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The story of Prophet Eesaa -II
In the first part of the Story of Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus) may Allaah exalt his mention we highlighted the most important events in his life: his miraculous birth, his childhood, the opposition of the Jewish authorities to his mission, his miracles, etc. Here we continue his story:
Prophet 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention continued calling people to Almighty Allaah and laying down for them what might be called the 'Law of the Spirit.' Once, when standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples, 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention saw that those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, and the downtrodden, and their number was small. Some of the miracles which 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention performed had been requested by his disciples, such as their wish for a 'holy table-spread' to be sent down from heaven.
Allaah the Exalted Says (what means): "[And remember] when the disciples said: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven?' ['Eesaa] said: 'Fear Allaah, if you should be believers.' They said: 'We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses.' Said 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam: 'O Allaah, our Lord! Send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers.' Allaah said: 'Indeed, I will send it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.'” [Quran: 5:112-115]
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention commanded his disciples to fast for thirty days; at the end of it, they asked 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention to bring food from heaven to break their fast. 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention prayed to Allaah after his disciples had doubted Allaah's power. The great table came down between two clouds, one above and one below, while the people watched. 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention said: "O Lord! make it a mercy and not a cause of distress." So it fell between 'Eesaa's hands, covered with a napkin.
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention suddenly prostrated, and his disciples followed suit. They sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention said: "The one who is the most devout and most righteous may uncover the table, that we might eat of it to thank Allaah for it." They said: "O Spirit of Allaah! You are the most deserving."
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention stood up, performed ablution and prayed before uncovering the table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The disciples said: "O Spirit of Allaah! Is this the food of this world or of Paradise?" 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention said to his disciples: "Did not Allaah forbid you to ask questions? It is the divine power of Allaah the Almighty, Who said: 'Be' and it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allaah warning of great punishment for unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of the matter."
It is said that thousands of people ate from it, and yet it was never entirely consumed. A further miracle was that the blind and lepers were cured by 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention by Allaah's leave.
The Day of the Table became one of the holy days for the disciples and followers of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. Later, the disciples and followers who forgot the real essence of the miracles, worshipped 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention as a god. Almighty Allaah asserts (what means): "And [beware the Day] when Allaah will say: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allaah?' He (i.e. ‘Eesaa) will say: 'Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen'" [Quran: 5:116]
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention went on his mission, until the corrupted leaders and hypocritical men of religious power felt his threat to them. So the forces of evil accused him may Allaah exalt his mention of magic, infringement of the Mosaic Law, and allegiance with the devil; and when they saw that the poor people followed him, they began to scheme against him.
The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the Jews, began to plot against 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. The plan took a new turn. When the Jews failed to stop the call of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention they decided to kill him. The chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best way of getting rid of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. While they were in such a meeting, one of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked: "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" Judas bargained with them until they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver, known as shekels. The plot was laid for the capture and murder of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention.
The priests had no authority to pass the death sentence at that time, so they convinced the Roman governor that 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention was plotting against the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take immediate action against him. The governor ordered that 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention be arrested and crucified.
The Glorious Quran, contrary to the Gospels, affirms that Allaah, the Exalted, did not permit the people of Israel to kill or crucify 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. They never killed 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention; they killed someone else.
Allaah the Almighty declares (what means): "And [We cursed them for] their saying: 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allaah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allaah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allaah Exalted in Might and Wise." [Quran: 4:157-158]
Almighty Allaah also revealed (what means): "[Mention] when Allaah said: 'O 'Eesaa! Indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allaah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.'" [Quran: 3:55]
Almighty Allaah refutes the claims of the Jews and the Christians many times in the Glorious Quran. For example, He Says (what means): " And they say: 'The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.' You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation; That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant." [Quran: 19:88-93]
In many verses, in addition to those already mentioned, Allaah, the Almighty, affirmed His being highly above having a child, a wife, or a partner, thus, refuting all such false allegations. Allaah, the Almighty, revealed a separate Quranic chapter to affirm His Unity and Uniqueness. This chapter is the one-hundred and twelfth, the meaning of which is: "Say: 'He is Allaah, [who is] One. Allaah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'" [Quran: 112:1-4]
Source: Sheikh Muhammad Gemeiah's translation of 'Stories of the Prophets', by Imaam Ibn Katheer
In the first part of the Story of Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus) may Allaah exalt his mention we highlighted the most important events in his life: his miraculous birth, his childhood, the opposition of the Jewish authorities to his mission, his miracles, etc. Here we continue his story:
Prophet 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention continued calling people to Almighty Allaah and laying down for them what might be called the 'Law of the Spirit.' Once, when standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples, 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention saw that those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, and the downtrodden, and their number was small. Some of the miracles which 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention performed had been requested by his disciples, such as their wish for a 'holy table-spread' to be sent down from heaven.
Allaah the Exalted Says (what means): "[And remember] when the disciples said: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven?' ['Eesaa] said: 'Fear Allaah, if you should be believers.' They said: 'We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses.' Said 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam: 'O Allaah, our Lord! Send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers.' Allaah said: 'Indeed, I will send it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.'” [Quran: 5:112-115]
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention commanded his disciples to fast for thirty days; at the end of it, they asked 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention to bring food from heaven to break their fast. 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention prayed to Allaah after his disciples had doubted Allaah's power. The great table came down between two clouds, one above and one below, while the people watched. 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention said: "O Lord! make it a mercy and not a cause of distress." So it fell between 'Eesaa's hands, covered with a napkin.
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention suddenly prostrated, and his disciples followed suit. They sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention said: "The one who is the most devout and most righteous may uncover the table, that we might eat of it to thank Allaah for it." They said: "O Spirit of Allaah! You are the most deserving."
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention stood up, performed ablution and prayed before uncovering the table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The disciples said: "O Spirit of Allaah! Is this the food of this world or of Paradise?" 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention said to his disciples: "Did not Allaah forbid you to ask questions? It is the divine power of Allaah the Almighty, Who said: 'Be' and it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allaah warning of great punishment for unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of the matter."
It is said that thousands of people ate from it, and yet it was never entirely consumed. A further miracle was that the blind and lepers were cured by 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention by Allaah's leave.
The Day of the Table became one of the holy days for the disciples and followers of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. Later, the disciples and followers who forgot the real essence of the miracles, worshipped 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention as a god. Almighty Allaah asserts (what means): "And [beware the Day] when Allaah will say: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allaah?' He (i.e. ‘Eesaa) will say: 'Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen'" [Quran: 5:116]
'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention went on his mission, until the corrupted leaders and hypocritical men of religious power felt his threat to them. So the forces of evil accused him may Allaah exalt his mention of magic, infringement of the Mosaic Law, and allegiance with the devil; and when they saw that the poor people followed him, they began to scheme against him.
The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the Jews, began to plot against 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. The plan took a new turn. When the Jews failed to stop the call of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention they decided to kill him. The chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best way of getting rid of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. While they were in such a meeting, one of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked: "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" Judas bargained with them until they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver, known as shekels. The plot was laid for the capture and murder of 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention.
The priests had no authority to pass the death sentence at that time, so they convinced the Roman governor that 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention was plotting against the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take immediate action against him. The governor ordered that 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention be arrested and crucified.
The Glorious Quran, contrary to the Gospels, affirms that Allaah, the Exalted, did not permit the people of Israel to kill or crucify 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. They never killed 'Eesaa may Allaah exalt his mention; they killed someone else.
Allaah the Almighty declares (what means): "And [We cursed them for] their saying: 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, 'Eesaa, the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allaah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allaah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allaah Exalted in Might and Wise." [Quran: 4:157-158]
Almighty Allaah also revealed (what means): "[Mention] when Allaah said: 'O 'Eesaa! Indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allaah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.'" [Quran: 3:55]
Almighty Allaah refutes the claims of the Jews and the Christians many times in the Glorious Quran. For example, He Says (what means): " And they say: 'The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.' You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation; That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant." [Quran: 19:88-93]
In many verses, in addition to those already mentioned, Allaah, the Almighty, affirmed His being highly above having a child, a wife, or a partner, thus, refuting all such false allegations. Allaah, the Almighty, revealed a separate Quranic chapter to affirm His Unity and Uniqueness. This chapter is the one-hundred and twelfth, the meaning of which is: "Say: 'He is Allaah, [who is] One. Allaah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'" [Quran: 112:1-4]
Source: Sheikh Muhammad Gemeiah's translation of 'Stories of the Prophets', by Imaam Ibn Katheer