Surah Al-Maidah, one of the lengthiest chapters of the Noble Quran, serves as a gateway to profound comprehension of the relationship between God and His Prophets, especially Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him). Verse 110 of this Surah, with a direct and majestic address from God, recalls the boundless divine blessings bestowed upon Jesus (PBUH) and his mother, Lady Mary (peace be upon her). This dialogue acts like a mirror reflecting the grandeur of the Prophetic mission and the exalted status of Jesus (PBUH) within the divine revelation system. In this treatise, relying upon valuable lectures and deep analyses, the verse is scrutinised to elucidate its profound meanings in a coherent and lucid manner for readers. The work, with an organised structure, explores concepts such as blessings, the Holy Spirit, miracles, and divine wisdom, revealing their semantic interrelations with scientific precision and elevated linguistic style.
Verse 110 of Surah Al-Maidah continues a divine dialogue initiated in the preceding verse (likely verse 109). Therein, God questions the Prophets:
"What was your response?"
In reply, the Prophets humbly demonstrate the greatness of divine knowledge by stating:
"They said: We possess no knowledge; indeed, You are the Knower of the unseen."
This response resembles a breeze that clears the dust of arrogance from the heart, displaying the Prophets humility before the infinite knowledge of God. Verse 110 directs this dialogue towards Jesus (PBUH), owing to his outstanding miraclesfrom raising the dead to healing the sickwhich distinguished him among the Prophets. This address not only manifests the grandeur of Jesus mission but also rectifies erroneous conceptions, especially among certain followers of Abrahamic religions who have occasionally ascribed his miracles to divinity.
Verse 110 commences with a magnificent address:
"When Allah said: O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favour upon you and upon your mother."
The blessing here refers to an ability transcending mere power. Whereas power may sometimes be intertwined with oppression, blessing is akin to a pure jewel an ability devoid of any injustice and superior to power. This blessing encompasses not only Jesus (PBUH) but also his mother, Lady Mary (peace be upon her), which itself signifies her exalted rank. The divine blessing shines like a sun illuminating both the Prophet and his family, supporting them along the path of the mission.
In analysing this verse, blessing is defined as an ability distinct from power. Power, at times, like a double-edged sword, may lead to oppression; whereas blessing, like a life-giving rain, is an ability that brings goodness and prosperity. This distinction is crucial for understanding Jesus status and his miracles, since all his actsfrom speaking in the cradle to resurrecting the deadstem not from personal power but from divine blessing.
One of the great divine blessings bestowed upon Jesus (PBUH) is his reinforcement by the Holy Spirit:
"When I supported you with the Holy Spirit so that you spoke to the people while in the cradle and as an adult."
The Holy Spirit, like a divine breeze, is a force that aided Jesus (PBUH) in performing extraordinary deeds. This force enabled him to speak in the cradle, at the very onset of his life, and in adulthood, where his words were like a clear spring guiding his nation. Speaking in the cradle is a brilliant star in the sky of prophethood, an unparalleled miracle mentioned in the Noble Quran.
To illustrate this miracle, one might refer to examples of human genius in the modern world. A thirteen-year-old girl who has become a teacher, or a child who performs complex mathematical calculations with astonishing speed, exemplify exceptional talents that, like a shadow of divine blessings upon the Prophets, guide us to comprehend the greatness of Jesus (PBUH) miracles. These talents, although human, act as small mirrors reflecting divine capabilities granted by God to His Prophets.
God taught Jesus (PBUH):
"And when I taught you the Book, Wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel."
In this verse, the Book refers to common knowledge shared among all Prophets, serving as steadfast pillars forming the foundations of divine religion. This knowledge includes fixed principles such as health, justice, and submission to God, introduced in the Quran as the religion with Allah is Islam (Al-Imran: 19). Wisdom, however, is like diverse branches on this mighty tree, referring to knowledge and truths imparted to each Prophet according to the needs of their nation. The Torah and Gospel, as exemplifications of this knowledge, are mentioned here, albeit with an acknowledgement that human distortions have sometimes cast shadows over their authenticity.
The differentiation between the Book and Wisdom is akin to separating the roots from the branches of a tree. The Book comprises fixed, common principles upheld by all Prophets, from Abraham (PBUH) to Jesus (PBUH). These principles, like a clear spring, bring health and purity and are shared across all divine religions. Wisdom, like diverse fruits, refers to specific knowledge granted to each Prophet ir temporal and spatial circumstances. For example, the method of Moses (PBUH) propagation differed from that of Jesus (PBUH), which is a manifestation of the divine wisdom bestowed upon each Prophet.
Verse 110 references the astonishing miracles of Jesus (PBUH):
"And when you moulded from clay [what was] like the form of a bird by My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper by My permission; and when you brought forth the dead by My permission."
These miracles, like stars in the firmament of prophethood, are clear signs of divine power granted to Jesus (PBUH). The formation of a bird from clay, the healing of the congenitally blind and leprous, and the resurrection of the deadall emphasise, through the phrase by My permission, the complete dependence of these acts upon Gods will. This emphasis acts as a key exposing the truth of Jesus mission against false claims of his divinity.
Despite these clear proofs, the unbelievers among the Children of Israel denied Jesus miracles, saying:
"This is nothing but evident magic."
This denial, like a veil of pride and prejudice, concealed the truth from their eyes. Though magic is a power sometimes employed in certain cultures, it is like a candle compared to the sun in the face of divine miracles. This part of the verse refers to the prophetic challenges often depicted throughout
