Often,muslims teach that Jews neither killed him nor crucified him:
That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.";- But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise- Surate Nisa 4:157-158.
Upon the basis of this well known text many claim that Jesus didn’t die. Some interpret the phrase: “it was made to appear to them” to say that Jesus was replaced by a double who died in his place.
However, the text could also be interpreted in the light of the following biblical texts:
1]The romans and not the jews actually attached him to a stake:
John 19: 10 Hence Pilate said to him: “Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know I have authority to release you and I have authority to impale you?”....23 Now when the soldiers had impaled Jesus, they took his outer garments and made four parts, for each soldier a part, and the inner garment. But the inner garment was without a seam, being woven from the top throughout its length.
Acts 2: 23 this [man], as one delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, YOU fastened to a stake by the hand of lawless men and did away with.
2] The jews definitely believed they had killed him. But it was only “made to appear” so as GOD had resurrected him the third day. He was not left in the tomb , nor did he see corruption:
Psalms 16: 10 For you will not leave my soul in She´ol.
You will not allow your loyal one to see the pit.
Acts 2: 24 But God resurrected him by loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to continue to be held fast by it..27 because you will not leave my soul in Ha´des, neither will you allow your loyal one to see corruption...31 he saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in Ha´des nor did his flesh see corruption. 13: 35 Hence he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your loyal one to see corruption.’
3] Since he died as a martyr, he remains alive in GOD’s view.
Surate Al-i-’Imran 3: 169: Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord;
4]: Jesus died voluntarily.
John 10: 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I surrender my soul, in order that I may receive it again. 18 No man has taken it away from me, but I surrender it of my own initiative. I have authority to surrender it, and I have authority to receive it again. The commandment on this I received from my Father.”
Matthew 26: 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels? 54 In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must take place this way?”
Isaiah 53: 4 Truly our sicknesses were what he himself carried; and as for our pains, he bore them. But we ourselves accounted him as plagued, stricken by God and afflicted. 5 But he was being pierced for our transgression; he was being crushed for our errors. The chastisement meant for our peace was upon him, and because of his wounds there has been a healing for us.
5] he had to sacrifice his life to accomplish many prophecies.
Luke 24: 25 So he said to them: “O senseless ones and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27 And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.
Acts 17: 2 So according to Paul’s custom he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and [saying]: “This is the Christ, this Jesus whom I am publishing to YOU.”
Some scriptures in the Koran itself are in harmony with what the bible says about the death and resurrection of Christ:
Surate Al-i-’Imran 3:55: 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.
In this text the expression translated : “I will take thee” is in Arabic: mutawaffika which means literally “make you die”.
Tafsir Ibn Khatir gives a number of commentaries on this verse saying:
“ Those who are very exacting diverge over the explication of God’s word ( i will take thee , and raise thee to Myself). Katada and others say: “ it is an inverted form: He will first raise him to Himself and later make him die”. Mohammed Ibn Ishac says: “ God made him die during three hours on the day of raising him to himself.” He adds: “ The Christians claim that God made him die seven hours and then make him live again.” Ishac Ibn Buchr quotes Idriss’ words according to Wahb saying: “ God made him die three days, then after resurrected him and raised him to Himself.” Matar Ibn El Warraq says : “ I will take thee( mutawaffika) from this world nor from death”.
Many others add: “ In this context death signifies sleep.”
Surate Al-Maida 5: 117: Never said I to them aught 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.
Here also in the original arabic the expression: “thou didst take me up” is “tawaffaytani” literally: “you made me die”.
Surate Maryam 19: 33: "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)"!
This information may seem to be quite a different interpretation of what you believe. But actually this should reinforce your faith in the holy books and encourage you to continue to search for the guidance of God for which you ask Him every day:
Surate Al-fatiha 1:6 Show us the straight way, The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
You will be surprised, by continuing your study of the Holy Books, that the Gospel accomplishes many prophecies from the Hebrew scriptures ( Torat and Zebur). This fact is confirmed by a text in the Koran too:
Surate 5: And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Torah that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Torah that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
Why not imitate some jews from the first century who were willing to study the prophecies about the Messiah ? They didn’t automatically reject the “new interpretation” that Paul was bringing them, as long as he used the scriptures. They had the scriptures (which they knew well and read regularly) and could check these things out for themselves. Because they knew the scriptures well, and had a concern for Truth, they weren’t swayed by fear of being “fooled” or by peer pressure from the jewish community. And in fact they held to their “new faith” under severe persecution shortly after their “conversion”. You can read their story here:
Acts17: 2 So according to Paul’s custom he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and [saying]: “This is the Christ, this Jesus whom I am publishing to YOU.” ...11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.
Acts 17: 12 Therefore many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the reputable Greek women and of the men.13 But when the Jews from Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca learned that the word of God was published also in Be·roe´a by Paul, they came there also to incite and agitate the masses.
May God bless you and guide you in you study!
Sincerely,
Yahya.
