of Nokounam, (Session 1030)
The Holy Qur'an, the Book of Guidance and Light, presents divine truths to humanity with a profound and sagacious expression. Verse 157 of Surah l Imrn, which addresses the claim of the killing of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and its rejection by God, is one of the pivotal verses embedding deep layers of religious knowledge, divine wisdom, and critique of historical deviations. This essay, relying on valuable lectures, analyses this verse and related matters. Its objective is to elucidate the exalted Qur'anic meanings and offer a comprehensive perspective on the theological, historical, and ethical dimensions of this verse, so that, like a pure spring, it may pour truth into the hearts of seekers of knowledge.
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ
"And because of their saying, We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah."
The Holy Qur'an, in this passage, refers to the claim of the Children of Israel who, with arrogance and obstinacy, asserted that they had slain Jesus (peace be upon him), the chosen Prophet of God. This claim, rooted in opposition to the mission of the Prophets, is not merely a historical accusation but a sign of the denial of the lofty status of prophethood. The Children of Israel, previously notorious for accusing Mary (peace be upon her) and killing the divine Prophets, disclosed their enmity and disobedience to the friends of God through this claim. This statement, like a poisoned arrow, was directed not only at Jesus (peace be upon him) but at the divine truth itself.
وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ
"But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; rather, it was made to appear so to them."
The Holy Qur'an unequivocally and decisively invalidates the claim of the killing and crucifixion of Jesus (peace be upon him), stating that this event only appeared so to the people. This illusion, like a mirage in the desert, created the impression of killing in their minds, whereas the reality was otherwise. God, with His boundless wisdom, protected His Prophet from the grasp of the enemies and did not permit their malicious plans to come to fruition. This verse, like a radiant beacon, separates truth from the darkness of suspicion and imagination.
From a theological perspective, this categorical denial is a sign of divine protection over the Prophets. Some commentators have interpreted the illusion as a substitution of another person in place of Jesus (peace be upon him), but the Holy Qur'an, with its wisdom, refrains from delving into the details of this event, focusing solely on the negation of the killing. This wise ambiguity serves as a gateway to reflection, inviting the servants to ponder the power and wisdom of God.
وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ
> "And indeed, those who differ concerning it are in doubt about it; they have no knowledge of it except following conjecture."
The Holy Qur'an, in this section, refers to the dispute and doubt among the people regarding Jesus (peace be upon him) and emphasises that they possessed no certain knowledge but merely relied on conjecture and imagination. This conjecture, like a wandering wind, misled minds toward falsehood and distanced them from truth. These disputes, rooted in ignorance and prejudice, signified a departure from divine knowledge and an inclination towards suspicion and conjecture.
From the perspective of philosophy of religion, reliance on conjecture instead of knowledge indicates epistemic weakness. The Holy Qur'an elsewhere also reproaches following conjecture, considering it an obstacle to attaining truth. This point is an invitation towards knowledge and certainty, which, like a guiding star in the sky of guidance, illuminates the path for truth-seekers.
وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا
"And they did not kill him, certainly."
The Holy Qur'an, by emphasising the word certainly, negates any possibility of the killing of Jesus (peace be upon him). This emphasis, like a thunderbolt upon false claims, shatters unfounded conjectures. God, with this decisive statement, not only reveals the truth but also manifests divine authority in protecting His Prophets.
This certain negation, from a theological viewpoint, signifies God's unequivocal support for His chosen ones. The enemies, who harboured illusions of victory, were thwarted before the divine will. This verse, like a transparent mirror, places the divine truth before the eyes of those who seek truth.
بَلْ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
> "Rather, Allah raised him to Himself; and Allah is Almighty, Wise."
The Holy Qur'an, in this passage, speaks of the ascension of Jesus (peace be upon him) towards God. This ascension, like a divine breeze, removed the Prophet from the reach of enemies and elevated him to a sublime rank. The divine wisdom in this event, like a profound veil, refrains from revealing details so that the servants may be invited to reflection and submission to God's will.
Commentators have interpreted the ascension in various senses, such as deliverance from enemies or spiritual and spatial elevation. This wise ambiguity, like a divine enigma, tests the faith of the servants and guides them towards contemplation of divine signs. God, who is Almighty and Wise, by this act, not only preserved His Prophet but also closed the door on later abuses.
Following the denial of the killing of Jesus (peace be upon him), certain groups resorted to distorting the truth by ascribing to him titles such as Son of God or being part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). These deviations, like the branches of a tree of falsehood, stemmed from ignorance and fanciful imagination and expanded for material and organisational interests. The Holy Qur'an deems these beliefs erroneous and regards them as a consequence of estrangement from divine truth.
From the perspective of comparative theology, these distortions are indicative of a tendency towards power and wealth which, throughout history, have transformed religion into a tool for worldly interests. These deviations, like a dark shadow, obscured the pure truth of the Prophetic mission and paved the way for subsequent abuses.
The Holy Qur'an, besides refuting the claim of killing Jesus (peace be upon him), also alludes to unjust accusations against Mary (peace be upon her). These accusations, rooted in the hardness of heart and ignorance of the Children of Israel, signified their moral and spiritual deviation. Mary (peace be upon her), who shines like a radiant gem in the history of the Prophets, became a target of slander, and her son was accused of murder.
These accusations, reflected in other Qur'anic verses as well, were the consequence of rejecting divine miracles and estrangement from truth. The Children of Israel, who did not bow in reverence before the divine signs, deprived themselves of the grace of guidance through such allegations.
Throughout history, religion was sometimes transformed into a means to acquire power and wealth. The establishment of churches, formation of religious institutions, and titles such as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit served as pretexts for extorting the people and expanding influence. These exploitations, like weeds in the garden of religion, resulted from deviation from the genuine teachings of the Prophets.
In some periods, religious scholars dominated governments, and at other times, governments controlled religious institutions. These conflicts, sometimes accompanied by hypocrisy and corruption, estranged religion from its original purity. The Holy Qur'an, by censuring these deviations, calls the servants to return to the pure divine truth.
The Holy Qur'an, in narrating the ascension of Jesus (peace be upon him), leaves the details ambiguous and refers only to the principle of ascension. This ambiguity, like a wise veil, invites servants to reflection and submission to divine will. God, in His wisdom, did not want to fully reveal the reality of this event in order to test the faith of the servants.
This wisdom, like a secret hidden within the verses, demonstrates divine authority and honour. God, who is Almighty and Wise, with this ambiguity, closed the path to material and organisational abuses and preserved His Prophet from becoming a symbol for worldly interests.
God, according to His wisdom, did not wish for a material monument, such as a grave or memorial, to remain for Jesus (peace be upon him). This wisdom, like a divine shield, prevented the mission of Jesus (peace be upon him) from becoming an instrument of exploitation. The absence of such a monument is a sign of the purity of the mission and avoidance of materialism.
This point, which is also reflected in the concluding prayer "O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad," emphasises the role of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in preserving the truth of religion. They, like guardians of guidance, paved the way towards pure divine truth.
Verse 157 of Surah l Imrn, like a shining jewel in the treasury of the Holy Qur'an, reveals profound truths regarding the mission of Jesus (peace be upon him), the denial of his killing, and divine wisdom in his ascension towards God. This verse, by rejecting the false claims of the Children of Israel, underscores divine protection of the Prophets and the failure of the enemies before the will of God. The wise ambiguity in
