Our Beloved Prophet ^Isa (Jesus)

The Story of Prophet ^Isa (Jesus)

Allah sent many messengers to humanity as a mercy, all of whom taught the same religion: Islam, the belief in the Oneness of Allah. They all conveyed that Allah has all perfect attributes and does not resemble any of His creations. Prophet ^Isa, like all the prophets from Adam to Muhammad, was a messenger who taught this creed. He was one of the five best messengers (Ulul-^Azm), and a truthful prophet whom Muslims love and respect.

Maryam, the Mother of ^Isa

Maryam (Mary), the mother of ^Isa, was a very pious woman from the offspring of Israel during the time of Prophet Zakariyya. She was conceived and delivered when her mother was old, after her mother had supplicated to Allah for a child. Maryam’s mother vowed to dedicate the child, whom she thought would be a boy, to the service of the Holy House in Jerusalem. Allah answered her supplication, and she gave birth to a girl whom she named Maryam, asking Allah to protect her and her offspring from evil.

Since her father had died, Prophet Zakariyya, who was her sister’s husband, became Maryam’s guardian. Under his care, she learned the religion and grew up to be a righteous and pure Muslim woman, a waliyyah (a very pious woman with a special status). The Qur’an mentions that angels told her that Allah had chosen and preferred her over all the women of the world.

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

(Surah Al ‘Imran, Verse 37)

This verse means “Every time Zakariyah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, ‘O Maryam, from where is this [coming] to you?’ She said, ‘It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account”

The Birth of ^Isa

One day, while fetching water, Maryam was approached by the angel Jibril (Gabriel) in the shape of a man. Fearing him, she sought refuge with Allah. Jibril told her he was a messenger from her Lord, sent to give her a pious child. Maryam was astonished, as she was not married and had never committed fornication. Jibril explained that creating a son without a father was easy for Allah and that the child would be a sign of Allah’s power and a mercy to those who follow him.

Jibril then blew the soul of ^Isa into Maryam, and she became pregnant. When the signs of her pregnancy appeared, her cousin, Yusuf the Carpenter, was troubled. However, after Maryam explained the miraculous nature of her conception by drawing parallels to Allah’s creation of plants without seeds and Adam without a father or mother, Yusuf was reassured of her innocence.

Feeling shy and fearing accusation from her people, Maryam went away. The pangs of childbirth led her to a dead palm tree. Jibril comforted her, telling her that Allah had provided a small stream for her to drink from and that if she shook the tree, it would become green and drop moist dates for her to eat. He also told her to not speak to anyone that day.

After giving birth, Maryam returned to her people with the baby. When they accused her of fornication, she pointed to her son. Angered, they saw this as mockery, but Allah made the 40-day-old baby ^Isa speak from his cradle.

قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا

(Surah Maryam, Verse 30)

As a baby, he spoke and said, “Indeed, I am a slave of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet,” confirming his creed and future prophethood. He then did not speak again until he was of a normal age for children to talk.

Early Life and Prophethood

After his birth, Lady Maryam took ^Isa to Egypt, where they stayed for a time before returning to a city called an-Nasirah. ^Isa memorized the Torah and followed its rules. He was a pious worshipper of Allah, and when he was 30, Allah sent him the revelation of prophethood and a new Heavenly Book called the Injil, which abrogated some of the laws of the Torah. The Injil contained the prohibition of associating partners with Allah and other laws, such as the prohibition of consuming usurious gains, pig meat, and blood. It also ordered the performance of two daily prayers.

Like all prophets, ^Isa performed miracles with Allah’s permission to prove his prophethood. These included curing seemingly incurable illnesses like leprosy and restoring the sight of a man born blind. He even brought a person back to life. Another miracle was when he formed the shape of bats from clay, and they would fly away. A great miracle was when his students asked for food from the sky. ^Isa supplicated to Allah, and angels brought down food that fed hundreds of people without diminishing in quantity.

The Ascension of Prophet ^Isa

When Prophet ^Isa was 33 years old, the blasphemers among the Children of Israel plotted to kill him. However, Allah saved him. Narrations state that Prophet ^Isa was in a house with twelve of his elite companions. He asked who among them would be willing to be made to look like him, be killed in his place, and be his companion in Paradise. A young man volunteered, and after the third time, Allah revealed that this young man would be the one to be made to look like ^Isa. ^Isa was then raised to the sky from an opening in the ceiling of the house. When the Jews arrived, they saw the young man and, thinking he was ^Isa, they crucified him.

It is a misconception that a student of his betrayed him or that a Jewish leader was killed in his place; these stories are false. After his ascension, ^Isa’s nation followed his guidance for about 200 years. However, the teachings were perverted over time, and by the time Prophet Muhammad was revealed, none of the true Muslims from ^Isa’s nation were left.

Prophet ^Isa’s Descent to Earth

Prophet ^Isa is still alive in the second heaven, worshipping Allah. His descent to Earth before the Day of Judgment is one of the major signs of its approach. He will descend on the eastern side of Damascus, meeting a group of Muslims with the Mahdiyy as their leader. ^Isa will rule the earth with the Shari^ah (rules) of Prophet Muhammad, breaking the cross, killing pigs, and abolishing the jizyah. He will also kill the Dajjal, an evil blasphemer who claims to be God.

During this time, the people of Ya’juj and Ma’juj will appear, causing great destruction. Prophet ^Isa will take the believers to Mount at-Tur to supplicate to Allah, who will then destroy the people of Ya’juj and Ma’juj. After this, a time of peace and safety will prevail under ^Isa’s rule. He will live for 40 years, marry, and have children before he dies and is buried. It is said he will be buried next to Prophet Muhammad.

Prophet ^Isa was a messenger of Allah who conveyed the religion of Islam. Muslims believe in his prophethood and truthfulness. Peace be upon this respected and beloved Messenger of Allah.