ArchivedTHE CROSS OF JESUS, CAN BREAK THROUGHPeace all,
Lady Fatima
Every translation I have seen has the word die.
It is a fact that the vast majority of Muslims believe in the substitution theory. Though modern thinkers like Dr. Ayoub and Dr. Hussein tell us that the theory of substitution makes mockery of divine justice, and belongs to the uncultured [1], the Muslim masses have been led to believe it and zealously defend it.
Not only do the masses believe in the substitution theory but they also believe that Jesus did not die.
However, modern thinkers insist that Jesus did die. Dr. Ayoub said that 'the verb, tawaffa, in general usage, means in its passive form, tuwuffi, to die.' [2] He then added, 'It was early reported on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that the word mutawaffika means 'causing you to die', i.e. 'mumituka.' Then in a footnote he said, 'Most commentators mention this as an alternative. Modern thinkers generally insist on it.' [3] (For example see 'abd al-Karim 'abd Allah al-Aniazi in his book, Elaykum Ya 'Ulama' al-Gharb, 1985, p. 27.)
It is amazing to know also that even Wahb spoke of the death of Jesus amongst the many versions of the stories he told. Suyuti relates that,
Ibn Garir and Ibn Abi Hatem on the authority of Wahb said, 'God caused Jesus Son of Mary to die three hours then lifted him up.'' Ibn 'Asaker said on the authority of Wahb that 'God caused Jesus son of Mary to die for three days then God resurrected and lifted him up.' And al-Hakem said on the authority of Wahb 'God caused Jesus son of Mary to die for seven hours then restored his life.' [4] [emphasis added]
That was rejected by Tabari. It is fascinating to note that Wahb even said that Jesus died for three days and God resurrected him and lifted him up. Again Dr. Ayoub found no difficulty in stating that the Qur'an plainly asserts that Jesus did die:
The Qur'an ... does not deny the death of Christ. Rather it challenges human beings who in their folly have deluded themselves into believing that they would vanquish the divine Word, Jesus the messenger of God. The death of Christ is asserted several times and in various contexts, see for example, S.3:55; 5:117; 19:33. [5]
According to Dr. Ayoub the Qur'an asserts the death of Christ several times and in various contexts. He does not appeal to any clever exegetical exercise, but to the clear passages of the Qur'an.
SOME BELIEVE HE WAS CRUCIFIED
Not only do some Muslim thinkers assert Jesus did die, there are others who assert that Jesus died on the cross. The philosopher Abu Ya'qub Ishaq al-Sagastani said,
Without doubt murder and crucifixion were inflicted upon his body. The pronoun (hu) since it appeared at the end of the words 'murdered him' 'qataluhu', or crucified him is a pointing letter to the spirit (huwiyya) of Jesus. So in this exists the evidence that he who suffered death and crucifixion was not the spirit (huwiyya) of Jesus. [6] [empasis added]
The philosopher Sagastani sees that the Qur'an denies the crucifixion of the spirit of Jesus but undoubtedly affirms the physical crucifixion of the body of Jesus.
Mahmoud Mohammad Taha the leader of the Republican Brothers in Sudan, wrote in a booklet titled al-Masih:
The belief of the Muslims that Jesus did not die is based on Sura 4:157. [7] But it is clear that that verse does not give that understanding ... specially if we take into consideration the other verse in which God said, 'Isa [Jesus] I am about to cause you to die and lift you up to me',
[8] and also the words, 'Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, the day I am raised up alive'. [9] Naturally the Qur'an does not contradict itself, for the the expression 'mutawaffika' means that he will die ... and also the expression 'the day I die' points in the same direction. So the straight understanding becomes that the Christ was killed, then raised up. And that is what is pointed to by the words of God, 'and they slew him not of a certainty - no indeed',
[10] which means that without any doubt they killed him, as they thought they did, but they slew him not of a certainty which is the same expression as 'they thought they did' [11] ... this meaning appears in the Qur'an in other places such as the words of God, 'you did not slay them, but God did, and when thou throwest, it was not thyself that threw, but God threw'. [12] And the meaning of that verse is that, when you killed them, it was not you who killed them, but it was God. [13]
Thus Mamoud Mohammad Taha, like the philosopher Sagastani understood from the same Qur'anic passages that Jesus was killed by the Jews without a doubt, then raised up by God. With Dr. Ayoub he found no difficulty in concluding that the Qur'an speaks plainly of the death of Jesus, otherwise the Qur'an would be contradicting itself. He then proceeded to prove that this mode of expressing the death of Christ is not unique but has a parallel in the Qur'an, indeed it is an affirmation in the form of negation.
We read in the Quran that God raised Christ to Himself, promising Him:
"O Isa, I will cause you to die, and will raise you up to Me" (The House of Imran 3:55).
This promise is confirmed in the Quran as a fulfilled fact:
"Allah raised Him up to Himself" (Women 4:158).
AHMAD SHAWQI BELIEVED JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED
The great Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawqi who is called by his people the prince of the poets accepted the historicity of the crucifixion.
In one of his poems he wrote:
Jesus, your way was mercy, love, perfection and peace to the world.
You were not a shedder of blood, and the weak and the orphans to you were not insignificant.
You who are the bearer of the world's sufferings, yet sufferings were multiplied in your name.
You made the world into one brotherhood, but in your name relationships are severed.
....
Shouts in the name of the cross are heard by those who are enemies of God and his Spirit.
They mixed your cross with knives, guns, and every tool of destruction and death. [16]
Ahmad Shawqi, like Tagor, was aware of the beliefs of the majority of Muslims, yet he chose to believe in the suffering of Jesus on the cross.
I pray that's helpful
ILJ/Y
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