illiterate person
. He chooses an Ummi 1 non-literate Prophet for an Ummi illiterate nation.(Quran- 62-2)
You can read the Biography of Prophet Mohammed(pbuh) from
http://mohammad.islamway.com or you can read Biography of his from many non muslims as well 
Quran Confesses that Mohammed (pbuh) was an illiterate person and moreover there wasn’t any Arabic bible in the era of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)
Sorry to say but u have only made an allegation without giving any proof or any reference that Mohammed (pbuh) copied Bible as it is easy to make statements and I can give u reference even from the bible about Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), the natural successor to Christ, I will be writing blog about that, its not the subject now though.


No 4) 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- Q 4:159.

He will be a witness yes and he will tell this
115And 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 say: "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 that is hidden. (116) "Never said I to them aught except 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 upThou wast the Watcher over them and Thou art a Witness to all things. (117) "If Thou dost punish them they are Thy servants: if Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power the Wise. (118) Allah will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,― their eternal home: Allah well-pleased with them and they with Allah: that is the great Salvation (the fulfillment of all desires). (119) To Allah doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein and it is He who hath power over all things. (Quran5:115-119)

Yes Jesus is the Christ, and Son of God means righteous person in the Jewish law. And if you follow righteous persons that is the prophets then we will be rightly guided and have an eternal life.

As a Muslim we are made to believe in all the messengers of Almighty, if we don’t believe in Jesus(pbuh) then we are not Muslims and we don’t have a right for Salvation.If we don’t’ believe in Moses(pbuh) then we are not Muslims either and if we believe in Moses(pbuh) and Jesus(pbuh) and not believe in Mohammad(pbuh) then we are not Muslims either, We can only be Muslims if we believe in all the messengers . And the meaning of Muslim means “one who has submitted to God’s will” like Jesus (pbuh) did. Remember Jesus (pbuh) said “Oh my father if it be possible, Let this cup pass of me, not as I will but as thou will” {Matthew 26:39} he has submitted to God’s will and that is what a Muslim means. God has sent messengers to spread the same message from Abraham down to Mohammad (pbuh).

I Guess I gave clear answers to your assertions . Now its your turn, Read the blogs I wrote on Crucifixion Part I , Part II and Part III. Then we can argue about it :)
Have a good day.

Sincerely,
genie.

Leon said...

I want to answer point by point what you have commented. But first I want to make it clear that my blog is not intended to be an allegation "against" the quran. On the contrary, I have deep respect for the Quran, and the prophet Mohamed, as well as Islam. I just believe that the Quran may not be saying what is claimed for it to say. I just don't think that Mohamed had, other than from possible Gnostic sources, a view of the crucifixion, as if it didn't occur.
But I will read your blogs first, before I comment there, as well as here, God willing.

Peace.

Anonymous said...

Hello Mr. Leon

That's good to know that you have deep respect towards Quran and islam. I didn't know that u were not against it but ur blog sounded so, Pardon me for my misunderstanding. And We believe whatever the Word of God aka Quran says,and God is all knowing over what we claim and what we dont:)
i hope that wasn't offensive :P
I am glad to know about u reading the blogs.
Peace be to u too

genie.

Anonymous said...

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

Leon said...

And that means...what in relation to the discussion?

Ismail said...

A good discussion here and a good reply. May Allah guide those who He sees goodness in their hearts.