First published on: Jesus Did NOT Die For Me! Jesus Is Alive And Is Coming Back; Islam Confirms!


Randa Hussein - Abeer Eltahan

Before reading this article, the writer of this article fully believes in the Christ and is one of his followers and also all of the prophets sent by God. The writer believes that the Christ is ‘a word of God conveyed to Mary’ who miraculously conceived him. He is ‘Spirit from God’, ‘Son of man’, ‘a messenger of God’ and ‘a man of Peace’.

So, let’s start…

The story begins when God Almighty created Adam and Eve and let them stay in the Garden of Eden, and after that they disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree. From a Christian point of view, I know that the original sin committed by Adam and Eve is eating from the Forbidden tree. Then God Chooses his son, Jesus, the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins. Jesus, was the only sacrifice that could make up for a fallen human nature.

we need to know what the term “original sin” means. This is a term used in Christianity to describe the effect of Adam’s sin on his descendants. Original Sin is the sin inherited by all humankind from Adam in his disobedience of God’s command not to eat from the fruit of the “Tree of Knowledge.” The Original Sin event is referred to as “The Fall of Man.”

But I have serious questions:

Does God have to do a sacrifice? Is it hard for God, the Most Merciful, to forgive our sins without any sacrifices? God can simply forgive them right? So, why do you think it is hard to forgive the sin of Adam and Eve and that a sacrifice has to be made? When Jesus left the earth, he ascended to God in Heavens. So, where’s the sacrifice?

We all believe that God is the Most just, then how can Jesus be responsible for the acts of disobedience committed by Adam and all his descendants? Didn’t the Lord command, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.” (2 Kings 14:6)?

It is also clearly mentioned in the Bible that:


“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.” (Ezekiel 18:20)

What does it mean that Jesus died for my sins?

Christians basically believe that they are created sinful and unclean and, therefore, need a Redeemer, Jesus, to take the sins of believers on himself so that they may come to God’s Kingdom when they pass away. Christians also believe that they are able to receive the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit directs their lives and brings them to a true belief in God through Christ.

We’ve been told that Jesus died for our sins. What does that mean exactly? How does one person’s suffering abdicate another person from responsibility for his sins?

To explain that, let’s imagine a courtroom scene in which we are on trial for our sins and God is the judge. Our sins against God are capital crimes. God Himself is our judge, according to divine law which is the ultimate justice, is it fair for another man to take the punishment that we deserve?

Did Jesus Himself believe in the original sin?

That’s a critical question:

Jesus death for our sins makes no sense at all. If we inherit our sinful nature from our parents, then Jesus, who had Mary as a parent, must have had a sin nature. Right? Assuming that most of the Christians, or almost all of them believe in the original sin, did Jesus himself believe in it and bleed his blood for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the whole world?

I can answer this question, from a Christian point of view. Let’s have a close observation of what is written in the gospels.

The Christ Resisted All Attempts to Kill Him:

In his book, “The Christ As Seen In The Sources Of The Christian Beliefs”, Ahmed Abdel-Wahab asserts that “the gospels show that in the last hours, the Christ felt that he was overwhelmed by a terrible nightmare, whenever he thought of being killed.”

This is evident from the following:

At the end of the period just before the arrest, the last prayer of the Christ was:


“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)


This monotheistic prayer was directly followed by the words meaning that the mission has been accomplished:

“I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4)

So, The mission of the Christ was complete before crucifixion. Who can deny, this clear testimony?!

In the garden, every scene asserts his refusal to be killed, and shows clearly how he was terrified when he felt that he was about to be hunted.


“And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me’..And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Mt 26:37-39, LK 22:43-44)

After the Christ had left the approaching danger, his cry to his disciples was: “Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (MK 14:42) He had asked his disciples to rise and help him in getting away from the approaching disaster, but they failed to help him as they were sleeping “for their eyes were heavy.”.


When Judas came with the evil power and went up to the Christ and kissed him, “Jesus said to him. “Friend why are you here?”.


In the trail “the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask, you will not answer (me, or let me go: A.V.).” LK 22:66-68.


On considering this passage, one can very well imagine that the answer of the man whom the elders of people has asked could not be other than the following:

(a) Yes, I am the Christ, or (b) No, I am not the Christ. Every traditional belief in the crucified Christ will not accept answer (b). The plausible answer (a), can be put in the following form:

“He said to them: Yes I am the Christ but you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go.”

Whatever the form of the answer is, the inevitable result follows:

Assuming that the Christ was the man whom the Jewish elders were questing, it is quite clear that the man was asking for letting him get away, so there is no place for all such saying that the Christ had come “to give his life as a ransom for many.”.

Again, if we consider answer (b) it can be put in the following Form:

“He said to them: No I am not the Christ whom you seek, but you will not believe; and if I ask you to release me, you will not answer me nor let me go.” This also negatives the “ransom” theory.

All that can be said, whatever the case, about the trail, cancels all theories put to justify the crucifixion and to make it look like a voluntary action of the Christ.

Coming to the last testimony, the gospels attribute to the crucified, in his last breath, his saying:


“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Can anyone hearing this cry of despair, censure and blame, claim that the crucified “Gave himself as a ransom for all” and “became obedient unto death even death on a cross?” As Paul says in his letter. About 2000 years ago the Christ stood teaching the Jewish priesthood, the will of God. He said to them: “Go and learn what this means,” I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” (Mt 9:13) But even today, there are those who ignore the truth and refuse the mercy and insist on the sacrifice.

Allah (The Creator of heavens and earth), as well as His Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him-, confirmed that “Jesus” (PBUH) is human, servant and messenger of Allah, that he was physically raised alive in some form to heaven both his body and soul, and he will physically be brought back from heaven to earth on the wings of two angels. Actually Muslims were told fourteen hundred years ago how, when and where exactly this return will happen.

In this article, we intend to give evidences from Quran (i.e the final revelation), and Sunnah (i.e Prophet’s quotes and teachings) proving in brief the life, ascension, upcoming descent and his deeds before he finally dies. There are even some narrations of Muhammad (PBUH) about where Jesus will be buried.

So, how to go about this? The best strategy is to press on chronologically; his life, ascension, upcoming descent, his deeds before he finally dies, and his final resting place.  Here we go:

Jesus is Alive

Jews claim they have killed Isa the son of Mary, while Christians believe that Jesus is alive today, and many of their sects believe him to be active. They also believe that he has been resurrected already, and that he will never die again. The Islamic concept comes from Quran, as Allah says:

And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” 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, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.” [Quran.com/4/157-158]

This means that Jesus is alive in some un-known form, and has not been crucified or killed.

The Ascension of Jesus

    Sects of Christianity differ a lot on this matter in particular. They differ on when it happened, how it happened and whether it was witnessed by some of his disciples or not.

In Islam the concept is that Jesus’s resemblance was bestowed on one of his disciples who volunteered to take his place and was martyred. Jesus was then lifted alive (both his body and soul) to heavens by God, and the evidence from Quran is the previously mentioned verses; [Quran.com/4/157–158]

The Upcoming Descent of Jesus

Quran and Sunnah give clear accounts on the return of Jesus (PBUH). We can know the time, place and manner by which it will all unfold. He will descend after the appearance of Dajjal (Antichrist), at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus while placing his hands on the wings of two angels. It would be one of the signs of the Hour.

Allah al-mighty says: “And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.”  [Quran.com/43/61]


Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) conveys to humanity that the descent of Jesus is one of the major signs of the final Hour, or in other words it is one of the major final events.


Hudhaifa b. Usaid al-Ghifari reported: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion). He said: “What do you discuss about?” They (the Companions) said. We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said:

It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal (i.e the anti-Christ), the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), the Gog and Magog, and land-slides in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.” [Sahih Muslim]

Muhammad (PBUH) also tells us about the place and manner in which Jesus will descend in this Hadith:

…and it will be at this very time that Allah will send `Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) who will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed and placing his hands on the wings of two angels. When he will lower his head, there would fall drops of water from his head, and when he will raise it up, drops like pearls would scatter from it. Every disbeliever who will find his (i.e., `Isa’s) smell will die and his smell will reach as far as he will be able to see. He will then search for Dajjal until he will catch hold of him at the gate of Ludd (village near Jerusalem), and will kill him ……” [Sahih Muslim]

Deeds of Jesus on his Return

In Islam it is a belief that Jesus is a prophet of God and His servant that he has not yet fulfilled his life.  There are deeds of His yet to be done which are summarized as follows:

He will be a just judge and a just ruler.


He will kill the Dajjal at the gate of Ludd.


He will break the cross.


He will kill the pigs.


He will abolish the Jizyah (money paid by non-Muslims to the Islamic state by which they governed).


Abundance will prevail.


He will pray Muslim prayers behind a Muslim ruler ‘the Mahdi’ and follow him.


Evidences:

Mujammi’ bin Jariyah Al-Ansari said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) saying: ‘Eisa bin Maryam will kill the Dajjal at the gate of Ludd.'”  (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)


It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The Hour will not begin until ‘Eisa bin Maryam comes down as a just judge and a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the Jizyah, and wealth will become so abundant that no one will accept it.” (Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah)


Present Christianity will be purified in the face of that reality; it will cast off superstition and distortion, and unite with the truths of Islam. Christianity and Christians will in effect be transformed into Islam.

The later period of “the end of time” is a period which entirely embraces favorable concepts of “the better”, “the more beautiful”, “justice”, “plenty of all” and welfare and abundance. It is a blessed and glorious time. It is surely the blessed time when Islamic morals will penetrate to every aspect of life.

Death and Burial of Jesus

 Once Jesus would fulfill his destiny he eventually dies as a Muslim. Muslims will pray and bury him an Islamic burial. The Messenger of Allah has said:

There is no prophet between me and him (Jesus), and he shall descend. He… will stay in the world for forty years; then he will die and the Muslims will offer the funeral Prayer for him.” [Abu Dawood, Ahmed]

Peace and blessings on all Messengers of Allah.

Finally:

Jesus in Islam is a prominent figure. In fact he is mentioned twenty five times in Quran by name and character. There is a complete chapter by the name “Mariam”.  Muslims are obliged as a part of their faith, to believe in his true message and in his return during the events of the “Last Hour”.

It is narrated on the authority of Ubadah b. Samit that the messenger of Allah (PBUH) observed:

He who said:” There is no god but Allah, He is One and there is no associate with Him, that Muhammad is his servant and His messenger, that Christ is servant and the son of His slave-girl and he (Christ) His word which He communicated to Mary and is His Spirit, that Paradise is a fact and Hell is a fact,” Allah would make him (he who affirms these truths enter Paradise through any one of its eight doors which he would like.    Sahih Muslim

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

He who bears witness that there is no true god except Allah, alone having no partner with Him, that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, that ‘Isa (Jesus) is His slave and Messenger and he (Jesus) is His Word which He communicated to Maryam (Mary) and His spirit which He sent to her, that Jannah is true and Hell is true; Allah will make him enter Jannah accepting whatever deeds he accomplished”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]