Good Friday

Translated from al-Qur'an by Yusuf Ali: "That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not;-" (4:157)

That's the one that gets me. That's the aya that will be trouble between me and my christian family, or between me and the ummah. I was raised believing that Jesus was crucified, and though Jesus was a common name, what I've done to look into his documented existence seems to show that he did in fact live, and was in fact crucified. In saying this, I do not wish to lead any believer away from their faith.

I would also like to bring: "And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah" (3:54; Yusuf Ali Tr.) and, "Behold! Allah Said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falshoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute." (3:55; Yusuf Ali Tr.) to the table. "I will take thee and raise thee to Myself" has also been translated as "I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me..." (Shakir).

While Christians look at 4:157 in al-Qur'an, muslims point to Psalm 91, Hebrews 5 & Isaiah 53 (and many others), to show that the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled might not have necessitated his crucifixion, postulating that these verses instead hint at his not-dieing.

There is a semi-heretical Christian belief that implies that though Jesus died on the cross, hell could not hold him for he was sinless, and that he "rose again," and was taken up into the heavens shortly thereafter. There are two "apologetic" standpoints in Islam regarding the situation of Jesus on the cross, the swoon theory (that he weakened and appeared dead, but did not die), and the replacement theory (that a double of some variety [sinner or disciple] took the place of Jesus, and Jesus watched on).

In conversation with Muslim brothers last night, the idea that "Certainty supersedes doubt" came up regarding wudu. If you are certain that you made wudu, but uncertain if it has been broken, then you are given license to act with certainty of your wudu. If certainty supersedes doubt, cannot it be taken as certain (in both Christianity and Islam), that Jesus lived after the crucifixion? If he was not killed by the cross, he lived. If he survived in a weakened state, he lived. If he did in fact "expose his soul" to death (however that can be interpreted), but in the end lived, he lived! And was later lifted up into the heavens, "returning" to God. Whether "his eyes" observed the crucifixion, or his entire being experienced it, in the end, as far as I'm concerned, the important part was the message of faith in Allah. Faith in "The God" not faith in a man, or a prophet.

"No man comes to the father except through me." (see John 5 for the whole text), seems to share an echo with the Islamic idea of the Sunnah of Mohammad (pbuh); in "the hidden gospel," Neil Douglas-Klotz explains that the idea of "through me," when taken in the aramaic context relates the importance of emulating the teacher, emulating the prophet, emulating the one who knows the way - and does not necessarily imply the divinity of Jesus.

Does (the one true) God turn away those who believe in (the one true) God? Be they Christian or Muslim or Jew? I believe that matter is between the God and the believers.

If you have gotten anything true or useful from this, it is from Allah, and if there is anything false or untrue, it is my mistake.

استغفر الله