The Creator is Self-Sufficient. He is apart from His creation, it does not befit His Majesty to take a son or wife, or to beget or to be begotten, and there is no similitude to Him. God, who created space and time, is necessarily transcendent in relation to both. Causation is a law for us who live in space and time, and it is an error on our part to think that He is bound by either. It is God who created the law of causation and we cannot consider Him as a subject to the law He created, therefore God does not change. He created the time, so He is not subjected to time. He does not go through the same stages of time that we go through, does not get tired, and does not need to put Himself in a physical form or descend to Earth. Therefore we cannot see Him in this life because we are trapped in time and space, while He transcends both.

 

There are pieces of evidence and indications in the Bible which impel us to disbelieve in the alleged crucifixion

God is Perfect; He has no need to die for us. He gives life and death, so He did not die nor was He resurrected. He saved His Prophet Jesus and protected him as He helps and protects His believers. God is Most Merciful to His creatures, more than a mother is to her children, so He forgives them whenever they repent to Him.

Was Jesus Crucified

For Muslims, neither Jesus nor God died for humanity on the cross. Many of the ancient Christians as well denied the crucifixion of the Christ; Christian historians have mentioned the names of many Christian sects who denied the crucifixion -The followers of Basilides as an example- Basilides was an early Christian Gnostic religious teacher in Alexandria, Egypt, from 117 to 138 CE, this is a period of time close to the time of the disciples, and it is believed that he got his teachings from Peter and other disciples of Jesus. He believed and taught his followers that Jesus Christ was not crucified, So, we can see that it’s not only the Holy Qur’an that spoke about the salvation of Jesus Christ from the crucifixion; the story goes back to the earliest time of the Church history. We have at least 15 sects of earlier christens who believed that Jesus was not crucified, Corinthians and Marquis for example. Some of these sects -who were in a period of time closer to the time of Jesus- also said that Christ Himself was not crucified and he was not killed, but one of his disciples was crucified instead of him.

The denial of the crucifixion of Jesus, continued with the monk, Theodorus (560 CE), and the Bishop John, the son the governor of Cyprus (610 CE).

It was also denied by the author of the book ‘Holy Blood, Holy Cup of Christ’. He stated in his book that the Christ was not crucified, and it was the traitor (Judas Iscariot), who was crucified instead of him.

Although the Holy book Qur’an did not mention the name of the one who replaced Jesus on the cross, but logic and evidence confirm this supposition.

The logic and evidence are represented in the following:

Every Man will Bear his Own Burden

“Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 2:37)

“[But] Abraham fulfilled [his obligations] -that no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another and that there is not for man except that for which he strives and that his effort is going to be seen -then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense”. (Qur’an 53:37-41)

“[Whereby] the soul that sins, it will die.  The son will not bear the iniquity of the father, neither will the father bear the iniquity of the son, the righteousness of the righteous will be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon him.” (Ezekiel 18:20)

“Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents, each will die for his own sin.”(Deuteronomy 24:16)

The lesson which God gives to all humanity when He accepted Adam’s repentance for eating the forbidden fruit is the first instance of forgiveness of God to humanity. There is no issue of the original sin. Every soul bears the burden of its own sin. This shows the merciful nature of God. Forgiveness does not negate justice, nor does justice preclude forgiveness.

Sacrifice is not desired, but Mercy

“For [God said,] “I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”  But they, like men, have transgressed the covenant; they have dealt treacherously against Me there.”(Hosea 6:6 – 7)

“[For] You have had no pleasure in burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin.”(Hebrews 10:6)

“[And thus Jesus said,] “If you had known what [this] means, ‘I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”(Matthew 12:7)

“Thus the Lord of hosts says, the God of Israel; “Put your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat flesh.  For I did not speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.  But I commanded them this thing, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people, and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well to you.’  But they did not listen, nor incline their ear, but they walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward” (Jeremiah 7:21 – 24)

“O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.” (Qur’an 31:33)

“God wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.”(Qur’an 4:27)

God saved his Prophet Abraham from killing his son, as promised.

“So never think that God will fail in His promise to His messengers.  Indeed, God is Almighty and Owner of Retribution.” (Qur’an 14:47)

“…, And We ransomed him (Abraham) with a great sacrifice.”(Qur’an 37:107)

“Abraham looked around. He saw a ram in the bushes. God had given the ram for the sacrifice. Abraham sacrificed the ram on the altar.”(Genesis 22:9–12)

God informed Jesus that one of his disciples will betray him

“When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi? Jesus answered, “You have said so.”(Mathew 26:20-25)

Jesus Was Sad, He Did not Want To Die, And Confirmed that He Will Not Die

“[So] do not forsake me, O Lord, O my God, do not be far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.”(Psalms 38:21 – 22)

“[It reads,] I will not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord [God].  The Lord [God] has chastened me sore, but He has not given me over to death.  Open the gates of righteousness to me, I will go into them, [and] I will praise the Lord [God].  This gate of the Lord [God], into which the righteous will enter.  I will praise You [O God], for You have heard me, and have become my salvation.  The stone [which] the builders refused has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord [God’s] doing; it [is] marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalms 118:17-23)

Jesus As A Human Being Prayed To God, And Did Not Lose Hope

“[When he] went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.”(Mark 14:35)

“[Thus,] in You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion.” (Psalms 71:1)

“But I will hope continually, and will still praise You more and more.  My mouth will show forth Your righteousness [and] Your salvation all the day; for I do not know the numbers [thereof].”(Psalms 71:14 – 15)

The enemies’ plan and God’s plan

“Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. I will proclaim the Lord’s decree.”(Pslams2)

“[For] the transgressors will be destroyed together, the end of the wicked will be cut off.” (Psalms 37:38)

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.” (Psalms 40:1 – 2)

“[And thus these] disbelievers planned, but God planned.  And God is the best of planners.”(Qur’an 3:54)

“So never think that God will fail in His promise to His messengers.  Indeed, God is Almighty and Owner of Retribution.” (Qur’an 14:47)

God is the Protector of Believers

“[For] He spoke by the mouth of His holy Prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.”(Luke 1:70 – 71)

“[And thus] We will save Our messengers and those who have believed.  Thus, it is an obligation upon Us that We save the believers.”(Qur’an 10:103)

The Lord was able to save Jesus from death

“[And thus] when [Jesus] had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save him from death – [he] was heard in that which he feared.” ( Hebrews 5:7)

“They say: Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of God.”  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.” (Qur’an 4:157)

He helped Jesus, and delivered him from the hand of his enemies

“[So] let us see if his words are true; and let us prove what will happen in the end of him. For if the just man is the son of God, He will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies.”(Wisdom of Solomon 2:17-18)

 

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. (Qur’an 4:157)

“Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape, incline Your ear to me, and save me.  Be my strong habitation, whereto I may continually resort, You have given commandment to save me; for You [are] my Rock and my Fortress.  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.”(Psalms 71:2 – 4)

“[Mention] when Allah said, “O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ. “(Qur’an 3:55)

“[So] this poor man cried, and the Lord heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.  [For] the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.  O taste and see that the Lord [is] good, blessed [is] the man [who] trusts in Him.” (Psalms 34:6-8)

“[For] when [Jesus] had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save him from death – [he] was heard in that which he feared.”(Hebrews5:7)

“He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”(Psalms 34:20)

The Lord kept him alive

“[It reads,] blessed [is] he who considers the poor, the Lord will deliver him in a time of trouble.  The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; [and] he will be blessed upon the earth, and You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.”(Psalms 41:1-2)

“[For] God raised [Jesus] to Himself.  And ever is God Almighty and Most Wise.” (4:158, Qur’an)

Jesus thanked His lord

“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”(John 11:40:41)

The betrayer regretted and suffered the consequences of his sin

Although, many Christians believe that these words below said by Jesus, but Muslims insist that this biblical verse cannot refer to Jesus Christ, who was honored by His Lord. Who deserves this bad situation, should be no one other than the betrayer.

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up. You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them. To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed. But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me. All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads. They say, “Commit yourself to the Lord! Let the Lord rescue him! Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him.” Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts. I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me. “(Psalms 22:1-11)

Beside God there is no savior

[For God said,]

“I, [even] I, [am] the Lord; and beside Me [there is] no savior.” (Isaiah 43:11)

“[Thus,] unquestionably, for God is the pure religion.  And those who take saviors besides Him [say], “We only serve them that they may bring us nearer to God in position.”  Indeed, God will judge between them concerning that over which they differ.  Indeed, God does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever.” (Qur’an 39:3)

Beside God there is no other god

“[For God said,] “I [am] the Lord, and [there are] none else, [there is] no god beside Me, I girded you, though you have not known Me.”” (Isaiah 45:5)

“[For] they serve other than God that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, “These are our intercessors with God.”  Say, “Do you inform God of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?”  Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.” (Qur’an10:18)

Jesus confirmed his servitude to God

“O Lord, truly I [am] Your servant; I [am] Your servant, [and] the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds.” (Psalms 116:16)

Jesus said,

“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”(John 20:17)

“[Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet.” (Qur’an 19:29-30)

The believer can understand that if God can create Adam from dust, without male and female parents, he can easily create Jesus without a male parent.

“Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, “Be,” and he was.”(Qur’an 3:59)

The Law of Moses should be fulfilled

“And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.” (Qur’an 5:46)

“[So Jesus] said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you, while I was with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and [in] the Prophets, and [in] the Psalms, concerning me.”(Luke 24:44)

“Say, [O believers], “We have believed in God (The Creator) and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” (Qur’an 2:136)

Jesus will condemn his people

“[For Jesus said,] “Many will say to me in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name?  And in your name we have cast out devils?  And in your name [O Lord Jesus] done many wonderful works?’  And then I will profess to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from me, you who work iniquity.’” (Matthew 7:22 – 23)

[So beware the Day] when God will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as gods besides God?’” He will say, “Exalted are You!  It was not for me to say that to which I have no right.  If I had said it, You would have known it.  You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself.  Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me – to serve God, my Lord and your Lord.  And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.” (Qur’an 5:116-117)

On the day which no god can help other than God

“And He will say, “Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings?  Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.  See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me, I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, neither are there any that can deliver out of My hand.”” (Deuteronomy 32:37 39)

“[So warn of] the Day when He will say, “Call ‘My partners’ whom you claimed,” and they will invoke them, but they will not respond to them.  And We will put between them [a valley of] destruction.  And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein.  And they will not find from it a way elsewhere.” (Qur’an18:52-53)

Worshiping one God was the core message of Jesus

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Mark 12:29)

“Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”(Mathew 4:10)

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

[Jesus said], “And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.” (Qur’an 19:36)

Prophet Muhammad reminded the world of the message of Jesus.

“(Jesus Said): Truly! God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him Alone. This is the straight path.” (Qur’an 3:51)

“Say, I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.”(Qur’an 18:110)

In the history of some religions that preceded Christianity, it was found that some heroes were considered to be gods. What was believed about Krishna by the Hindus, Buddha by the ancient Egyptians, Bacchus by the Greeks, Baal by the Babylonians, and Adonis by the Syrians was surprisingly believed about Jesus by the Christians.

The religion of Islam has freed its followers from such superstitions. It rejected the doctrine of the incarnation and of God’s embodiment in the union with any other creatures.

Islam emphatically states that neither Jesus nor any other human being could be God. Islam states that humans cannot be blamed for sins they did not commit, nor can they get salvation for not attempting to be good. One’s life is a test and each soul is responsible for its own actions, and People are born free of sins; it is only after they reach the age of puberty or maturity that they are held accountable for their sins. The Creator sent the same message to Prophets of all nations (since the time of Adam). A simple straightforward message and one condition of salvation: Belief in One God and to unify Him in worship. Every Prophet was the way for his followers in his time to get the salvation, and that was by following his teachings; worshiping like the Prophet does, not worshipping the Prophet himself, or anything else. This is the message of Islam, which started with Prophet Adam and was completed with Prophet Muhammad.

by fatensabri