“Jesus lived and died as a Jew”
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
فلذلك فادع واستقم كما أمرت ولا تتبع أهواءهم وقل آمنت بما أنزل الله من كتاب وأمرت لأعدل بينكم الله ربنا وربكم لنا أعمالنا ولكم أعمالكم لا حجة بيننا وبينكم الله يجمع بيننا وإليه المصير
So unto this (religion of Islam, alone and this Qur’an) then invite (people) (O Muhammad ), and Istaqim [(i.e. stand firm and straight on Islamic Monotheism by performing all that is ordained by Allah (good deeds, etc.), and by abstaining from all that is forbidden by Allah (sins and evil deeds, etc.)], as you are commanded, and follow not their desires but say: “I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books, this Qur’an and the Books of the old from the Tawrat (Torah), or the Injeel (Gospel) or the Pages of Ibrahim (Abraham)] and I am commanded to do justice among you, Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return. [Ash-Shuraa. 15]
[وَأُمِرۡتُ لِأَعۡدِلَ بَيۡنَكُمُۖ – and I am commanded to do justice among you], Meaning, when passing judgement regarding that which you have differed between yourselves. Therefore, your enmity and hatred does not prevent me from judging with justice between you. And part of justice is that when judging between people who make different statements – amongst the people of the Scripture and others – one accepts what they possess of truth and reject what they possess of falsehood.
[ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمۡۖ لَنَآ أَعۡمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُڪُمۡۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَاۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ – Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return].
[لَا حُجَّةَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُۖ – There is no dispute between us and you] – Meaning, there is no dispute between us and you [i.e. after the realities have been manifested, and after the clear distinction between truth and falsehood, and after the clear distinction between guidance and misguidance, there is no room for debate, because the goal behind debate is to distinguish between right and wrong, so that the one to be guided is guided and the proofs established against the misguided one. [ٱللَّهُ يَجۡمَعُ بَيۡنَنَاۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ – Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the final return] [An Excerpt from Tafsir As-Sadi]
In the above article, Mr. Amichai Chikli expresses a number of concerns, one of which is that two weeks ago, the pope participated in an event depicting noble Prophet Isa (Jesus – peace be upon him) as a Palestinian Arab. While some of his other complaints, like the assertion that genocide is not occurring in Gaza, is absolutely baseless, we do concur with Mr. Chikli on the point that portraying noble Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, as a Palestinian is baseless. If the Pope’s goal was to portray Isa, peace be upon him, as a Palestinian, we agree with Chikli that this is baseless. However, when Mr Chikli asserts that Jesus, peace be upon him, lived and died as a Jew, there’s a deeper layer to explore in this assertion.
First: It is true that noble Prophet Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him, was of Jewish descent, tracing his lineage back to Prophet Yaqub, peace be upon him. This fact is well-documented, and he was not a Palestinian Arab.
Ibn Al-Athir, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Imran Ibn Mathan, who is the grandfather of Jesus, peace be upon him, and the father of Mary, was a descendant of Sulayman, son of Dawud, peace be upon them. The family of Mathan held prominent positions as leaders and scholars among the Children of Israel. [1]
Imam Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:
“There is no disagreement that she [meaning Maryam, peace be upon her] is from the lineage of Dawud, peace be upon him, and her father, Imran, was the one who led the prayers of the Children of Israel during his time.” [2]
Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:
“There is no doubt that the people of Musa, peace be upon him, were the Children of Israel, and the Torah was revealed in their language. Likewise, the Children of Israel are the people of Christ, peace be upon him, and he spoke in their tongue. Neither of the two Messengers addressed anyone in any language other than Hebrew; neither spoke in Latin, Syriac, Greek, nor Coptic.” [3]
It is well known among the Christians that Christ spoke exclusively in Hebrew, similar to other prophets of the Israelites. Furthermore, it is noted that He was circumcised on the eighth day, in accordance with the customs of the Israelites, and that He prayed facing their designated direction, rather than towards the east, nor did he instruct others to pray in that direction. [4]
Secondly: If it is said that noble Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, was a Jew because he followed the Torah, We would like to inform the claimants that he arrived as a messenger, affirming the teachings of the Torah and receiving the Injeel along with additional directives to follow. Despite this, many Jews of that era did not believe in him, dismissed his message, and even attempted to end his life, but Allah ensured his protection. Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
When Allah, The Exalted, sent Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, they disbelieved in him, thus their disbelief and misguidance occurred in two ways- substitution of the religion of the first Messenger (i.e. the Messiah) and belied the second Messenger (i.e. Muhammad), just as the Jews substituted the rulings of the Torah before the Messiah was sent and then belied him. The Christians’ denial of Muhammad’s Messengership is a well-known belief of theirs to every Muslim, which is similar to the Jews’ disbelief in the Messiah. The Christians emphasise the disbelief of the Jews greater than what the Jews deserve, because the Jews claimed that the Messiah was a magician and a liar; rather they said that he is an illegitimate child, as Allah informed us about them: [وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ عَلَىٰ مَرۡيَمَ بُہۡتَـٰنًا عَظِيمً۬ا – And their speech against Maryam (Mary)- a grave false charge (that she has committed illegal sexual intercourse]. [An-Nisaa. 156]; but the Christians claimed that the Messiah is Allah, therefore the trial between them and the Jews regarding the Messiah involved a lot of contradictions, misguidance at similar levels and confrontation, and this is why both nations rebuked one another with something more than what each of them deserved, just as Allah said:
وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَۗ كَذَٲلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ مِثۡلَ قَوۡلِهِمۡۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ
The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing; and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing; though they both recite the Scripture. Like unto their word, said (the pagans) who know not. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they have been differing. [Al-Baqarah. 113]
Muhammad Bin Abee Muhammad the protege of Zaid Bin Thabit reported from Ikrimah or Saeed Bin Jubayr, who reported from Ibn Abbaas that when the Christian delegation of Najraan came to Allaah’s Messenger, the Rabbis came and argued with them in the presence of the Messenger; so Rabee Bin Hurmilah said, “You are upon nothing” and thus he disbelieved in Isa and all the Injeel. Then a man from the people of Najran said to the Jews, “You are upon nothing”, and thus he willfully denied Musa’s, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, Prophethood and disbelieved in the Torah, thus, Allah revealed: [وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَۗ -The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing; and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing; though they both recite the Scripture. [Al-Baqarah. 113]
So each of them recited the affirmation of what they reject in their book- meaning, the Jews disbelieved in Isa whilst they had the Torah in which Allah established the evidence against them through Musa that they should believe in Isa and the Injeel, and Isa confirmed Musa’s Messengership and what he came with. So, each one disbelieved in what was in the possession of the other. [Ibn Abee Hatim. 1/339]
[وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ – The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing]: Qatadah said regarding this verse, “Certainly, the early Christians were upon something, but they innovated and split”. [وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ – and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing]: Qatadah said regarding this verse: “Certainly, the early Jews were upon something, but they innovated and split”. The Jews belied the religion of the Christians and said that the Christians were upon nothing; and the Christians denied everything through which the Jews were distinguished from them, even the laws of the Torah which the Messiah did not abrogate; rather he commanded them to act upon it. As for the Jews, they denied many of things through which others were distinguished from them, until they denied the truth brought by Isa.
So, even though the Christians – due to that which they innovated of exaggeration and misguidance – went into extremes in excommunicating the Jews and showed them enmity beyond what is obligated, however there is no doubt that the Jews disbelieved when they belied the Messiah, just as Allah [The Exalted] said to the Messiah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]: [إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوۡقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ – I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you [of the forged statement that ‘Isa (Jesus) is Allah’s son] of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you (Monotheists, who worship none but Allah) superior to those who disbelieve [in the Oneness of Allah, or disbelieve in some of His Messengers, e.g. Muhammad, ‘Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), etc., or in His Holy Books, e.g. the Tawrat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Qur’an] till the Day of Resurrection. [Aal Imran. 55]
Allah, The Exalted, said:
قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ لِلۡحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ مَنۡ أَنصَارِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحۡنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِۖ فَـَٔامَنَت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ۖ فَأَيَّدۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمۡ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ ظَـٰهِرِينَ
Isa the son of Maryam said to Al-Hawariun (the disciples): “Who are my helpers (in the Cause) of Allah?” Al-Hawarieen (the disciples) said: “We are Allah’s helpers” (i.e. we will strive in His Cause!). Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved. So We gave power to those who believed against their enemies, and they became the uppermost. [As-Saff. 14]
The disbelief of the Christians – due to their denial of Muhammad’s Messengership and – is greater than the disbelief of the Jews due to their denial of the Messiah’s Messengership, because indeed the Messiah only abrogated a little from the Torah and all the laws and acts of worship ordained for him could be traced back to the Torah; however the majority of the beliefs and practices of the Christians were innovated after the departure of the Messiah. That which is found in the Jews’ denial of the Messiah by opposing Allah’s Shariah is not the same as the Christians’ denial of Muhammad, who brought an independent book from Allah, because nothing in the laws of the Qur’an was ordained based on the law of another Messenger. Allah [The Exalted] said: [أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِهِمۡ أَنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَرَحۡمَةً۬ وَذِڪۡرَىٰ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ – Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) which is recited to them? Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder (or an admonition) for a people who believe]. [Al-Ankabut. 51]
The Qur’an is an independent book like the Torah of Musa, even though the Qur’an is greater than it. And this is why the Christian scholars made a connection between Musa and Muhammad, just as when An-Najaashee [may Allaah have mercy upon him]- the Ethiopian king of the Christians- heard the Qur’an, he said, “Indeed, this and what Musa brought came from the same source”. Also, when Waqarah bin Nawfil, may Allah have mercy upon him, – who was one of Christian Arab scholars- heard the statement of the Prophet, he said, “Indeed, the Naamoos [i.e. Jibreel] who came to you was sent to Musa. I wish that I were young till when your people expel you”. Allaah’s Messenger asked, “Will these people drive me out?” Waraqah said, “Yes, because nobody brought the like of what you have brought, but was treated with hostility. If I were to remain alive till your day (when you start calling to Islam), then I would support you strongly”. [Bukhari]
And this is why Allah mentioned the Torah and the Qur’an together in His statement:
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ لَوۡلَآ أُوتِىَ مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰٓۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَڪۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبۡلُۖ قَالُواْ سِحۡرَانِ تَظَـٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ۬ كَـٰفِرُونَ
قُلۡ فَأۡتُواْ بِكِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ أَهۡدَىٰ مِنۡہُمَآ أَتَّبِعۡهُ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ
But when the truth (i.e. Muhammad with his Message) has come to them from Us, they say: “Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa (Moses)? Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Musa (Moses) of old? They say: “Two kinds of magic [the Tawrat (Torah) and the Qur’an] each helping the other!” And they say: “Verily! In both we are disbelievers.” Say (to them, O Muhammad): “Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two [the Taurat (Torah) and the Qur’an], that I may follow it, if you are truthful.” [Al-Qasas. 48-49]
Allah did not revealed books that were a better guide than the Tawraat and the Qur’an. Then Allah said:
فَإِن لَّمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لَكَ فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ بِغَيۡرِ هُدً۬ى مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists). [Al-Qasas. 50] [5]
Read:
Jesus, the son of Mary and the Messiah: Between Islam and Christianity. Here are ten points that every Christian really should know about Jesus (peace be upon him).
https://abukhadeejah.com/jesus-the-messiah-in-islam-in-christianity-and-in-reality/#:~:text=Jesus%20(peace%20be%20upon%20him)%20was%20a%20beloved%20Prophet%2C,and%20devoted%20servant%20of%20God.&text=3)%20Muslims%20believe%20that%20Jesus,the%20mother%20of%20the%20Messiah.
[1] Al-Kamil Fee at-Tarikh 1/252
[2] Al-Bidaya Wan Nihaya 2/52
[3] Al-Jawab As-Sahih 2/94
[4] Al-Jawab As-Sahih 3/32
[5] An Excerpt from Al-Jawaabus Saheeh Liman Baddala Deenul Maseeh. 1/26-28