THE QUR'AN (KORAN) REVEALS: 

Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers you will find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers you will find those who say: "We are Christians"; because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.   
                                                                        Qur'an 5 : 82 

Say: "O People of the Book! You have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Torah, the Gospel, and all the revelations that has come to you from your Lord." It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them, their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But  
sorrow thou not over (these) people without faith.   Qur'an 5 : 68 

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and  the Sabians, and the Christians, and who  
believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, - on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.   Qur'an 5 : 69 

Note: In verse 2 : 62, it is added;  
              "and shall have their reward with their Lord on them." 

And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew  
or a Christian". Those are their (vain) desires. Say:  
"Produce your proof if you are truthful."  
Nay, - whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good -, he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.    Qur'an 2 : 111-112  

O People of the Book! There hath come to you Our Messenger, revealing to you much that you used to hide in the Book, and passing over much. There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book, - wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His Will, unto the Light, - guideth them to a path that is straight.   Qur'an 5 : 15-16

Whenever I have divulged the fact that the Qur'an testifies the chastity of the Virgin Mary and the Allah had chosen her above the women of all nations (Q. 3:42); as well as it reveals that the birth of Jesus was by Allah's act of Breathing His Spirit into the body of honorable Virgin Mary (Q. 66:12),  most of the Christians have been taken by surprise. Continuing the dialogue little further I disclose, the Qur'an exemplifies: 
"The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam." (Q. 3:59).   
If Allah could create Adam from the dust - without both the parents - it is not difficult for Him to create Jesus, with one parent. 

The righteous Messiah - Jesus, holds an exalted place within Islam. Here are some of the honorable epithets mentioned in the Qur'an: 

"Word of Allah"           (kalimatu-Llah). 
"Spirit from God"        (ruhun mina' Llah). 
"The Righteous"         (as-saalihiin). 
"Messiah"                   (masih). 
"Prophet"                    (nabi). 
"Messenger of God"  (rasul).  
"The son of Mary"      (ibne Marium).

Before his birth, the angels had foretold Mary that her son, whose name will be Messiah Jesus, shall be held in high honor in this world, and, in the Hereafter, he will be among the nearest to Allah.   Q. 3 : 45. 

In the Qur'an the name of Virgin Mary appears 34 times; the name of her righteous son - Jesus, 25 times; the name Muhammad 3 times and the name Ahmad only once.  

In the Book of Acts it is recorded that; Jesus the Nazarene was a man attested to the Men of Israel by God with miracles, wonders and signs which God performed through him, in their midst.  Acts 2:22.  

The Qur'an while acknowledging the various miracles performed by Jesus adds one more to the list. It is a miracles which is not recorded by the apostles. 

Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold, I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in old age. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. And Behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave. And thou breathest into it, and it becometh a bird by My leave. And thou healest those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee, when thou didst show them the clear signs. And the unbelievers among them said; 'This is nothing but evident magic." Qur'an  5: 110

(Jesus said) "I have come to you to attest the Torah which was before me. (see Matthew 5:17). And to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me. It is Allah who is my Lord  and your Lord; (see John 20:17). Then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight." When Jesus found unbelief on their part he said: "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?" Said the Disciples, "We are Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah, do thou bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord!  
we believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the Messenger; then write us down among those who bear witness." And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned. And Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah. Qur'an 3 : 50-54 
Note: The word Muslim means; the one who submits to the will of Allah. 

Never said I to them (the followers), ought except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit. "Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord": and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a Witness to all things. Qur'an 5 : 117  
(see John 12:49 and 20:17) 

Christ disdaineth not to serve and worship Allah, nor do the angels, those nearest (to Allah): Qur'an 4:172 
 

THE FINAL DAYS OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS 

Jesus Christ gave in advance many perceptible and manifest signs to his disciples, concerning the final days of his ministry. Once a reader fully comprehends what the Christ had himself foretold and what did happen to him, it would be easy for him or her to understand the inner meanings behind the verses of the Qur'an, on the subject. 

Here are some of these sayings of Jesus, that have been recorded by the apostles: 

APOSTLE MARK (AFTER I AM AWAKENED...) 

Apostle Mark has recorded the following sign, which Jesus did fulfill: 

Jesus and his disciples went out to the Mount of Olives.  
And Jesus said to them:  
"... after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Mark 14 : 28. 

The original Greek word used by Mark, which is translated  "raised" in the above text, is very crucial. It is an accurate portrayal of what happened. I am reproducing below the literal translation of the above verse with the corresponding Greek - Strong's Dictionary numbers. 

(LIT)   Mk 14:28  ... after (3326-GSN) the (3588-GSN) 
rising (1453-GSN) of me, (3165-GSN) I will go ahead of (4254-GSN) you (5209-GSN) into (1519-GSN) Galilee (1056-GSN). 

The word "rising" has number 1453 of Strong's Greek Dictionary.  
Below is the Strong's dictionary meaning for 1453 and also for 1825 which is one of it's derivations: 

 Strong's Number: 1453-GSN 
 Transliterated:  egeiro 
 Pronounced:      eg-i'-ro 

probably akin to the base of 0058 GSN (through the idea of collecting one's faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or 
figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence): KJV--awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-)rise (again, up), 
stand, take up. 

 Strong's Number: 1825-GSN 
 Transliterated:  exegeiro 
 Pronounced:      ex-eg-i'-ro 

from 1537 GSN and 1453 GSN; to rouse fully, i.e. (figuratively) to resuscitate (from death), release (from infliction): KJV--raise up. 

When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome went looking for the tomb of Jesus, they were told by young a man dressed in the white robe:  

"He has been raised (1453 GSN - lit. "awakened"); he is not here. Look there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee;  
there you will see him, just as he had told you. So they went out and fled from the tomb, for the terror and amazement had seized them: and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." Mark 16:6-8.  
In the older manuscripts Mark's Gospel ends with verse 16:8. 
In the revised versions of the Bible the rest of text, after verse number eight, is placed within the parentheses.

Apostle Matthew has recorded another sign that Jesus gave to the scribes and Pharisees, who said to him: "Teacher, we wish to see  
a sign from you." Jesus answered them: 

"An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign,  
but no sign will be given to it except the sign of  
the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was  
three days and three nights in the belly of a sea monster,  
so for three days and three nights the Son of Man  
will be in the heart of the earth..."  Mt. 12 : 38-40

During his ordeal, the prophet's life did not come to an end. The one who finally emerged out of the belly of the sea monster was the same old Jonah, who had experienced the agony of death. Jesus had foretold: 
                "For just as Jonah was... in the belly of a sea monster,  
                so... the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth..." 

APOSTLE LUKE (FEEL MY HAND AND MY FEET...) 

While the eleven disciples and their companions were talking about the 
awakened (risen) Jesus,  

Jesus appeared before them and said. "Peace be with you". They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus said to them why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and at my feet: see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  Luke 24: 36-39

APOSTLE JOHN (RAISE "THE TEMPLE" IN 3 DAYS...) 

In the city of Jerusalem, when Jesus had overturned the tables of the money changers and driven out from the temple - making a whip of cords - the cattle, sheep, doves, their traders and the moneychangers, the Jews demanded a kind of explanation from Jesus, saying: 

"What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered them: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said: "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?  But he was speaking of the temple of his body.  John 2 : 18-21

SHAIKH AHMED DEEDAT (JESUS WAS ALIVE!) 

Shaikh Ahmed Deedat - a well respected retired Islamic scholar from South Africa, who has in the past delivered numerous lectures in dozens of countries on this hypersensitive subject, writes as under in chapter 
18 of his well-read publication 'Crucifixion or Cruci-fiction?':  
   (350,000 copies of the booklet distributed between 1984 and 1990) 

NONE SO BLIND... 
TAKE STOCK. THE TRUTH SHINES THROUGH 
    Let me give a quick summary of the points we have discussed so far, concluding the Jesus was neither killed nor was he crucified, as alleged by the Christians and the Jews, but that he was ALIVE!      

(I have reproduced the headings of the 30 "points" but not the details. To know the supporting details, explanations and arguments please read the booklet;  'Crucifixion or Cruci-fiction?', the address of the publishers appear in the next chapter.  Thanks). 

1.   JESUS WAS RELUCTANT TO DIE!  
2.   HE BESEECHED GOD FOR HELP.  
3.   GOD "HEARD" HIS PRAYERS.  
4.   AN ANGEL OF GOD CAME TO STRENGTHEN HIM:   
5.   PILOT FINDS JESUS NOT GUILTY!   
6.   PILOT'S WIFE SHOWN A DREAM IN WHICH SHE   
      WAS TOLD THAT --  
7.   SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE CROSS FOR ONLY THREE HOURS.    
8.   THE OTHER TWO - HIS "CROSS MATES" ON THEIR  
      RESPECTIVE CROSSES WERE ALIVE!   
9.   ENCYCLOPEDIA BIBLICA UNDER ARTICLE   
       "CROSS" -- COLUMN 960:   
10. "FORTHWITH" CAME THERE OUT BLOOD AND WATER:    
11.  LEGS NOT BROKEN - AS A FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY.  
12.  THUNDERSTORM, EARTHQUAKE AND DARKENING  
        OF THE SUN ALL WITHIN 3 HOURS!   
13.  JEWS DOUBTED HIS DEATH:   
14.  PILOT "MARVELS" TO HEAR THAT JESUS WAS DEAD.  
15.  BIG ROOMY CHAMBER:  
16.  STONE AND "WINDING SHEETS" HAD TO BE REMOVED:   
17.  REPORT ON WINDING SHEETS.   
18.  EVER IN DISGUISE!  
19.  FORBADE MARY MAGDALENE TO TOUCH HIM.  
20  "NOT YET ASCENDED UNTO MY FATHER"  
21.  MARY MAGDALENE NOT AFRAID ON RECOGNISING JESUS.  
22.  DISCIPLES PETRIFIED ON SEEING JESUS IN THE UPPER-ROOM.  
23.  ATE FOOD AGAIN AND AGAIN IN HIS POST  
      "CRUCIFIXION" APPEARANCES.  
24.  NEVER SHOWED HIMSELF TO HIS ENEMIES.  
25.  TOOK ONLY SHORT TRIPS.  
26.  TESTIMONY  OF MEN AROUND THE TOMB.  
27.  TESTIMONY OF ANGELS:  
28.  MARY MAGDALENE TESTIFIES --  
29.  DR. PRIMROSE TESTIFIES:  
30.  JESUS HAD HIMSELF FORETOLD THAT HIS  
       MIRACLE WILL BE THE MIRACLE OF JONAH!.

In February 1985, following the publication of the above booklet 'Crucifixion of Cruci-fiction?' (First Print: 100,000 in March 1984), an Appeal was filed before the Publication's Appeal Board, in Pretoria, South Africa. The appeal was made by the Directorate of Publication to over turn the earlier decision taken by the Publication Committee that the booklet was not undesirable. 

The Publication's Appeal Board, chaired by Prof. Kobus van Rooyen, consisted of two Reverends and five other Christians. The publisher - Islamic Propagation Centre (IPC) International, 124 Queen Street, Durban, South Africa, was successful in convincing the Appeal Board that the publication was neither blasphemous nor offensive. The publication was judged by the Board's chairman, Professor Kobus van Rooyen, as an apologia for the Muslim faith. The Appeal Board which consisted of all Christians, co-opted a religious leader from the Muslim Community of South Africa, Mr. A. A. Jinnah, as an advisor. Attention was also given to the scholarly advice sought on the subject from an eminent Afrikaner theologian, Professor Johan Heyns. 

By the Grace of Allah, the defenders (Muslims), were able to convince the Appeal Board that they were propagating the Truth, flowing from their religious convictions, that they were entitled to and under duty to propagate the teachings of the Holy Qur'an, which scripture clearly states: 

And they (Jews) said (in boast),  
"We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary,  
the Messenger of God":  
But they killed him not, nor crucified him,  
but it was made to appear to them so,  
and those who differ therein are full of doubts  
with no (certain) knowledge,  
but they follow only conjecture.  
For a surety they (Jews) killed him not.  
                  Holy Qur'an 4:157

Data:   1. The term "resurrection".  
                  It comes from the Greek word; 
                  Transliterated:  anastasis  
                  Pronounced:  an-as'-tas-is. 
                  It literally means; a standing up again. 

             2. The verb "crucify".  
                 The concise Oxford Dictionary renders the meaning:  
                 "Put to death by fastening to a cross".  
                 The Webster's Dictionary of the English Language:  
                 "To put to death by fastening or nailing to a cross". 

A thought provoking question:  
Imagine a prosecuted individual is sentenced to die by hanging.  He is "hanged" from a rope by his executioners. For one reason or other he survives the hanging, wakes up the next day and walks away unnoticed by his prosecutors and executioners. He appears before his friends and family members and eats with them. Thereafter, he walks away to a distant place and was never to be seen by his prosecutors.  
What would be correct to say; a or b? 

a)  He was "hanged" by his executioners. 
b)  It so appeared to them (the persecutors and executors),  
    that he was "hanged", but in reality he was "not hanged". 

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS 

Where did Jesus Christ go to, from this earth? What is he doing there? Will there be a 'Second Coming' of Jesus? What would Jesus do when he comes back? Let us examine what the Scriptures have to say. 

Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject Faith to the Day of Resurrection; then shall ye all return unto Me and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.      ....Nay Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power Wise. The Qur'an 3:55 and 4:158 

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.   .....So then, after the Lord Jesus had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  The Bible,  Acts 5:30 and  Mark 16:19.

On the subject of the Second Coming of Jesus, one may observe that in the verse quoted below from the Qur'an, the name of Jesus is within the parentheses. The name does not appear in the Arabic text. Hence, one can say; the verse is neither explicit about Jesus nor it categorically alludes to the subject matter. The Qur'an does not reveal what Jesus will or will not do, upon his Second Coming. However, the details are to be found in the literature of "the reported sayings of the prophet", which is separate from "the Revelations" received by the prophet.  

And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour) but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.  The Qur'an 43:61

That thou keep the commandment without stain and reproach,  until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he will show, who is the Blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be the honor and power everlasting. Amen.  1 Timothy 6:14-16 

For he (Jesus) must reign, till He hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. For He that hath put all things under his feet. But when He saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, 
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 
                     The Bible, 1 Corinthians 15 : 25-28.