JESUS IN ISLAM *`Îsâ* Ibn Maryam ( Arabic : ﻋﻴﺴﻰ, translit. :ʿĪsā ), known as *Jesus * in the New Testament , is considered to be aMessenger of God and al-Masih (theMessiah ) in Islam who was sent to guide the Children of Israel (banī isrāīl) with a new scripture, al-Injīl (the Gospel ). The belief that Jesus is a prophet is required in Islam, as it is for all prophets named in the Qur’an. This is reflected in the fact that he is clearly a significant figure in the Qur’an (appearing in 93 ayaat [or, verses]), though Noah, Adam and Moses appear with even greater frequency. It states that Jesus was born to Mary (Arabic :Maryam ) as the result of virginal conception , a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God (Arabic:Allah ). To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles (such as healing the blind, bringing dead people back to life, etc.), all by the permission of God rather than of his own power. According to the Quran, Jesus, although appearing to have been crucified, was not killed by crucifixion or by any other means; instead, God raised him unto Himself. Like all prophets in Islam , Jesus is considered a Muslim (i.e., one who submits to the will of God), as he preached that his followers should adopt the straight path as commanded by God. Islam rejects the Trinitarian Christian view that Jesus was God incarnate or the son of God , that he was ever crucified orresurrected , or that he ever atoned for the sins of mankind. The Quran says that Jesus himself never claimed any of these things, and it furthermore indicates that Jesus will deny having ever claimed divinity at the Last Judgment, and God will vindicate him. The Quran emphasizes that Jesus was a mortal human being who, like all other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread Gods message. Islamic texts forbid the association of partners with God (shirk ), emphasizing a strict notion ofmonotheism (tawhīd ). An alternative interpretation of this theology is held byMessianic Muslims . Numerous titles are given to Jesus in the Quran and in Islamic literature , the most common being al-Masīḥ (the Messiah). Jesus is also, at times, called Seal of the Israelite Prophets, because, in general Muslim belief, Jesus was the last prophet sent by God to guide the Children of Israel. Jesus is seen in Islam as a precursor to Muhammad, and is believed by Muslims to have foretold the latters coming. Muslims believe that Jesus will return to earth near the Day of Judgment to restore justice and to defeat al-Masih ad-Dajjal (the false messiah, also known as theAntichrist ). The Quranic account of Isa (Jesus) begins with a prologue, which describes the birth of his mother, Maryam (Mary), and her service in the Jerusalem temple , while under the care of the prophet and priest Zechariah , who was to be the father ofJohn the Baptist . The Quran then goes on to describe the conception of Isa. Mary, whom the Quran states was chosen by God over the women of all the worlds, conceives Isa while still a virgin .Annunciation Maryam had withdrawn into the Temple , where she was visited by the angel Gabriel (Arabic: Jibrail ) who brought the glad tidings of a holy son. The Quran states that God sent the message through the angel Gabriel to Maryam, that God had honoured her among the women of all nations. The angel also told Maryam that she would give birth to a pure son, named Isa, who would be a great prophet, to whom God would give the Gospel. The angel further told Maryam that Isa would speak in infancy and maturity and be a companion to the most righteous. When this news was given to Maryam, she asked the angel how she could conceive and have a child when no man had touched her. The angel replied: Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, Be, and it is! The Quran, therefore, states that Isa was created from the act of Gods will. The Quran compares this miraculous creation of Isa with the creation of Adam , where God created Adam by his act of will (kun-fa-yakun, meaning Be and it is.). According to the Quran, the same answer was given to the question of Zechariah, when he asked how his wife, Elizabeth , could conceive a baby, as she was very old.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:24:33 +0000
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