From: ijaz@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Tahir Ijaz)
Subject: JESUS HAS DIED - The Quran - Part I.
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 06:28:17 GMT


Part I:                        PROPHET JESUS HAS DIED:  THE QURAN
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The so-called orthodox Muslim belief that a Jesus-look-alike  was
crucified  instead of Jesus, and that Jesus was raised to heaven,
to descend a later day, has no support in  the  Holy  Quran.  The
origin  of  this  popular  belief is from Christian sources, as I
will show in a future article.

The Quran is quite clear that Jesus has passed away, and gives no
support to the concept of Jesus physically going to heaven.  Some
specific verses will now be considered:

1)  "Jesus said, I am a servant of Allah.  He has  given  me  the
Book  and made me a prophet.  And He has made me blessed whereso-
ever I may be and has enjoined on me prayer  and  alms-giving  so
long  as I live.  He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He
has not made me haughty and unblessed. Peace was on me the day  I
was  born,  and  peace there shall be on the day I shall die, and
the day I shall be raised up to life again (19:31-4)."

The verse shows Jesus must have died,  and  could  not  exist  in
heaven  with  his  physical  body.  1)  If he was still alive, he
would have to give alms in heaven, but who would need alms there?
2)  If  he  would  descend again to earth alive, he would have to
follow the Jewish prescriptions on both prayer and alms-giving  -
and could not be a follower of Islamic law. 3) Did his mother ac-
company him to heaven physically?  How could he otherwise  behave
like a dutiful son towards her?

2)  "Keep in mind when God will say to Jesus, son of Mary:  Didst
thou  say  to  people:  Take me and my mother for two gods beside
Allah? - and he will answer, Holy art Thou,  I  could  never  say
that  to  which  I  had no right.  If I had said it, Thou wouldst
have surely known it.  Thou knowest what is in  my  mind,  and  I
know not what is in Thy mind.  It is only Thou who art the Knower
of hidden things.  I said nothing to them except that which  Thou
didst command me:  Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.  I was a
witness over them as long as I remained  among  them,  but  since
Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them,
and Thou art Witness over all things (5:117-8)."

The verse proves that a) The  corruption  of  Christian  doctrine
took place after the death of Jesus.  If Jesus is still alive, as
some Muslims believe, then Christianity must still  be  pure.  b)
The same Jesus will not appear a second time in this world, as he
would then become aware that Christians had now taken his  mother
as  Divine,  and could not, therefore plead ignorance in front of
God's judgement seat.

3)  The Quran says about persons or  beings  worshipped  as  God:
"They  are  dead, not living; and they know not when they will be
raised.  (16:21)."

If Jesus is alive, as some Muslims believe, he must be God.

I will continue the discussion on the Quran's verdict in Part II.


Dr. Tahir Ijaz, M.D.



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