7 Things Muslims Should Know about Prophet 鈥業sa (as)
Prophet 鈥業sa (as) (also known as Jesus) is the penultimate messenger of Allah (swt), sent around 570 years before the last and final Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (saw). He is, of course, an important figure in Islam, mentioned in the Qur鈥檃n several times. This article will set out seven things about 鈥業sa (as) which all Muslims should know!
Before we begin, we鈥檇 like to mention a few of the titles 鈥業sa (as) is given in the Qur鈥檃n:
- Al-Masih: This is his most famous title - it means 鈥楾he Messiah鈥�. When 鈥業sa (as) touched or wiped (in Arabic, masaha) those afflicted with an illness, they would be healed by Allah鈥檚 permission. [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
- Ruh: This means he was 鈥榓 spirit鈥� from Allah. [Qur鈥檃n, 21:91]
- 鈥楢bdullah鈥� and 鈥楳ubarak鈥�: He was 鈥榓 servant of Allah鈥� and 鈥榖lessed鈥�. [Qur鈥檃n, 19:30-31]
- 鈥楢yah鈥� and 鈥楻ahmah鈥�: He was 鈥榓 sign鈥� and 鈥榓 mercy鈥�. [Qur鈥檃n, 19:21]
- 鈥楰alimah鈥� and 鈥榃ajeeh鈥�: He was 鈥榓 word鈥� from Allah and 鈥榟ighly honoured鈥�. [Qur鈥檃n, 3:45]
- 鲍濒-耻濒-鈥橝锄尘: Five messengers were called 鈥榯hose of determination鈥� - Nuh (as), Ibrahim (as), Musa (as), Isa (as), and of course their leader and our leader (Sayyid), Muhammad (saw). [Qur鈥檃n, 46:35]
- Ibn Maryam: This means the son of Maryam (as), also known as Mary. Like Prophet Adam (as), 鈥業sa (as) had no father. Moreover, his mother鈥檚 high standing with Allah is well-known - she has an entire Surah named after her in the Qur鈥檃n and she was visited and addressed by the Angel Jibril (as):
Now that we鈥檝e covered his titles and some of his characteristics, let鈥檚 have a look at some very important aspects of Prophet 鈥業sa鈥檚 (as) life!
1. He was born under a date palm tree by a freshwater stream
Regarding his miraculous birth, Allah says:
鈥楽o she (Maryam (as)) conceived him and withdrew with him to a remote place. Then the pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, 鈥淎las! I wish I had died before this, and was a thing long forgotten!鈥� So a voice (either 鈥業sa (as) or Jibril (as)) reassured her from below her, 鈥淒o not grieve! Your Lord has provided a stream at your feet. And shake the trunk of this palm tree towards you, it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink, and put your heart at ease. But if you see any of the people, say, 鈥業 have vowed silence to the Most Compassionate, so I am not talking to anyone today鈥欌�濃��. [The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 19:22-26]
This passage clearly indicates that Maryam (as) was alone when she gave birth to the Prophet 鈥業sa (as). She was under a date palm tree by a freshwater stream - not in a stable accompanied by Joseph the carpenter, as mentioned in the Christian nativity account.
We also know that she was in the valley of Bethlehem, some six miles south of Jerusalem.
鈥業sa (as) was, uniquely, not touched by the Devil at his birth:
2. He was born in spring or summer time
Undoubtedly, much of the western Christian world believes that the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) was born on 25th December. Muslim scholars have said that he was most likely born in spring or summer, based upon the previously mentioned ayah:
鈥楢nd shake the trunk of this palm tree towards you, it will drop fresh, ripe dates (rutaban janiyyan) upon you鈥�. [The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 19:25]
The Arabic word rutab in this ayah means 鈥榝resh, ripe dates鈥� and is further emphasised by the Arabic adjective janiyy, which indicates fruit ready for picking or picked at the right time, i.e. ripe. This is unlikely to have taken place in the winter but rather in the spring or summer. And Allah knows best.
Whether it was spring or summer time, his birth is a true miraculous blessing from Allah. The Prophet 鈥業sa (as) proclaims:
3. He was sent to guide the Children of Israel
In the Noble Qur鈥檃n, 鈥業sa (as) addresses the Israelites as 鈥榊a Bani Israeel鈥� - 鈥極 Children of Israel鈥�.
Israel was a title of the Prophet Ya鈥檘ub (as), who had 12 sons from which the 12 tribes of Israel originate from. The Prophet Yusuf (as) is the most prominent of the twelve sons.
Unlike previous prophets, 鈥業sa (as) did not refer to them as 鈥榊a Qawmi鈥� or 鈥榤y people鈥� - because he was born without a father and therefore, technically, they were not his 鈥榩eople鈥�. His specifying 鈥楥hildren of Israel鈥� also indicates that he came to guide them and not the whole of humanity.
Guidance for the whole of humanity is a mission is reserved for the Messenger of Allah (saw) alone:
4. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) visited his birthplace
On Al-Isra鈥� wal-Mi鈥檙aj, the miraculous Night Journey and Ascension, the Angel Jibril (as) instructed the Prophet (saw) to dismount Buraq and pray in certain locations between Makkah and Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Among these locations was Bethlehem, where 鈥業sa (as) was born. In Arabic, this is called Bayt Lahm, literally 鈥榯he house of meat鈥�.
Later that night, the Prophet (saw) led all the prophets - including 鈥業sa (as) - in prayer in the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Angel Jibril (as) then ascended with the Prophet (saw) from the Dome of the Rock through the seven layers of the sky. At the second layer, the Prophet (saw) met 鈥業sa (as) once more, along with 鈥業sa鈥檚 cousin Yahya (as). SubhanAllah, they greeted him by saying, 鈥榃elcome, O pious prophet and pious brother!鈥� [Bukhari]
(For further details of this miraculous night journey, please refer to our article).
5. He will appear in Damascus in his second coming
Allah declares the second coming of the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) as an 鈥橧濒尘, a sign that announces the Day of Judgement is close:
Allah describes the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) as speaking to people in听Al-Mahd and Kahlan. [The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 3:46 and 5:110]
Al-Mahd means cradle (i.e. Isa (as) spoke at 40 days old, as his mother cradled him in her arms).
Kahlan means the age of maturity, around 30 to 50 lunar years old. Some scholars say this shows that the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) will continue calling people to Allah until he is 30-33 lunar years of age. It also alludes to his second coming, where he will descend at aged 30-33 once more.
There are many hadith which refer to the return of 鈥業sa (as):
鈥樷�業sa, son of Maryam (as), will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two Angels. When he would lower his head, there would fall beads of perspiration from his head, and when he would raise it up, beads like pearls would scatter from it鈥�. [Muslim]
鈥楾he Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam descends amongst you as a just ruler; he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizyah tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts)鈥�. [Bukhari]
鈥業sa (as) will also pray in Masjid Al-Aqsa, behind Imam Mahdi:
鈥樷�業sa the son of Maryam (as) would then descend, and their (the Muslims鈥�) commander (Imam Mahdi) would invite him to come and lead them in prayer, but he would say, 鈥淣o, indeed some of you are commanders over each other as Allah鈥檚 honour for this Ummah鈥濃��. [Muslim]
Thereafter, the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) 鈥榳ould then search for him (the Dajjal) until he would catch hold of him at the gate of Ludd (a village near Jerusalem) and would kill him鈥�. [Muslim]
Thus, 'Isa (as) is not only a significant figure in history - he also has an important role to play in the future.
6. He will be buried next to the Messenger of Allah (saw) in Madinah
We know that all the prophets (as) took an oath with Allah to believe in and aid their leader, the Messenger of Allah (saw):
鈥楻emember when Allah took a covenant with the Prophets, (saying), 鈥淣ow that I have given you the Book and wisdom and then if there comes to you a Messenger (the Prophet (saw)) confirming what you have, you must believe in him and support him. Do you affirm this covenant and accept this commitment?鈥� They said, 鈥淵es, we confirm.鈥� He (Allah) said, 鈥淭hen bear witness, and I will be with you among the witnesses鈥濃��. [The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 3:81]
The Prophet 鈥業sa (as) also clearly foretold the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (saw):
鈥楢nd (remember) when 鈥業sa the son of Maryam [as] said, 鈥淥 Children of Israel! I am truly Allah鈥檚 Messenger to you, confirming the Torah which came before me, and giving good news of a Messenger who will come after me whose name will be Ahmad [saw]鈥濃��. [The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 61:6]
What is unfortunately less-known is that the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) will eventually be buried next to the Prophet (saw) in Madinah:
On the authority of 'Abdullah bin Salam (ra) who said, 鈥楾he description of Muhammad [saw] is written in the Tawrah and 鈥業sa ibn Maryam [as] will be buried by him鈥�. (One of the narrators) Abu Mawdud [ra] said, 鈥楾here is a place for a grave left in the house鈥�. [Tirmidhi]
Muslim scholars have beautifully indicated that the last action of the Prophet 鈥橧sa (as) will be sending peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (saw) at his final resting place in Madinah.
鈥業sa (as) will then be buried by his side, as the divine rule is that Prophets are buried where they pass away:
鈥楢ishah (ra) said, 鈥榃hen the Messenger of Allah (saw) died, they disagreed over where to bury him. So Abu Bakr [ra] said, 鈥淚 heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say something which I have not forgotten, he [saw] said, 鈥楢llah does not take (the life of) a Prophet except at the location in which He loves him to be buried in鈥欌��. So they buried him at the spot of his bed [in the house of 鈥楢ishah (ra)]鈥�. [Tirmidhi]
7. The people of Paradise will have his age
Allah categorically states that the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) was neither killed nor crucified but raised into the heavens:
鈥楢nd for their (Children of Israel) saying, 鈥淚ndeed, we killed the Messiah, 鈥業sa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah [as].鈥� But they neither killed nor crucified him but it was only made to appear to them as so. Even those who argue for this (crucifixion) are in doubt. They have no knowledge of it whatsoever, only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him. Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise鈥�. [The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 4:157-158]
Scholars mention that the age of the Prophet 鈥業sa (as) when he was raised was around 30-33 lunar years of age. It is very interesting to note that this is the age of the people of Paradise:
The people of Paradise will also resemble the Prophet Adam (as) in his height: 鈥楢ll of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in stature), sixty cubits tall鈥�. [Bukhari]
Scholars have also indicated that the people of Paradise will have the incredible beauty of the Prophet Yusuf (as). After Al-Isra Wal-Mi鈥檙aj, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, 鈥業 saw Yusuf (as) who had been given half of (world) beauty. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being鈥�. [Muslim]
We pray that Allah makes us, our families and loved ones from the people of Paradise, amin!
We hope this article was of benefit for you. Please do share this article with friends and family, as the Prophet (saw) said, 鈥榃hoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like one who did it鈥�. [Muslim]
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