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LESSON FOUR: THE QURAN'S TESTIMONY ABOUT ISA AL-MASIH
We shall be looking in this study at what the Quran says about Isa . We shall look at the titles given to him, at his birth, at his life, and at the honor paid to him in the Quran. We shall also be comparing this to what the says concerning him.
1. Isa's titles and names.
a. Isa (Jesus)
1) 3:45-51 (And remember) when the angels said: O ! Lo! Allah giveth
thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is , Isa, son of , illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those
brought near (unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood,
and he is of the righteous. She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath
touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! And it is. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the
and the , And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel,
(saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for
you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I
raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! Herein verily is a portent for you, if
ye are to be believers. And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the
, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto
you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a
straight path.
a) Who announces to that her son shall be called Isa?
b) Who, then, actually gave him that name?
2) Matthew 1:20,21 - But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
" son of , do not be afraid to take home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name
Isa, because he will save his people from their sins."
a) Who announces to that 's son is to be called Isa?
b) He is to be called Isa because he will do what?
NOTE: The word "Isa" is from a Hebrew word meaning "Savior."
b. Al-Masih (the Messiah, Christ)
1) 3:45 - (And remember) when the angels said: O ! Lo! Allah giveth
thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is , Isa, son of , illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those
brought near (unto Allah).
2) 4:171 - O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth.
Al-Masih, Isa son of , was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto
, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and
say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One God.
Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son.
His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah
is sufficient as Defender.
The term "Masih" (Messiah, Christ) is used very frequently of Isa in the . Only two examples are given below to provide some idea of its usage.
3) John 1:41 - The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is,
).
NOTE: The word "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah."
The word "Masih" is the Arabic form of the Hebrew
"Messiah". All these words mean "Allah's Chosen One" or "Anointed One."
4) John 4:25,26 - The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Masih) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Isa declared, "I who speak to you am he."
c. the Word of Allah
1) 3:45 - (And remember) when the angels said: O ! Lo! Allah giveth
thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is , Isa, son of , illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those
brought near (unto Allah).
2) 4:171 - O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth.
Al-Masih, Isa son of , was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto
, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and
say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son.
His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.
3) John 1:1,14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Allah, and the Word was Allah. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In this passage Isa is described as the Living Word that was with Allah and then took human form and came down to dwell on earth among men.
d. The Spirit of Allah
4:171 - O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion
nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. , Isa son of
, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto
, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and
say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son.
His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.
2. The birth of Isa.
a. 3:45-51 - (And remember) when the angels said: O ! Lo! Allah giveth
thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is , Isa, son of , illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those
brought near (unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood,
and he is of the righteous. She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath
touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! And it is. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the
and the , And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel,
(saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for
you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I
raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! Herein verily is a portent for you, if
ye are to be believers. And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the
, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto
you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a
straight path.
b. 19:16-34 - And make mention of in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee,
if thou art God-fearing. He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow
on thee a faultless son. She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me,
neither have I been unchaste? He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me.
And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained. And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far
place. And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a
thing of naught, forgotten! Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not!
Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee, And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt
cause ripe dates to fall upon thee. So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any
mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak
this day to any mortal. Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said:
O ! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. O sister of ! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy
mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who
is in the cradle, a young boy? He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the
Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath
enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who
bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day
I shall be raised alive! Such was Isa, son of : (this is) a statement of the
truth concerning which they doubt.
c. Matthew 1:18-25 - This is how the birth of Isa came about: His mother
was pledged to be married to , but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because
her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
" son of , do not be afraid to take home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name
Isa, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means,
"Allah with us." 24 When woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took
home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name
Isa.
1) will conceive a child not though the normal union of a man and woman, but through whose power?
2) What might this tell us as to why Isa is holy and sinless?
d. Luke 1:26-38 and 2:1-7 - In the sixth month, Allah sent the angel Jibrail
to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named
, a descendant of . The virgin's name was . 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid,
, you have found favor with Allah. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name
Isa. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord
Allah will give him the throne of his father , 33 and he will reign over the house of forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 "How will this be," asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of
Allah. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with
Allah." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of
, because he belonged to the house and line of . 5 He went there to register with
, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
3. Isa's amazing work.
a. Compared with the prophet Adam
1) 3:59 - Lo! The likeness of Isa with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! And he is.
2) Romans 5:12-19 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of
, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did
Allah's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Isa , overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of
Allah is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive
Allah's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man,
Isa . 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
a) What was the result of the sin of the one person, the Prophet Adam? (See vs. 12)
b) In verse 19, what is said to be the results of the obedience of one person,
Isa ?
3) 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 - For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in
Masih all will be made alive.
a) What happens to all men because of their relation to Adam and his sin?
b) What will happen to those who are "in Masih;" that is, are his disciples?
b. A Grace or Mercy from Allah.
1) 19:21 - He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me.
And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained.
a) In this passage predicting the birth of Isa what two things are said of the one who is going to be born miraculously of a virgin?
b) Isa is to be a mercy from whom?
2) John 1:17 - For the law was given through ; grace and truth came through
Isa .
a) Who brought the law from Allah?
b) What two things does Isa make available to man from Allah?
The question as to how Allah's grace is made available through Isa is a very important one. Let us look briefly at two passages that point to the answer.
3) Hebrews 7:24,25 - but because Isa lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to
Allah through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
a) What is Isa able to do completely for those who come to Allah through him?
b) Why does it say Isa is able to do this?
c) It should be remembered that the Quran states that on the last day no one's intercession will be accepted by Allah. When is
Isa interceding according to this verse?
Thus, Isa offers us Allah's grace through his intercession for us to Allah. That intercession is actually founded upon another very important means of bringing Allah's grace to man as seen in the below verse.
4). 1 Peter 3:18 - For Masih died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to
Allah. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
a) What did do for our sins once and for all?
b) He did that in order that we might do what?
c. His many miracles.
1) 3:49 - And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel,
(saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for
you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a
bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I
raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and
what ye store up in your houses. Lo! Herein verily is a portent for you, if
ye are to be believers.
2) 5:110 - When Allah saith: O Isa, son of ! Remember My favour unto thee and unto thy mother; how I strengthened thee with the holy
Spirit, so that thou spakest unto mankind in the cradle as in maturity; and
how I taught thee the Scripture and Wisdom and the and the ;
and how thou didst shape of clay as it were the likeness of a bird by My permission, and didst blow upon it and it was a bird by My permission, and
thou didst heal him who was born blind and the leper by My permission; and
how thou didst raise the dead by My permission; and how I restrained the
Children of Israel from (harming) thee when thou camest unto them with
clear proofs, and those of them who disbelieved exclaimed: This is naught
else than mere magic;
It should be noted that the miracles of Masih were not simply displays of power to gain fame and applause from men. They were a God-given sign the earlier prophets had said would accompany
-Savior whom Allah would send into the world. Such miraculous deeds would prove beyond any doubt that
Isa was indeed the one Allah had promised. Let us look at two passages showing this from the .
3) Luke 4:16-21 - He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
a) The prophet lived 700 years before Masih. What things in verse 18 are to be done by the one whom Allah will send?
b) What is Isa claiming by his statement in verse 21?
4) Matthew 11:2-6 - When heard in prison what Masih was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
4 Isa replied, "Go back and report to what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
a) Prophet (pbuh) sends his disciples to ask Isa what question?
b) Isa makes no simple claim to be that person, a claim anyone could make. Instead, he offers the proof that only he could give. What is the proof as seen in these verses?
4. Isa's character - described as holy.
a. 3:36 - And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am
delivered of a female - Allah knew best of what she was delivered - the
male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her , and lo! I crave
Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast.
What does the mother of request of Allah for both and 's offspring,
Isa?
b. 19:19 - He said: "No, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to
announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
1) What kind of a son is Allah bestowing on ?
2) Would you say from this passage that Allah granted the request made in 'a' above?
5. The honor shown to Isa.
a. His mother, , greatly honored.
3:42 - And when the angels said: O ! Lo! Allah hath chosen thee
and made thee pure, and hath preferred thee above (all) the women of
creation.
What woman is preferred by Allah above all other women in creation?
b. Isa among the exalted.
1) 3:45 - (And remember) when the angels said: O ! Lo! Allah giveth
thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is , Isa, son of
, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).
In the last part of this verse how is Isa described?
2) Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore Allah exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Isa every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Isa is Lord,
to the glory of Allah the Father.
a) Allah gave Isa a name that is above how many other names?
b) Because of Allah's exulting Isa, what shall every tongue one day confess?
c. Isa taken alive by Allah to heaven.
1) 3:55 - (And remember) when Allah said: O Isa! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who
disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve
until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ.
2) Acts 1:7-11 - He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same
Isa, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Verse 11 not only states Isa was taken up to heaven, but also tells us that what very important event will happen in the future?
6. Some personal questions.
a. As you worked through the above section on the titles of Isa, you discovered the meaning of both the names
"Isa" and "Masih." Isa is most frequently referred to in the by the combination of those two terms -
"Isa ." What would those two terms together mean?
b. We have seen in the above that Isa was Allah's channel of grace to mankind. Have you experienced that grace in your life? How?
It is clear from a study of the Word of Allah that Isa was a very special and unique messenger of Allah. He was unique in his names and titles, in his birth, in his message, in his miraculous works, in his sinless character, in his being taken up to Allah alive, and in his future return to this earth. However, the above very brief study does not begin to cover all the important and amazing aspects of his life and work. To do so, one must make a serious study of the , the complete record of Allah's unique Servant,
Isa .
PRAISE TO THE ONE AND ONLY ALLAH, THE LORD AND MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH WHO SENT HIS MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SERVANT
ISA AL-MASIH THE SON OF MARYAM
In closing, take a few minutes to praise Allah for his many gifts to you, such things as life, health, family and friends. Do not forget to thank him especially for sending His living Word,
Isa , into the world to make Allah's grace available to a rebellious and sinful world - to you and to me.
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