[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Miracles of Jesus:
The bulk of miracles of Jesus basically fell into the category of Medicine, an occupation in which the Children of Israel were highly skilled. Nonetheless, Jesus' miracles extraordinarily surpassed their impressive medical competence.

The Glorious Quran enumerates seven miracles of Jesus (peace be upon him):

1- He made from clay the shape of a bird, and then breathed into it and made it a living bird with the Permission of Allah.

2- He gave sight to someone born blind.

3- He healed the leper.

4- He raised the dead.

5- He told people what they ate and stored in their houses.

6- He was miraculously saved from crucifixion.

7- He was miraculously given a table from the Heaven.[see 5: 110-115]

Jesus' Names and Titles:

The Bible attributed many names and titles to Jesus (peace be upon him). Some of these names and titles seem to be doubtlessly contradictory, like his being the son of God, son of Joseph, Son of man, a Prophet, the God, the Lamb of God, the Savior, Son of David, the Only son, the Door, the Omnipotent God, the Image of God, the Power of God.[29]

Commenting on the theses names, Dr, M.Faruk Zein says: 'Understandably, extravagant, divine, and contradictory titles of Jesus can only be explained in the light of the manner in which the Gospels had evolved, together with the evolution of theological doctrines in a Hellenistic cultural context. But it is more difficult to understand why Christian theologians and clergy labored throughout their history trying to accommodate and defend such contradictions' [30]

The Islamic tradition, however, states only the following names and titles: Jesus, son of Mary, the Messiah, Allah's Messenger, Allah's Word, a Spirit from Allah. Allah's Servant [See the verses 4:171; 19:30].

The Second Coming of Jesus:
According to Islamic traditions, ten major signs will precede the Hour (of the Day of Judgment). Among these signs will be the second coming of Jesus, after being away from our world for a very long time, and living somewhere in the kingdom of the Lord. On his return, Jesus will live for a period of time judging among people according to Islamic Sharia.

What should be particularly emphasized, however, is that the second coming of Jesus does not necessarily oppose the firm belief of Muhammad (peace be upon him) being the final Prophet, and of Islam abrogating previous religions.

Evidences of the second coming of Jesus are derived from the Quran and Hadith. In the Quran, we come across three verses:
1- (And for their saying, 'We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.' Yet, they did not kill him, nor crucified him; only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him surely are in doubt regarding him; they have no knowledge of him, except the following of surmise, and they kill him not of a certainty. Rather, Allah raised him up to Him. Allah is All-mighty, All-wise. There is no one of the people of the Book but will assuredly believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.) [4:157-159] The verse declares that Jesus is still alive, and that all the people of the Book will believe in him when he returns.
2- (And he (Jesus) is truly a knowledge of the Hour (wa innahu- la'lmun lssa'ah)) [43:61] i.e. by his descent the approach of the Hour will be known. The second variant reading of the verse runs as follows: ( And he is truly a sign for the Hour (wa innahu- la'alamun lssa'ah))
3- (And he shall speak to men in the cradle and of age, and righteous he shall be. )[3:46]. Indeed, Jesus spoke to others in the cradle, and yet in his old age.[31]
Concerning the Hadith, abundant authentic materials of the second coming are available in the book 'Attasreeh Bima Tawatara fi Nuzoul Al-Maseeh' by the leading scholar Muhammad Anwar Shah Al-Hindi.

Two genuine Prophetic traditions are cited:
1-Al-Bukhari and Muslim, in their Hadith collections, narrate on authority of Hurayrah that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "By Him, in Whose Hands my soul is, surely Jesus, the son of Mary, will soon descend amongst you and will judge among mankind justly (as a Just Ruler); he will break the Cross, kill the pigs and have the warfare terminated. Besides, Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it, and a single prostration to Allah (in prayer) will be better than the whole world and whatever is in it." Abu Hurayrah added "If you wish, you can read (the Qur'anic verse [4:159]): ( There is no one of the people of the Book but will assuredly believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.)" [32]

2- Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There is no Prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus. Assuredly, he will descend (to the earth). Once you see him, you should recognize him. He is a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish Al-Jizyah (poll tax). Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist (false Messiah) and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him.”[33]

From the foregoing analysis and discussion, this essay shows the pure image of Jesus and his Mother, which considerably differs from the Christians' standpoint in general and that of Paul in particular.

Dr. M. Faruk Zein stated that an academic quest to disentangle the historical Jesus, the Messiah, from Jesus Christ of the Church (invented by Paul), started in the West some two hundred years ago. Among the famous pioneers of this quest was the third President of the US, Thomas Jefferson, who endeavored to produce a Bible purged of the notions of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and to retain only those teachings and notions pertaining to the historical Jesus. Remarkably, the quest proved the existence of a vast gap between the mythical Jesus and historical one.[34]

Furthermore, a striking resemblance has been discovered between the many modern Biblical findings and the Islamic image of Jesus. This can serve as a useful platform for further understanding and fruitful dialogue between Christians and Muslims.[35]

References

•Al-Aqeedah Al-Islamiyyah. Abdur-Rahman Habannakah. Dar Al-Kalam- Damascus 1992.

•Attasreeh Bima Tawatara fi Nuzoul Al-Maseeh. Muhammad Anwar Shah Al-Hindi. Edited by Abd Al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah. Alleppo 1992.

•Christianity, Islam and Orientalism. M. Faruk Zein. Saqi Books- London. 2003.

•Izhar Al-Haqq. Rahmatullah Al-HindiDar Al-Geel- Beriut 1988.

•Kissas Al-Anbiya', Inb Kathir. Dar Sadr, Beruit 2003.

•Kissas Al-Anbiya, by Abd Al-Wahhab Al-Najjar.

•Muhadarat fi Al-Nasraniyyah. Abu Zahrah. Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi- Cairo.

•Musnad Ahmad, Dar Arrisalah, Damascus. 1993-2001.

•Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. Dar Al-Risalah- Damascus 1987.

•Sahih Al-Bukhari. Ibn Kathir- Damascus 1990

•Tafseer Ibn Katheer. Dar al-Khayr- Damascus 1990.

•Tafseer Al-Qurtubi . Dar Al-Fikr 1987.

• Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas, Al-Mis'al library- Beirut. 1981.

[1] Joseph, Mary 's fiancé, was a religious Jewish man who worked as a carpenter in Nazareth. He felt suspicious about Mary because of pregnancy. Having realized the situation, however, Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem to register their names at official record (Census). By doing so, he would save her from probable slanderous accusations. Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas. P 1118 .

[2] The Prophet (pbuh) said: There is none born among the offspring of Adam, but Satan touches it. The child, accordingly, cries loudly at birth time because of this touch, save Mary and her child. Sahih Al-Bukhari. No: 3431; see Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. No:7182 (vol 12, p 106).

[3] This has been interpreted that Zachariah would find her provided with summer fruit in winter time, and vice versa. Tafseer Ibn Katheer. Vol 1, 386.

[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer. Vol 1, 389; Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. No:640 (vol 2, p 70)

[5] Gabriel is said to have blown his breath into the fold of Mary 's shirt, which she had put on. Thereupon, she felt the breath in her body. See Kissas Al-Anbiya ' by Ibn Katheer. P 270. Concerning conception duration, divergent opinions appeared: Only one hour, 9 hours, or nine months. The last is held by Ibn Katheer, Kissas Al-Anbiya, p 271.

[6]The exact years of Jesus 's birth are uncertain. Biblical scholars assume that the birth occurred on 25th December 5 BC. Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Mukaddas. P 764. By contrast, M.Faruk Zein in his book Christianity, Islam, and Orientalism (p 159) says that Luke offers two contradictory dates for the birth of Jesus, one in the days of Herod the Great, who died on 4 BC (Luke 1:5,26), and another at the time of the census of Cyrenius, governor of Syria (Luke 2: 2-3). This is contradictory with the first date, because the census occurred in the year 6 CE, a full ten years after the death of the Herod.

[7] Giving the reason why Mary travelled to Bethlehem, says Luke: There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed everyone to his own city. And Joseph also [with Mary] went up from Nazareth to Bethlehem. [Luke 2: 1-5].

[8]As to the words (O sister of Aaron), commentators hold that Mary was likened to a contemporary of her, named Aaron, who was either a pious man (meaning quite the opposite, as a sign of mockery) or wicked one. See Tafseer Al-Qurtubi Vol 1, 100.

[9]Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas. P 866; Kissas Al-Anbiya, by Abd Al-Wahhab Al-Najjar. P 504

[10] See Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas. P 539

[11] See Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas. P 674

[12] Kissas Al-Anbiya, by Abd Al-Wahhab Al-Najjar. P 510-511, taken from The Gospel of Barnaba

[13] See their names in Matthew [10:1-4]

[14] "The prevailing present opinion of Biblical scholars is that Jewish Scriptures were edited and written from four sources: Yahweh, i.e. God (960-920 BCE), some three hundred years after the death of Moses. The second source - labeled Elohim, also meaning God- was written in Samaria around the year 850 BCE, after the split of Israel into two kingdoms north and south. The third source labeled Deuteronomist, meaning the second law, was purported to have been written by Moses himself. The fourth source is labeled prophets, or Psalms, all of which were written between the sixth century BCE and the birth of Jesus." Christianity, Islam, and Orientalism. 32-33.

[15] Al-Aqeedah Al-Islamiyyah. P 496-497; Muhadarat fi Al-Nasraniyyah. P 29.

[16] The present-day İznik, Turkey

[17] The council was held because of considerable controversy about Jesus being Divine or not

[18] See abundant examples in the book of Izhar Al-Haqq. Vol 1, 85

[19] Muhadarat fi Al-Nasraniyyah. P 42-54.

[20] See the verses (2:75; 4:46; 6:13,41) It is worth mentioning that alternation of previous scriptures is of two types: -To change the meaning the words by make it in accordance to what they wish. – Physical alternation by ways of addition, omission.

[21] A striking similarity has been found between the Q Gospel and the Gospel of Thomas, discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945. This reinforced the 'Q' hypothesis. Christianity, Islam, and Orientalism. P112

[22] The saint Barnabas was among the seventy ministers propagating early Christianity. His apocryphal Gospel speaks of key points, such as Jesus is solely the servant of God. He was not crucified but raised unto the Heaven. In addition, foretelling the Prophet (peace be upon him). See Al-Aqeedah Al-Islamiyyah. P 494-495

[23] Biblical scholars maintain that the real writer of Gospel belonged to the middle Ages.

[24] Chapters: 14-15, taken from Izhar Al-Haqq. Vol 2, 236

[25] Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas. P 172

[26] Tafseer Ibn Katheer. Vol. 2, 40.

[27] Al-Aqeedah Al-Islamiyyah. P 438.

[28] Ibid, 438-439

[29] Qamous Al-Kitab Al-Muqaddas. P 1118; Christianity, Islam, and Orientalism. P 179-186

[30] Christianity, Islam, and Orientalism. P112

[31] Kubra Al-Yaqiniyyat Al-Kauwniyyah, By Muhammad Said Ramadan Al-Bouti. P 322-325.

[32] Attasreeh Bima Tawatara fi Nuzoul Al-Maseeh. P 91.

[33] Attasreeh Bima Tawatara fi Nuzoul Al-Maseeh. P 140.

[34]Christianity, Islam, and Orientalism. P9

[35] Ibid. P11