Beginnings 1- And the Angels said: ?

O Mary, God gives good news of a word from Him whose name is the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. Honourable in this world and in the Hereafter, and from among those who are made close. And he speaks to the people from the cradle, and in old age, and from among the upright.? She said: ?My Lord, how can I have a son when no human has touched me?? He said: ?It is thus that God creates what He wills, when He decrees a command, He merely says to it ?Be?, and it is.? (3:45-47) 2- The example of Jesus with God is similar to that of Adam; He created him from dust, then He said to him ?Be? and he was. (3:59) 3- And recall in the Scripture Mary, when she withdrew herself from her family to a place which was to the east. She took to a barrier which separated her from them, so We sent Our spirit to her, and he took on the shape of a human in all similarity. She said: ?I seek refuge with the Almighty from you if you are a person of faith.? He said: ?I am the messenger of your Lord, to give you the gift of a pure son.? She said: ?How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor do I desire such?? He said: ?It is such that your Lord has said, it is easy for Me. And We shall make him a sign for mankind and a mercy from Us. It is a matter already ordained. So she was pregnant with him, and she went to deliver in a far place. Then the birth pains came to her, by the trunk of a palm tree. She said: ?I wish I had died before this, and became totally forgotten!? But then he called to her from beneath her: ?Do not be sad, your Lord Has made below you a stream. And shake the trunk of this palm tree, it will cause ripe dates to fall upon you. So eat and drink and be happy. If you see any human being, then say: ?I have declared a fast for the Almighty, and I will not talk today to any of mankind." Then she came to her people carrying him. They said: ?O Mary, you have come with something totally unexpected! O sister of Aaron, your father was not a bad man, and your mother was never unchaste!? So she pointed to him. They said: ?How can we talk to someone who is a child in a cradle?? He said: ?I am God?s servant, He has given me the scripture and made me a prophet. And He made me blessed wherever I was, and He enjoined me with the assembly and towards betterment as long as I am alive. And to be dutiful to my mother, and he did not make me a rebellious tyrant. And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am resurrected alive.? Such was Jesus, the son of Mary, and this is the truth of the matter in which they doubt. (19:16-34) Even before his birth, or conception in the womb for that matter, Jesus the Messiah was talked about and known about, in the case of his mother's knowledge. She had recieved this premonition while she was withdrawn from her family. Jesus is said to be like 'Adam'. Adam refers to mankind, a people who are human, not to a single organism unto itself. Jesus is like mankind and thus it is highly probable that he has a biological father just like other humans. All things were created in pairs (43:12) and parental pairing in the case of Jesus' conception in the womb does not sound like a far cry from reason. Mary was skeptical however about the news she was recieving, perhaps a premonition, nor did she look forward to the news she got because she did not want a son, but if a matter is decreed by God, it will carry out. Eventually Mary did concieve of Jesus and decided to go away to bring Jesus into the light of the world.

As she was heading to her destination the pangs of birth overcame her and she had no choice other than to deliver the baby where she was. She was irritated, or worried at that fact (19:23). While under the palm tree she was inspired to eat of the dates of the palm tree above her and to drink of the water of the stream near her. She would not talk to any human she came across for that very day. Coming back among her people with the babe in her arms, all sorts of ideas ran in their heads because they were not expecting her to be with child. They had tried to rebuke her for the folly they believed she had commited by telling her how she made her good family seem bad for what she had done. Since she vowed to keep silent that whole day, God made His prophecy (3:46) come to pass and Jesus spoke to the people while in the cradle, that is being a baby. In his words Jesus describes himself as (1) God's servant, (2) a recipient of scripture and prophethood, (3) one who is blessed by God, (4) dutiful to his mother, (5) has peace on him since his day of birth till his death and till he is resurrected alive, and (5) he is not a tyrant.

Some points to reflect on: (a) Being alike, or similar to mankind (Adam) Jesus is capable of death, old age, and normal parentage, that is having both a mother and a father. (b) Mary's people were so flabberghasted at her having a son because she kept aloof from her people during this period in her life. Thus they would be unaware of her personal life, pregnancy, etc. (c) God is not referring to a 'Virgin Birth' when He says that he will create what He wants after Mary says she has not been with a man. Take note to the exact same situation that is narrated in regards to Abraham and his wife (51:28-30, 15:53-55, 11:71-73). This does not mean that his (Abraham's) wife also had a Virgin Birth. It simply means that a decree has been set forth and the necessary things will happen so such things can be accomplished, or set into motion. Maturity 1- And We gave Moses the Scripture, and after him We sent the messengers. And We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear proofs, and We supported Him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that every time a messenger comes to you with what your souls do not desire, you become arrogant? A group of them you deny, and a group of them you kill! (2:87) 2- And He teaches him the Scripture and the Wisdom and the Torah and the Injeel. And a messenger to the Children of Israel: ?I have come to you with a sign from your Lord; that I create for you from clay the form of a bird, then I blow into it and it becomes a bird by God?s leave, and I heal the blind and the leapers, and give life to the dead by God?s leave, and I prophesize for you what you shall eat and what to store in your homes. In that is a sign for you if you are believers. And authenticating what is present with me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden to you; and I have come to

you with a sign from your Lord, so be aware of God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him, this is a Straight Path.? So when Jesus felt their rejection, he said: ?Who are my supporters to God?? The disciples said: ?We are God?s supporters, we believe in God and we bear witness that we have surrendered. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down, and followed the messenger, so record us with those who bear witness.? And they schemed and God schemed, but God is the best schemer. God said: ?O Jesus, I will take you, and raise you to Me, and cleanse you of those who have rejected, and make those who have followed you above those who rejected until the day of judgment; then to Me is your return so I will judge between all of you in what it was that you disputed. As for those who have rejected, I will punish them severely in this world and in the Hereafter, they will have no supporters. And as for those who believed and did good works, God will pay them their reward; God does not like the wicked.? (3:48-57) 3- O people of the Scripture, do not overstep in your system, nor say about God except the truth. Jesus the son of Mary was no more than God?s messenger and His word which He delivered to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say: ?Three.? Cease, for it is better for you. God is only One god, be He glorified that He should have a son! To Him is all that is in the heavens and what is in the earth. God is enough as a caretaker. The Messiah is not too proud to be a servant to God, nor are the Angels who are close to Him. Whoever is too proud from His service, and is arrogant, then He will gather them all towards Him together. (4:171-172) 4- God said: ?O Jesus son of Mary, recall My blessings upon you and your mother that I supported you with the Holy Spirit; you spoke to the people in the cradle and in old age; and I taught you the scripture and the wisdom, and the Torah, and the Injeel; and you would create from clay the shape of a bird, then blow into it and it becomes a bird by My leave; and you healed the blind and the leaper by My leave; and you brought out the dead by My leave. And I have restrained the Children of Israel from you, that you came to them with proofs; but those who rejected amongst them said: ?This is clearly magic!? And I inspired the disciples that you shall believe in Me and My messenger; they said: ?We believe, and bear witness that we have surrendered.? And the disciples said: ?O Jesus son of Mary, can your Lord send down for us a feast from heaven?? He said: ?Be aware of God if you are believers.? They said: ?We want to eat from it and so our hearts become relieved, and so we know that you are truthful, and so that we can become a witness over it.? Jesus son of Mary, said: ?O God, send down to us a feast from heaven, that it becomes a joy to us from the first to the last, and a sign from You, and provide for us, you are the best provider.? God said: ?I will send it down to you, but whoever rejects after this from amongst you, I will punish him a punishment like no one else from the worlds will be punished!? (5:110-115) 5- And when the son of Mary was cited as an example, your people turned away from it. And they said: ?Are our gods better or is he?? They only cited this to argue with you. Indeed, they are a quarrelsome people. He was no more than a servant whom We blessed, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. And if We willed, We could have made some of you Angels who reproduce on earth. And he was a lesson for the Hour. So have no doubt about it. And follow Me; this is a straight path. And let not the devil repel you; he is to you a clear enemy. And when Jesus came with the proofs, he said: ?I have come to you with the wisdom, and to clarify some of the matters in which you dispute. So be

aware of God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. This is a straight path.? The groups disputed among themselves. Woe to those who transgress from the retribution of a painful day. (43:57-65) 6- And when Jesus, son of Mary, said: ?O children of Israel, I am God's messenger to you, authenticating what is present with me of the Torah and bringing good news of a messenger to come after me whose name will be Ahmad.? But when he showed them the clear proofs, they said: ?This is profound magic.? (61:6) 7- O you who believe, be God's supporters, as Jesus the son of Mary said to his disciples: ?Who are my supporters towards God?? They said: ?We are God's supporters.? Thus, a group from the Children of Israel believed, and another group rejected. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, until they won. (61:14) Jesus in his maturity, as God prophecized, spoke to the people (3:46). The people were the Children of Israel, who were a community of Muslims, the former Ummah. Among the Children of Israel was a group of people who were the Disciples of Jesus the Messiah. What were the charateristics of these disciples? The Disciples: (1) God's supporters. (2) Believers in God, they surrendered. (3) Followed the Messenger and believed in Revelation. God had supported Jesus with the Holy Spirit and also restrained the Children of Israel from harming Jesus while he brought God's arguments/proofs to them. Many of them rejected Jesus the Messiah and the proofs he brought to them were called 'Magic' by those who disbelieved. Magic constitutes falsehood/s and this is in reality what the people were trying to say Jesus was preaching. Jesus knew the Children of Israel were rejectors and they schemed and plotted against him the while God is ever scheming and the best of schemers. Some of the signs shown and worked among the people by Jesus are as follows. Signs Jesus came with: (1) Blows into a clay bird and then releases it to flight. a) This constitutes the setting free of the spirits of mankind. (2) Gives life to those who are dead.

b) This constitutes the giving of life to those who are spiritually dead, or in the dark. (3) Heals the blind and the leapers. c) This constitutes those who are heedless of the light/Scripture. (4) Tells the people what they should be eating and leaving for storage at their homes. (5) Authenticates the Torah/the Instruction/the Guidance. (6) Has a feast from God sent down from the heavens to the disciples. d) This constitutes the Revelation itself. The feast is to provide for the disciples and bring a joy. Whichever of them, the disciples, rejected the signs thereafter would be punished in both this world and in the Hereafter. With God as a support and the disciples as devout suppoters with Jesus to God, there arose out of the disorder and contempt of the Children of Israel a group who were Pro-God. Who is Jesus and what role did he play in all this? Jesus' role and idealisms: (1) Jesus is taught the Scripture, Wisdom, Torah/the Instruction, and Injeel/the Good News. (2) A Messenger/Example to the Children of Israel. (3) A witness to his people and to the disciples. (4) Humble and not too proud to be God's servant. (5) Supported with the Holy Spirit. (6) Speaks to the people from infancy to old age. (7) God's servant. (8 ) A lesson for the Hour. (9) Comes to the people with proof/wisdom to clarify their disputations. (10) Brings good news of a Messenger to be sent after him called Ahmad.

(11) Calls for his disciples to be God's supporters. Like all Messengers Jesus called for his people to obey him and serve God alone (21:25), since this was a path that was straight. Also like all other Messengers, whenever Jesus showed his people proofs/evidences/wisdom they called it magic/lies/illusions. It should be noted that Jesus was not alone in this duty of his, for his disciples carried this duty as well since they were his supporters to God. Some points to reflect on: (a) Though one may take the idea of 'signs' literally and think of them as miracles, one must remember that God does not break the laws He sets forth. That is, He will not bend the laws of nature or change the laws of the Scriptures. (b) Jesus is a lesson of the Hour since he too is subject to this ordeal of death, being of mankind, or the Children of Adam, who are all subject to the Hour. Or maybe he is a lesson because he is raised to life amongst the dead, just as the plants are raised to life from dead earth (43:11). By being raised to life among the dead I mean that the Children of Israel were dead spiritually, but Jesus was alive spiritually, and he was raised above them as God was his supporter and sustainer. (c) When it is said that Jesus will be raised to God one must understand that this is speaking of Jesus recieving eminence, or being held in God's favour. Remember Jesus is a blessed servant. Death and On-wards 1- And they said: ?God Has taken a son!? Be He glorified. To Him is all that is in the heavens and in the earth, all are humbled to Him. (2:116) 2- God said: ?O Jesus, I will take you, and raise you to Me, and cleanse you of those who have rejected, and make those who have followed you above those who rejected until the day of judgment; then to Me is your return so I will judge between all of you in what it was that you disputed. As for those who have rejected, I will punish them severely in this world and in the Hereafter, they will have no supporters. And as for those who believed and did good works, God will pay them their reward; God does not like the wicked.? (3:55-57) 3- And their saying: ?We have killed the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of God!? They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as if they had. Those who dispute are in doubt of him, they have no knowledge except to follow conjecture; they did not kill him for a certainty. For God raised him to Himself; and God is Noble, Wise. And from among the people of the Scripture will be those who believed in him as to his death, and on the day of resurrection he will be witness against them. (4:157-159)

4- O people of the Scripture, do not overstep in your system, nor say about God except the truth. Jesus the son of Mary was no more than God?s messenger and His word which He delivered to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say: ?Three.? Cease, for it is better for you. God is only One god, be He glorified that He should have a son! To Him is all that is in the heavens and what is in the earth. God is enough as a caretaker. (4:171) 5- Rejecters indeed are those who have said: ?God is the Messiah the son of Mary.? Say: ?Who has any power against God if He wanted to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother, and all who are on earth!? And to God is the sovereignty of heavens and earth and all that is in-between; He creates what He pleases. God is capable of all things. (5:17) 6- The day God will gather the messengers and He will say: ?What was the response you received??; they said: ?We have no knowledge, you are the Knower of all the unseen.? God said: ?O Jesus son of Mary, recall My blessings upon you and your mother that I supported you with the Holy Spirit; you spoke to the people in the cradle and in old age; and I taught you the scripture and the wisdom, and the Torah, and the Injeel; and you would create from clay the shape of a bird, then blow into it and it becomes a bird by My leave; and you healed the blind and the leaper by My leave; and you brought out the dead by My leave. And I have restrained the Children of Israel from you, that you came to them with proofs; but those who rejected amongst them said: ?This is clearly magic!" And I inspired the disciples that you shall believe in Me and My messenger; they said: ?We believe, and bear witness that we have surrendered.? And the disciples said: ?O Jesus son of Mary, can your Lord send down for us a feast from heaven?? He said: ?Be aware of God if you are believers.? They said: ?We want to eat from it and so our hearts become relieved, and so we know that you are truthful, and so that we can become a witness over it.? Jesus son of Mary, said: ?O God, send down to us a feast from heaven, that it becomes a joy to us from the first to the last, and a sign from You, and provide for us, you are the best provider.? God said: ?I will send it down to you, but whoever rejects after this from amongst you, I will punish him a punishment like no one else from the worlds will be punished!? And God will say to Jesus son of Mary: ?Did you tell the people to take you and your mother as gods instead of God?? He said: ?Be you glorified, I cannot say what I have no right of. If I had said it then you know it, you know what is in my soul while I do not know what is in your soul. You are the Knower of the unseen. I only said to them what You commanded me to say, that you shall serve God my Lord and your Lord; and I was witness over them as long as I was with them, but when You took me, You were watcher over them. You are witness over all things. If You punish them, then they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, then You are the Noble, Wise.? God will say: ?This is a day when the truth will benefit the truthful; they will have gardens with rivers flowing beneath, eternally they will abide therein; God Has become pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. Such is the greatest victory.? (5:109-119) 7- ?And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am resurrected alive.? (19:33) 8- And they said the Almighty has taken a son! You have come with a gross blasphemy. The heavens are about to shatter from it, and the earth crack open, and the mountains fall and crumble. That they

claimed that the Almighty had a son. And what need does the Almighty have to take a son? When all there is in the heavens and earth will but come to the Almighty as servants. He has encompassed them, and counted them one by one. And all of them will come to Him on the day of resurrection, all alone. (19:88-95) It is said that Jesus lived into maturity and was not killed by his opponents. Like all men, however, his life was terminated at some point (2:36, 21:8, 34-35). Being of mankind, he like all people, are born into this world, then die in this world and will be resurrected alive in the world to come, the Hereafter. Before his life was terminated God promised to raise Jesus to eminence and seperate him from those who are rejectors. After Jesus' departure from this world, or termination of life many conjectures sprang up about him, lies that were attributed to him. Some of these conjectures are as follows. Conjectures attributed to Jesus: (1) Jesus is the third godhead in the Trinity, God the Son (2:116, 5:17, 73). (2) Jesus was crucified and killed. (3) Jesus is the begotten Son of God. We are told how it was made to seem to the people that Jesus was crucified. This simply means that people were running their mouths off about things that were not true and after some time the people began to actually believe in such nonsense. We are then told about events in the Hereafter in which Jesus will be reminded by God of all the things which he went through. God will then question Jesus as to whether those who were idolizing him and his mother as gods were told to do so by the Messiah. Jesus will bear witness against such a case. Jesus tells God that (1) he only told the people what God commanded him to say, (2) that he was a witness amongst his people, so long as he was among them, (3) he does not know the unseen, (4) when God took him/terminated his life, it was God who continued to watch over the people, and (5) that God can forgive or punish such of His servants as He pleases. Such was Jesus, the son of Mary, and this is the truth of the matter in which they doubt. (19:34)