Isa al-Masih (Jesus Christ): Difference between revisions

{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=4|References=3}}

In orthodox [[Islam]], '''Isa al-Masih''' (عيسى المسيح usually translated as ''Jesus Christ'') is believed to be a prophet, second in rank to [[Muhammad]], and not the son of God. Indeed, associating divinity with Jesus is decried as blasphemy in the Qur'an time and again. The [[Qur'an]], though, does have its own [[Qur'anic Christology|Christological vision]] of Jesus' mission on earth and his incarnation in the virgin Mary. Islamic holy literature including the Qur'an also carries over many fantastic tales of the doings of Jesus from [[Parallelism Between the Qur'an and Judeo-Christian Scriptures|apocryphal]] literature.  

{{Main|Virgin Conception of Jesus in the Qur'an}}

The Qur'an talks of the '''Injil''' (إنجيل) referring to the New Testament of the Bible (usually the four Gospels) as being given to Jesus, rather than being written by his followers. The Qur'an also treats this as one book instead of many (and not as the general "good news" of Jesus' incarnation, death, and resurrections as the word is used in Christian literature):

Islam's portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus differs vastly from the mainstream Christian view and approaches the Gnostic view. According to [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Islamic Theology|Islamic theology]], Jesus was never crucified. It was merely a [[Allah the Best Deceiver|deception by Allah]] who made it appear that he was. This conception of Jesus' crucifixion curiously borrows elements from the docetist heresy (in Greek Δοκηταί Dokētaí , from the word δοκεῖν/δόκησις dokeĩn "to seem", dókēsis "apparition, phantom), a heresy which otherwise is the total opposite of the Islamic christology: in this conception, Jesus was a totally unearthly, divine being, without even a human body. Knowledge of its doctrines in the present day are based on several apocryphal works which have been discovered, particularly from the Nag Hammadi cache of gnostic Christian texts.   

The dates of authorship for these writings show the relative lateness of the doctrine.  All of The canonical Christian scriptures were authored during the 1st century A.D.  The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter and the Second Treatise of the Great Seth were authored during the 3rd century A.D.<ref>Ehrman, Bart D. (2003) ''The Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament''. (p. 78). Oxford: Oxford University Press. "Most scholars have dated this gnostic treatis [The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter] to the third century."</ref><ref>Ehrman, Bart D. (2003) ''The Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament''. (p. 82). Oxford: Oxford University Press.  "This book [The Second Treatise of the Great Seth], which was discovered at Nag Hammadi (see page 19), probably dates from the third century."</ref> Meanwhile, according the traditional Muslim chronology, the Qur'an was revealed between 610-632 AD; its initial compilation was in 633 AD; and a "revisionary committee" preserved a standardized version sometime between 644-656 AD. Possible modern findings allow for an even earlier date of composition, but no estimate puts any Qur'anic material as in existence before the 5th century.  

 

<big>'''Gospels'''</big>

Muslim apacolyptic literature says that Jesus will return as a Muslim and will break the cross (destroy Christianity), kill swine (This may be a reference to the destruction of the Jews, as the [[Qur'an]] says Jews were once turned into apes and pigs <ref>{{Quran|5|60}}</ref>), and advance the cause of [[Islam]]. He will also abolish the [[jizyah]], which will leave Jews and Christians with only two options, to convert to Islam or face execution and enslavement. Verse 9:29 calls for the subduing of Jew and Christians.  

Islam carries over its apacolyptic tradition from Christianity. As such the hadith teaches that Jesus will come back to fight for Islam.

As in Christian apacolyptic literature, on judgment day arrives Jesus will judge the people by the words of the Qur'an.