: The
Life of Isa ( jesus) in Islam
Written by: Ahmad Musa Jibril
The
life of the Prophet Isa (jesus) alayhe salam (Peace be upon him) has been a topical issue of late in the
media as well as in popular culture.
There is a new awareness and heightened curiosity worldwide regarding
the amazing life and miracles of Isa (jesus) alayhe salam. His personality has impacted the three major
religions of this world, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Given the importance of his time on earth, it
is critical for mankind to fully understand his pivotal role in shaping history
as well as the final days
The
importance of Isa (jesus) alayhe salam (peace be upon him) is apparent in the status that is assigned to
him in Islam. He was the last messenger
and prophet before the Prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhe wasalam , as well as
the last messenger of Bani Israel. Allah
has bestowed a special favor on the family of Isa alayhe salam by mentioning
his name 25 times, and his mother’s 31 times in the Quran. Isa’s name is mentioned in the Quran even
more than the Prophet Muhammad’s name.
Prophet Isa’s mention is noted in ten different situations in the
Quran. There is even an entire chapter
(surah) named after Isa’s mother, Maryam (Mary) alayha salam, as well as his
grandparents, Al-Imran alayhum asalam, who were chosen over all of mankind. This surah, Surat Al-Imran, also reveals the
story of Maryam (Mary) alayha salam. It
outlines a description of her lineage and upbringing. It also relates the pure conception and birth
of Isa alayhe salam
The
fact that Isa’s story is mentioned in the Quran, highlights his
importance. There are incidents
mentioned related to him or his mother in one part, and then completed in
another. This adds to the reader’s
curiosity concerning his status and keeps one interested in his story, and his
revered status in Islam
At the crux of the Isa story is how he
is caught between two groups. On the one
hand, there are the Jews, who in their hatred claim that he is not a messenger
and want nothing less than his crucifixion.
On the other hand, there are the Christians, who raised him to a level
of extreme glorification, claiming he is the son of God and God’s
incarnate
There were among the children of
Israel many pious people, and from them was the family of Imran alayhum asalam,
as stated in the Quran
Allah (God) chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above the
Alaamin (mankind and jinns) (of their times).
Offspring, one of the other, and Allah is the All-Hearer,
All-Knower. 3:33-34
Imran alayhe salam was a pious,
adherent, worshiping man whose family chain linked back to Dawud alayhe
salam. It was due to the piety of
Al-Imran family that Allah (God) saved their generation from mischief and evil. However, Imran’s wife, Hannah bint Fakood
alayha salam, was unable to give birth to children. One day after having seen a mother bird care
for its young by regurgitating food into their mouths, it was
then
Hannah desired children for herself.
This, however, was not conceivable since she was beyond the
child-bearing age, and was not even able to do so during those years. She prayed to Allah for a child, and He who
responds to his servant by “Kun Fayakun”, answered her prayer. As soon as she felt the child’s movements in
her womb, she promised to dedicate the child to the service of Allah, as
gratitude to Allah
Remember)
when the wife of Imran said, “Oh my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child
that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly
work; to serve Your place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily,
You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing. 3:35
She
wanted a male child to give to the maintenance of Beit AlMaqdis, a place of
worship in Jerusalem, since that was the tradition of the time. There were many reasons for having a male in
this position. The main reason was due
to the predominately male atmosphere which preferentially required men to be
the family delegate in the social setting.
Another reason was when a woman is on her period, she would be unable to
attend to the place of worship’s needs, which is a day-to-day
responsibility. Finally, the caretaker
of Beit AlMaqdis would have to reside there or in its proximity, potentially
compromising the security of a female caretaker.
: Finally, Hannah gave birth to a girl
Then
when she delivered her (child Mary), she said:
“Oh
my Lord! I have delivered a female child,”-and Allah knew better what she
delivered- “And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and
I seek refuge with you (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the
outcast.” 3:36
Despite
Hannah’s disappointment, Allah knew ultimately what was best. He had planned for Maryam (Mary) alayha asalam to be
the first female caretaker of Beit AlMaqdis.
Allah had bestowed upon Maryam (Mary) alayha
salam many blessings. The Prophet
Muhammad salla allahu alayhe wasalam Peace be upon him said she is of the best of women. She is among the four women that are
guaranteed heaven. The others being
Khadija, the wife of the Prophet, Asiya, the wife of Fir’aun, and Fatima, the
daughter of Prophet Muhammad. Maryam (Mary) was
the only woman whose son is attributed to her, rather than the father. She was the only woman to have been chosen
for the pure birth of a prophet. She was
also honored as being the mother of one of the most important figures in
history
“And
I seek refuge with you (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the
outcast.” 3:36
In
Bukhari, the Prophet said, “There is no newborn except the Shaytan pokes him in
his side, thereby coming out crying, except Maryam (Mary) and her son.” Abu Huraira then recited,
This
hadith is evidence that Hannah’s dua to seek refuge in Allah for her progeny
from the devil was answered. In fact,
this dua was answered fully since Maryam (Mary) alayha salam and Isa (jesus) alayhe salam did
not have the effect of the devil on them.
This would have been true for any offspring that followed. However, her lineage ended with Isa (jesus
“So
her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in good manner and put her
under the care of Zakariya.” 3:37
“Fataqaballaha”
meaning Allah accepted Hannah’s pledge and desire to give Maryam to the service
of Beit AlMaqdis. Allah gave her an
outer appearance of peace and tranquility.
Hannah alayha salam then took Maryam (Mary) alayha salam to reside among the
pious, so that she would learn and worship with them
"This
is part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen) which We inspire you with (Oh
Muhammad). You were not with them, when
they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the
care of Mary; nor were you with them when they disputed. 3:44
A
crowd gathered as Hannah alayha salam carried Maryam alayha salam to Beit
AlMaqdis. Hannah addressed them and said
she had given an oath to Allah that her offspring would be dedicated to the
service of Beit AlMaqdis. She was unable
to enter the masjid due to her menstrual cycle, and refused to take Maryam back
home because of the oath she had given.
Hannah needed someone to take care of and watch over Maryam by giving
her food, water, and clothing.
Zakariya
alayhe salam, who was also a messenger, stepped forward for her care. He volunteered to take care of Maryam alayha
salam, since his wife was Maryam’s aunt (her mother’s sister), or his wife was
Maryam’s sister (depending on the conflicting narrations; however, it is
probable that he was Maryam’s brother-in-law).
However,
others also wanted the honor of caring for Maryam alayha salam. The dispute continued and the decision was made
to draw lots, kur’ah. There are two
_________________________________________________
Kur’ah was narrated to us as being performed by
messengers in three different situations.
The first
example was with Prophet Younis, alayse salam. Prophet Younis,
along with other people, were on a ship when it started to sink. The people on the ship stated the reason the
ship was sinking was due to someone who had disobeyed his master
different
narrations as to how the dispute was settled.
The first narration states that pens that were used for writing the
Tawrah were cast into the river. A young
child who had not reached the age of puberty would select a pen and the owner
of it would be the one responsible for the care of Maryam (Mary) alayha salam. This was done three times, and each time
Zakariya’s pen was chosen. The second
narration states that several pens were cast out. The owner of the pen that went against the
current would be responsible for Maryam’s care.
This was done three times, and each time Zakariya’s pen was chosen.
Allah
chose Zakariya alayhe salam to be Maryam’s caretaker since he was the best
among the people of that time. He was a
messenger of Allah with the most knowledge and fiqh and could convey it to
Maryam (Mary) alayha salam. In addition, Allah
wanted to inspire Zakariya alayhe salam through miracles Maryam (Mary) alayha salam
received
Every
time that he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her supplied with
sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this?” She said, “From Allah.” Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He
wills, without limit.”3:37
Every time Zakariya, who was the only
person to enter upon Maryam, came into the mihrab (chamber), he found
with Maryam sustenance that was out of season
_____________________________________________
O
Maryam! From where have you got this? ) 3:37)
She
said: “From Allah.” Verily, Allah
provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit.”3:37
This
sustenance was not from a creation, but rather from Allah, the one who provides
without limits. Allah made Zakariya
alayhe salam notice that Maryam (Mary) alayha salam was truly blessed and because of
the miracles he witnessed, Zakariya asked Allah for a child in order to further
carry on the message of Allah.
Instantly, his dua was answered
“At
that time Zakariya invoked his Lord, saying: “O my Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed the All-Hearer of
invocation.” 3:38
“Then
the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in al-Mihrab (a praying
place) (saying): “Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya (John) confirming
(believing in) the Word from Allah (i.e. creation of Jesus the word from Allah
“Be! And he was!), noble, keeping away from sexual relations with women, a
Prophet, from among the righteous.”
3:39
He
said: “Oh my Lord! Make a sign for
me.” Allah said: “Your sign is that you
shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals. And remember your Lord much (by praising Him
again and again), and glorify (Him), in the afternoon and in the morning.” 3:40
In another verse Allah mentions that
Zakariya alayhe salam used to praise him.
Though seemingly contradictory, Zakariya alayhe salam refrained from
engaging in worldly matters, but continued to utter the praise of Allah
From
this example, Allah shows us his supremacy in his provision whether or not the
means are available. This is specifically illustrated in three ways. The first being where the means are provided
and one receives the offspring. In this
case, a male and female are healthy and are able to conceive children. The second is a situation where the means are
available but one is unable to conceive, as was the case with Zakariya alayhe
salam. Finally, a situation where the
means are not available and yet one is able to conceive. Isa and Adam are two examples of the latter
situation. That is why depending
entirely on the means is shirk. Allah
teaches us through the story of Maryam (Mary) alayha salam that his powers are
limitless and he reigns supreme over all things. Therefore, our trust should be placed with
Him.
: As Maryam (Mary) alayha salam was praying the
angels came to her and said
And
(remember) when the angels said: “Oh Mary!
Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you (from polytheism and
disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the Alamin (mankind and jinns
3:42
In one
verse Allah, subhana watala has shown Maryam (Mary) alayha salam his favor twice by
choosing her over the rest of the women of creation.
The story and Maryam (Mary) alayha salam and
Isa alayhe salam is revealed in Surat Maryam
And
mention in the Book (the Quran, O Muhammad, the story of) Mary, when she
withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. 19:16
Maryam (Mary) alayha salam left the mihrab
towards the east of Jerusalem. There are three narrations as to why she left
the mihrab. One states she needed to
relieve herself. Another one states that
because she was on her menstrual cycle she was unable to stay in the mihrab. The third narration states she wanted to
worship alone in seclusion. There is not
one narration that is stronger than the other.
However, the emphasis is on her desire to stay apart from society, which
is indicative of her nature
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She
placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her our Ruh
(Angel Jibril), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. 19:17
In this aya, Maryam (Mary) screens herself
with a hijab, which means a physical barrier or piece of clothing, which
prevents her from being seen
“We
sent to her Our angel” 19:17
In the
Quran, Allah uses the word “rooh”, or soul, which refers to Angel Jibril. Angel Jibril is called the soul for three
reasons. He is the soul of human kind
and delivers what is needed for salvation, as well as what fuels the
spirit. Second, the term “ya roohy” is
like a term of endearment, expressed to the most beloved creation of
Allah. Finally, Angel Jibril is a
spiritual being that exudes all things good and pure, without being tainted by
evil.
Angel Jibril has appeared in different
forms, depending who the message was being carried to. When he came to the Prophet Muhammad salla
allahu alayhe wasalam, he came in his original form. When he asked Prophet Muhammad salla allahu
alayhe wasalam to recite he lifted one wing which covered the horizon. The Prophet was so terrified that he went
running back in fear to his wife and cried to her, cover me, cover me
However, when he appeared to Maryam
alayha salam, he revealed himself as a man
means
in a beautiful handsome male figure
Based
on the premise that Angel Jibril revealed himself to her, can one say that
Maryam was a prophet or messenger? There
are two opinions on this issue. The
former being that few scholars adopt the opinion that she was a prophet since
Angel
Jibril
came to her. Though, a vast majority say
she was not a prophet and is actually a waliya, or one who is close to
Allah
One
who receives revelation is not necessarily a prophet. An aya in the Quran in Surat Al-Nahl states,
“Wawha rabuka ila al-nahl”16:68, Allah gave revelation to the bees. This supports the fact that mere reception
of revelation does not mean prophethood.
Another reason that supports her being a waliya is that a female
messenger would be required to travel, which would be unsafe for her. It would also be difficult for a female
prophet to convey the message of Allah due to menstruation, pregnancy, or
childbirth. The most decisive proof is
the aya in surah 5, verse 75 which states, “Wa Ummuhu sideeqa”, his (Jesus)
mother was a woman of truth (high ranked believer).
The
term “sawia” (19:17) in this verse describes Angel Jibril. This word implies he has no deficiency in
his character, nor is he a horrible sight.
All angels come in this form. In
order not to frighten Maryam (Mary) alayha salam, Angel Jibril appeared to her as a
handsome man. Due to her lack of contact
with men, and Angel Jibril’s actual alarming form, it was important that he
appeared to her as a handsome man
She
said: “Verily! I seek refuge with the
Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah.” 19:18
When
Angel Jibril came to Maryam (Mary) alayha salam, she was horrified and speechless, but
her response was that of a pious woman.
Her warning to stay away would apply only to one who fears Allah. It would be useless to make such a statement
for those who do not have any fear from Allah.
Of all the possible names and attributes of Allah, Maryam (Mary) alayha salam
referred to Him as ArRahman, the merciful, rather than the Vengeful or the
Mighty. She appealed to His having mercy
on her weakness, on being female, on being alone
(The
angel) said: “I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the
gift of a righteous son.” 19:19
Angel Jibril comforted her and tried
to calm her by saying he was a messenger from Allah. She believed him because she saw in him
purity, or some say that Allah inspired her to believe in him
Here
the verse says to grant you (it refers to granting something with nothing
expected in return). Angel Jibril was sent
to grant Maryam (Mary) a baby boy by the will of Allah
One of
the attributes of that boy is zaky, meaning that he is
pure and not an
illegitimate child.
She
said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, nor am I
unchaste?” 19:20
Maryam (Mary) alayha salam was appalled to
hear that she would bear a child when she was not married nor had been touched
by a man. Her modesty and honor would be
compromised.
The
term “baghiyya” (19:20) implies someone who prostitutes and desires men. Maryam adamantly exclaims that she is not one
who follows such desires.
He
said: “So (it will be), your Lord said: ‘That is easy for Me (Allah): and (We
wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it
is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allah).’ ”
19:21
Jibril
informs Maryam alayha salam that Allah’s commands are effortless and He wills
it and so it happens. Just as Allah
granted Zakirya a child, he is capable of doing the same for Maryam alayha
salam.
________________________________________________
He
(Jesus) was a miracle who brought miracles to mankind
He
also was a mercy to humanity and a beacon of salvation through the teachings
Allah revealed to him
Angel
Jibril conveyed to Maryam alayha salam this was something destined by Allah.
The question of Isa’s conception was
answered in three different ways.
____________________________________________
There
are those whose iman overrides their thinking, and this would be the pinnacle
of belief, like Abu Bakr and Maryam (Mary) alayha salam. Abu Bakr was told the
Prophet salla allahu alayhe wasalam went from Mecca to Jerusalem and from
Jerusalem to the seven skies and returned, all the while his bed was still
warm. When questioned by the Kuffar as
to if he believed the Prophet salla allahu alayhe wasalam, he replied without
hesitation that if he had said it, it was the truth.
Another
example is the story of Maryam (Mary) alayha salam.
She was told she would conceive and she questioned the manner of how
that would be possible. After Jibril
explained “kathalik”, she immediately accepted the supreme power of Allah.
The second group of people are those
whose thinking governs their iman. They
question everything that is told to them.
An example of this group is the mu’atazilah. Anything that is presented to them, they use
their thinking and rationale to accept or reject it.
Another example of this category is
the story of Yousef Al-Najjar, who was Maryam’s cousin and caretaker of Beit
Al-Maqdis. He asked Maryam (Mary) alayha salam
concerning her unique pregnancy. He had
seen her during her pregnancy and was unable to overlook her condition. He approached her hesitantly, knowing that
she is a pious believer. He wished to
receive an explanation to satisfy the questions in his mind about her
pregnancy. Maryam (Mary) alayha salam permitted
him to ask, emphasizing that he be understanding and kind. He asked her if trees, grass, and plants grow
without water. She replied yes,
explaining that the One who was able to create it the first time from nothing,
can make it grow with and without water.
She then asked him who made water before it was water. He replied that Allah did. He asked her can a baby be conceived without
a husband. She answered him by saying
the One who created Adam without a father or a mother can create a baby without
a father. Then he responded by saying
“Inna Allah ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer, Allahu Akbar”, Allah has the power over
all things, Allah is great, and he believed
Finally, the third group is one who
has no iman and no proper thinking, at times even rejecting concrete or
tangible proof. An example of such a
people would be the Jews, who repeatedly denied the truth because of their lack
of faith and lack of thinking. They had
reached a conclusion before hearing an explanation from Maryam alayha salam,
due to their stubbornness and arrogance.
We can deduce that the best way to deal with such people is through
silence. Even after they were shown
another miracle, which was Isa alayhe salam speaking as an infant, they still
denied Allah’s power.
Maryam (Mary) alayha salam was ordered to
remain silent so the infant Isa alayhe salam could speak. This was ordained so Allah could show mankind
that he can put words into the mouth of a breast-feeding infant, just as He can
create a child in the womb without a father.
Yet they do not see, so it is best for one to remain silent.
Jibril blew into the opening at the
neck of Maryam’s garment and his breath traveled down to her womb and Isa
alayhe salam was conceived. She gave
birth to Isa alayhe salam, yet remained a virgin. This serves as a lesson to those that try to
fathom the power of Allah. One cannot
comprehend his power since our intellect is limited, in comprehension.
Who is it that created the earth and
formed within it the oceans and grew from it the trees? Who created the wheat and enveloped within it
that which preserves it?
The
creation of Isa (jesus) alayhe salam is akin to the creation of Adam alayhe salam. A healthy couple who is unable to bear
children compared to another that is blessed with offspring; one must ask who
is the provider for one and not the other.
Without a doubt, it would be Allah.
According to Ibn Kathir, Maryam (Mary) alayha
salam and her sister, Um Yahya alayha salam, who is also Zakariya’s wife, were pregnant at the same
time. When Um Yahya was near Maryam,
the child in her womb would bow to the child in Maryam’s, since at that time
sujood was permissible. Um Yahya alayha
salam and her unborn baby also felt most comfortable and at peace when they
were around Maryam (Mary) alayha salam. Indeed
it was miraculous for the two messengers to communicate before their actual
birth. Isa alayhe salam would even speak
to his mother while in her womb. If he
is not speaking to her, she hears his constant praise and tasbeeh to
Allah
And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far
place. 19:22
She was aware of the type of society that surrounded her and what
their reaction would be. She did not
want to submit herself to their accusations, as well as to the agony and
anguish of childbirth. It was then she
decided to withdraw and seclude herself in a faraway place.
Some narrations say
she was pregnant for seven or eight months, however the most authentic
narration states that she was pregnant for nine.
At the time of childbirth, she traveled to Beit Lahem, which is
present day Bethlehem.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a
palm-tree. She said: “Would that I had
died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!”19:23
Usually one holds the hand of a
husband or a mother during this trying time, however, with no one around her,
Maryam (Mary) alayha salam grasped onto the branch of a tree. The Quran does not explicitly describe
Maryam’s childbirth and seems to skip over that fact since it is obvious and
apparent, and to maintain the eloquence of the Quran.
She
said: “Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of
sight!” 19:23
During
this time of hardship, Maryam (Mary) alayha salam wished she was “nasiya mansiya”, something
forgotten or trivial. From these ayat,
one might surmise she questioned Allah’s destiny for her, due to a couple of
reasons. The first being Maryam alayha
salam did not want to be a cause of fitnah for her people. She knew Isa’s (jesus) birth
would
be a cause of people either believing or disbelieving in the oneness of
Allah. She did not want her unique
situation to be the cause of others going to hell. Maryam’s conception of Isa alayhe salam
without a father, would lead to the claim that Isa was the son of God,
therefore implying she is the wife of God
Another reason was Maryam (Mary) alayha salam
knew her honor would be attacked, and that was difficult for a woman of
piety. Finally, some sects claim Maryam
alayha salam raised her head to the sky after giving birth and witnessed
Allah’s Looh Al-Mahfooth, the book where everything is written. She was shown that she would be worshipped by
some instead of Allah. However, the
latter opinion is false.
Based on Maryam’s example, if one was
faced with an insurmountable tribulation, it is permissible to ask Allah to
take their soul. There are two examples
from the time of the Prophet salla allahu alayhe wasalam that illustrate
this. It was narrated the Prophet asked
Allah that if he was to test his slaves with a fitnah (a major test in their
faith), to take his soul prior to it.
Umar was also quoted as saying on one occasion, he wished his mother had
not given birth to him
Then
(the babe Jesus or Jibril) cried unto her from in front of her, saying: “Grieve
not! Your Lord has provided a water
stream in front of you.” 19:24
Maryam
heard a call from in front of her telling her not
to grieve, and there are 2 narrations as to who the call was from. One narration states it was Angel Jibril,
while the other states it was Isa
______________________________________________________
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anation from Maryam alayha salam,
due to their stubbornness and arrogance.
We can deduce that the best way to deal with such people is through
silence. Even after they were shown
another miracle, which was Isa alayhe salam speaking as an infant, they still
denied Allah’s power.
Maryam alayha salam was ordered to
remain silent so the infant Isa alayhe salam could speak. This was ordained so Allah could show mankind
that he can put words into the mouth of a breast-feeding infant, just as He can
create a child in the womb without a father.
Yet they do not see, so it is best for one to remain silent.
Jibril blew into the opening at the
neck of Maryam’s garment and his breath traveled down to her womb and Isa
alayhe salam was conceived. She gave
birth to Isa alayhe salam, yet remained a virgin. This serves as a lesson to those that try to
fathom the power of Allah. One cannot
comprehend his power since our intellect is limited, in comprehension.
Who is it that created the earth and
formed within it the oceans and grew from it the trees? Who created the wheat and enveloped within it
that which preserves it?
She
should not distress about her dishonor or worry about being unable to fulfill
the responsibility that Allah endowed upon her.
“Sariya”
refers to a spring of water from an elevation.
“And
shake the trunk of palm-tree towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates
upon you.” 19:25
Allah orders Maryam (Mary) alayha salam to
shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards her, causing the dates to fall as
sustenance for her. From this, one can
learn that it is imperative for one to put in the effort and then place their
trust in Allah. In Tirmidhi, it is
stated a man entered the masjid without tying his camel. The Prophet inquired as to why he had not
tied it, and he replied he depended on Allah. The
Prophet
responded by saying that he should tie it, and then depend on Allah. One should do what is in their power, and
then leave the rest to Allah.
“So
eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human being, say: ‘Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficient
(Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.” 19:26
Maryam
shook the tree and “balah”, dates in their ripe stage, fell upon her. (Dates in
their ripe stages have been proven medically to be healthy and ease the process
of birth upon a women.) She ate from
them, drank water, and was told to be happy after seeing her beautiful baby
Then
Allah revealed to Maryam (Mary) alayha salam if she was to see anyone, not to answer,
and to fast from talk. In the past,
people would fast from talking, and this was part of their belief. In Islam, however, it is prohibited to
abstain completely from speaking. This
is apparent when Abu Bakr deterred his family from fasting from talk, stating
it was haram. Another example is when
Ibn Masood was talking to two men, one who was refraining from talking. When asked why he did not want to talk, his
friend answered he was fasting from talk.
Ibn Masood said to fast from talk only applied to Maryam and her
situation, and it is not from our religion, and he ordered the man to speak
Then
she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. 19:27
While
Maryam (Mary) alayha salam was away, her townspeople had gone looking for her. According to most narrations she was away for
40 days. She approached her people with
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam in her arms
They
said: “O Maryam!(Mary) Indeed you have brought
a thing Fariyya (an unheard mighty thing).
19:27
They
saw her coming from far away, and expressed their shock at the sight of the
baby in her arms. “Fariyya” refers to
something unlike any other, and completely unbelievable
“O
sister of Harun! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor
your mother was an unchaste woman.”
19:28
In
a hadith, Mugherah bin Shubah went to debate the people of Najran who were
Christians. They asked
him does the
Quran state that Maryam is Harun’s sister, when
in
fact, Harun and Musa preceded them by hundreds of years. The Prophet salla allahu alayhe wasalam said
people used to be named in honor of the messengers. There are three opinions to clarify this
reference. The first is that Maryam
alayha salam actually had a brother whose name was Harun, who was named after
the messenger Harun. Another opinion was
that Maryam had the characteristics of Prophet Harun, being vigilant and
pious. Finally, there might have been a
pious man at the time of Maryam, named Harun they attributed her prior
characteristics to.
The people accused her indirectly of
being unchaste and ordered her to speak up.
When she refused, they assumed her guilty. Allah chose silence for her, because in
certain circumstances silence is better.
She pointed to Isa (jesus) alayhe salam, and they understood that to mean that
he would respond. They were bewildered
as to how they could speak to one who was still in the cradle
They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young
boy? 19:29
This is where the miracle begins. The Prophet said three people spoke as
infants, and Isa alayhe salam was one of them.
__________________________________________________
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam answered them by saying,
“I
am the servant of Allah.” 19:30
This
verse is what made Al-Najashy cry and say this is what Isa (jesus) alayhe salam
said. This statement by Isa (jesus) alayhe salam
was clearly denying the status that people would later attribute to him. By stating he was the servant of Allah, he
not only negates the curse to Allah and clarifies his status, but also acquits
his mother of any lewd behavior
Allah
blessed Isa alayhe salam because he guided people to the path of righteousness
and ordained virtue and forbade evil. He
also had the unique ability to cure the ill and bring the dead back to life by
the will of Allah as he repeatedly stated
And he has enjoined
on me prayer, and Zakat, as long as I live. 19:31
And dutiful to my mother,
and made me not arrogant, unblest
There
were some who believed that she was speaking the truth. Others and most, however, believed she was
using black magic and was attempting to deceive them. They were not convinced and continued to
believe her as being unchaste and questioned the manner in which Isa (jesus) ( Peace
be upon him) alayhe
salam was conceived
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Such was Jesus, son of Mary.
It befits not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. 19:34
Isa (jesus) alayhe
salam, in the Quran, is referred by four different
attributes. The first one is “rooh
Allah”. This is not to say he is the
soul of Allah literally, but rather it is a phrase used to honor Isa alayhe
salam and to show his endearment to Allah. The second phrase is “rooh minh”, meaning a
soul from Allah. He is not a part of
Allah physically, instead he is a soul from His creation. Next, Isa (jesus) alayhe salam is referred to as “kalimat Allah”, a word of Allah. This means he was created by words from
Allah, “kun fa yakun”, be and it is. Finally, he is called “maseeh” which means
that he is “mamsooh al-khilqa”, or very handsome to look at, or from the word,
“masaha” (to wipe), that he was able to cure illness with a mere touch.
Allah
showered many miracles and blessings on Isa (jesus) alayhe salam, including his very
birth. The townspeople witnessed light
from where Maryam alayha salam gave birth to him. They were drawn to the brightness of the
light, but were stopped from entering the area since it was protected by
angels.
Right
after Isa’s birth, astrologers and fortune tellers informed the king of Persia
that a messenger had been born. He sent
a letter to the king of Damascus inquiring about any important births. The king of Damascus then sent a letter to
Beit Al-Maqdis again wanting to know of any recent notable births. The people in Beit AlMaqdis replied that
someone had been born of a miraculous birth.
This child was born without a father.
The king of Persia demanded he be killed. So Maryam (Mary) alayha salam took her son to Egypt
for their protection and she later returned
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The Prophet said, "If anyone testifies
that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners,
and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah's Slave
and His Apostle and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit created by
Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into
Paradise with the deeds which he had done even if those deeds were few."
(Junada, the sub-narrator said, " 'Ubada added, 'Such a person can enter
Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes.")
In Egypt, Maryam (Mary) alayha salam and her son, Isa (jesus) alayhe salam, stayed in a house of a wealthy and pious worshipper. He took them in and spent on them. He had a house for charity for the elderly, sick, and weak. He fed them and tended to all their needs. He had gold hidden near one of the walls of the house.
One day, he
discovered it had been stolen
He gathered in his house and asked who had taken the gold. He insisted everyone be apprehended until his gold had been recovered. Isa (jesus) alayhe salam, who was just a little boy, revealed that a blind man and another one who was paralyzed had conspired together to take the gold. He had confronted the two men and asserted that they return the gold or great evil would befall them. They were amazed as to how a child would have such knowledge and conviction. They asked him how he knew, and Isa alayhe salam replied that Allah had revealed it to him
The gold was returned immediately to the owner
Isa alayhe salam received the revelation at the age of 30 and was sent to Bani Israel. At that time, they were living in the Al-Sham area, which is present day Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan
He
began to spread the word of God, and revealed he was his messenger
When
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam began calling his people to Allah’s way, they asked him for
miracles, since they were practicing magic and medicine at that time
And
He (Allah) will teach him (Jesus) the Book and Al-Hikmah (wisdom), and the
Torah and the Gospel. 3:48
And will make him (Jesus) a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design 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 him who has born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah’s leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.” 3:49
These
verses state that one of the miracles was that Isa (jesus) alayhe salam was given the
book and wisdom, law, and gospel
This,
however, was not enough for them. He made a figure of a bird from clay and
breathed life into it, by the will of Allah
. The bird flew away and again this was not
enough for them
At
the time of Isa (jesus) alayhe salam, medical knowledge was at its height, yet they
were not able to cure blindness
The
miracles from Allah is always given to the messenger to coincide with that
which is popular of their time
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam was given the miracle of restoring sight to the blind, by the will
of Allah
Even
though his people were advanced medically, they understood that his ability to
cure blindness was indeed a true
miracle. He also was able to cure
leprosy and gave life to the dead
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam brought that man back to life, by the will of Allah. He emerged from his grave with his clothes on
and questioned why he had been brought back to life
He
asked Isa (jesus) alayhe salam to return him back to his grave since that abode was a
better place for him
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam then made dua and the man died once again. Even after this miracle, Bani Israel still
were skeptical
On
another occasion, Isa (jesus) alayhe salam was once passing by a graveyard when he
noticed a woman crying over a grave
He
asked her who had been buried there. The
woman stated it was her daughter and swore she would not leave her because of
her love for her
In
her grief, she wished to die with her daughter or her daughter be brought back
to life. Isa alayhe salam proposed to
her that if he brought her back to life again, would the woman then believe in
his message
The
woman agreed and Isa alayhe salam proceeded to command three times that the
dead girl rise from her grave. The girl
then was brought out of her grave
Isa (jesus) alayhe salam questioned why it had taken so long for the girl to rise from her
grave
She
said that once she heard the first calling, Allah recreated her physical form
At
his second command, an angel appeared over her head. Finally, her soul returned to her
As
her soul returned to her body, the girl’s hair turned to white from the horror
that it might be the judgment day
The
girl was appalled at the idea of experiencing the agony of death again and
asked Isa alayhe salam to return her to her grave
At
this point, the mother is silent and astonished at what she saw. Isa (jesus) alayhe salam maked dua to Allah to return
the girl to her grave and to ease her plight
Bani Israel were still unconvinced of
Isa alayhe salam and his message
They
asked him what food sustained them and what they had stored in their houses
He
responded correctly and yet they still did not believe
Isa (jsus) alayhe salam informed them that he was sent to confirm the Tawrah and to make
permissible what was previously forbidden
They
continued to bring him the sick, blind, and infirmed - those that are paralyzed
or with terminal illnesses. With
Allah’s permission, he was able to cure them all
During
his lifetime, Isa (jesus) alayhe salam was a humble servant to the word of Allah. He slept without a covering and wore wool
When
he was reminded of the afterlife, he would scream and weep like a child
Before
he began to preach the word of Allah, he was a handsome, young man
After
spreading the message of Allah, he was often yellow from hunger with dry lips
from thirst
(1) He
continued preaching of the oneness of Allah and of the Injeel
Isa’s
followers were from the poor and weak of the Bani Israel
Even
with all miracles Isa (jesus) alayhe salam was given by Allah, Bani Israel continued to
disbelieve and stated that it was just black magic
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(1)
The Prophet said the books were all revealed in
Ramadan. The pages of Musa was revealed
on the first day of Ramdan. The Tawrah
on the sixth, Injil on the ninth, Zaboor on the 18th, and the Quran
on the 27th day of Ramadan
(2)
Isa preached to his people that a messenger
would follow him whose name was Ahmad
And (remember) when Isa, son of Maryam, said:
“Oh children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you,
confirming the Tawrah (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a
Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad
But when Ahmad (i.e. Muhammad) came to them with
clear proofs, they said: “This is plain magic!”
(Surat 61:6).
And what were the meanings of all
these various signs that we were being shown and the miracles that we were
being told? Whenever I asked these questions to the teaching priests, they
would become angry and answer, "You cannot
inquire about the inner natures of the church's teachings. They are secret. All
you have to do is to believe them." And this was another thing that
I would never understand
