The Prophet 'Isa ibn Maryam (4/4)

The descent of ‘Isa before the Day of Resurrection

'Isa will descend from heaven when Allah wills. He will establish the proof against those of the Jews and Christians who abandoned him or went to excess about him. He will assist the truth and vanquish the people of falsehood, as our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has informed us. There are many sound reports and ahadith about this matter. The Muslims of every age believe in it. Allah the Sublime spoke this truth:

“There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before his death and on the Day of Rising he will be a witness against them.” (Surah An-Nisa', 4: 159)

His good news about the sending of the Prophet Muhammad/ may Allah bless  him and grant him peace 'Isa did not complete his prophetic task due to the intense hostility and plotting of the Jews against him, and his own weakness and lack of helpers. He took leave of the people and obeyed his Lord's command. He gave them the good news of a Messenger to come after him whose job was to complete what he had begun. That message would spread throughout the world. Through him the blessing of Allah to His slaves would be completed and the proof against His creation established.

“When 'Isa the son of Maryam said: 'O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what is before me of the Torah and giving good news of a Messenger who will come after me whose name is Ahmad.” (Surah As-Saff, 61: 6)

From pure Tawhid to an obscure belief

One of the oddities in the history of religions makes one weep and one's heart bleed. It is that the Messiah's declaration of Allah's unity and his-call to a clear religion, to worship Allah alone, seeking refuge in Him and having pure love for Him, was changed to an obscure creed and complicated philosophy.

Instead, his followers said: 'The Messiah is the son of Allah.' They said: 'Allah has taken a son.' They said: 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Maryam.' They tried to make of the One Eternal God, who does not beget and was not begotten, a family composed of three persons, all of them divine. They said: 'The father, the son and the Holy Ghost.'

They believe in Maryam, the mother of the Messiah, and elevate her to the level of sanctification and worship. They say: 'The Mother of God,' and statues and images of her are common in churches. The Christians bow to these images, seek refuge in them, and make supplication, vows and acts of devotion to them. Allah the Exalted has rejected such belief and worship:

“The Messiah son of Maryam was only a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. His mother was a truthful woman. They both ate food. See how We make the signs clear to them. Then see how they have turned aside from the truth. Say: ‘Do you worship, apart from Allah what can neither hurt nor benefit you? Allah is the Hearing, the Knowing.’” (Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5: 75-76)

'Isa calls to the worship of the One God

Like other Prophets, 'Isa called to the worship of the One God. His words have come in the Gospel: 'It is written that you prostrate to the Lord your God and worship Him alone.' (Matthew 4: 10); and: 'It is written that you prostrate to the Lord your God and worship Him alone.' (Luke 4: 8)

Allah the Exalted said: “it is not fitting for any mortal to be given the Book, Judgement and Prophethood by Allah’ and then for him to say to the people: “Be my slaves rather than Allah's.” Rather: “Be faithful servants of God on account of what you know of the Book and what you study.”  He would not command you to take the angels and Prophets as Lords. Would he command you to unbelieve after you have surrendered?” (Surah Al-Imran, 3: 79-80)

The Qur'an clearly declares 'Isa's call

The Qur'an comprehends and confirms what was before it, and relates the clear statement of 'Isa about pure tawhid and his calling to it in clear, plain language: “They certainly disbelieve who say, 'God is the Messiah the son of Maryam. I The Messiah said: 'O Children of lsrael, worship Allah my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates anything with Allah will forbid him entrance to the Garden. His refuge is the Fire. The wrong-doers will have no helpers.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 72)

The position of Tawhid in his call

'Isa said with a beautiful eloquence, relished by all who recognize the necessity of tawhid and the life of the Prophets and Messengers:

“The Messiah will not disdain to be a slave to Allah neither the angels who are near to Him. Whoever disdains to worship Him and is arrogant, He will gather them to Him, all of them. As for those who believe and do righteous actions, He will pay them their wages in full and give them more from His bounty. As for those who disdain and are proud, He will punish them with a painful punishment. They will find no friend or helper apart from Allah.” (Surah An-Nisa', 4: 172-73)

An awesome encounter in the gathering on the Day of Resurrection

The Qur'an, with its inimitable eloquence, depicts an awesome meeting on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet 'Isa will declare himself innocent of what the people said about him and of how they treated him. He will clarify his call with strength and truth, and pronounce the guilt of those of his community who went beyond the limits. They alone are responsible for this sin. Read the Qur'an and perceive how grand and majestic the situation would be, how splendid the scene:

“When Allah said: "Isa the son of Maryam! Did you say to people, "Take me and my mother as gods apart from Allah"?' He said: "Glory be to Allah! It is not for me to say what I have no right to say. If I said it, You know it. You know what is in my soul and I do not know what is in Your soul. You know the unseen things. I only told them what You commanded me, 'Serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ I was a witness over them as long as I was among them. When You took me to You, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a witness of everything. If You punish them, they are Your slaves. If You forgive them, You are the Mighty, the Wise.’” Allah said: This is the day when the truthful will profit by their truthfulness. They will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them, forever in them. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That is the great victory.’  To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is in them. He has power over everything.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5: 116-120)

From an obscure creed to unveiled idolatry

It was on their own initiative that Christian missionaries moved to Europe: the Messiah never commanded that; he clearly stated that his mission was for the stray sheep, who were the erring men and women of the Israelites. In Europe at that time idol-worship was widespread. The Greeks were idol-worshippers. They made images of Allah in various forms, carved statues of those images, and built for them temples and shrines. There was a god for livelihood, a god for mercy and a god for power, and so on.

The Romans were deep-rooted in idol-worship and .clung to superstition. Idolatry flowed through them like blood. When Christianity reached them and Constantine the Great became a Christian, embracing and adopting the new faith in 306 C.E., he made it the official state religion. Then Christianity began gradually to adopt many of the idolatrous beliefs found in Roman customs and Greek philosophy and to lose its prophetic purity, Eastern simplicity and unitarian zeal. Hypocrites entered it and grafted on to it their ancient beliefs and idolatrous ways. A new religion grew up in which Christianity and idol-worship mingled together.

So the early advance of Christianity was on a path other than the path followed by the Messiah and the one to which he called. It was like a traveller following a path deviating from the right one, intentionally or unintentionally, in the darkness of the night. He continues his journey on a path which is completely different from the original path.

The precise story is only known by those who study the history of this religion. Allah described the Christians as misguided, whereas He described the Jews as deserving of His wrath. He says on the tongue of the Muslims:

“Guide us on the Straight Path, the path of those You have blessed, not those against whom You are angry nor those who are astray.” (Surah Al-Fatihah, 1: 7)

“Allah's is the command first and last.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30: 4)