His Status Allaah says:
"And indeed, We gave Moosa the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers. And We gave Eesa, the son of Maryam, clear signs and supported him with Runul- Qudus [Jibreel]. Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you desired not, you grew arrogant? Some, you disbelieved and some, you killed." (Q2: 87)
He also says:
"Those Messengers! We preferred some to others; to some of them Allaah spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees (of honour); and to Eesa, the son of Maryam, We gave clear proofs and evidences, and supported him with Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibrael ]. Allaah had willed, succeeding generations would not have fought against each other, after clear Verses of Allaah had come to them, but they differed some of them believed and others disbelieved. (Q2:253)
A Honourable Son of A Honorable woman
Prophet Eesas (peace be upon him) mother was Maryam. She was a distinguished woman among the people of her generation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Maryam, the daughter of Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and Khadija is the best amongst the women (of this nation)." (Bukhari)
He also said:
"Many amongst men reached (the level of perfection but none amongst the women reached this level except Asia, Pharaohs wife, and Maryam; the daughter of Imran. And no doubt, the superiority of Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. a meat and bread dish) to other meals. "(Bukhari)
The Prophet Eesa Was among the five greatest Prophets of Allaah. Allaah says:
"And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (0 Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)), and from Nuh, Ibrahim, Moosa, and Eesa , son. Of Maryam. We took from them a strong covenant." (Q33:7)
His Birth
About the birth of Eesa (peace be upon him):
"This is a part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, i.e. the news of the past nations of which you have no knowledge) which We inspire you with (O 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 Maryam; nor were you with them when they disputed. (Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allaah gives you the glad tidings of a Word ["Be!" - and he was! i.e. Eesa the son of Maryam] from Him, his name will be the Messiah Eesa, the son of Maryam, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allaah. He will speak to the people in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous. "She said "o my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me" He said: "So (it will be) for Allaah creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: "Be!" and it is. And He (Allaah) will teach him [Eesa] the Book and AI-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, wisdom, etc.), (and) the Taurat and the Injeel." (Q3:44-48)
The Prophet said:
"When any human being is born, Shaytan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers, except Eesa, the son of Maryam, whom Shaytan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead. (Bukhari)
Just like Adam The miraculous birth of Prophet Eesa (peace be upon him) is not peculiar to him alone. Allaah says:
"Verily, the likeness of Eesa before Allaah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!" and he was. (This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt." (Q3:59-60)
His Miracles
Allaah says: "And will make him [Eesa ] 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 Allaah Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allaah’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." [Q3:49]
His Message
The message of Eesa is not different from all the prophets that have come before him which is calling to the oneness of Allaah and His worship alone. Allaah says about the statement of Eesa in the Quran:
"And verily Allaah is my Lord and your Lord. So Worship Him (Alone). That is the straight path. (Q3:51)
Also, Allaah says:
"He (Allaah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islamic Monotheism) which he ordained for Nuh, and that which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad) and that which We ordained for Ibrahim, Musa, and Eesa saying you should establish (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion). (Q42:13)
He is Neither Allaah Nor His Son
One of the major problems that exist between Muslims and the Christians is the status of Eesa i.e. if he is the son of Allaah or Allaah himself or not as for the claim that he is the son of Allaah. Allaah has refuted this in so many verses of the Quran. He says:
"He (Allaah) begets not, nor was He begotten and there is none co-equal or comparable to Him" (Q112:3-4)
Allaah also says:
"And warn those (Jews and Christians and pagans) who say, "Allaah has begotten a son". No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor their fathers. Mighty is the word that comes out of their mouths. They utter nothing but a lie." (Q18:4-5)
Allaah also says:
"O people of the scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah nothing but the truth. The Messiah Eesa (Jesus), son of Mayam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, ("Be! and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)! Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allaah is (the only) lIIah (God)... " (Q4: 171)
Surely They Are Disbelievers!
For anybody to believe that Allaah is one of the three that makes up what is known as God is disbelief. Allaah says:
"Surely, they have disbelieved those who say: Allaah is the Messiah [Eesa (Jesus)), son of Maryam." But the Messiah [Eesa (Jesus)] said: "0 children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord" Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise to Him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are helpers. Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allaah is the third of the three (in a trinity). But there is no illah (god) (none has the right to be worshipped) but one iIIah (God Allaah). And if they cease not from what they say: verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them." (Q5:72 -73)
Crucified?
Another issue that is a point of disagreement amongst Muslims and the People of the Book is whether Prophet Eesa (peace be upon him) was crucified or not. It is the belief of the people; even some who claim Islam, that he was crucified and resurrected afterwards. Allaah says with regards to that:
"And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah Eesa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allaah,"- But they killed him not nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Eesa was put over him another man, (and they killed that man) and those who differ have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not. But Allaah raised him (Eesa) up (with his body and soul) unto Himself. And Allaah is ever all powerful, All-Wise. "(Q4: 157)
From this, we can see clearly that there is no doubt that Eesa (peace be upon him) was not killed neither was he crucified because Allaah confirms it. And who can be more truthful than Allaah? The second coming of Eesa (peace be upon him) is one thing that is established in the religion and which every Muslim must believe in. Anybody who does not have belief in this after being shown the evidence is indeed a disbeliever because this is what is established in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Allaah says:
"And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him (Eesa), as only a Messenger of Allaah and a human being) before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them." (Q4:159).
Allaah's Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam (i.e. Eesa) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax.Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts)." (Bukhari)
From this hadith above, it is clear what the mission of Prophet Eesa (peace be upon him) would be. Another possible question that may arise is that; will he come back as another prophet after the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? The answer to this is No! This is because from the hadith quoted above, it is clear that he would come back a as ruler and not a prophet. He also said: "How will you be when the son of Maryam comes down and leads you as one amongst you?" (Muslim) The Prophet (peace arid blessings be upon him) also said, "A group of my Ummah will continue fighting for the truth and prevailing until the Day of Resurrection." He said, "Then Eesa ibn Maryam will come down, and their Leader will say, Come and lead us in prayer. He will say, No, one of you is the leader of others as an honour from Allaah to this ummah" The meaning of this hadith according Ibn Abi Dhib, is that he will lead the Muslims according to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
This will mean that he is going to come back as a follower of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
He Will Kill The Dajjaal. Another important mission of Prophet Eesa (peace be upon him) is that he will be the one that will be responsible for the killing of the Dajjaal. The Prophet of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"When he will complete (the prayer), Eesa (peace be upon him) will say, "open the gate. "They will open it, and behind it will be the Dajjaal, accompanied by seventy thousand Jews, each of whom will be carrying an adorned sword. When the Dajjaal will see him, he will start to melt like salt in water and run away. He will catch up with him at the eastern gate of Ludd (Lad), and will kill him. Then Allaah will defeat the Jews ... " (Saheeh Jami sagheer)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication LimitedThis is the true story of one of the most controversial and yet, one of the most honourable prophets and servants of Allaah. Allaah is all aware of everything.