Note: This post has the perspective of Sunni Muslims. Ahmadiyya perspective is argued in the comment section.
ADIL SALAHI, ARAB NEWS
Friday 3 December 2004
Last Update 3 December 2004 12:00 am
Q. I have a query about Jesus. I do know that Jesus was raised to heaven before the crucifixion and that God replaced him with a look-alike. The Christians believe that Jesus was crucified and after 3 days he was raised. They say that the tomb he was in was empty and that the rock that was in front of the opening was moved and even the soldiers who were guarding the tomb did not see anyone or anything. So who moved it? And who took away the body? It’s also said that Jesus was seen several times, but wherever he showed up he then disappeared. Now if that is the case, was that the real Jesus? And what happened to the look-alike corpse? Please explain this to me. And who exactly is responsible for the crucifixion: The Jews or the Romans, i.e. Pontius Pilatus, or are they all to blame? I feel very confused, although I have no doubt that Jesus was not crucified. It is just that I cannot explain the disappearance of the body and people seeing him. Is that also made up?
Susan A.
A. With regard to historical accounts about earlier prophets and what happened to them, we have no means of establishing the facts. There are numerous reports about prophets like Moses and Jesus, while other prophets’ histories seem to be largely forgotten. But the accounts related by the communities claiming to follow these prophets are mixed up with traditions, legends and exaggerated stories that have no sound basis. We do not engage in any attempt to relate these accounts to what is mentioned in the Qur’an and in the authentic Sunnah. Instead, we confine ourselves to what is mentioned in these sources, taking it at face value, believing it to be the truth since it comes from God or from the Prophet who only says what is true.
On this basis, when we read God’s words about the alleged crucifixion, we deny that it ever happened, because God says: “They boast: ‘We have killed the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, God’s Messenger.’ They did not kill him, and neither did they crucify him, but it only seemed to them (as if it had been) so. Those who hold conflicting views about him are indeed confused, having no real knowledge about it, and following mere conjecture. For, of a certainty, they did not kill him. No! God raised him up to Himself. God is indeed Almighty, Wise.” (4: 157-158.)
This Qur’anic statement is emphatic that Jesus was not killed in any way, least of all crucified. Hence no Muslim can ever entertain any doubt about this. We also know that God raised Jesus to Himself. How did this take place? God does not give us any details. So we do not engage in any conjecture about it, because we will not arrive at any conclusion that may be described as correct and certain. Why should we go into this when we know that God is able to achieve any purpose of His with absolutely no difficulty? We also know that God achieves His goals in any way He likes. We accept the statement as it is, meaning that, body and soul, Jesus was actually raised to heaven.
Now, was there a look-alike who was crucified in Jesus’ place? Maybe, but we do not know. The Qur’anic statement, “it only seemed to them as if it had been so,” allows this possibility; but it also admits other interpretations. It may be that those who were intent on crucifying Jesus were made to sleep and they might have dreamt about the crucifixion in a way that they thought it real. There may be other interpretations. Why should we prefer one to the other when we have no supporting hint or indication? We accept the Qur’anic statement as it is: Those people thought they crucified him, but, most certainly, he was not killed in any way. To me, denying the crucifixion means that Jesus was never put on the cross.
What happened on earth with regard to the alleged crucifixion is given in different accounts. To us, none of these approaches any degree of authenticity. Hence, we do not consider them in any way. This makes things much easier to accept, because we will not have to reconcile any reports that seem to be in conflict with the Qur’anic account.
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Islam, Saudi Arabia
The teachings of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at differs somewhat from the above article. Readers are encouraged to comment!
The Christian story is about resurrection of Jesus, may peace be on him, which does not make any scientific sense, and has never happened again or before in the human history.
The story made up by the Sunni Muslims is equally absurd, one person taking on the body of another person, never happened before or since.
So, both groups make extra-ordinary claims that require extraordinary proofs and the Christians and the Sunnis offer very little, except some stories from 2000 years ago.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, makes a logical case of resuscitation and also offers proofs from the Holy Quran, the Bible, history and science, which we have covered in several posts in the Muslim Times and in Islam for the West.
Jesus did not die on the cross!
The Quranic verse quoted in this article from the Arab news, does not categorically deny crucifixion, rather it says that Jesus was made to appear like one crucified. The Holy Quran says:
Jesus, may peace be on him, appeared as if he has been crucified, meaning as if he had died on the cross, whereas, the fact of the matter was that he had only gone into a swoon or a coma and eventually resuscitated.
If Jesus did not die upon the cross: A study in evidence
This is a small but a very important booklet with a very descriptive title, written by an Australian Judge, Ernest Brougham Docker, in 1920. He became a judge of the District Court and chairman of Quarter Sessions for the north-western district in 1881. He retired in 1918 after the passage of the Judges Retirement Act.
He examines the limitations in the so called testimony of the apostles about resurrection in his book. He makes several strong points against resurrection of Jesus, may peace be on him, but one that can be described in a few lines is quoted here:
There are 14 parts of this short booklet by Ernest Brougham Docker, published in 1920. The fifth part concludes with this paragraph:
Read the booklet online in the Muslim Times.
The reply of Susan to Adil Salahi question is all negative, meaning, there is no answer. She did not answer anything. She said “we don’t know, we don’t know..”
The correct answer is contained in Zia H Shah sahib’s reply, last para. ” Jesus, may peace be on him, appeared as if he has (had) been crucified, meaning as if he had died on the cross, whereas, the fact of the matter was that he had only gone into a swoon or a coma and eventually resuscitated.”
The look alike (replacement) theory was proposed by some Christian monk in early centuries. It does not hold. Tell that to any Christian or any Jew. They would not believe that Jesus was not himself on the Cross. So why should any Muslim believe that story?
The problem lies in the meanaing of Crucifixion. Crucifixion means death on the Cross, not just putting on the Cross. If a person is put on the Cross but somehow he does not die, we will say that he is not Crucified.
Jesus himself was put on the Cross and he did not die on the Cross so he was not Crucified. It means he did not die a cursed death on the Cross.
Jesus was seen moving about after his ordeal, he met Mary Magd. and gave her a message. He himself was roaming about in disguise, travelling to Galilee (70 miles) to meet his friends there.
His friends (disciples) were surprised to see him and could not believe their own eyes and could not contain their own happiness to see their dearest leader alive…. It was indeed a miracle for the sake of Jesus that Christians are denying.
When Jesus a.s. was praying in the garden of gathsemane, an angel visited him and comforted him and told him that his prayer to avoid the cup is accepted by God Almighty. So Jesus knew all the time that his end will not be on the cross. (This is mentioned in the Quran v. 54 to 57 of chapter 3, verse 56 shown below.)
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[3:56] When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself, and will clear thee from the charges of those who disbelieve (and malign thee), and will (powerfully)place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ.
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A message was sent to Jesus care of that angel that he (Jesus) will not die on the Cross. So he was sure about his safety. Bible has mentioned his prayer and the Quran has mentioned the reply to that prayer, as shown above.
Jesus a.s. was sure about his salvation that is why when everything appeared to be going in a bad way, he sustained it to the last minute and then reminded God Almighty about the promise in these words, “Eli, Eli, Lama sabaqatani? ” O my Lord, O my Lord, why have you forsaken (forgotten) me?”
The question of the body, when brought down from Cross, a physician examined Jesus a.s. and found some hope. The friends took away the body to a tomb nearby. The enemies felt that was the end of Jesus so they fled the scene and went away to their homes. That was their mistake. They should have taken charge of the body of Jesus. But they did not have such permission. Permission was with a sincere friend of Jesus a.s. who took charge of the body.
They cared for Jesus with herbs to relieve the pain. The ointment used on Jesus is well known in the books of medicines (pharmacopias). It is known as the ointment of Jesus.
Does any one apply ointments on dead bodies? No, never. The friends revived Jesus soon and then took him away from that tomb immediately to another more safe place (bangalow) nearby so that their dear one would not be captured again. No one will look into the empty tomb at that time if stone is in place before guards are placed on the tomb. The tomb was already empty before the guards took up position.
The Jews are justified in saying that they Crucified Jesus. The Christians are not justified in agreeing to a cursed death for Jesus. The Muslims need not enter the matter by disregarding the message of the Quran.
Jesus a.s. was having same body. The Bible says, he got up. That is good enough. He was lying down like a dead man. But he survived and got up. It is a bad thing that Church gives special and secret meaning to certain simple things.
After meeting his disciples in Galilee, Jesus planned to get out of the Roman territory as quickly as possible. He was a condemned man and could never appear in public. The best route was to the east of Palestine, towards Iran and Afghanistan. He already knew about his mission to the lost sheep (10 tribes) of Israel. So he travelled to the east.
It was a good plan to announce that he had gone to heavens so that nobody would go looking for him to catch him again.
Son of Mary has passed away. Can Muslims point out a single hadith indicating he was raised up bodily? Didn’t the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) find him and Prophet Yahya in the same heaven? Did he so much as indicate or allude to Jesus’ body being different to that of Yahya?
First united testimony of the community of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) after he passed away was that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had passed away just as the Prophets before him. Why no one raised the question of Jesus at that moment?