by Dr. Ali Shehata
Jesus Christ - the Revered Son of Mary in the Islamic Scriptures
Many people, especially Christians, are surprised when they learn that Muslims also believe in Jesus pbuh. In the Quran, Jesus pbuh is called the Word of God and the Messiah. Muslims also believe that God sent Jesus pbuh to the Children of Israel and that he preached to them until God raised him up to Heaven before the disbelievers among a group of the Jews killed him. Yet, although there exists a shared belief in the man, Muslims see him as a great and honorable Prophet and Messenger of God, and not as God or the son of God.
Why Don't Muslims Believe that Jesus is God?
As mentioned previously, the Quran speaks in detail about the absolute Oneness of God. To say that Jesus pbuh is God violates this rule, as it means that God has a partner in His Kingdom and Rule. Also, this idea is described in the Quran as being inconsistent with the Greatness and Majesty of the Almighty.
Sometimes Muslims try to explain to Christians why Jesus pbuh is not God by referring to certain verses from the Bible. This approach will only be used briefly in this book, because this is not the approach used by God in the Quran to answer this question. Some of the Biblical verses that are sometimes mentioned include:
God specifically states in the Bible that He is not a Man
God is not a man, that He should lie. Nor a son of man that He should repent. [NIV, Numbers 23:19]
The Knowledge of Jesus and God is not the same
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [NIV, Mark 13:32]
God is All-Knowing, but Jesus was not
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. [NIV, Mark 11:12-13]
No One has ever seen God, but many saw Jesus
No one has ever seen God …. [NIV, John 1:18]
Jesus himself has a God, the God of us all
I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. [NIV, John 20:17]
There are many other examples in both the Old and New Testament that indicate with clarity the difference between the God and Jesus, but it is not the purpose of this book to be a commentary on the Bible or to attack it. What then does God say in the Quran about why He is not Jesus?
Jesus called upon his people to worship his God and their God
They do indeed blaspheme, those who say, "God is the Messiah the son of Mary." But the Messiah said, "O Children of Israel! Worship God, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins others in worship with God, God will then forbid him entry into Heaven ... {5:72}
Jesus never told people to worship him or his mother
And behold! God will say, “O Jesus the son of Mary! Did you say unto men, ‘worship me and my mother as gods besides the true God?’?” He will say, “Glory to You! Never could I say that which I had no right to say. Had I said such a thing, you would indeed have known it. You know what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Yours. For You know in full all that is hidden.”
“Never did I say to them except what You did command me to say, ‘worship God, my Lord and your Lord,’ and I was a witness over them while I lived amongst them. When You did take me up, You then were the Watcher over them, and You are a witness to all things.”
“If You decide to punish them, they are Your servants, and if You decide to forgive them, then indeed You are the Exalted in Power, the Wise.” {5:116-118}
Jesus used to eat food while God does not eat
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not more than a Messenger, like Messengers who had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and yet see how they are turned away? {5:75}
God is independent of any need. He does not eat, or drink, or sleep. These are all human characteristics, attributes of neediness and weakness, and the Almighty is free from such deficiencies. The entire Universe depends upon Him, and from Him do all receive their sustenance. This is why He is deserving of worship. If he were to be like us, a human who eats and drinks, having desires and lusts, who forgets and makes mistakes, or depends upon others – how then could He be God, and what should lead us to worship Him in such a case? God is, by definition, exalted above such attributes.
God does not sire children, nor was He born
Say, “He is God, the One and Only.
God, the Eternal and Absolute.
He begets not, nor is He begotten,
And there is none comparable to Him.” {112:1-4}
We are His creation, yet nothing is comparable to Him. He was not born, nor does He have children to carry on His work or to share in His Kingdom. Continuing with the theme presented above, it is important to consider if mankind should worship someone that was hidden within the womb, being sustained only by his mother's blood, only to be born through her privates amidst blood and bodily waste, then onwards to years of crying for food and needing someone to clean him from urine and stool. In Islam, such a being is not deserving of worship. Instead, the One who creates all, and has no need or weakness, is truly the only entity deserving of worship.
No comments:
Post a Comment