By Dr. Mohsen Haredy
Muslims believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) is one the Prophets sent by God (Allah the Almighty) to guide people to His path. Muslims believe that Jesus came with the same message that all prophets and messengers came with before him.
Jesus called people to worship Allah alone. Jesus never claimed any divinity. Jesus never said he is God or son of God.
Muslims believe in the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth. Muslims believe that Jesus performed many miracles that testify to his prophethood.
The people at the time of Jesus lied about God and took Jesus as God or son of God. On the Day of Judgment, God will speak to Jesus in the presence of those who worshipped Jesus and his mother as gods besides Allah.
Dialogue Between God and Jesus
This dialogue between God and Jesus is well-documented in the Quran where we read what means:
And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?’” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.
I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
If You should punish them – indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them – indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Allah will say, “This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. (Al-Maidah 5:116-119)
From this dialogue, we can conclude that God will rebuke the Christians because they did not believe in Jesus as a prophet from God but they took him as god or son of god.
God Questions Jesus
Did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?
God asked Jesus not because He does not know what Jesus preached but to make it clear to Christians in the presence of Jesus himself that Jesus did not ask them to worship him. It was the Christians who changed the message of Jesus and instead of worshiping God who sent Jesus to guide them, they claimed the divinity of Jesus and worshipped him.
Jesus Answers God’s Question
In his response to God’s question, Jesus was taught by Allah how to answer His question:
“Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.
What Did Jesus Teach?
Jesus, then, said:
I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
This is a clear statement from Jesus that he called his people to worship Allah alone. By these words Jesus will disown the Christians who worshipped him.
In another verse, we read:
They have certainly disbelieved who say, ” Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. (Al-Maidah 5:72)
What Did Jesus Say in the Bible?
Jesus’ message focused on the concept of the Oneness of God.
We read in 1 Timothy 2:5:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
In John 17:3 we read:
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Jesus even criticized those who worshipped him. We read in Matthew 15:9:
“And in vain they worship me.”
The Final Say Is Up to God
In the above dialogue, Jesus left the fate of the people to God who does what He wills and none can ask Him about what he does:
If You should punish them – indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them – indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Jesus’ Human Nature
To prove the human nature of Jesus and his mother, God says in the Quran what means:
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded. (Al-Maidah 5:75)
Sources:
1- Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
2- Quran.
3- Bible.