Jesus on Ethics: Forty Ahadith
Jesus, the Son of Mary in the Noble Qur’an
“And We gave the Book to Moses and made the Messengers follow in his path. To Jesus, the son of Mary, We gave the miracles and supported him by the Holy Spirit. Why do you arrogantly belie some Messengers and murder others whenever they have brought you messages that you dislike?” (Noble Qur’an 2:87)
“Say: We believe in God and (in) that which had been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishamel and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) that which was given to the (other) Prophets from their Lord. We do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him alone do we submit.” (Noble Qur’an 2:136)
“We have made some of these messengers to excel the others. Among them are they to whom God spoke, and some of them He exalted by (many degrees of) rank; and We gave clear miracles to Jesus, the son of Mary, and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. And if God had pleased, those after them would not have fought one with another after clear arguments had come to them, but they disagreed. So there were some of them who believed and others who denied. And if God had pleased they would not have fought one with another, but God brings about what He intends.” (Noble Qur’an 2:253)
“‘Behold,’ the Angels told Mary, ‘God has given you the glad news of the coming birth of a son whom He calls His word, whose name will be Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be a man of honour in this life and the life to come, and who will be one of the ones nearest to God. He will speak to the people while in his cradle and preach to them when he will be a man, and he will be one of the righteous ones.’ (Mary) said, ‘How can there be a son for me when no mortal has touched me?’ The Angel replied, ‘That is how God creates whatever He wants. When He decides to do something He just orders it to exist and it comes into existence.
God will teach him (Jesus) the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. He will be a Messenger of God to the Children of Israel to whom he will say, ‘I have brought you a miracle from your Lord. I can create for you something from clay in the form of a bird. When I blow into it, it will become a real bird, by the permission of God. I heal the blind and the lepers and bring the dead back to life, by the permission of God. I tell you about what you eat and what you store in your homes. This is a miracle for you if you want to have faith. I testify to what is true in the Torah and make lawful for you some of the things that were made unlawful.
I have brought you a miracle from your Lord, therefore, have fear of God and obey me - God is my Lord as well as yours. Worship Him for this is the straight path.’ When Jesus found them denying the truth, he said, ‘Who will help me in the cause of God?’ The disciples replied, ‘We are the helpers of God. We believe in Him. (Jesus), bear witness that we have submitted ourselves to Him.’ They prayed, ‘Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed to Your Messenger (Jesus) and we have followed him, therefore, write down our names with those who testify in support of the Truth.’” (Noble Qur’an 3:45-53)
“And when God said: ‘O Jesus! I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on Earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve (and ascribe divinity to you) and make those who (truly) follow you above those who disbelieve (in you) until the day of resurrection. Then to Me (O’ humanity) shall be your return, so I will decide between all of you concerning that in which you differed (in regards to Jesus).” (Noble Qur’an 3:55)
“To God the case of Jesus is as that of Adam whom He created from the earth and then said, ‘Exist,’ and he (Adam) came into existence.” (Noble Qur’an 3:59)
“Say: We believe in God and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.” (Noble Qur’an 3:84)
“Their hearts were also sealed because of their lack of faith, their gravely slanderous accusations against Mary, and their statement that they murdered Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of God. Rather, they did not murder him nor did they crucify him, but this is what appeared to them. Even those who disputed (the question of whether or not Jesus was murdered) did not have a shred of evidence.
All that they knew about it was mere conjecture and they certainly did not murder Jesus. Rather, God raised him up to Himself and God is Majestic and All-Wise. There will be no one from amongst the People of the Book who will not believe in him (Jesus as being merely a Prophet of God) before their death. On the Day of Judgment, (Jesus) will testify against them.” (Noble Qur’an 4:155-159)
“We have sent you (Muhammad) revelation (in the form of the Qur’an) just as We sent revelation to Noah and the Messengers after him. We sent inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms.” (Noble Qur’an 4:163)
“People of the Book [Jews and Christians], do not exceed the limits of devotion in your religion or say anything about God which is not the Truth. Jesus, son of Mary, is only a Messenger of God, His Word, and a spirit from Him whom He conveyed to Mary. So have faith in God and His Messengers. Do not say that there are three gods, this is much better for you. There is only One God.
He is too glorious to have a son. To God belongs all that is in the Heavens and the Earth. God alone is a Sufficient Guardian for all. Jesus never disdained the worship of God nor did the nearest Angels to God. Whoever, out of pride, disdains the worship of God should know that everyone will be brought before Him.” (Noble Qur’an 4:171-172)
“Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely, God is He the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary. Say: ‘Who then could control anything as against God when He wishes to destroy the Messiah son of Mary and his mother and all those on the earth? And God’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them; He creates what He pleases; and God has power over all things.” (Noble Qur’an 5:17)
“We made Jesus, son of Mary, follow in the footsteps (of the earlier Prophets) and confirm what existed in the Torah in his time. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, as a confirmation of the Torah and instruction and advice for the pious ones.” (Noble Qur’an 5:46)
“Those who say that Jesus, the son of Mary, is God, have, in fact, turned to disbelief. Jesus said to the Children of Israel, ‘Worship God, my Lord and yours. God will deprive anyone who considers anything equal to God of Paradise and his dwelling will be the fire. The unjust people have no helpers.’ Those who say that God is one of the three, have, in fact, turned to disbelief. There is no Lord but God, the only One Lord. If they will not give-up such belief, the disbelievers among them will suffer a painful torment [in the next life].” (Noble Qur’an 5:72-73)
“Jesus, the son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger, before whom there lived many other Messengers. His mother (Mary) was a truthful woman and both of them ate earthly food [and lived an earthly existence as mortal human beings]. Consider how We explain the evidence (of the Truth) to them and see where they then turn back.” (Noble Qur’an 5:75)
“When God said, ‘Jesus, son of Mary, recall My favors to you and your mother. (Recall) how I supported you by the Holy Spirit, made you speak to people from your cradle and when you grew up, taught you the Book and the Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel. (Recall) when, by My will, you made a sculpture of a bird out of clay, blew into it, and it turned into a real bird by My Will. (Recall) how, by My will, you healed the deaf, the lepers, and raised the dead. (Recall) when you came to the Children of Israel in the house with clear miracles and I saved you from their mischief, even though the disbelievers among them said, ‘This is obviously magic’. (Recall) when I inspired the disciples (around you) to have faith in Me and My Messenger.
They said, ‘We have accepted the faith. Lord, bear witness that we have submitted ourselves to Your will.’ (Recall) when the disciples said, ‘Jesus, son of Mary, can your Lord send us a table full of food from heaven?’ and you replied, ‘Have fear of God if you are true believers.’ They said, ‘We only wish to eat there from to comfort our hearts, to know that you have spoken the Truth to us, and to bear witness to it along with the others.’ When Jesus prayed, ‘Lord, send us a table full of food from heaven so that it will make a celebration for the first of us and the last of us and an evidence from You. Give us sustenance, for You are the best Provider.’
God replied, ‘I am sending it to you, but if anyone of you turns back to disbelief, then I will make him suffer a torment that no one has ever suffered.’ When God asked Jesus, son of Mary ‘Did you tell mankind to consider you and your mother as their gods besides (Me) God?’ He [Jesus] replied, ‘Glory be to you! How could I say what I have no right to say? Had I ever said it, You would have certainly known about it. You know what is in my soul, but I do not know what is in Yours.
It is You who has absolute knowledge of the unseen. I did not tell them anything except what You commanded me to tell them. I told them that they must worship [the One] God who is everyone’s Lord. I watched them as long as I was among them until You raised me to Yourself, and You Yourself had also watched over them; You are Omnipresent. You may punish Your servants or forgive them for You are Majestic and Wise.’ God said, ‘This is the Day when the truthful ones will benefit from their truthfulness. For them there are gardens wherein streams flow and they will live therein forever. God is pleased with them and they will be pleased with God in their supreme triumph.’ (Noble Qur’an 5:110-119)
“This is the story of the blessing of your Lord to His servant Zachariah. When he quietly called his Lord and said, ‘My Lord, my bones have become feeble and my hair has turned white with age. Yet I have never been deprived in receiving from You the answer to my prayers. I am afraid of what my kinsmen will do after (my death) and my wife is barren. Lord, grant me a son who will be my heir and the heir of the family of Jacob. Lord, make him a person who will please you.’ We answered his prayers with the glad news of the birth of a son by the name of John and told him, ‘We have never given such a name to anyone else.’ He said, ‘Lord, how can I have a son? My wife is barren and I have reached an extremely old age.’ (The Angel) said, ‘This is true, but your Lord says, ‘For Me it is easy; I created you when you did not exist.’’
Zachariah asked, ‘Lord, show me evidence (that this is indeed heavenly news).’ The Lord said, ‘The evidence for it is that you will not speak (to any mortal) though you are in good health for three nights (and days).’ Zachariah came out to his people from place of worship and inspired them to glorify the Lord both in the morning and evening. We commanded John, Zachariah’s son, to follow the guidance of the Lord with due steadfastness, and to John We gave knowledge and wisdom during his childhood. We gave him compassion and purity and he was a pious person, kind to his parents, not arrogant or a rebellious person. Peace be upon the day he was born, the day he died and the day when he will be brought back to life again. (Muhammad), mention in the Book (the Qur’an) the story of Mary how she left her family and started living in a solitary place to the East out of her people’s sight.
We sent Our Spirit to her, who stood before her in the shape of a well-formed human being. Mary said, ‘Would that the Beneficent God would protect me from you. Leave me alone if you are a God fearing person.’ He [the Spirit] said, ‘Surely I am the Messenger of your Lord. I have come to give you a purified son.’ She said, ‘How can I have a son when no mortal has touched me nor am I an unchaste woman.’ He said, ‘This is true but your Lord says, ‘It is very easy for Me. We have decided to give you a son as evidence (of Our existence) for human beings and a mercy from Us. This is a decree already ordained.’ She conceived the child and retreated with him to a distant and solitary place when she started to experience (the pain of) of childbirth labour. (Sitting) by the trunk of a palm tree in sadness she said, ‘Would that I had died long before and passed into oblivion.’
Then she heard the baby saying, ‘Do not be sad. Your Lord has caused a stream to run at your feet. If you shake the trunk of the dried palm tree, it will provide you with fresh ripe dates. Eat, drink, and rejoice. Should you see a person going by, inform him that on this day you have promised the Beneficent God to fast and not talk to any human being.’ (After some time) She took him (Jesus) to her people and they said, ‘Mary, this is indeed a strange thing. O’ sister of Aaron, your father was not a bad man nor was your mother unchaste.’ She pointed to the baby (and referred them to him for their answer). They said, ‘How can we talk to a baby in the cradle?’
He [Jesus] said, ‘I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and has appointed me to be a Prophet. He has blessed me no matter where I dwell, commanded me to worship Him and pay the religious tax for as long as I live. He has commanded me to be good to my mother and has not made me an arrogant rebellious person. Peace be upon me on the day when I was born, the day when I shall die and when I shall be brought to life again.’ Such was the true story of Jesus, the son of Mary, about which they dispute bitterly. God is too exalted to have a son. When He decides to bring something into existence He needs only command it to exist and it comes into existence.” (Noble Qur’an 19:2-35)
“When the son of Mary was mentioned as an example, you people cried out in protest, saying, ‘Are our (many) gods any better than he (Jesus)?’ What they say is only a false argument. In fact, they are a quarrelsome people. He (Jesus) was not but a servant of Ours to whom We had granted favors and whom We made as an example for the Children of Israel. Had We wanted, We could have made the Angels as the successors on the Earth. (Muhammad), tell them, ‘Surely in him [Jesus], there is a sign of the Hour [of the end of time since his return will herald in the establishment of the kingdom of God and the impending day of Judgement.]
Therefore, have no doubt about it and follow me; this is the straight path. Let Satan not prevent you from the right path for surely he is your sworn enemy.’ When Jesus came with clear proof (in support of his truthfulness), he said, ‘I have come to you with wisdom to clarify for you some of the matters in which you have disputes. Have fear of God and obey me. God is your Lord and my Lord, so worship Him. This is the right path. But certain groups created differences among themselves therefore, woe to the unjust for surely they will face a painful torment. Are they waiting for the Hour of Doom when the torment will suddenly strike them and they will not even realize from where it came?’” (Noble Qur’an 43:57-66)
“Jesus, son of Mary, said to the Children of Israel, ‘Surely I am the Messenger of God sent to you. I confirm the Torah which is in existence and give you the glad news of the coming of a Messenger who will come after me named Ahmad.’ When this Messenger came to them with all the proofs (to support his truthfulness), they said, ‘This is surely pure magic.’ (Noble Qur’an 61:6)
“O you who have true faith! Be helpers of God just as when Jesus, the son of Mary, asked the disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers for the cause of God?’ The disciples replied, ‘We are the helpers of God.’ A group of the Children of Israel believed in him and others rejected him however We helped the believers against their enemies and they became victorious.” (Noble Qur’an 61:14)