Maryam’s life took a miraculous turn when an angel, disguised as a man, delivered astounding news. She would bear a son who would become a messenger of Allah, a divine word, and a sign for all of humanity. Perplexed by the prospect of having a child without a husband, Maryam’s astonishment prompted her to seek an explanation. The angel’s response underscored the boundless power of Allah, marking the outset of a journey that would shape history.
The Miraculous Birth: Guided by the divine will of Allah, Maryam soon found herself with child and withdrew to a secluded place. Amid the pain and despair of childbirth beside a palm tree, she yearned for relief. An unexpected voice from beneath her offered comfort, instructing her to shake the palm tree for fresh dates and to drink from a nearby stream. Maryam was directed to maintain silence as part of a vow of fasting, confounding all who witnessed these extraordinary events.
Isa alayhe salam assumes a central role in the lineage of messengers, being the last prophet before Prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhe wasalam and the final messenger to the Children of Israel. He received divine revelations, Injeel (the Gospel). He was charged with guiding his people toward the worship of the One God and adherence to His laws.
Isa’s life was embellished with miracles, bestowed upon him by the will of Allah. He sculpted birds from clay, breathing life into them, and exhibited the power to heal the blind, cure lepers, and even resurrect the deceased. His divine knowledge extended to disclosing the contents of his people’s homes, further attesting to the miraculous nature of his mission. One iconic moment saw Isa beseeching Allah to send down a table laden with heavenly food for his disciples, a profound sign of his prophethood, yet not all embraced his message.
When Jesus shared his divine message and called upon his people to follow the path of Allah, a substantial portion of them turned away, defying his teachings and refusing his invitation. However, amid this resistance, a devoted group of virtuous and righteous individuals embraced his message and became his unwavering supporters. These loyal companions not only provided their wholehearted backing to Jesus but also actively spread his teachings, working tirelessly to ensure its dissemination.
The circumstances surrounding the attempt on Isa’s (Jesus) AS life have various accounts, with differing versions. One narrative involves the king of the time ordering Isa’s death, facilitated by a disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him to the king’s men. As a divine punishment, Judas was transformed to resemble Isa and subsequently crucified in his place. Another version portrays Isa asking his disciples which among them would bear his likeness and be martyred in his stead, with one disciple volunteering for this sacrifice.
Regardless of the versions, it’s clear that Isa AS was neither killed nor crucified; someone else bore his likeness. The Qur’an explicitly affirms this: “And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Isa, the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them.”
Instead of crucifixion, the Qur’an emphasizes that Allah raised Isa to Himself, purifying him from disbeliever
“This marks the sixth article in the series ‘Masjidul Aqsa: The Spiritual Heart of Palestine and the Land of Prophets.’ Stay tuned for Part 7. Written by Abdu Shaheed Azhary, available at moralstudy.com.