I received this article from Mr. Muhammad Tufail Shad, Idara Balagh Ul Quran, I thought to share it with you.

The real Jesus as described in the Quran

Before proceeding any further with the Quranic Jesus, I wish to make it clear that the Palestinian or the Biblical Jesus is not the Quranic Jesus. The Palestinian Jesus, who lived during the Roman occupation of Palestine, is surprisingly missing from any historical record by any Roman historian. The Romans were very particular about recording any historical event that took place in their empire. And the Roman historians were very meticulous in describing the details. In the case of Jesus there is the question why no Roman historian has mentioned his existence.   This has led some European historians of Christianity to doubt the existence of Jesus Christ.

In his book on Jewish history ‘Jews, God and History,’ Max I. Dimont, on page 132  mentions a person who was a Teacher of Righteousness, who preceded Jesus Christ by about two hundred years, who is mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Amazingly, the teachings of Jesus Christ paralleled those of the Teacher of Righteousness, “Like him, He was the Elect and the Messiah of God, the Messiah Redeemer of the World”. And on page133 he says:  “”Christianity” had existed at least two hundred years before Jesus, its greatest and noblest spokesman, but not its originator”.

I hope that the above paragraphs have proved my point that the Biblical Jesus is not the Quranic Jesus.

This is not an isolated account about Jesus Christ. There is a vast array of books  on this subject  and a huge amount of literature  on the internet.

As far as the Quranic Jesus is concerned, the Quran is very clear about the fact  that Jesus Christ was not crucified and he was not killed. “They slew him not norcrucified… they slew him not for certain”(Sura 4, Verse 157). Further, the Quran tells us that he was victorious and he triumphed over his enemies, “…ThenWe   aided those who believed (i.e. Jesus and his companions) against their enemiesand they became the uppermost”(Sura As-Saff 61, Verse 14).  Andfurther, there is Allah’s promise to His messengers that they would always triumph over their enemies, and their enemies will always be vanquished.

Verse 14 of Sura 61 ispivotalin understanding the life of Jesus Christ.

All other verses about him in the Quran should be subject to this verse.

Here is Allah’s promise to all His messengers:-

Allah hath decreed: Lo! I verily shall conquer, I and My messengers. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty. (58/21)

               And verily Our word (Promise) went forth of old unto Our   

               Bondmen sent to (warn)

               That they verily would be helped,

               And that Our forces would be victorious. (37/171-173).

                                                                                                                                                                                                This promise of Allah was fulfilled also in the case of Jesus Christ.  In the light of the above two verses, Allah aided Jesus Christ against his enemies in his lifetime and he triumphed over them. This is made clear in 61/14:

“…Then we aidedthose who believed against their enemies and they became predominant”. (61/14).

A misconception exists amongst Muslims that Jesus Christ was rescued from the cross and from his enemies by Allah lifting him bodily to heaven and that he would return to Earth towards the end of the world. This is based on a mistranslation of Verse 158 of Sura 4, “But Allah took him up unto himself”. What this verse really means is that “Allah exalted his status in His presence” (4/158).   A similar verse exists in regard to Prophet Idris, “And We raised him to highstation”(19/57). It does not mean that he too was physically raised to heaven. If we believe that Jesus Christ was bodily lifted, then we will have to also believe that Prophet Idris was also lifted up bodily. This does not happen.  Allah does not lift living persons to heaven. And in the case of Jesus Christ, Allah has made it absolutely clear that Allah aided Jesus against his enemies and he triumphed over them (61/14). Therefore there is no Quranic basis to believe that Jesus Christ was  bodily  raised from the earth and that he  would return to earth one day.

Because Jesus Christ overpoweredhis enemies, the question of savinghim from his enemies does not arise.

In conclusion, in the Quranic language, Jesus Christ was neither crucified nor killed, nor was he rescued from his enemies.

The Quranic Jesus was blessed.  “And He made me blessed wherever I may be” (19/31). “And peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die and the day I am raised to life (on Judgment Day)” (19/33).

On the other hand, the Biblical Jesus was a curse. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,” (Galatians chapter 3, verse 13).  

Thus, the Biblical Jesus was aCURSE.

The Quranic Jesus was  BLESSED.

A word about the high status of the Companions of Jesus Christ, which is described in Sura 61, Verse 14:

Oh  you who believe, be helpers of Allah, as Jesus, son of Mary said to his disciples: Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We are helpers of Allah.  (61/14)

In this verse Allah has ordained the believers to be like the companions of Jesus Christ. This applies toallbelievers, from the time that the Quran was revealed to the end of time. But what was their achievement that we are supposed to imitate? The answer lies in Verse 4 of Sura 61, “Surely Allah loves those who fight in His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure”. Here in lies the clue in following the companions of Jesus Christ. It was their characteristic to fight in ranks as if they were a solid structure, and Allah loves those who fight in this fashion.  Any other form of fighting, like suicide bombing, is hateful in the sight of Allah. The only method of fighting approved by Allah is in ranks, that is to say, a well organized army.

Prophet Solomon had a formidable army.  In reply to gifts sent by Queen of Saba, he says to the emissary:“Return unto them. We verily shallcome unto them with armies that they cannot resist, and we shall drive them outfrom thence with shame, and they will be abased”. (27/37).

This method of fighting has to be adopted by Muslims till the end of time. By fighting in ranks the companions of Jesus Christ triumphed over their enemies, with Jesus Christ as the commander-in-chief of this fighting force.   Just as his companions are an exemplary force for all the believers, so was the commander–in-chief who organized these armies, Jesus Christ, was an example to Prophet Muhammed. The Quran throws light on the high status of the companions of Jesus Christ, who were the helpers of Allah.

MAY ALLAH BE PLEASED WITH THEM ALL.