The Truth About Jesus: A Muslim Perspective by Dr. Bleher, S. M. (2007) - www.idci.co.uk (Reg. Charity No. 1092139)
Part 2: JESUS' VIRGIN BIRTH
Jesus' creation is a miracle in itself, but it is not only of its kind. Jesus was created from only a female, without a biological father.
Adam, the ancestor of all mankind, was created from neither male nor female by the sheer command of God.
Eve, Adam's wife, was created from only the male, without a biological mother.
With the rest of humans originating from both a male and a female through normal rocreation, we thus have four distinct types of creation.
"The likeness of Jesus is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then He said to him: Be! and he is! (Al-Qur'an, chapter 3, verse 59)
The rarity of a miraculous birth meant, of course, that is was difficult, if not impossible, for people to accept. Mary was born into the devout and respected household of Levites, the Jewish tribe which was given the honour of raising their religious leaders. She was brought up and looked after by Zachariah, a pious man if high standing. To be with child without having been married was unspeakable.
Mary herself found it hard to believe when she was told by the angel Gabriel, also referred to as the Holy Spirit, that she was going to give birth to a son.
"Relate in the book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a lace in the east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: "I seek refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you do fear Allah." He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy son." She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" He said: "So (it will be); your Lord says, 'That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign to men and a mercy from Us'; it is a matter (so) decreed." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 16-21).
"She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal has touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah creates what he will. If He decrees a thing. He says to it only: Be! and it is." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 3, verse 47).
To avoid being questioned and bringing shame upon her family, she leaves:
"And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far lace." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 22).
When about to give birth, she is still troubled with the thought of having to present a child to her people without having been married:
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this and had become a thing of nothing, forgotten!" (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 23).
She decides to observe a fast from speaking to avoid being challenged:
"Then she brought him to her own people, carrying him They said: O Mary! You have come with an amazing thing. O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a wicked man nor was your mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy?" (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verses 27-29).
Jesus' miraculous birth is followed by other miracles from the moment he was born. As his mother points at him in the midst of her people's allegations,
"He spoke: I am the slave of Allah. He was given me the Scripture and has appointed me as a prophet." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 30).
When confronted with such miracles, many peole ascribed them to Jesus in person instead of to the greater power of God, who had given him those signs. They associated divinity directly with Jesus, whereas Jesus himself only ever claimed to have been a true servant and prophet of God.
will be continued, insyaAllah.
coming soon: Part 3 - "Jesus, the prophet of Allah".
Part 2: JESUS' VIRGIN BIRTH
Jesus' creation is a miracle in itself, but it is not only of its kind. Jesus was created from only a female, without a biological father.
Adam, the ancestor of all mankind, was created from neither male nor female by the sheer command of God.
Eve, Adam's wife, was created from only the male, without a biological mother.
With the rest of humans originating from both a male and a female through normal rocreation, we thus have four distinct types of creation.
"The likeness of Jesus is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then He said to him: Be! and he is! (Al-Qur'an, chapter 3, verse 59)
The rarity of a miraculous birth meant, of course, that is was difficult, if not impossible, for people to accept. Mary was born into the devout and respected household of Levites, the Jewish tribe which was given the honour of raising their religious leaders. She was brought up and looked after by Zachariah, a pious man if high standing. To be with child without having been married was unspeakable.
Mary herself found it hard to believe when she was told by the angel Gabriel, also referred to as the Holy Spirit, that she was going to give birth to a son.
"Relate in the book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a lace in the east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: "I seek refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you do fear Allah." He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy son." She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" He said: "So (it will be); your Lord says, 'That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign to men and a mercy from Us'; it is a matter (so) decreed." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 16-21).
"She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal has touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah creates what he will. If He decrees a thing. He says to it only: Be! and it is." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 3, verse 47).
To avoid being questioned and bringing shame upon her family, she leaves:
"And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far lace." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 22).
When about to give birth, she is still troubled with the thought of having to present a child to her people without having been married:
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this and had become a thing of nothing, forgotten!" (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 23).
She decides to observe a fast from speaking to avoid being challenged:
"Then she brought him to her own people, carrying him They said: O Mary! You have come with an amazing thing. O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a wicked man nor was your mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy?" (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verses 27-29).
Jesus' miraculous birth is followed by other miracles from the moment he was born. As his mother points at him in the midst of her people's allegations,
"He spoke: I am the slave of Allah. He was given me the Scripture and has appointed me as a prophet." (Al-Qur'an, chapter 19, verse 30).
When confronted with such miracles, many peole ascribed them to Jesus in person instead of to the greater power of God, who had given him those signs. They associated divinity directly with Jesus, whereas Jesus himself only ever claimed to have been a true servant and prophet of God.
will be continued, insyaAllah.
coming soon: Part 3 - "Jesus, the prophet of Allah".
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