Stories Of The Prophets

 

Prophet Isa

 

 

In many verses of the Glorious Qur'an Allah the Exalted
denied the claim of the Christians that He has a son.

A delegation from
Nagran came to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They began to talk about
their claim about the Trinity, which is that Allah is three in one, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with some disagreement among
their sects. That is why Allah affirmed in many verses of the Qur'an
that Jesus is a slave of Allah, whom He molded in the womb of his
mother like any other of His creatures, and that He created him without
a father, as He created Adam without a father or a mother. Almighty
Allah had chosen Isa to be one of his messengers to humanity.

The Birth of Mary -
Quranic

Allah the Almighty said:

"Allah chose Adam, Noah, the
family of Abraham and the family of Imran above the Alamin (mankind and
jinns)(of their times). Offspring, one of theo other, and Allah is
All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Remember when the wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I
have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated
for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of
worship), so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the
All Knowing."

Then when she delivered her (child Mary), she said:
"O my Lord! I have delivered a female child," and Allah knew better
what she delivered, - "and the male is not like the female, and I have
named her Mary, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her
offspring from Satan, the outcast."

Mary's Sustenance - Quranic

So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodly
acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the
care of Zechariah. Every time he entered Al-Mihrab (a praying place or
a private room), he found her supplied with sustenance.

As Allah recounted in the Glorious Quran:

She said: "From Allah. Verily, Allah provides
sustenance to whom He wills, without limit." (Ch 3:37 Quran)

Mary's Family History

Allah declared that He had elected Adam (pbuh) and the
elite of his offspring who obey Allah. Then He specified the family of
Abraham (pbuh), which includes the sons of Ishmael (pbuh), and the
family of Imran, the father of Mary.

Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that he was Imran Ibn
Bashim, Ibn Amun, Ibn Misha, Ibn Hosqia, Ibn Ahriq, Ibn Mutham, Ibn
Azazia, Ibn Amisa, Ibn Yamish, Ibn Ahrihu, Ibn Yazem, Ibn Yahfashat,
Ibn Eisha, Ibn Iyam, Ibn Rahba am, Ibn David (Dawud).

Mary's Birth - Longer
Version

Prophet Zakariyah's (pbuh) wife's sister had a daughter
named Hannah. She was married to Imran, a leader of the Israelites. For
many years, the couple remained childless. Whenever Hannah saw another
woman with a child, her longing for a baby increased. Although years
had passed, she never lost hope. She believed that one day Allah would
bless her with a child, on whom she would shower all her motherly love.

She turned to the Lord of the heavens and the earth and
pleaded with Him for a child. She would offer the child in the service
of Allah's house, in the temple of Jerusalem. Allah granted her
request. When she learned that she was pregnant, she was the happiest
woman alive, and thanked Allah for His gift. Her overjoyed husband
Imran also thanked Allah for His mercy.

However, while she was pregnant her husband passed
away. Hannah wept bitterly. Alas, Imran did not live to see their child
for whom they had so longed. She gave birth to a girl, and again turned
to Allah in prayer:

"O my Lord, I have delivered a female child,"
and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and I
seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and her offspring from Satan, the
outcast." (Ch 3:36 Quran)

Zechariah Becomes
Mary's Guardian

Hannah had a big problem in reference to her promise to
Allah, for females were not accepted into the temple, and she was very
worried. Her sister's husband Zakariyah, comforted her, saying that
Allah knew best what she had delivered and appreciated fully what she
had offered in His service. She wrapped the baby in a shawl and handed
it over to the temple elders. As the baby was a girl, the question of
her guardianship posed a problem for the elders. This was a child of
their late and beloved leader, and everyone was eager to take care of
her. Zakariyah said to the elders: "I am the husband of her maternal
aunt and her nearest relation in the temple; therefore, I will be more
mindful of her than all of you."

As it was their custom to draw lots to solve
disagreements, they followed this course. Each one was given a reed to
throw into the river. They had agreed that whoever's reed remained
afloat would be granted guardianship of the girl. All the reeds sank to
the bottom except Zakariyah's. With this sign, they all surrendered to
the will of Allah and made him the guardian.

Mary's High Status

To ensure that no one had access to Mary, Zakariyah
built a separate room for her in the temple. As she grew up, she spent
her time in devotion to Allah. Zakariyah visited her daily to see to
her needs, and so it continued for many years. One day, he was
surprised to find fresh fruit, which was out of season in her room. As
he was the only person who could enter her room, he asked her how the
fruit got there. She replied that these provisions were from Allah, as
He gives to whom He wills. Zakariyah understood by this that Allah had
raised Mary's status above that of other women.

Thereafter, Zakariyah spent more time with her,
teaching and guiding her. Mary grew to be a devotee of Allah,
glorifying Him day and night.

Mary's High Status -
Prophet Muhammad

Ali Ibn Abi Talib narrated that the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) said: "The best of the world's women is Mary (in her lifetime),
and the best of the world's women is Khadija (in her lifetime)." (Sahih
Al-Bukhari)

Abu Musa Al-Ashari also narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said: "May among men attained perfection but among
women none attained perfection except Mary the daughter of Imran, and
Asiya the wife of Pharaoh, and the superiority of Aisha to other women
is like the superiority of Tharid (an Arabic dish) to other meals."

Mary Receives News of Jesus

While Mary was praying in her temple, an angel in the
form of a man appeared before her. Filled with terror, she tried to
flee, praying:

"Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent
(Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah."

The angel said: "I am only a Messenger from your
Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."

She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has
touched me, nor am I unchaste?"

He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: "That is
easy for me (Allah): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind
and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by
Allah).'" (Ch 19:18-21 Quran)

The Birth of Jesus

The angel's visit caused Mary great anxiety, which
increased as the months went by. How could she face giving birth to a
child without having a husband? Later, she felt life kicking inside
her. With a heavy heart, she left the temple and went to Nazareth, the
city in which she had been born where she settled in a simple farm
house to avoid the public.

But fear and anxiety did not leave her. She was from a
noble and pious family. Her father had not been an evil man nor was her
mother an impure woman. How could she prevent tongues from wagging
about her honor?

After some months, she could not bear the mental strain
any longer. Burdened with a heavy womb, she left Nazareth, not knowing
where to go to be away from this depressing atmosphere.

She had not gone far, when she was overtaken by the
pains of childbirth. She saw down against a dry palm tree, and here she
gave birth to a son. Looking at her beautiful baby, she was hurt that
she had brought him into the world without a father. She exclaimed: "I
wish I had died before this happened and had vanished into nothingness!"

Suddenly, she heard a voice nearby: "Grieve not, your
Lord has placed a rivulet below, and shake the trunk of this tree, from
which ripe dates will fall. So eat and drink and regain the strength
you have lost; and be of good cheer, for what you see is the power of
Allah, Who made the dry palm tree regain life, in order to provide food
for you." For a while she was comforted by Allah's miracle, for it was
a sure sign of her innocence and purity.

Mary Returns to the
City with Jesus

Mary decided to return to the city. However, her fears
also returned. What was she going to tell the people? As if sharinhis
mother's worry, the baby began to speak: "If you meet any person say:
'I have vowed to fast for The Beneficent and may not speak to any human
today.'" With this miracle, Mary felt at ease.

As she had expected, her arrival in the city with a
newborn baby in her arms aroused the curiosity of the people. They
scolded her: "This is a terrible sin that you have committed." She put
her finger to her lips and pointed to the child. They asked: "How can
we speak to a newborn baby?" To their total amazement, the child began
to speak clearly: "I am Allah's servant. Allah has given me the Book,
and has made me a prophet, and has blessed me wherever I may be, and
has enjoined on me prayers and alms-giving as long as I live. Allah has
made me dutiful towards she who had borne me. He has not made me
arrogant nor unblessed. Peace unto me the day I was born, the day I
die, and the day I shall be raised alive."

Most of the people realized that the baby was unique,
for it Allah wills something, He merely says "Be" and it happens. Of
course, there were some who regarded the baby's speech as a strange
trick, but at least Mary could now stay in Nazareth without being
harassed.

Mary Receives News of
Jesus - Quranic

Allah the Exalted revealed:

"And mention in the Book
(the Qur'an, O Muhammad, the story of) Mary, when she withdrew in
seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen
(to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel
Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all
respects.

She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most
Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah."

The angel said: "I am only a Messenger from your
Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."

She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has
touched me, nor am I unchaste?"

He said: "So (it will be), your Lord
said: "That is easy for Me (Allah): and (We wish) to appoint him as a
sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter
(already) decreed, (by Allah).'" (Ch. 19: 16-21)

The Birth of Jesus - Quranic

So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a
far place (Bethlehem valley, about four to six miles from Jerusalem).
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She
said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and
out of sight!"

Then (the babe "Jesus" or Gabriel) cried unto her
from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided you a water
stream under you; and shake the trunk of palm tree towards you, it will
let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, and
if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the
Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this
day.'" (Ch. 19: 22-26)

Mary and Jesus Return to the City - Quranic

"Then she brought him (the baby) to her people,
carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing
Fariyya (an unheard mighty thing). O sister (the like) of Aaron (not
the brother of Moses, but he was another pious man at the time of
Mary)! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor was
your mother an unchaste woman."

Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk
to one who is a child in the cradle?"

He (Jesus) said: "Verily! I am a slave of Allah. He
has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; and He has made me
blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined me prayer, and Zakat, as
long as I live, and dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant,
unblest. And Salam (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I
die, and the day I shall be raised alive!" (Ch. 19:27 - 33)

Allah's Message About
Jesus - Quranic

Such is Jesus, son of Mary. (It is) a statement of
truth, about which they doubt (or dispute). It befits not (the Majesty
of) Allah that He should beget a son (this refers to the slander of
Christians against Allah, by saying that Jesus is the son of Allah).
Glorified (and Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him).
When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, "Be!" - and it is.

Jesus said: "And verily Allah is my Lord and your
Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path. (Allah's
Religion of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His
Prophets)."

Then the sects differed (the Christians about
Jesus), so woe unto the disbeliveers (those who gave false witness
saying that Jesus is the son of Allah) from the meeting of a great Day
(the Day of Resurrection, when they will be thrown in the blazing Fire).

How clearly will they (polytheists and disbeliveers
in the Oneness of Allah) see and hear, the Day when they will appear
before Us! But the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) today are in
plain error. And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of grief and
regrets, when the case has been decided, while now they are in a state
of carelessness and they believe not. (Ch 19:34-39 Quran)

Some Stories About Mary's Pregnancy

It was said that Joseph the Carpenter was greatly
surprised when he knew the story, so he asked Mary: "Can a tree come to
grow without a seed?" She said: "Yes, the one which Allah created for
the first time." He asked her again: "Is it possible to bear a child
without a male partner?" She said: "Yes, Allah, created Adam without
male or female!"

It was also said that, while pregnant, Mary went one
day to her aunt, who reported that she felt as if she was pregnant.
Mary in turn, said that she, too, was feeling as if she was pregnant.
Then her aunt said: "I can see what is in my womb prostrating to what
is in your womb."

Jesus Upsets the Jews

The Jewish priests felt this child Jesus was dangerous,
for they felt that the people would turn their worship to Allah the
Almighty Alone, displacing the existing Jewish tenets. Consequently,
they would lose their authority over the people. Therefore, they kept
the miracle of Jesus's speech in infancy as a secret and accused Mary
of a great misdeed.

Jesus's Ability to
Debate

As Jesus (pbuh) grew, the signs of prophethood began to
increase. He could tell his friends what kind of supper waited for them
at home and what they had hidden and where. When he was twelve years
old, he accompanied his mother to Jerusalem. There he wandered into the
temple and joined a crowd listening to the lecture of the Rabbis
(Jewish priests). The audience were all adults, but he was not afraid
to sit with them. After listening intently, he asked questions and
expressed his opinion. The learned rabbis were disturbed by the boy's
boldness and puzzled by the questions he asked, for they were unable to
answer him. They tried to silence him, but he ignored their attempts
and continued to express his views. Jesus became so involved in this
exchange that he forgot he as expected back home.

In the meantime, his mother went home, thinking that he
might have gone back with relatives or friends. When she arrived, she
discovered that he was not there, so she returned to the city to look
for him. At last she found him in the temple, sitting among the
learned, conversing with them. He appeared to be quite at east, as if
he had been doing this all his life. Mary got angry with him for
causing her worry. He tried to assure her that all the arguing and
debating with the learned had made him forgot the time.

Jesus Does Not Observe
the Sabbath

Jesus grew up to manhood. It was Sabbath, a day of
complete rest: no fire could be lit or extinguished nor could females
plait their hair. Moses (pbuh) had commanded that Saturday be dedicated
to the worship of Allah. However, the wisdom behind the Sabbath and its
spirit had gone, and only the letter remained in the Jews' hearts.
Also, they thought that Sabbath was kept in heaven, and that the People
of Israel had been chosen by Allah only to observe the Sabbath.

They made a hundred things unlawful on Saturday even
self-defense or calling a doctor to save a patient who was in bad
condition. This is how their life was branded by such hypocrisy.
Although the Pharisees were guardians of the law, they were ready to
sell it when their interests were involved so as to obtain personal
gains. There was, for example, a rule which prohibited a journey of
more than one thousand yards on the Sabbath day. What do we expect of
the Pharisees in this case? The day before, they transferred their food
and drink from their homes two thousand yards away and erected a
temporary house so that from tthey could travel a further thousand
yards on the Sabbath day.

Jesus was on his way to the temple. Although it was the
Sabbath, he reached out his hand to pick two pieces of fruit to feed a
hungry child. This was considered to be a violation of the Sabbath law.
He made a fire for the old women to keep themselves warm from the
freezing air. Another violation. He went to the temple and looked
around. There were twenty thousand Jewish priests registered there who
earned their living from the temple. The rooms of he temple were full
of them.

Jesus Receives His
Prophethood

Jesus observed that the visitors were much fewer than
the priests. Yet the temple was full of sheep and doves which were sold
to the people to be offered as sacrifices. Every step in the temple
cost the visitor money. They worshipped nothing but money. In the
temple, the Pharisees and Sadducees acted as if it were a market place,
and these two groups always disagreed on everything. Jesus followed the
scene with his eyes and observed that the poor people who could not
afford the price of the sheep or dove were swept away like flies by the
Pharisees and Saducees. Jesus was astonished. Why did the priests burn
a lot of offerings inside the temple, while thousands of poor people
were hungry outside it?

On this blessed night, the two noble prophets John
(pbuh) and Zakariyah (pbuh) died, killed by the ruling authority. On
the same night, the revelation descended upon Jesus (pbuh). Allah the
Exalted commanded him to begin his call to the children of Israel. To
Jesus, the life of ease was closed, and the page of worship and
struggled was opened.

Jesus's Message

Like an opposing force, the message of Jesus came to
denounce the practices of the Pharisees and to reinforce the Law of
Moses. In the face of a materialistic age of luxury and worship of
gold, Jesus called his people to a nobler life by word and deed. This
exemplary life was the only way out of the wretchedness and diseases of
his age. Jesus's call, from the beginning, was marked by its complete
uprightness and piety. It appealed to the soul, the inner being, and
not be a closed system of rules laid down by society.

Jesus continued inviting the people to Almighty Allah.
His call was based on the principle that there is no mediation between
the Creator and His creatures. However, Jesus was in conflict with the
Jews' superficial interpretation of the Torah. He said that he did not
come to abrogate the Torah, but to complete it by going to the spirit
of its substance to arrive at its essence.

He made the Jews understand that the Ten Commandments
have more value than they imagined. For instance, the fifth commandment
does not only prohibit physical killing, but all forms of killing;
physical, psychological, or spiritual. And the sixth commandment does
not prohibit adultery only in the sense of unlawful physical contact
between a man and a woman, but also prohibits all forms of unlawful
relations or acts that might lead to adultery. The eye commits adultery
when it looks at anything with passion.

Jesus Denounces
Materialism

Jesus was therefore in confrontation with the
materialistic people. He told them to desist from hypocrisy, show and
false praise. There was no need to hoard wealth in this life. They
should not preoccupy themselves with the goods of this passing world;
rather they must preoccupy themselves with the affairs of the coming
world because it would be everlasting.

Jesus told them that caring for this world is a sin,
not fit for pious worshippers. The disbeliveers care for it because
they do not know a better way. As for the believers, they know that
their sustenance is with Allah, so they trust in Him and scorn this
world.

Jesus continued to invite people to worship the Only
Lord, Who is without partner, just as he invited them to purify the
heart and soul.

Jewish Priests Try to
Embarrass Jesus

His teaching annoyed the priests, for every word of
Jesus was a threat to them and their position, exposing their misdeeds.

The Roman occupiers had, at first, no intention of
being involved in this religious discord of the Jews because it was an
internal affair, and they saw that this dispute would distract the Jews
from the question of the occupation.

However, the priests started to plot against Jesus.
They wanted to embarrass him and to prove that he had come to destroy
the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law provides that an adulteress be stoned to
death. They brought him a Jewish adulteress and asked Jesus: "Does not
the law stipulate the stoning of the adulteress?" Jesus answered:
"Yes." They said: "This woman is an adulteress." Jesus looked at the
woman and then at the priests. He knew that they were more sinful than
she. They agreed that she should be killed according to Mosaic Law, and
they understood that if he was going to apply Mosaic Law, he would be
destroying his own rules of forgiveness and mercy.

Jesus understood their plan. He smiled and assented:
"Whoever among you is sinless can stone her." His voice rose in the
middle of the Temple, making a new law on adultery, for the sinless to
judge sin. There was none eligible; no mortal can judge sin, only Allah
the Most Merciful.

As Jesus left the temple, the woman followed him. She
took out a bottle of perfume from her garments, knelt before his feet
and washed them with perfume and tears, and then dried his feet with
her hair. Jesus turned to the woman and told her to stand up, adding:
"O Lord, forgive her sins." He let the priests understand that those
who call people to Almighty Allah are not executioners. His call was
based on mercy for the people, the aim of all divine calls.

Jesus' Brings the Dead
to Life

Jesus continued to pray to Allah for mercy on his
people and to teach his people to have mercy on one another and to
believe in Allah.

Jesus continued his mission, aided by divine miracles.
Some Qur'anic commentators said that Jesus brought four people back
from the dead: a friend of his named Al-Azam, an old woman's son, and a
woman's only daughter. These three had died during his lifetime. When
the Jews saw this they said: "You only resurrect those who have died
recently; perhaps they only fainted." They asked him to bring back to
life Sam the Ibn Noah.

When he asked them to show him his grave, the people
accompanied him there. Jesus invoked Allah the Exalted to bring him
back to life and behold, Sam the Ibn Noah came out from the grave
gray-haired. Jesus asked: "how did you get gray hair, when there was no
aging in your time?" He answered: "O Spirit of Allah, I thought that
the Day of Resurrection had come; from the fear of that day my hair
turned gray."

The Miracles of Jesus - Quranic

Allah the Almighty said:

"Remember when Allah will
say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My
Favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with Ruh-ul-Qudus
(Gabriel) so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in
maturity; and when I taught you writing, Al Hikmah (the power of
understanding), the Torah and the Gospel; and when you made out of the
clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My Permission, and you
breathed into it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you healed
those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and when you brought
forth the dead by My Permission; and when I restrained the Children of
Israel from you (when they resolved to kill you) since you came unto
them with clear proofs, and the disbeliveers among them said: 'This is
nothing but evident magic.'"

And when I (Allah) put in their hearts of the
disciples (of Jesus) to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: "We
believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims." (Ch 5:110-111 Quran)

Jesus' Abilities and the Disciples - Quranic

Almighty Allah also revealed:

"And He Allah will
teach him (Jesus) the Book and Al Hikmah (the Sunna, the faultless
speech of the Prophets, wisdom, etc.), (and) the Torah and the Gospel.

And will make him (Jesus) a Messenger to the
Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your
Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a
bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's Leave; and
I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to
life by Allah's leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you
store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you
believe. And I have come confirming that which was before me of the
Torah, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and
I have come to you with proof from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey
me. Truly! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This
is the Straight Path."

Then when Jesus came to know of their disbelief, he
said: "Who will be my helpers in Allah's Cause?" The disciples said:
"We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness
that we are Muslims (we submit to Allah)."

Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and
we follow the Messenger (Jesus); so write us down among those who bear
witness (to the truth, La ilaha ill Allah - none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah).

And they (disbeliveers) plotted (to kill Jesus), and
Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners. (Ch 3:48-54
Quran)

Allah Sends the Disciples a Feast

Jesus continued calling people to Almighty Allah and
laying down for them what might be called "the law of the Spirit." Once
when standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples, Jesus saw that
those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, an
the downtrodden, and their number was small. Some of the miracles which
Jesus performed had been requested by his disciples, such as their wish
for a "holy table" to be sent down from heaven.

Allah the Exalted said:

"Remember when the disciples
said: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table
spread (with food) from heaven?" Jesus said: "Fear Allah, if you are
indeed believers." They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be
stronger in Faith and to know that you have indeed told us the truth
and that we ourselves be its witnesses."

Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O Allah, our Lord! Send
us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us -
for the first and the last of us - a festival and a sign from You; and
provide us sustenance, for You are the best of sustainers." Allah said:
"I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that
disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not
inflicted on anyone among all the Alamin (mankind and jinn).

And
(remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Iesa
(Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my
mother as two gods besides Allâh?' " He will say: "Glory be to
You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I
said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what
is in my inner­self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You,
only You, are the All­Knower of all that is hidden and unseen."
(Ch
5:112-116 Quran)

It was related that Jesus commanded his disciples to
fast for thirty days; at the end of it, they asked Jesus to bring food
from heaven to break their fast. Jesus prayed to Allah after his
disciples had doubted Allah's power. The great table cam down between
two clouds, one above and one below, while the people watched. Jesus
said: "O Lord, make it a mercy and not a cause of distress." So it fell
between Jesus's hands, covered with a napkin.

Jesus suddenly prostrated and his disciples with him.
They sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. Jesus
said: "The one who is the most devout and most righteous may uncover
the table, that we might eat of it to thank Allah for it." They said:
"O Spirit of Allah, you are the most deserving."

Jesus stood up, then performed ablution and prayed
before uncovering the table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The
disciples said: "O Spirit of Allah, is this the food of this world or
of Paradise?" Jesus said to his disciples: "Did not Allah forbid you to
ask questions? It is the divine power of Allah the Almighty Who said:
'Be,' and it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allah warning of great
punishment for unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of
the matter."

It is said that thousands of people partook of it, and
yet they never exhausted it. A further miracle was that the blind and
lepers were cured.

Those Worshipping
Jesus and Allah's Questions to Jesus

The Day of the Table became one of the holy days for
the disciples and followers of Jesus. Later on, the disciples and
followers forgot the real essence of the miracles, and so they
worshipped Jesus as a god.

Almighty Allah asserted:

"And remember when Allah
will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you
say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?'" He
will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no
right to say. Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it.
You know what is in my inner self though I do not know what is in
Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All Knower of all that is hidden
and unseen. Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allah) did
command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord', And I was a
witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up,
You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things.
(This is a great admonition and warning to the Christians of the whole
world). If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive
them, Verily You, only You are the All Mighty, the All Wise."

Allah will say: "This is a Day on which the truthful
will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers
flow (in Paradise) - they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased
with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise). To
Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is
therein, and He is Able to do all things." (Ch 5:116-120 Quran)

The Jews Plot to Kill
Jesus

Jesus went on his mission until vice knew that its
throne was threatening to fall. So the forces of evil accused him of
magic, infringement of the Mosaic Law, allegiance with the devil; and
when they saw that the poor people followed him, they began to scheme
against him.

The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical
council of the Jews, began to meet to plot against Jesus. The plan took
a new turn. When the Jews failed to stop Jesus' s call, they decided to
kill him. The chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best
way of getting rid of Jesus. While they were in such a meeting, one of
the twelve apostles of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked:
"What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" Judas bargained with
them until they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver known as
shekels. The plot was laid for the capture and murder of Jesus.

It was said that the high priest of the Jews tore his
garment at the meeting, claiming that Jesus had denied Judaism. The
tearing of clothes at that time was a sign of disgust.

The Torture of Jesus

The priests had no authority to pass the death sentence
at that time, so they convinced the Roman governor that Jesus was
plotting against the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take
immediate action against him. The governor ordered thaJesus be arrested.

According to the Book of Matthew, Jesus was arrested
and the council of the high priests passed the death sentence upon him.
Then, they began insulting him, spitting on his face and kicking him.

It was the Roman custom for the condemned to be flogged
before they were executed. So Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered that
Jesus be flogged. The Mosaic Law stipulates forty lashes, but the Roman
had no limit, and they were brutal lashes. After that, Jesus was handed
to the soldiers for crucifixion. They took off his clothes, and kept
them. They put a crown of thorns on his head to mock him. According to
custom he carried his cross on his back to increase his suffering.

Jesus's Crucifixion -
Bible Version

Finally, they reached a place called Golgotha, meaning
the Place of Skulls, outside the walls of Jerusalem. Instead of giving
him a cup of wine diluted with scent to help lessen the pain on the
cross, the soldiers gave Jesus a cup of vinegar diluted with gall. Then
they crucified him and, as a further mockery, two thieves with him. So
it is written in the Bible.

Jesus's Crucifixion -
Quranic

But the faith of Islam came with views quite different
from that of the extend gospels with regards to both the end of Jesus
and his nature.

The Glorious Qur'an affirms that Allah the Exalted did
not permit the people of Israel to kill Jesus or crucify him. What
happened was that Allah saved him from his enemies and raised him to
heaven. They never killed Jesus, they killed someone else.

Allah the Almighty declared:

" And because of their
saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger
of Allah," but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the
resemblance of Jesus was put over another man (and they killed that
man) and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no
certain knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they
killed him not (Jesus, son of Mary): But Allah raised him (Jesus) up
(with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And
Allah is Ever All Powerful, All Wise.

And there is none of the people of the Scripture
(Jews & Christians), but must believe in him (Jesus, son of Mary,
as only a Messenger of Allah, and a human being0, before his (Jesus or
a Jew's or a Christian's ) death (at the time of the appearance of the
angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) will be a
witness against them. ( Ch 4:157-159 Quran)

Almighty Allah also revealed:

"And remember when
Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear
you (of the forged statement that Jesus is Allah's son) of those who
disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you (Monotheists, who
worship none but Allah ) superior to those who disbelieve (in the
Oneness of Allah, or disbelieve in some of His Messengers, e.g.
Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, etc., or in His Holy Books, e.g. the Torah, the
Gospel, the Qur'an) till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return
to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to
dispute." (Ch 3:55 Quran).

Refutation of the
Christians Claim

Allah Disclaims Begetting Anyone - Surah 19, Almighty
Allah refuted the claims of the Jews and the
Christians in many verses of the Glorious Qur'an.

And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has
begotten a son (or offspring or children) (as the Jews say: Ezra is the
son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son
(Christ), and the pagan Arabs say that he has begotten daughters
(angels, etc.))."

Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil
thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split
asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, that they ascribe a son (or
offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah).

But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of ) the
Most Beneficent (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or
children). There is non in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the
Most Beneficent (Allah) as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them,
and has counted them a full counting. And everyone of them will come to
Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector
or defender). (Ch 19:88-95 Quran)

Allah the Exalted also declared:

"Yet, they join the
jinns as partners in worship with Allah, though He has created them
(the jinns), and they attribute falsely without knowledge sons and
daughters to Him. Be He Glorified! And Exalted above (all) that they
attribute to Him. He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth.
How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and
He is the All-Knower of everything.

Such is Allah, your Lord!
La ilaha illa Huwa (none has
the right to be worshipped but He), the Creator of all things. So
worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakil (Trustee, Disposer of affairs,
Guardian etc.) over all tings.

No vision can grasp Him,
but His Grasp is over all
vision. He is the Most Subtle and Courteous, Well-Acquainted with all
things. (Ch 6:100-103 Quran)

Almighty Allah commanded: 

"O people of the Scripture
(Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in you religion, nor
say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was
(no more than ) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, ("Be" - and he was)
which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe
in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (It is
) better for you. For Allah is the only One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him
(Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in
the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All Sufficient
as a Disposer of affairs.

The Messiah will
never be proud to reject to be a slave
to Allah, nor the angels who are near (to Allah). And whosoever rejects
His worship and is proud, then He will gather them all together unto
Himself. So, as for those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah -
Islamic Monotheism) and did deeds of righteousness, He will give their
(due) rewards, and more out of His Bounty. But as for those who refuse
His worship and were proud, He will punish them with a painful torment.
And they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or
helper. (Ch 4:171-173 Quran)

Allah Disclaims Ezra as a Son

Almighty Allah also declared:

And the Jews say: Ezra is
the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah.
That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the
disbeliveers of old. Allah's Curse be on them, how they are deluded
away from the truth!

They (Jews and Christians)
took their rabbis and their
monks to be their lords besides Allah, (by obeying them in things which
they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without
being ordered by Allah) and (they also took as their lord) Messiah, son
of Mary , while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded (in the Torah
and the Gospel) to worship none but One Ilah (God- Allah) La ilaha illa
Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be
to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with
Him). (Ch 9:30-32 Quran)

Allah Disclaims Begetting Anyone

Allah the Almighty also revealed:

"Now ask them (O
Muhammad): "Are there (only) daughters for your Lord and sons for
them?" Or did We create the angels females while they were witnesses?

Verily, it is of their
falsehood that they (Quraish
pagans) say: "Allah has begotten off-spring or children (angels are the
daughters of Allah)" And, verily, they are liars!

Has He (then) chosen
daughters rather than sons? What
is the matter with you? How do you decide? Will you not then remember?
Or is there for you a plain authority? Then bring your Book if you are
truthful!

And they have invented a
kinship between Him and the
jinns, but the jinn know well that they have indeed to appear (before
Him) (i.e. they will be brought for accounts).

Glorified be Allah!
(He is free) from what they
attribute unto Him! Except the slaves of Allah, whom He chooses (for
His Mercy i.e. true believers of Islamic Monotheism who do not
attribute false things unto Allah). (Ch 37:149-160 Quran)

And Almighty Allah declared:

"Surely, in disbelief are
they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say (O Muhammad):
"Who then has the least power against Allah, if He were destroy the
Messiah, son of Mary, his mother, and all those who are on the earth
together?" And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the
earth, and all that is between them. He creates what He wills. And
Allah is Able to do all things.

And (both) the Jews and
Christians say; "We are the
children of Allah and His loved ones." Say: "Why then does He punish
you for your sins?" Nay, you are but human beings, of those He has
created, He forgive whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to
Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is
between them, and to Him is the return of all.

O people of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now
has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) making (things) clear unto
you, after a break in (the series of ) Messengers, lest you say: "there
came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner." But now has
come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And Allah is Able
to do all things. (Ch 5:17-19 Quran)

Allah the Exalted warned: Surely they have disbelieved
who say: "Allah is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary." But the Messiah
(Jesus) said: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your
Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then
Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode.
And for the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.

Surely, disbeliveers are those who said: "Allah is the
third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no Ilah (god) (none
who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God- Allah). And if
they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will
befall the disbeliveers among them.

Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness?
For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a
Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His
mother (Mary) was a Siddiqah (she believed in the Words of Allah, and
His Books. They both used to eat food, as any other human being, while
Allah does not eat). Look how We made the Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how
they are deluded away from the truth. (Ch 5:72-75 Quran)

And Almighty Allah ordered: And say: "All the praises
and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son (nor an offspring),
and Who has no partner in His Dominion, nor He is low to have a Wali
(helper, protector, or supporter). And magnify Him with all the
magnificence, (Allahu-Akbar, Allah is the Most Great)." (Ch
17:111
Quran)

The pagans once asked the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): "To
whom is your Lord related, His original ancestors and His various
branches of descendants?" It is also reported that the Jews said: "We
worship Ezra, the Son of Allah," and the Christians said: "Jesus is the
Son of Allah," and the Magians said: "We worship the sun and the moon,"
an the Pagans said: "We worship idols."

In response to all of them Allah revealed some of His
attributes: Unity, Uniqueness, and other substantives:

 

Say: (O Muhammad): "He is Allah, the One. Allah
As-Samad (The Self- Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He
neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; and there
is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." (Ch 112:1-4 Quran)