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Isa (Jesus) A Prophet of Islam
12-23-2018
This is a brief summary of the booklet Isa A Prophet of Allah, written by the world renowned Shaykh Mawlana Saleem Dhorat Hafizahullah
The Birth of Maryam (Mary)
Many years ago, within the community of the Israelites, there lived a pious saint. His name was Imran and he had a wife called Hannah. They were both well respected. However, to their sorrow they had no children of their own. Hannah would supplicate to Allah SWT after all her daily prayers for a child. Her prayer was answered and within a few days she was expecting a child. She vowed to Allah SWT that the child would be dedicated to the service of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (the Holy Mosque in Jerusalem). Thus Hannah gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Maryam (Mary).
When the day came for Hannah to fulfil her vow and hand the small child over to the custodians of Al- Masjid Al -Aqsa, the custodians argued amongst themselves as to who should be given the honour of looking after her. By the will of Allah SWT, Zakariya AS was chosen to be the guardian.
The Birth of Isa AS (Jesus)
Maryam grew up to be very religious. She would worship Allah SWT and study the Tawrat all day long. One day Jibra’il appeared before her in human form saying, “I am an angel sent by Allah to give you glad tidings of a son.” She argued saying, “How will I have a son when no man has ever touched me?” Jibrail AS replied,” Allah SWT is Almighty. When he wishes something, then it happens.”… Allah SWT had chosen Maryam for a great miracle.
After Isa AS was born, her greatest worry was to face the people. Allah SWT assisted her by enabling the newborn child to speak. The child said, “I am the servant of Allah.”...
The people were amazed on hearing these words of wisdom from a baby in the cradle. The people accepted the miraculous birth of Isa as a sign of the power of Allah SWT and dismissed all bad thoughts about her.
Isa - The Prophet of Allah
Years passed and Isa AS grew up to be a man. All around him, the world had become evil, corrupt and immoral. The Israelites had forgotten the message of Allah brought to them by the Prophet Musa AS. They practiced all evil, so much that they had even killed all the Prophets sent to them by Allah SWT. In these circumstances, Allah SWT had ordered Isa to announce and proclaim the message of Allah to the Israelites. Isa AS said “O People, I am a servant and Messenger of Allah. I am a human like all the Prophets before me. Allah has revealed to me his book – the Injil – (the New Testament)…
Thus Isa AS preached the oneness of Allah SWT and gave glad tidings of the last messenger – Prophet Muhammad SAW, however they refused to accept his teachings and were not willing to accept the truth.
The leaders and rulers kept away from Isa AS. They feared that by accepting him they would have to give up their wealth, power, honour, and positions of leadership. They arrogantly rejected the miracles he brought. Instead, they said it was magic!
However, Isa AS was not disheartened and he continued to convey the message of Allah SWT with full determination. He invited the rich and the poor to accept the truth of Allah SWT. Many of these fortunate people who accepted the call were poor. These people were called the Hawariyyin (disciples.)
The Plot
As time passed Isa’s AS popularity increased so much that the Israelites leaders started losing control of their own people. Their enmity and hatred increased. In desperation they planned to kill him. So a plot was devised. Their Leaders came to the Roman Governor of Damascus whose name was Pilate and said, “Isa is a threat to the government. He does not obey the law of the country. He intends to become the king of the Israelites. If he is not stopped he may call upon his men to take up arms against the Roman Empire.”
This falsehood convinced the governor and he immediately ordered the arrest of Isa AS.
Allah informed Isa AS of the evil plot. He gathered his devout followers and told them that he will not be with them for long. He made them take a promise that they will convey the truth to the people.
Isa AS Raised Up into the Heavens
Meanwhile the soldiers surrounded the house where Isa AS was staying. Allah SWT came to his rescue and saved him by raising him up into the Heavens.
The soldiers sent one of their men into the house in search of Isa AS. When he entered the house he could not find Isa AS. He began to search for him. He thought Isa AS was hiding somewhere in the house. While he was searching, his own face changed, by the will of Allah SWT, to look like that of Isa AS. When he did not come out of the house, more soldiers entered and arrested him thinking that he was Isa AS. He screamed and shouted that he was not Isa but the Roman soldiers laughed and paid no attention. The guards seized him and eventually crucified him on a cross.
Many people thought that the crucified man was Isa AS. But the truth is what you have just read, that Allah saved his beloved Prophet from the hands of the evil people. The belief that Isa AS was crucified is not correct. Allah SWT says, “Surely they killed him not, nor did they crucify him. But Allah raised him unto Himself.” He is alive on the second heaven. Our beloved Prophet met him on the night of Mi’raj during his journey through the seven heavens. He said, “During Mi’raj I met Isa on the second heaven. He was medium height, reddish white. His body was so clean and clear, that it appeared as if he had just had a bath.”
ISA AS HAS NOT YET DIED A PHYSICAL DEATH. HE WAS RAISED IN A PHYSICAL STATE INTO THE HEAVENS. HE IS ALIVE TO THIS DAY AND WILL REMAIN SO FOR A LONG TIME. HE WILL COME AGAIN TO THIS EARTH BEFORE QIYAMAH AND WILL LIVE FOR SOME TIME AND THEN DIE A PHYSICAL DEATH.
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