Green pigeon said, "O Wary, what is the teaching of Prophet 'Isa, alayhissalam?" Wary paused, thingking, then said, ""Prophet 'Isa at all during his mission endeavoured to call the Children of Israel towards the path of truth and the true religion. This was done by putting before them various arguments aided also by miracles.
He taught them faith in the Oneness of Allah, to belief in the Messengers of Allah, to believe in the life of the Hereafter, and in the Angels of Allah, and in the predestination of good and evil by Allah, as well as in the Holy Books of the Messengers of Allah (ﷺ). Further he also called them towards good character and good manners and to avoid all bad characteristics, to be inclined towards the worship of Allah. He also advocated becoming involved with worldly pursuits and to detest the worldly things and to have love for the creation of Allah. These were the things toward which he called and made the object of his preaching.
His efforts were to teach the Children of Israel the Torah, the Injeel and with good advices called towards these things. However, the Jews, through their hereditary crookedness as a result of centuries of disobedience and their rebellion against the, commandments of Allah had become so courageous in their disobedience and their killing of various prophets had made their hearts become so hard, that except for a very small group of true ones, the majority of them had become so opposed to him that jealousy and hatred had become their special characteristic. The result was that these who accepted the truth were mostly the poor and weak ones. These were looked down upon by the affluent and arrogant ones. Allah said,
In spite of of the actions of his opponents and their non-seasonal talks, Prophet 'Isa continued to propagate the message of truth, spending night and day in calling them to the Deen with his solid arguments and clear signs. Through the Grace of Allah, a few such sincere souls came forth who not only accepted faith in Allah but were greatly blessed with his companionship and were prepared to sacrifice their everything in for the spread of the truth, offering their very lives and their possessions in this effort. They used to spend most of their time in his holy company and became known as his disciples (companions) and the Ansaarullah, "the helpers of Allah."وَلَمَّا جَاءَ عِيسَى بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَلأبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ"And when 'Isa brought clear proofs, he said, 'I have come to you with wisdom and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allah and obey me.'" – (QS.43:63)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ"Indeed, Allah is my Rabb and your Rabb, so worship Him. This is a straight path." – (QS.43:64)
فَاخْتَلَفَ الأحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ"But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day." – (QS.43:65)
They made the person of Prophet 'Isa their exemplary model and in the most serious and dangerous situations never left his side. Allah said,
The incident occurred in an area called an-Nashirah. Therefore, they are called the people of Nashara (Nashrani). These disciples were from the poor and labourer community. This is so because has become Allah’s Sunnat that those who answer the call of the prophets are generally from these poor people. These are the ones showing the spirit of sacrifice. Generally, it is the ones with high positions who because of their arrogance and pride become the opponents of the prophets and become the stumbling stones in the way of success and progress. But when Allah's law of Retribution comes into operation, it is those wealth and poor ones who are successful while the arrogant ones are either destroyed or defeated.يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ"O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah, as when 'Isa, the son of Maryam, said to the disciples, 'Who are my supporters for Allah ?' The disciples said, 'We are supporters of Allah.' And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant." – (QS.61:14)
The Qur'an describes the virtues of the disciples. When Prophet 'Isa called for helpers on the path of Allah, they were the first group to answer to his call saying, "We are the helpers of Allah," In Surah Saf [61:14], Allah called the believers to become helpers of Allah, the Qur'an gave these pious ones as an example of helpers of Allah, and with their example encouraged others to follow suit. In Surah Al-Maidah, such a picture was given of their acceptance of truth and faith and their submission to the message of truth which portrays their sincerity, and search after truth. All that tells of the ear which portrays their sincerity, and search after truth. All that tells of the era when Prophet 'Isa was present among them but after his being ’lifted up’ to the heavens, they delivered such great service.
Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said, from Sufyan ibn 'Uyainah from Khalf bin Khaushab, he said, 'Isa said to the Disciples, "As the kings have left wisdom for you, leave the world for them." Qatadah said, ''Isa said, 'Ask me. Because I am a soft-hearted person. I am small to my soul.'" Ismail bin ‘Iyasy said, from Abdullah ibn Dinar from Ibn Abbas
from Ibn Umar, he said, 'Isa said to the Disciples, "Eat bread made from wheat and drink clear water. Come out of the world, surely, you will be safe and feel safe. I tell you the truth, truly, the sweetness of the world is the bitter of afterlife. While the bitterness of the world is the sweetness of the afterlife. Truly the servants of Allah are not people who have fun. I'm telling you the truth, the worst person among you is a person of knowledge but who prefers lust over knowledge and wishes all humans like him." The same thing was also narrated from Abu Hurairah. Abu Mush'ab said from Malik that it had come to him that Peophet 'Isa said, "O Children of Israel, let you drink water, eat vegetables and whole wheat bread. Avoid you from bread made from flour, because you will not be able to give thanks."
Ibn Wahb said from Sulaman bin Bilal from Yahya bin Sa'id, he said, I always say, "Explore the world and do not exalt you." He also said, "Love for the world is the base of all sins. While eye contact can instill lust in the heart." Wuhaib ibn al Warad has related similar with it and he added, "People who are deceived by lust will cause prolonged sorrow for their owners." 'Isa once said, 'O weak son of Adam, fear Allah wherever you are. Be in this world like a guest. Make masjld as your home. Knowledge for your eyes is a cry, for his body is patience and for your heart is to remembering Allah. Do not care about tomorrow's sustanance, because it is a mistake.'"
Green pigeon asked, "Who were the disciples of Prophet 'Isa?" Wary said, "According to Ibn Ishaq, the Christians assert that after Allah took Prophet 'Isa unto Himself, then dispersed, as commanded by Prophet 'Isa. Among the disciples, and the followers who came after them were Peter and Paul who was a follower and not disciples, they went to Rome. Andrew and Matthew were sent to the country whose people are man-eaters, a land of blacks; Thomas was sent to Babylonia in the East, Philip to Qayrawan (and) Carthage, that is, North Africa. John went to Ephesus, the city of the youths of the cave, and James to Jerusalem, that is, Aelia. Bartholomew was sent to Arabia, namely, the Hijaz; Simeon to the land of the Berbers in Africa. Judas Iscariot was not a disciple, so his place was taken by Ariobus. The New Testament says that the disciples included Peter, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Andrew, James, Jude, John and Simon the Zealot. And Allah knows best.
There is an interesting strory about the disciples, that the Qur'an tells the story of the descent of the table (Ma'idah) from heaven in its inimitable way. Allah said,
Now did this Ma'idah descend from heaven? or not? The Qur'an does not give any detail and neither is there any confirmation in any authentic Hadith. However in the sayings of the Sahabah and Tabi'een, we find some details.إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَنْ يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ"[And remember] when the disciples said, 'O 'Isa, son of Maryam, can your Rabb send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven? ['Isa] said," Fear Allah, if you should be believers." – (QS.5:112)
قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَنْ قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ"They said, 'We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses.'" – (QS.5:113)
قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لأوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِنْكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيرُ الرَّازِقِينَ"Said 'Isa, the son of Maryam, "O Allah, our Rabb, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers." – (QS.5:114)
قَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي مُنَزِّلُهَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بَعْدُ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنِّي أُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا لا أُعَذِّبُهُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ"Allah said, 'Indeed, I will sent it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.'" – (QS.5:115)
Mujahid and Hasan al-Basri state that table did not descend. They state that the condition on which the table was to descend was such that the Questions realized that man is a weak beings with many weaknesses. It should not be such that because of a simple mistake or untoward act they should be punished with such a painful punishment. Hence they withdrew their request. Moreover if the table had descended the Christians would have rejoiced in tremendous fashion and the event would have become so well-known all over. This is also the reason why in Christian literature there is no mention of the event at all.
The majority of scholars hold that the Table did descend. However with regard to the descend of this table there are various contrasting views. According to Ibn Katheer, the story of the Ma'idah, the name of which Surat Al-Ma'idah bears, is among the favors that Allah granted His servant and Messenger, `Isa, accepting his request to send the Ma'idah down, and doing so as clear proof and unequivocal evidence.
The Ma'idah is the table that has food on it. Some scholars said that the disciples requested this table because they were poor and deprived. So they asked `Isa to supplicate to Allah to send a table of food down to them that they could eat from every day and thus be more able to perform the acts of worship. Prophet Isa answered them by saying, `Have Taqwa of Allah! And do not ask for this, for it may become a trial for you, but trust in Allah for your provisions, if you are truly believers.' They said, "We need to eat from it, and to be stronger in faith, when we witness it descending from heaven as sustenance for us, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth of your Message and our faith in you increases and also our knowledge and that we ourselves be its witnesses testifying that it is a sign from Allah, as proof and evidence that you are a Prophet, and attesting to the truth of what you brought us.'
Ibn Jarir said that Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn ` Abbas said, "So the angels brought the table down containing seven fish and seven pieces of bread and placed it before them. So the last group of people ate as the first group did.'' Ibn Jarir recorded that Ishaq bin `Abdullah said that the table was sent down to Prophet `Isa, having seven pieces of bread and seven fish, and they ate from it as much as they wished. It is said that the table goes down once a day. People also eat from the table. The last person to eat gets satiated like the people who eat at the beginning. It is even said that the table is enjoyed by around 6,000 people. But when some of them stole food from it, saying, 'It might not come down tomorrow,' the table ascended."
Green Pigeon said, "What happened when Prophet 'Isa, alaihissalam, ascended to heaven?" Wary said, "Prophet 'Isa never married and never built a house in which to live. He used to travel from town to town, village to village preaching the word of Allah and whenever the night came over him, he used to spend the night without homely comforts. Because his person was a means to people acquiring physical as well as spiritual healing, wherever he went the people gathered around him with great devotion and enthusiasm, prepared to sacrifice for his sake.
The Jews looked upon his extreme popularity with the masses and became filled with jealousy and envy, looking upon all this as a sign of danger for them. They could not tolerate this in their hearts. At that time the Jews according to the prophecies of their scriptures were expecting two Messiahs— one, the Messiah bringing guidance and two, a messiah of falsehood. It is most unfortunate that when the ’messiah of Guidance' appeared, they looked upon him as the ’Messiah of falsehood'. Their leaders and learned scholars, the pharisees and the sadducees started to make evil plans against the holy person of Prophet 'Isa. They decided that for them to be successful, there was no other way out then to have him crucified at the hands of the King of the time.
For the last couple of centuries, the Government of Judea was supposed to be in the hands of the Herodus, but actually only about a quarter of the century fell under him. The actual rule over the land was in the hands of the Roman emperor who was a clear polytheist and on his behalf the governor of Judea was pilatus. The Jews were resentful of this polytheist governor whose governorship they considered as a curse upon them. Yet the Jealousy burning in their hearts against Prophet 'Isa toppled with their inferiority complex join out of being for centuries practically slaves have made them blind to truth that without considering the consequences of their deeds they proceeded to the door of Pilatus to solicit his aid in their fight of jealousy against Prophet 'Isa giving the complaint, "Sir, this man is not only a danger to us but also to the government. If an effort is not made against him now, neither will our religion be safe, nor will your government remain safe in your hands. For this man has shown such feats which made the people incline towards him. He is all the time involved with these things that he is trying with the might of the people to defeat you and make himself king of the Children of Israel. Not only has he mislead the people in their worldly affairs, but he has even set about changing our religion and is busy making our people irreligious. It is very necessary that this corruption should be stopped so that this evil be stopped at its early stages.”
After quite a bit of conversation, Pilatus gave them permission to arrest Prophet 'Isa and to bring him before the governor like a common criminal. When the leaders of the Children of Israel acquired this permission, they were very pleased. They congratulated each other that their plot was finally successful. They then decided to await the right moment for his arrest so that among the common people a minimum of unrest would result.
The Qur'an states that at the time when the Children of Israel made plans and plotted against Prophet 'Isa in their secret plots, at that same time, Allah predestined that no power on earth, no matter how strong and mighty, will be able to harm Prophet "isa or have a victory over him, and Allah had resolved that His protection will preserve him against all plots. The result was that when the Children of Israel surrounded him, they failed to do him any harm. He was lifted up from this earth into the heavens and when the Children of Israel entered the house, the situation became confused and dubious to them and greatly disappointed, they failed in their attempt to arrest him. In the manner Allah fulfilled his promise which He gave Prophet 'Isa and his mother about saving them.
When Prophet 'Isa realized that the rejection and disbelief of the Children of Israel had reached such a stage that they were prepared to resort to violence, to acquire their aims against him, he gathered his disciples in a certain house, and told them of the situation. He then told them, "The time for the major trial has come. This is the time of the test the effort to extinguishes the truth is at its height. Now I shall not remain among you much longer. Hence from now onwards it shall be your duty to remain steadfast on, the true religion, and to propagate and spread it will be your duty after rhe. Now tell me. Who will be Allah's true helpers?"
The disciples replied, "We all will be Allah’s faithful helpers. With our hearts we have believed in Allah and you are our witness to the truth of our faith." After saying this, they prayed to Allah, "O Allah, whatever we have uttered grant us steadfastness to remain on it. And write us down as being among those who help your Deen." After this, Prophet 'Isa waited to see what direction the activities of his enemies would take and what Allah’s decision was going to be in reply.
Allah in the Qur’an related that when the Jews plotted against Prophet 'Isa in secret, Allah also plotted against them that their plot would not be successful. And clearly in such a case against His secret plot none can be successful. Allah states,
According to the Arabic language, the word ' Mak'r' (plotted) is used, and it means to ’plan secretly'. According to laws of eloquence, when a person in defence also secretly plans, then no matter how good his action is in terms of ethics and religion, it is also called 'Maka'r’— ’plotted with an aim to deceive' In most languages we have this saying: 'the retaliation of evil is evil,’ even though every just-minded person will realize that the retaliation for evil is not really evil but can be good if done in defence. Here in the above verse the word ' Maka'r' has been used for both the actions of the enemies of Prophet 'Isa as well as for the retaliation by Allah. This is a sign of the eloquence of the Qur'an.وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ"And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners." – (QS.3:54)
The fact is that there was a secret plotting to deceive on both sides. On the one side was the plan of Allah and on the other side was the plan of the enemies who aimed to deceive. Finally, it came to the moment where the leaders of The Children of Israel and the priest surrounded the house wherein Prophet 'Isa was.
The question arises, is to what is the way under such circumstances whereby the enemies could be failed in their attempts towards Prophet 'Isa, so that no harm comes to him and so that Allah’s promise of saving him from their designs could be fulfilled. At such a time, Prophet "isa was informed by revelation, 'O 'Isa do not fear, your time will be fulfilled. I shall lift you up to the heavens to Me. And I will keep you safe from all enemies. And your followers will at all times be victorious against their enemies. And in the end the return shall be to Me and I will judge between them as to those things wherein they differed. Allah said,
So now that Prophet 'Isa had been set at ease that in spite of the surrounding of his house the enemy will not be kill him and than an unseen hand was going to raise him up to the heavens, and that he would be saved from his enemies, another question arises as to how that was accomplished. After all the Jews and Christians maintain that Prophet 'Isa was crucified on the cross and that he was beaten. In reply, the Qur'ann clearly states that the story of his death on the crossإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ"[Mention] when Allah said, 'O 'Isa, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.'" – (QS.3:55)
is out and out untrue. What happened was that when the Messiah was lifted up alive upto the heavens and the enemies entered the house, the situation was made confusing and dubious to them. They could not understand where Prophet 'Isa had gone.
Allah said,
When the enemies encircled the house to arrest Prophet 'Isa and went inside, they did not find him inside. Seeing this, they were greatly perplexed and surprised and could not understand what had transpired and in this manner they were filled with "doubt and embiguity." Thereafter, the Qur’an says that those who differ regarding this matter are "in doubt regarding him, with no certainty of knowledge, but only conjecture to follow. For of a certainty they killed him not.” Whatever happened after this has already been told. From that story, two things become as clear as daylight: (a) that the Jews were so much in doubt that apart from their conjectures, they had no certain knowledge of what happened, and (b) secondly they did kill somebody and spread the word that they had killed the Messiah.وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, 'Isa, the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.'" – (QS.4:157)
بَلْ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا"Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise." – (QS.4:158)
According to the reports from the Companion, radhiyallahu 'anhum, Prophet 'Isa and the disciples were in a house on the evening preceding the Sabbath in Jerusalem. As a result of the instigation by the Jews, the Governor of Judea from Damascus sent a group of soldiers to arrest him. They surrounded the house. At that time Allah lifted Prophet 'Isa up from among the disciples up to the heavens. When the soldiers entered the house, they found someone who
looked like Prophet 'Isa and arrested him and did all those cruel things to him.
According to some reports, this person was Judas Iscariot. Some mention him as being Georgins and others take him to be Dawood bin Luza. However these reports are not mentioned in the Qur'an and neither are they mentioned in authentic Hadith and whether they are correct or wrong, has no bearing on the basis facts. We have the choice of either confining ourselves to the non-detail account that Prophet 'Isa was saved from all harm and was lifted up to the heavens.
According to the Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran and Surah An-Nisa, it has been established that regarding Prophet 'Isa, the Divine decision was that he should be ascended up to the heavens, alive, and thus, be saved from his enemies. But not only that. The Qur’an also at various occasions has thrown light through various conclusive texts on his life and has indicated what wisdom lies in his long life and what wisdom is in his being lifted up to the heavens. So that the hearts of the people of Iman be made pleased.
[Part 2]
