Jesus' Crucifixion According To The Muslims

Abu Juwairiyyah Why do Muslims concern themselves with matters specific to Christian theology? I believe the Qur’an’s approach to previous scriptures is similar to the New Testament’s attitude towards the Hebrew Bible, the Laws of Moses. According to Shah Waliyullah (R.A.) the verses of the Qur’an all encompass atleast one, or a multiple of the following five ma’ani (meanings): (1) ‘ilm al-ahkam1 (2) ‘ilm almunazarah (Debate, refutation and correction of the incorrect beliefs of the Jews, Christians, Mushrikoon (polytheists) and Munafiqoon) (3) ‘ilm al-tazkir bi ala illaah2 (4) ‘ilm al-tazkir bi ayyamillah3 (5) ‘ilm al-tazkir bil mawt wa ma ba’dahu.4. The reason for Muslim involvement in Christian theology would be point number two, as it involves the divine rectification of previous misconceptions and alterations. The doctrine of Salvation and soteriology is of great importance to the Christians. Though seen as an apologetic approach by the Muslims, it is revered by the Christians as a ‘sacrifice’ bringing an end to the sacrifices of the Temple, as a victory, as forgiveness and as a demonstration of God’s love, hence bringing an end to the ‘Original Sin’. This notion of a ‘crucified saviour’ was seen as an absurdity by the early church but was later accepted by mainstream. The biblical account of the crucifixion is that the Pharisees had become infuriated by the teachings of Jesus, hence the high priest issued his death warrant. Which Pontius Pilate (Roman governor of Judea) was forced to accept. Jesus was betrayed by his disciple Judas, who had given his whereabouts in return of thirty coins. After immense torture Jesus was bought to Golgotha carrying his own cross, and then crucified alongside two other criminals. This incident (according to the Christians) took place on ‘good’ Friday, which they now spend meditating the ‘passion narratives’ of Christ. After being laid in the tomb, his body went missing on Sunday and the events that followed are known as the ‘Resurrection’. The Qur’an has undoubtedly rejected claims of the crucifixion of Isa (A.S.) and it is not alone in doing so. Manichaeism, a religion of a Prophet called Mani5, who came after Isa (A.S.), ‘also taught that the death of the historical Jesus on the cross was an illusion’.6 Early Christians, such as the Corinthians, the Basilidians, the Paulicians,

and Carpocrathians all believed Jesus to have been spared and another was crucified in his place, later they were all judged to be ‘Gnostics’.7 The Qur’an teaches the Muslims, and corrects the Christian beliefs, “and for their saying, ‘we have certainly killed the Masih ‘Isa the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allah’, while in fact they did neither kill him, nor crucify him, but they were deluded by resemblance.” (Qur’an, 4:157) So where did Jesus go if he was not crucified? “Oh ‘Isa, I am to take you in full and raise you towards myself, and to cleanse you of those who disbelieve” (Qur’an, 3:55) The Qur’an does not mention the one crucified in place of Isa (A.S.), as it is not significant, but the Qur’an outlines the most momentous issues that Isa (A.S.) was neither crucified, nor killed but raised up into the heavens. Some ahaadith point towards a young disciple of Isa (A.S.), who gave his life in place of Isa (A.S.). Another hadith mentions that the one who came to take Isa (A.S.), the resemblance of Isa (A.S.) was placed upon him, and he was crucified instead. However, the Muslims and Christians agree upon the return of Isa (A.S.), who according to the Muslims will descend upon the minaret of a Mosque in Damascus. He will return to kill the anti-Christ (Dajjal), he will not come with a new message but as a follower of Islam. “If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not even crucify him. They would ask him to dinner and hear what he had to say, and make fun of it.” (D.A. Wilson)

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Commandments, laws Creation of the heavens and the earth etc. 3 Reward for the obedient and punishment for the disbelievers, and such incidents 4 Death and the hereafter 5 Brown, D. (2005). Islam – The Pre-Islamic Near East. (p. 25) Manichaeism has its roots in Zoroastrianism, although the Manicheans were persecuted by them. 6 Ibid., 7 Dr. Laurence B. Brown (2004). The First and Final Commandment, a search for truth in revelation within the Abrahamic Religions. (p. 214). U.S.A, Amana Publications. (further reading pp. 203-222) 2