The Life of the Prophet Isa (as) According to historical sources, the Prophet Isa (as) lived around 2000 years ago and is a messenger chosen by Allah in this world and the Hereafter. The Gospel of Saint Matthew reveals that the Prophet Isa (as) was born in the time of King Herod I during a regime change (4 BC) and the Gospel according to Saint Luke says he was born in the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (6 AD) at the time of the census in Judea. It is impossible to confirm that information. However, experts examining various sources estimate that the Prophet Isa (as) was born in 7-6 BC. The oldest fragment of the Gospels found to date (125 AD) The true faith bestows as a blessing by Allah, that this holy messenger who preached the truth of everlasting Paradise brought with him has been corrupted and distorted from its original form, although it is currently regarded as a revealed faith. In the same way, the Gospel revealed by Allah to the Prophet Isa (as) exists in name though its original form has been lost. Christian scriptures have been corrupted and distorted in various ways. It is therefore impossible for us today to obtain definite facts regarding the Prophet Isa (as) from these sources. The only source from which we can obtain sure and certain knowledge about the Prophet Isa (as) is the Quran, which Allah has promised to preserve until Doomsday. The Quran refers to the birth and life of the Prophet Isa (as), give examples of events befalling him during that time, and describes the circumstances of those around him and various other matters. It also gives several examples of how the Prophet Isa (as) preached to the Jews. In Surah Al Imran, our Lord says: (Isa will say,) I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So have fear of Allah and obey me. (Isa will say,) Allah is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him. That is a straight path. (Surah Al Imran, 50-51) Most Jews failed to heed the Prophet Isas (as) call, and only a few disciples attached themselves to him. The existence of these true believers is revealed in the Quran: When Isa sensed disbelief on their part, he said, Who will be my helpers to Allah? The disciples said, We are Allahs helpers. We believe in Allah. Bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and have followed the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses. (Surah Al Imran, 52-53) According to the New Testament, the Prophet Isa (as) travelled all over Palestine with these 12 disciples beside him. During these journeys he undertook in order to summon people to believe in Allah, he performed various miracles, by our Lords leave. He healed the sick and lame, healed lepers, gave sight to people blind from birth and brought the dead back to life. These miracles are revealed as follows in the Quran: As a Messenger to the tribe of Israel, saying: I have brought you a sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it and it will be a bird by Allahs permission. I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life, by Allahs permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers. (Surah Al Imran, 49) Remember when Allah said, Isa, son of Maryam, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay by My permission, and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission; and healed the blind and the leper by My permission; and when you brought forth the dead by My permission; and when I held back the tribe of Israel from you, when you brought them the clear signs and those of them who were unbelievers said, This is nothing but downright magic (Surat al-Maida, 110) The wall painting The Healing of the Blind Man by the Italian artist Duccio The Prophet Isa (as) performed great miracles, and these had a great impact on people. But the Prophet Isa (as) always made it clear that he performed these miracles by Allahs leave, and passages in the Gospels indicate that he always told those he healed that faith saved you. According to the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the people praised Allah for the miracles performed by the Prophet Isa (as): And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother[f] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew, 15: 29-31) Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. (Luke, 22:1-2) The Quran states that the Prophet Isa (as) was taken into the presence of Allah and that someone resembling him was killed in his place believing that it was him. Like all the prophets, the Prophet Isa (as) summoned his people to believe in Allah, to surrender to Him and live for His approval, to avoid sin and evil and to perform good deeds. He reminded them of the transient nature of the life of this world and of the proximity of death, and told them that everyone would be called to account for all their deeds on the Day of Judgement. He called on people to worship Allah alone and to fear and be in awe of Him. One can see much advice on such matters in the Gospels in the instructive stories known as parables. The Prophet Isa (as) told parables against those with no faith, told people that the Dominion of Allah was close at hand and called on them to beseech His forgiveness. That dominion was one that the Jews expected would be established with the coming of the Messiah and would be a means whereby the Jews attained belief and salvation. The Prophet Isa (as) was loyal to the law of the Prophet Musa (as), the rules of the Torah, and warned the Jews against following these laws in an insincere manner of simply for show. According to the New Testament, he told the Jews: If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. (John, 5:46) The Prophet Isa (as) summoned people to return to the Torah. The Gospel according to Matthew says that he commanded people to obey the Holy Law, in other words the Law of the Prophet Musa (as): ... I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.... (Matthew, 5: 17) Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew, 5: 19) The Quran cites the Prophet Isa (as) as saying: I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a sign from your Lord. So fear [and respect] Allah and obey me. (Surah Al Imran, 50)
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 15:54:11 +0000
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