ARGUMENT:
Allah says in the Holy Quran: "...But they killed him (Jesus) not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubt, with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow, for a surely they killed him not; Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise." (4:158-159)
REFUTATION:
It is absurd to think that one who is neither killed, nor put to death by putting on the Cross has necessarily ascended bodily to heaven. Do the Non-Ahmadies believe that Hazrat MusaAS or the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him) are alive in heaven as they were neither killed nor put to death by crucifixion? Besides, the Arabic words Maa Salabooho do not deny the fact of Hadhrat Jesus'AS being nailed to the Cross but deny his having died on it as is clear from Arabic lexicon. They say Salaba Ash-Shaia, i.e., he burned the thing. Salabal Izama means, he extracted the marrow out of the bones.Salabal Lissa means, he crucified the thief, i.e., he put him to death in a certain well-known manner (Lane & Aqrab). In crucifixion one was nailed to a framework made in the form of a cross and, being kept without food and drink, slowly died of pain, hunger, fatigue, and exposure.
ARGUMENT:
The words Wa Laakin Shubbiha Lahum in verse 4:158 means that the likeness of Hadhrat JesusAS was cast upon another person--Judas or somebody else who was then crucified in place of Hazrat Jesusas.
REFUTATION:
The curious part of it is that there is not only one story that speaks of the casting of the likeness of Hadhrat JesusAS, there are several stories. But intelligent commentators like Abu Hayyaan have discarded all such stories. The word Shubbiha means, he was made to appear like, or was made to resemble. Now the question arises, who is the person who was made to appear "like one crucified". Clearly it was Hadhrat JesusAS whom the Jews tried to crucify or slay. Nobody else can be meant here, for there is absolutely no reference to any other person in the context. The context cannot be twisted as to make room for somebody else of whom no mention at all is made in the verse. To what then was Hadhrat JesusAS made like? The context provides a clear answer to that question. The Jews did not kill him by crucifixion, but he was made to appear to them like "one crucified", and thus it was that they wrongly took him for dead. It was thus Hadhrat JesusAS who was made to resemble "one crucified". This interpretation is not only in perfect harmony with the context but is also clearly borne out by all relevant facts of history.
The second meaning of the expression Shubbiha Lahum is, that "the matter became confused to them." This interpretation is also clearly borne out by history, for, although the Jews asserted that they had put Hadhrat JesusAS to death by suspending him on the Cross, they were not sure of it and the circumstances being obscure, the matter had certainly become confused to them. The fact that the Jews themselves were not sure whether Hadhrat JesusAS had actually died on the Cross is supported by the Bible and by all authentic historical facts.
ARGUMENT:
The words in verse 4:159 Bal Rafa'ahollaho Ilaihi --"Nay Allah raised him up unto Himself" clearly shows that Allah lifted Hadhrat Jesus'AS body to heaven.
REFUTATION:
As a matter of fact the referred Arabic words simply mean that Allah exalted him (Hadhrat JesusAS) to Himself. Here the exaltation is the exaltation of the soul of which the Jews were trying to deprive him by putting to death through crucifixion, but Allah frustrated them in their evil designs. The detail of their failure is given in Part One of this publication.
In the Holy Quran, the Traditions of the Holy ProphetSAW, the Commentaries and in the Arabic idioms, whenever the word Rafa'a is used by Allah for a human being, it always connotes exaltation of ranks and spiritual nearness, because no fixed abode can be, or has ever been, assigned to God as the Holy Quran declares: "And He is Allah, both in the heavens and in the earth." (6:4) "So withersoever you turn, there will be the face of Allah." (2:116) "And We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein." (50:17) Hence, Rafa'a Ilallah does not necessitate one's physical ascension to heaven, rather this Rafa'a--exaltation is achieved on this very earth.
As a matter of fact that word Rafa'a has never been used in the entire Holy Quran nor in the Traditions of the Holy ProphetSAW as a connotation of physical ascension to heaven as is clear from the following references:
1-Wa Lau Shi'naa La Rafa'anaaho Bihaa Wa Laakinnahoo Akhlada Ilal Ardhi--"And if We had pleased, We would have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth." (7:177) Here the commentators are unanimous in their interpretation of the exaltation of the ranks of the referred person. It is never meant to indicate the intention of physically raising up the referred person to heaven.
2-Wa Rafa'anaaho Makaanan Aliyyaa--"And We exalted him (Hadhrat IdrisAS) to lofty station." (19:58) Likewise see: 24:37; 80:14-15; 56:35; 58:12.
3-Idha Tawaza Al-Abdo Rafa'ahollaho Ilas Samaa Is-Saabiati--"When a person shows humility, Allah lifts him up to the seventh heaven." (Kanzul UmmaalVol. 2, page 53) This Hadith clearly shows that even if the word Samaa (sky) had been used here instead of Allah, the verse could not have meant anything else but spiritual honor and exaltation. Will the non-Ahmadies believe that every act of humility literally lifts a person up to heaven in both body and spirit? Certainly, there can be no bigger folly than such an inference. Why then draw such inference in the case of JesusAS? Why should he be sent up to heaven alive? Was not this earth sufficient for him as the Quran declared: Alam Najalil Arza Kifaatan Ahya'an Wa Amwaatan--"Have We not made the earth sufficient for the living and the dead?" (77:26-27)
4-All the Muslims are aware of the fact that there occurs the word Warfa'anee (and exalt me in ranks) in the prayer which the Holy ProphetSAW used to pray between two Sajdas (prostrations). (Kitab Ibn Maja) All the Muslims supplicate this prayer between two Sajdas in their Salat, but does any one ever think that he is supplicating for his physical ascension to heaven? Or, is there any doubt regarding the Holy ProphetSAW's Rafa'a (exaltation of ranks) despite his sojourn on this very earth?
5-In the Commentary of the Holy Quran known as Tafseer Saafi under the verse Maa Muhammadun Illa Rasool Qad Khalat Min Qablihir Rusul (3:145) the demise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him) has been mentioned in he following words: Hatta Idha Da'a Allaho Nabiyyahoo Wa Rafa'a Hoo Ilaihi--"Until when Allah called His Prophet and exalted him to Himself." Now here are words Rafa'a Hoo Ilaihi used for the Holy ProphetSAW had never been interpreted as his corporal ascension to heaven. Is it not strange and outright blasphemy to interpret the word Rafa'a for the Holy ProphetSAW as exaltation of his ranks, and for JesusAS as his physical ascension to heaven?
ARGUMENT:
Allah says in the Holy Quran: "And there is none of the people of the Book must believe in him before his death and on the Day of Judgement he will be a witness against them." (4:160) As Jews and Christians have not all believed in HadhratJesusAS, therefore, he must be alive with his physical body in heaven, and after descending from heaven in the last days he shall turn them into believers.
REFUTATION:
Although the words of verse 4:160 do not show that Hadhrat JesusAS is now sitting in the sky in his physical body, yet the fantastic conclusion is drawn. But it is forgotten that if Hadhrat JesusAS be supported to be alive, even then all Jews and Christians cannot believe in Hadhrat JesusAS; because many generations of them are dead. How can they then believe? So it is clear that if they have all to believe in Hadhrat JesusAS, it must be supposed that along with him the Jews and Christians are also alive, which is obviously absurd. Besides, if the interpretation of the Non-Ahmadies is accepted for the sake of argument, then it establishes contradictions in the Holy Quran as is clear from the following references:
1-"Nay, but Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe no but little." (4:156)
2-"So, We have caused enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection." (5:15)
3-"When Allah said, O Jesus, I will cause thee to die...and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection." (3:56)
These verses clearly show that all Jews shall not believe in Hadhrat JesusAS, hence, the interpretation of the Non-Ahmadies is entirely wrong. The correct translation of the verse 4:160 without twisting words so as to yield far-fetched meanings is: "And there is none among the People of the Book but will believe in it (the crucifixion of Jesus) before his death; and on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) shall be a witness among them." What the Quranic verse lays down is that every Jew and Christian must according to their creeds, continue to believe in the death of Hadhrat JesusAS on the Cross. The Jew because he wants to show that according to Deuteronomy 21:23 the curse of God fell upon Hadhrat JesusAS, and the Christian because he wants to affirm the doctrine of Atonement as mentioned in Galatians 3:13. So both these peoples go on sticking to this absurd and unfounded belief (Jesus'AS death on the Cross) in the face of all reason and all established facts of history. The attempts to make the words La Yominanna Bihee Qabla Mautehee (will believe in it before his death) mean "will believe in him (Jesus) before his (Jesus) death" is simply ridiculous. The context spurns the idea, as does the second reading of the expression, viz., Mautihee (his death) reported by Ubayy in Ibn Jareer, Vol. 6, page 13.
ARGUMENT:
Allah says in the Holy Quran: "And behold I did restrain the children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou did show them the clear signs." (5:111) This verse clearly shows that the Jews could not even touch Hadhrat JesusAS. But if it is accepted that he was hanged on the Cross, his hands bled, and he was taken down from the Cross after suffering a lot of troubles, then this verse proves false.
REFUTATION:
There is not a single word which connotes that Allah restrained the Jews from violence to Hadhrat JesusAS, hence, the Non-Ahmadi translator Allaama Yusuf Ali had no other choice but to put the words "violence to" in brackets. The verse does not mean that Jesus suffered no persecution at the hands of enemies. A similar expression has been used with regard to the early Muslims in the Quran: Yaa Ayyuhalladheena Aamanudh-Karoo Ni'Amatillahi Alaikum Idh Hamma Qaumun An Yabsotoo Ilaikum Aidiy-hum Fa Kaffa Aidiyahum Ankum (5:12)--"O ye who believe! remember Allah's favor upon you when a people intended to stretch out their hands against you, but He withheld their hands from you." But it is a well-known fact that they had to pass through grievous trials and tribulations. As a matter of fact the reference in the verse (5:111) is to the attempts of the Jews to kill Hadhrat JesusAS on the Cross, from which accursed death God delivered him. Similar protection was promised to the Holy ProphetSAW (in 5:68) but that did not mean that his enemies would not be allowed to do him any physical harm whatsoever. It only means that they would not be permitted to take his life so as to render him unfit for his work.
ARGUMENT:
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be him) is reported to have said: Kaifa Antum Idha Nazala Feekum Ibno Maryama Wa Imaamokum Minkum --"How would it be with you when the son of Mary will descend among you and you will have a leader raised from among you." (Bukhari, Kitabul-Anbiya, Chapter Nazul Isa bin Maryam) The word Nazul, it is argued, signifies that Hadhrat JesusAS must come down physically from the high heavens, hence, he is physically alive in heaven. Besides, the Holy ProphetSAW said that the son of Mary will come, so it must be Hadhrat JesusAS himself who should come personally.
REFUTATION:
In the first place, there is no word Minas-Samaa from heaven, mentioned in the Tradition. No doubt there are two points which need explanation: One Nazool and the other Ibn Maryam. It should be remembered that the word Nazala may mean "he descended" but it cannot by any stretch of meaning, signify "he descended physically from the heavens". There is not the slightest justification for this.
The same word is used about the coming of the Holy ProphetSAW. Says the Holy Quran: Qad Anzalallaho Ilaikum Dhikran Rasoolan Yatloo Alaikum Aayaatillahi--"Allah has indeed sent down to you a Reminder, a Messenger, who recites unto you the clear signs of Allah." (65:11-12) But No one can say that the Holy ProphetSAW came down from the heavens physically.
Then God says: Wa Anzalnal Hadeeda--"And We sent down iron" (57:26), and we know that it is not thrown down from the heavens. Likewise the word Nazoolhas been mentioned about cattle in 39:7; about raiment in 7:27. Even this word had been used for each and every thing in 15:22 where Allah says: Wa In Min Shai-in Illaa Indinna Khazaainohoo Wa Maa Nonazzilohoo Illaa Biqadarin Ma'aloom--"And there is not a thing but with Us are the treasures thereof and We send it not down except in known measure." Hence, it appears that all things in nature descend from God--are gifted by God--and yet they do not drop from Heaven. Their creation takes place in and on and through this very earth. Therefore, the word Nazool (descend), when used for the coming of the Messiah, can have no other meaning. It can only point to the importance, the blessedness and the spiritual significance of the Promised Messiah. It is not in the least intended to suggest that he would physically drop from Heaven to earth.
IBN MARYAM--Son of Mary:
As the promised Imam was to be the Messiah, therefore, the Holy ProphetSAW called him the son of Mary. The name of one is generally given to another when there is striking resemblance between the two. Abu Sufyan, after meeting Heraclius, said to his companions: Laqad Amara Amrubno Abee Kabshata Innahoo Yakhaafohoo Maliko Banee Asfara--"Of a certainty, the son of Abee Kabshah has succeeded, because even the king of Bani Asfar fears him". (Bukhari) Everyone knows that the Holy ProphetSAW was not the son of Abi Kabshah, but Abu Sufyan calls him as such because he believed in the Unity of God like the son of Abi Kabshah.
Metaphors abound in all languages. Is it not a fact that a person who excels in the virtue of charity, is metaphorically called Hatam of Tai? If the name Ibn Maryam is the name of a known individual, is not Hatam the name of a known individual? If by giving this name to another person, nobody is misled into thinking that this person is the original Hatam, need anybody think that when the Promised One is named Isa Ibn Maryam or JesusAS, son of Mary, it must mean the self-same Hadhrat JesusAS, son of Mary, who appeared almost 2000 years ago?
Hence, when it is narrated in the Traditions that Jesus son of Mary will come, it should not be taken literally but rather to be understood in the metaphorical sense as has been interpreted by a scholar of great repute and regenerator of his century, Mohyuddin Ibn Arabi, when he says: "His descent in latter ages will be with a different body." (Tafsir Araisul Bayan, Vol. I, P. 262) So the inference of Non-Ahmadies from the above quoted tradition of Bukhari to prove the physical life of Jesus in heaven is altogether repugnant to the teachings of the Quran, the common metaphors, and to the high spiritual status of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of God be him)
No comments:
Post a Comment