Sunday, September 21, 2008

Jesus in the Quran

Right now I've completed 21 of the 30 juzes in my Ramadan reading of the Quran. I've covered a few mentions of Jesus so far and I truthfully can't remember if there are any others in the remainder. In any case, everything I've read so far and everything that I recall of Jesus in the Quran is just when he is an infant or talking of his illusioned crucifiction.

What struck me as odd was something I read in the surah Maryam. In verse 33, baby Jesus states:
"So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!"

What I find strange about this is the fact that the Muslim view of Jesus states that he did not die but was raised to heaven (actually, on further investigation, it turns out this is even disputed in Islam). I would think that Jesus, being a prophet, wouldn't talk of his death if it were not actually going to happen.

As usual of late, my lack of time limits the length of my post so that's all for now.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

So you've moved and started a new job? That's big stuff. I can see why your posts have to be short; you've got a lot going on. I know you're reading through the Quran right now, but I wondered if you still read the Bible. Just curious. I'm a Christian, and I don't go to it often enough. I did read Hebrews 11 last night and was really glad I did. I'm considering an out-of-town move myself (for grad school potentially), and with all the unknowns that are ahead, I'm can just pretty anxious. I love verse 8: "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." I don't know where I'm going to be in the next year, and this verse encourages me to step out in faith. After all, we can't "mess up." God is sovereign. Do you believe that God is sovereign?

-ces

Searching For Truth said...

I was reading my Bible fairly regularly before my move. I'm very nearly done reading the Quran and I decided that once I finish, I'm going back to reading my Bible. I'm hoping to really dig into it.

I'm glad you've stuck around. Like I said, I'm plan to begin posting regularly again. Good luck with the unknowns in your life. I definitely can relate.

Anonymous said...

True, he did not die, but he will die one day, as we all do. he was raised, then will return as the Messiah (pbuh)

The three phases of human life:

1) Birth
2) Death
3) Resurection

The third is what atheists have trouble in beliveing, it's the promise of God that there is an after life. Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet knew from birth of his own death, accepted it in peace and as a given (i.e no doubt) - from Hadeeth his death will be as a old man. His acceptence of the three phases is the acceptence of the third, the same resuerection all humans will go thrugh in the afterlife.

It is very compresed but verse 34 shows that this is the whole of the life of Jesus (pbuh) *2,000+ years of it), the same three stages that all humans go thrugh - and that those that talk and talked of it wasted their time and added things and confused the whole message.

Like all of God's messengers, Jesus(pbuh) was saying that he, like all humans was born, will die, and will be resurected on the same day all other humans are resurected.

My Arabic reference:

http://www.elsharawy.com/books.aspx?mstart=1019023&mend=1019046

I got it clearly in the Arabic but sure I messed up in my English writeing, I will be gald to expand on anything you, or CES (Glad to see you again CES!) want to ask.

CES: "Do you believe that God is sovereign?"
For a Jew, Christian or Muslim that belief is the only way to heaven, Abraham (pbuh) went were he was told, did his good deeds, lived his life and then died, that took great faith, and it means his trust of God as sovereign will be rewarded in the after life.

Note: the religion of Abraham (pbuh) is descibed as "Haneef" it is a hard word to translate but it is not the name of any religion, but it means that he was never confident that he worshiped God as well as he could, so he strived constantly to more and more worship, to go closer and never stop tryng to get closer.