Pars Today- The holy Qur’an has introduced Prophet Jesus (Peace upon him) with numerous characteristics some of which are blessings and some have been acquired. Enjoying these characteristics indicates his total authority (Wilayah).
Prophet Jesus son of Mary (Peace upon them), known with the epithet Maseeh or Messiah (Christ), is the fourth among the Resolute Prophets and had a universal religion. His heavenly book is Evangel. Jesus was the son of Lady Mary (Peace upon her) and was born in a unique and astonishing manner which has been mentioned in the holy Qur’an.
Christians believe that Prophet Jesus was crucified, but the Qur’an says that it was made so in order to appear to people and somebody else was crucified instead of him and God raised Prophet Jesus to the heaven. Pars Today has taken a look at the descriptions of the holy Qur’an on Prophet Jesus (Peace upon him):
Qur’anic verses on Prophet Jesus
“… and We gave Jesus son of Mary manifest proofs and confirmed him with Holy Spirit….”
“When the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah gives you the good news of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, distinguished in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near [to Allah].
“… and so that We may make him a sign for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a matter [already] decided.”
“And he will speak to people in the cradle and in adulthood, and will be among the righteous.”
“And He will teach him the Book and wisdom, and the Torah and the Evangel.”
“And [he will be] and apostle to the Children of Israel.”
“And [I come] to confirm [the truth of] that which is before me of the Torah….”
“… the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only an apostle of Allah, and His Word that He cast toward Mary and a spirit from Him….”
“And Zachariah and John and Jesus and Ilyās- each of them among the righteous.”
“… We chose them and guided them to a straight path.”
“He said, ‘I am only a messenger of your Lord that I may give you a pure son.'”
“He said, ‘Indeed I am a servant of Allah! He has given me the Book and made me a prophet.'”
The holy Qur’an quotes from Prophet Jesus as saying, “He has made me blessed wherever I may be…”
Elsewhere the Qur’an quotes from him, “And to be good to my mother, and He has not made me self-willed and wretched.”
“He has prescribed for you the religion which He had enjoined upon Noah and which We have [also] revealed to you, and which We have enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus….”
A review of these verses reveals the lofty status of Prophet Jesus. Now, let us dwell upon his characteristics according to these verses.
Word of God
The holy Qur’an has twice called Messiah as a Word of God. “Word” does not mean what is uttered and articulated with mouth. It rather means the external and visible being of Messiah who is one of the divine words in creation. Although all creatures of the world are the words of God, since Jesus was created miraculously, he is the outstanding Word of God. The reason why the world of creation is called the word of God is that the creation of creatures is a manifest proof of the sublime attributes of the Creator; just as the verbal word indicates a set of mental and hidden meanings, and the verses of the Qur’an are all considered as the words of God.
Messiah and Jesus son of Mary
The Qur’anic verses indicate that both these names were used by God as it is mentioned in the good news of the angels, “Indeed Allah gives you the good news of a Word of Him whose name is Jesus son of Mary.” The reason why he is called Messiah is that it is a derivative of the word Mas’h meaning touch and anoint since he would cure patients with touching their bodies. Sometimes it is said that Messiah is derived from the word, “Mamsooh” meaning washed and expurgated from sins or engulfed with bounties.
The word Jesus may also be derived from Yashwa’ meaning Savior or Ya’ish (equal to Yahya or John meaning Living) as there were similarities between the two prophets.
God’s sign
Creation of the Messiah, like that of Prophet John, was quite miraculous. It was rather more miraculous. Thus, the Messiah himself is considered as one of the divine signs just as God says, “… in order to make him as a sign for people”, or “… that I may give you a pure son.” Li ahaba (that I may give) here refers to his miraculous creation.
Speaking in cradle
One of the clear reasons for his being a sign is that he spoke in his childhood just like adults, ” And he will speak to people in the cradle and in adulthood.”
Spiritual perfection
The holy Qur’an, in order to mention the spiritual perfection of the Messiah, introduces him with these descriptions:
1- pure son 2- blessed 3- good to my mother 4- He has not made me self-willed and wretched 5- … and among the righteous 6- … and We chose them 7- … and We confirmed him with Holy Spirit.
In short, these characteristics show that he was pure from sin, he was blessed, kind to his mother, humble, lenient and righteous. These characteristics together caused him to attain lofty positions.
Owner of religion and book
Due to certain lofty characteristics, Jesus was chosen as one of the prophets and he had a Book and religion, too. Even at the school of the Unseen, he had been taught the Torah and wisdom as the verse reads, “And He will teach him the Book and wisdom, and the Torah and the Evangel,” and the other verse reads, “He gave me the Book and made me prophet.”
Among Resolute Prophets
If we interpret the Resolute Prophets as those who, besides the Book, had a religion, Prophet Jesus is one of them as the verse reads, “He has prescribed for you the religion which He had enjoined upon Noah and which We have [also] revealed to you, and which We have enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus….”
A prophet sent towards Children of Israel
To see if the Messiah’s mission was dedicated to the Israelites or it had a broader expanse, is an independent issue which is out of the scope of this discussion. But, the surface of verses indicate that the first proposition is right as it is said in the Qur’an, “… and an apostle toward the Children of Israel…”
Sometimes testifying the deeds has also been enumerated among the characteristics of Prophet Jesus as God has introduced him in this way, “… and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.”
Sources: Jesus in the Qur’an, Wikifeqh seminary encyclopedia, article titled, “Messiah son of Mary” of Pazhuheh website
Keywords: Islam, Jesus Christ
RM/ME
