Prophet Isa (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Isa (AS) is mentioned in the Quran 25 times in the following Ayats of the Quran:
(Quran, 3:45, 3: 52, 3:55, 3:59, 3:84, 4:157, 4:163, 4:171-172, 5: 17, 5:46, 5:72, 5:75, 5:78, 5:110, 5:112, 5:114, 5:116, 6:85, 19:34, 33:7, 42:13, 43:63, 57:27, 61:6, 61:14)
Prophet Isa (AS) is also referred to in the Quran as ‘Al-Masih’ eleven times. (Quran, 3:45, 4:157, 4:171-172, 5:17, 5:72, 5:75)
Prophet Isa (AS) is also mentioned in the Quran as ‘Ibn Maryam’ (Son of Maryam), 23 times.
Denial of the Christian Claims that Allah SWT has a Son:
In the Quran, Allah SWT denied the claim of the Christians that He had a son.
Allah mentions this in various Ayats of the Quran. (Quran, 4:171, 5:72, 5:75, 9:30, 19:88-92, 43:59)
A delegation from the city of Najran once came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and they began to talk about their claim about the Trinity, which is the belief that Allah is three in one, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
This is why Allah SWT stated in many verses of the Quran that Isa (AS) is a slave of Allah, whom He moulded in the womb of his mother just like any other of His creatures, and that He created him without a father.
Birth of Maryam:
The sister of Prophet Zakariya’s wife had a daughter named Hannah, who was married to Imran, the leader of the Israelis.
For many years, they remained childless and Hannah turned to Allah SWT and asked Him for a child and Allah granted her request.
When Hannah learnt she was pregnant, she was very happy and thanked Allah SWT. She was known to be a very righteous person. However, whilst she was pregnant, Maryam’s father, Imran passed away.
Hannah eventually gave birth to a girl and at this time, females were not accepted into the temple.
Hannah then wrapped Maryam in a shawl and handed her over to the elders at the temple.
The Quran on Maryam’s Birth:
Allah SWT mentions the prayer of Hannah in the Quran. Allah says: ‘When the wife of Imran said: ‘My Lord, I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated to Your service, so accept it from me. Truly, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’ (Quran, 3:35)
Here, she is referred to in the Quran as ‘the wife of Imran‘, and she dedicated her unborn child to Allah’s service.
Allah says: ‘But when she delivered her, she said: ‘My Lord, I have delivered a female.’ And Allah knew better what she delivered. ‘And the male is not like the female. I have named her Maryam, and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from Shaytan.’ (Quran, 3:36)
Here, Allah SWT mentions the supplication of Hannah who named Maryam and asked Allah SWT to protect her and her children from Shaytan.
Guardianship of Maryam:
Everyone wanted to take care of the daughter of the late leader Imran.
Prophet Zakariya (AS) stated that he would look after the child as he was the husband of the maternal aunt, and he was the nearest relation in the temple.
They decided to draw lots to solve who would take care of Maryam. Each person was given a reed (an object) to throw in the river and they agreed that whoever’s reed stayed afloat, would be granted guardianship of Maryam.
All the reeds sank to the bottom except for Zakariya’s and this is how he became the guardian of Maryam.
Prophet Zakariya’s Guardianship in the Quran:
Allah SWT mentions in the Quran: ‘So her Lord accepted her graciously and caused her to grow in a beautiful manner, and placed her under the care of Zakariyah.’ (Quran, 3:37)
Maryam’s Early Life:
To ensure nobody had access to Maryam, Prophet Zakariya (AS) built a separate room for her in the temple.
As she grew up, she spent her time in devotion to Allah and Zakariya (AS) visited her daily.
One day, he was surprised to see fresh fruit out of season in her room and he asked her where she got this from, and Maryam replied that they came from Allah SWT. (Quran, 3:37)
Zakariya (AS) then realised that Allah SWT had raised Maryam’s status above other women. He would then teach and guide her, and she grew up to be a well-renowned worshipper of Allah, glorifying Him day and night.
Hadith of the Prophet about Maryam:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: the best of the world’s women is Maryam (in her lifetime) and the best of the world’s women is Khadijah (in her lifetime) (Bukhari)
Birth of Isa (AS):
While Maryam was praying in her temple, Angel Jibril appeared in the form of a man and said: I am only a messenger from your Lord (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.
Maryam replied: How can I have a son when no man has touched me?
Angel Jibril replied: ‘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).’ (Quran, 19:18-21)
Maryam was very anxious about this pregnancy and after some months, she felt kicking inside her.
With a heavy heart, she left the temple and went to Nazareth where she settled in a simple house to avoid being seen publicly.
Maryam gave birth to Isa (AS) and the Quran mentions how she ‘withdrew him to a distant place’ (Quran, 3:22)
It was stated that this place was Bethlehem.
The Miracle of Isa (AS):
Maryam was struggling with the pain of giving birth and she decided to rest at a palm tree. She said as mentioned in the Quran: ‘Oh, I wish I had died before this and was long forgotten.’ (Quran, 19:23)
Her son Isa (AS) then miraculously spoke: ‘Grieve not. Your Lord has provided you with a water stream under you and shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you. It will let 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.’ (19:24-26)
Allah mentions in the Quran: ‘When she brought her son to her people, they said: O Mary, indeed you have brought a thing unheard of. Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother an unchaste woman. She (Maryam) then pointed out to her son Isa. They said: How can we talk to the one who is a child in the cradle? Isa 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 wherever I be, and has enjoined me prayer, and Zakat as long as I live, and dutiful to my mother and made me not arrogant. And Salam (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive.’ (19:27-33)
Confrontation with the Priests:
The Jewish priests felt that Isa (AS) was dangerous because they believed because of his miracles, people would now worship Allah SWT and leave their Jewish principles.
The Jewish priests thought they would lose their authority over the people, and because of this, they decided to keep the miracle of Isa (AS) speaking as an infant a secret.
When Isa (AS) was around twelve years old, he accompanied his mother, Maryam to Jerusalem.
Prophet Isa (AS) went into the temple and joined a crowd listening to the lecture of the Rabbis. After listening to what they had to say, he asked questions and expressed his opinions.
The Rabbis were unable to answer his questions and tried to silence him, but he ignored their attempts and continued to express his views.
Prophethood:
After Yahya (AS) and Zakariya (AS) were martyred by the corrupt people within the Children of Israel, the revelation of prophethood descended upon Isa (AS).
Allah SWT commanded him to begin his call to the children of Israel.
Prophet Isa (AS) started inviting the children of Israel to the religion of Tawhid, based on the principle that there was no mediation between Allah SWT and His creatures.
Prophet Isa (AS) would confront the materialistic people and told them not to preoccupy themselves with this Dunya and rather, to focus their attention on the Akhirah as it would be everlasting.
Isa (AS) continued to try and guide people to worship to worship Allah SWT, without any partners.
Isa (AS) and the Mosaic Law:
The Jewish priests knew that every word that Prophet Isa (AS) was preaching was a threat to them and as a result of this, they decided to plot against him.
They wanted to somehow prove that he had come to destroy the Mosaic Law (from the Torah).
The Mosaic Law states that adulteresses be stoned to death and the priests brought an adulteress and asked Prophet Isa (AS): Does the law not stipulate the stoning of adulterers?
Isa replied: Yes. They said: This woman is an adulteress.
The priests agreed that she should be killed according to the Mosaic Law and the Jews knew that if Isa (AS) was going to apply this Law, he would be going against his own rules of forgiveness and mercy.
Prophet Isa (AS) knew what they were trying to do and he told the priests: whoever among you is sinless can stone her.
This was a new rule of adultery, for the sinless to judge those who sin. Because of this law, nobody could stone the adulteress as only Allah SWT can judge the sins of a person.
As Prophet Isa (AS) left the temple, the adulteress followed him and washed his feet with her bottle of perfume and her tears.
Isa (AS) turned to the woman and told her to stand up, and he said: O Lord, forgive her sins!
Prophet Isa continued to pray to Allah SWT to have mercy on his people and to teach them to have mercy upon each other and to believe in Allah alone.
The Quran of Isa (AS) and the Scriptures:
Allah SWT mentions in the Quran that Isa (AS) confirmed the Torah: ‘..confirming the Torah that came before me.’ (Quran, 3:50)
Allah also says: ‘And We gave him the Gospel (Injil) containing guidance and light and confirming what was revealed in the Torah.’ (Quran, 4:56)
This shows that despite Allah SWT giving Isa (AS) the Injil, he still upheld the principles of the Torah.
The Miracles of Isa (AS):
Prophet Isa (AS) was helped with the miracle of resurrecting people and he brought four people back from the dead.
Three of these were people who had died during his lifetime. They were: a friend named Al-Azam, an old woman’s son and a woman’s only daughter.
The Challenge from the Jews:
The Jews saw this and said: you can only resurrect those who have died recently, perhaps they only fainted.
They challenged Prophet Isa (AS) to resurrect Sam ibn Nuh, the son of Prophet Nuh.
Isa (AS) asked them to show him his grave and he then asked Allah SWT to bring him back to life and from his Dua, Sam ibn Nuh came out of his grave with grey hair.
Isa (AS) asked Sam ibn Nuh how he got grey hair as he did not reach such an old age in his lifetime. Sam ibn Nuh replied: O Spirit of Allah, I thought that the Day of Resurrection had come, for the fear that my hair turned grey.
Miracle Mentioned in the Quran:
Allah SWT mentions in the Quran the statement of Isa (AS): ‘…and I bring the dead to life, by Allah’s permission.’ (Quran. 3:49)
Disciples of Isa (AS):
Prophet Isa then asked: Who will be my helpers in Allah’s cause?
The disciples replied: We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah and bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and we follow Isa, so write us down as among those who bear witness.
This is mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al-Imran (Quran, 3:52)
More Miracles:
Once, Prophet Isa (AS) was sitting with his disciples, he took a handful of clay and asked his disciples: shall I make for you, a live bird from this clay? They replied: are you capable of doing so?
Isa (AS) replied: Yes, by the will of my Lord.
He took the clay and shaped it to resemble a bird and Isa (AS) then blew upon it and said: Be a living bird, by the will of Allah!
The bird flew away and once it disappeared from the public, it returned to clay.
This miracle is mentioned twice in the Quran. (Quran, 3:49, 5:110)
The Disciples’ Request:
The disciples then requested for miracles to be sent from Allah SWT and they asked for a ‘holy table’ for them to eat and drink from. (Quran, 5:112-113)
Allah SWT then warned Isa (AS): ‘I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after are disbelievers, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all the Alamin.’ (Quran, 5:115)
Prophet Isa (AS) commanded his disciples to fast for thirty days and at the end of it, the disciples asked him to bring food from heaven to break their fast.
Isa (AS) prayed to Allah and a great table came between two clouds, one above and one below. Isa (AS) said: O Lord, make it a mercy and not a cause of distress.
The table fell between Isa’s hands, covered with a napkin. Isa (AS) then prostrated and the disciples followed.
Prophet Isa (AS) said: The one who is the most righteous may uncover the table that we might eat of it to thank Allah. The disciples replied: O Spirit of Allah, you are the most deserving!
Isa (AS) performed ablution and prayed. After praying to Allah SWT, he uncovered the table and they saw a roasted fish.
The disciples asked Isa (AS): O Spirit of Allah, is this the food of this world or Paradise? Prophet Isa (AS) replied: Did Allah not forbid you to ask such questions.
Miracle of Healing the Leper:
Another miracle that Prophet Isa (AS) was given was that he healed the blind and the leper.
This miracle is mentioned twice in the Quran. (Quran, 3:49, 5:110)
The Plot Against Isa:
The Jews then plotted to kill Isa (AS) and they accused him of magic and infringement of the Mosaic Law.
The leaders among the Jews at that time had secret meetings to agree on the best way to kill him.
One of the twelve disciples of Isa (AS), Judas asked the leaders: what will you give me If I deliver him to you? The leaders offered Judas thirty pieces of silver.
The Jewish priests did not have the ability to carry out the death sentence, so they reached out to the Roman Empire, claiming that Isa (AS) was plotting against the Romans.
The Roman governor agreed to have Prophet Isa (AS) arrested and crucified.
Allah SWT Saves Isa (AS) from the Plot of His Enemies:
Eventually, Isa (AS) heard about this evil plan and he knew that he was betrayed by one of his disciples.
When informing his followers of the plan of the disbelievers, Isa (AS) asked his disciples: who is ready to take my place?
One of the followers of Isa (AS) accepted to be a sacrifice for him and Allah SWT made this person resemble Prophet Isa (AS).
The Jews thought that this man was Prophet Isa (AS) and they crucified this man.
After committing this evil act, the Jews called out: We have killed Messiah Isa, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.
However, they did not kill Prophet Isa (AS) and they killed another man who resembled him.
The Quran On This Incident:
The Quran states that Allah SWT did not allow the children of Israel to kill Prophet Isa (AS) and crucify him. Allah SWT says: ‘They did not kill him, nor crucify him – but it was made to appear so to them.’ (Quran, 4:157)
Allah SWT had saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. Allah says: ‘Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself.’ (Quran, 4:158)
In another Ayat, Allah says about Isa (AS): ‘I will take you and raise you up to Myself.’ (Quran, 3:55)
About the evil plot of the Children of Israel, Allah SWT says: ‘They plotted, and Allah planned – and Allah is the best of planners.’ (Quran, 3:54)