JESUS, A TRUE PROPHET AND SERVANT OF ALLAAH
This concise piece was written to enlighten my Christian brethren on an issue that has always escaped their attention which makes them hold a fallacious view on the true personality of JESUS CHRIST.
In most cases, confusion arise on the part of our Christian brethren when they are asked about the personality of Jesus; the commonnest answer is ‘Jesus is the son of God’. As heretical as this answer is, I consider it ‘moderate’ because it was primarily borne of misconception of Jewish local parlance intensified by deliberate garble of the scripture by some of the writers. The more perverted Christians would answer ‘Jesus is God’. I call them perverted because pristine nature of man rejects this proposition (I know that this impression strikes in your mind too, my dear reader, however much you try to suppress it). But delving into a discussion on the wrongness of these answers is outside the scope of this piece of writing because brevity and presentation of facts on the real personality of Jesus is my main object.
The Qur’an always reiterates that the stories contained therein are the true narrations (vide Q3:62, Q5:27, Q18:13). Meanwhile there exist a lot of passages in the Bible that tell that gospel accounts are unreliable biographies of Jesus — as it has been pointed out by prominent Bible scholars, no gospel is an eyewitness account: the following passages will give you a clue Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31, Matt 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27. This is why I will start by presenting the personality of Jesus according to the Qur’an.
The Qur’an calls him Eesa the son of Maryam. Some Christians have ignorantly questioned the authenticity of the Qur’an based on this name but it soon became clear to them that there is no controversy among Muslims on the name of this man as it is in Christianity. The real name of this man is unknown in Christendom and, according to the Watchtower Society, the name Jesus was finally chosen only because it had gained currency over the years:
“To take the most prominent example, consider the name of Jesus. Do u know how Jesus’ family and friends addressed him in day-to-day conversation while he was growing up in Nazareth? The truth is, no human knows for certain, although it may have been something like Yeshua (or perhaps Yehoshua). It certainly was not Jesus.
(“The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever”, a Watchtower magazine, first published in 1984, p 9).
About the personality of Jesus, the Holy Qur’an has these to say:
The Messiah [‘Iesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. … (Q5:75).
And (remember) when ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you.. (Q61:6)
O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah… (Q4:171).
Note that ‘messenger’ in these verses means ‘Prophet’. Here is a clearer evidence:
“He [‘Iesa (Jesus)] said: Verily! I am a servant of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;” (Q19:30)
The Christians would be astonished to find out that this position of the Qur’an is exactly the view of the contemporaries of Jesus (according to the Bible)–they never believed he was God; they accepted him only as a Prophet sent by Allaah. Here are proofs from the Bible (note; the capital-letter emphases are mine):
“And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a PROPHET mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,” (Luke 24:19 NKJV).
“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the PROPHET who is to come into the world.”” (John 6:14 NKJV).
“So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the PROPHET from Nazareth of Galilee.”” (Matthew 21:11 NKJV)
“The woman said to Him [Jesus], “Sir, I perceive that You are a PROPHET.” (John 4:19 NKJV).
“They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a PROPHET.”” (John 9:17 NKJV).
“… -then He [Jesus] said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to MEN.” (Matthew 9:6-8 NKJV).
“”Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-” (Acts 2:22 NKJV).
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His SERVANT Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” (Acts 3:13 NKJV).
The truth has become manifest, Eesa (Jesus Christ) is only a prophet and servant of Allaah; he is never God or son of God.
My dear reader, I implore you to ponder over this pamphlet you have read. This might be God’s way of putting you on the right path. So don’t ever overlook it. May Allaah guide you aright.
Say this prayer:
“Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” (Psalms 25:4-5 NKJV).
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