Ethics of The Prophets
- The Ethos Of Jesus Christ =============================
Introduction
Jesus was born 5585 years after the Fall of Adam. His mother is Virgin Mary, daughter of Imran whose guardianship Zachariah had undertaken. Virgin Mary had a cousin by the name of Joseph to whom she was engaged but before marriage angels gave her the good news of Jesus birth. The Quran says:
"When the angels said: O Marium, surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from him whose name is the Messiah, Isa son of Marium." (3:45)
إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
Being surprised,
"she said: My Lord! When shall there be a son (born) to me, and man has not touched me?" (3:47)
قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ
At this time an angel said:
"Even so, Allah creates what he pleases; when he has decreed a matter, he only says to it, Be, and it is." (3:47)
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ اللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
One day, Mary left Al-Aqsa mosque for Zacharia’s house to meet her sister Eisha.
"And mention Marium in the Book when she drew aside from her family to an eastern place." (19:16)
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ انْتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا
At this time Gabriel appeared to her in the from of a human being:
"Then, We sent to her our spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man." (19:17)
إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا
When Mary’s look was cast on him, she was extremely horrified.
"she said; surely I fly for refuge from you to the Beneficent God, if you are one guarding (against evil)” (19:18).
قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيًّا
“He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy. She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste? He said: Even so; your Lord says: It is easy to Me: and that We may make him a sign to men and a mercy from us; and it is a matter which has been decreed. So she conceived him; then withdrew herself with him to a remote place. And the throes of childbirth compelled her to betake herself to the trunk of a palm-tree. She said: O, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten! Then (the child) called out to her from beneath her: Grieve not, surely your Lord had made a stream to flow beneath you; and shake towards you the trunk of the palm-tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates: so eat and drink and refresh the eye.
Then if you see any mortal, say: surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent God, so I shall not speak to any man today. And she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said: O Marium! Surely you have done a strange thing. O sister of Haroun! Your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman. But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who was a child in the cradle? He said; surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet; and He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and poor-rate so long as I live; and dutiful to my mother, and he has not made me insolent, unblessed; and peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raise to life." (19:19-33)
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا. قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا. قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ ۖ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِنَّا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَقْضِيًّا. فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَانْتَبَذَتْ بِهِ مَكَانًا قَصِيًّا. فَأَجَاءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَٰذَا وَكُنْتُ نَسْيًا مَنْسِيًّا. فَنَادَاهَا مِنْ تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا. وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا. فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنْسِيًّا. فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ ۖ قَالُوا يَا مَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا. يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا. فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا. قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا. وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا. وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا. وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدْتُ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا.
Hearing this from an infant, people stopped unjustified accusations. Since on the order of Herod, the tyrant king, they killed all the male infants, Joseph who had been engaged to Mary took her and Jesus to Egypt and abode near Nile River. Eleven years passed as such till one night Joseph in a dream saw that he should take Jesus and his mother back to the holy Land. Hence, they set out and after some time reached the Bank of Jordan River where John was. Jesus was baptized by John and resided in Nazareth. It is for this reason that the followers of Jesus are called Nasrani. For a detailed account of Jesus life, one should refer to History books. However, a summary of his life is that one day Jesus was inspired:
"Remember My favor on you and on your mother, when I strengthened you with the holy Spirit, you spoke to the people in the cradle and when of old age, and when I taught you the Book and the wisdom and the Taurat and the Injeel." (5:110)
اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدْتُكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا ۖ وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ
"And (make him) an apostle to the children of Israel that I have come to you with a sign from your Lord." (3:49)
وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِآيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ
Doing Miracles.
"...and when you determined out of clay a thing like the from of a bird by My permission, then you breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission, and you healed the blind and the leprous by My permission; and when you brought forth the dead by My permission." (5:110)
وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنْفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي ۖ وَتُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي ۖ وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِي
"So a party of the children of Israel believed and another party disbelieved." (61:14)
فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ
"...but those who disbelieved among them said: This is nothing but clear enchantment." (5:110)
فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
To sum it up: 5616 years after the Fall of Adam when Jews decided to crucify Jesus who was then 31 years old, God took him to heavens.
"And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so." (4:157)
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ
The truth is that people arrested Jesus and charged a man by the name of Simon, the Corinthian to crucify him and he did so and them assigned a man to prevent others from bringing him down from the cross. At this time, Jesus gave a loud cry saying: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani meaning my God, my God, why are you turned away from me? Soon darkness swept everywhere and there was a light and Jesus gave a loud cry, the earth started shaking and Jesus ascended to heavens. Simon, the Corinthian who had taken the shape of Jesus cried: I am not Jesus but no one believed him till he died.
Inviting People To Serve God
"...and the Messiah said: O Children of Israel! Serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust." (5:72)
وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ
Enjoining Piety
"And when Isa came with clear arguments, he said: I have come to you indeed with wisdom, and that I may make clear to you part of what you differ in; so be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me." (43:63)
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ عِيسَىٰ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
Verifying Torah And Gives The Good News Of Prophethood Of The Holy Messenger Of Islam
"And when Isa son of Marium said: O Children of Israel! Surely I am the apostle of Allah to you, verifying that which is before me of the Torah and giving the good news of an Apostle who will come after me, his name being Ahmad." (61:6)
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ
Features Of Jesus Christ
Jesus son of Mary had a rosy fair complexion. His hair was not curly. He never applied oil on his hair. He used to go on foot and never took for himself a house, ornament, fittings of extra garment. He did not prepare food for more than a day. He would halt whenever the sun set. He spent the night in prayer. Jesus cured the blind and the lepers. He made the dead come back to life again with the permission of God and informed people of what they ate at their homes or what they saved for the next day. He used to walk on the surface of seas. He was pious and indifferent to the world but careful of the hereafter. He had great enthusiasm for God and constantly traveled on the earth. Jews chased him with the intention to crucify him but God took him to heavens. God knows better.
كانَ عيسى بن مَريَمَ رَجُلا أَحمرَ مائِلا إِلى البَياضِ ما هُوَ سَبِطُ الرَّأسِ وَلَم يَدهِن رَأسَهُ قَطُّ وَكانَ عيسى يَمشي حافِيًا وَلَم يَتَّخِذ بَيتًا وَلا حِليَةً وَلا مَتاعًا وَلا ثِيابًا وَلا رِزقًا إِلا قُوتَ يَومِه وَكانَ حَيثُما غابَتِ الشَّمسُ صَفَّ قَدميهِ وَصلّى حَتّى يُصبِحَ وَكانَ يُبرِئُ الأَكمَهَ وَالأبْرَصَ وَيُحيي المَوتى بإِذنِ اللَّه وَكانَ يُخبِرُ قَومَهُ بِما يَأكُلُونَ في بُيُوتِهِم وَما يَدَّخِرونَ لِغدٍ وَكانَ يَمشي عَلى وَجهِ الماءِ في البَحرِ وَكانَ أَشعَثُ الرَّأسِ صَغيرُ الوَجهِ زاهِدًا في الدُّنيا راغِبًا في الآخِرةِ حَريصًا عَلى عِبادةِ اللَّه وَكانَ سَيَّاحًا في الأرضِ حَتّى طَلَبتهُ اليَهودُ وَأَرَادُوا قَتلَهُ فَرفَعهُ اللَّه إِلى السَّماءِ وَاللَّه أَعلَمُ.
Gold And Mud Brick Equal To Jesus Christ
Jesus was asked: How do you walk on water? He said: With faith and certainty. They said: We have believed in the same way you have believed and reached certainty as you have. He said: Walk on water. But when they walked on water, they started going down. Jesus said: What happened to you? They said: We feared the waves. Jesus said: Fear not the God of waves. Then, he rescued them, putting his hands on the earth, took a handful of soil. When he opened his fist, they saw that he had gold in one hand and pebble in another. Jesus asked: Which one is sweeter to you? They said: Gold. Jesus said: But they are equal to me.
قيلَ لِعيسى ابنِ مَريَمَ يا عيسى بأيِّ شَيءٍ تَمشي عَلى الماءِ؟ قَالَ: بِالإِيمانِ وَاليَقينِ، قَالوا: فَإِنّا آمنّا كَما آمَنتَ وَأيقَنّا كَما أيقَنتَ، قَالَ: فَامشُوا إِذًا فَمَشَوا مَعَهُ في المَوجِ فَغرِقوا فَقالَ لَهُم عيسى: مالَكُم فَقالوا: خِفنا المَوجَ قالَ: الا خِفتمُ رَبَّ المَوجِ قالَ: فَأخرَجَهُم، ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيدِه إِلى الأرضِ فَقَبَضَ بِها ثُمَّ بَسَطَها فَإِذا في إِحْدى يَدَيهِ ذَهَبٌ وَفي الأُخرى مَدَرٌ أو حَصى، فَقالَ: أَيُّهُما أَحْلَى في قُلُوبِكُم؟ قَالوا: هذا الذَّهَبُ: قَالَ فإِنَّهُما عِندي سَواءٌ.
Jesus’ Meal And Garment
Jesus wore a garment of wool, fed on tree leaves, and had no abode. He had no wife or children and saved nothing for the next day.
إِنَّ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ كانَ يَلبَسُ الشَّعرَ وَيأكُلُ مِن وَرَقِ الشَّجرِ وَلا يَأوي إِلى مَنزِلٍ وَلا أهلٍ وَلا مالٍ وَلا يَدَّخِرُ شَيئًا لِغدٍ.
When Hearing Of The Day Of Judgment
When the Day of Judgment was mentioned before Jesus he gave a loud cry saying: It is not right for son of Mary to hear the name of Day of Judgment and keep silent at the same time.
كانَ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ إِذا ذُكرَ عِندَهُ السّاعةُ صاحَ وَيَقولُ: لا يَنبَغي لابن مَريَمَ أَن يُذكَرَ عِندَهُ السّاعَةُ وَيَسكُتُ.
When Hearing An Admonition
Whenever Jesus heard an admonition, he would start crying like a mother whose child was dead.
إِنَّ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ كانَ إِذا سَمِعَ المَوعِظَةَ صَرَخَ صُراخَ الثَّكلى.
When Morning Came
Jesus used to say: O God! Morning has come while I cam not afford to repel what is blameworthy and benefit from what I am hopeful of. Morning has come while the affair is in someone else’s hand. Morning has come while I am dependent on my acts. Therefore, there is no one as poor as I am. O God! Do not expose me to the enemies’ blame nor let my friends treat me unkindly. Do not set my suffering in my religion nor make anyone who has no mercy on me dominant over me.
إِنَّ عيسى كانَ يَقولُ: اللّهُمَّ إِنّي أَصْبَحْتُ لا أَستَطيعُ دَفعَ ما أَكرَهُ وَلا أملِكُ نَفعَ ما أَرْجُو، وَاصبَحَ الأمرُ بِيَدِ غَيري، وَأَصْبَحتُ مُرتَهِنًا بِعَمَلي، فَلا فَقيرَ أَفقَرُ مِنّي، اللَّهُمَّ لا تُشمِت بي عَدُوّي وَلا تَسُؤ بي صَديقي، وَلا تَجعَل مُصيبَتي في ديني وَلا تُسَلِّط عَلَيَّ مَن لا يَرحَمُني.
Detachment From The World
One day Jesus took a stone as pillow to enjoy the pleasure of sleep. At this moment, Satan passed by him saying: O Jesus! Was it not you who said you did not like any worldly stuff whereas this stone you are using is a worldly article? Jesus rose up, took the stone and threw it to Satan saying: Let this stone and the world be yours.
وَبَينَما عيسى يَومًا نائِمٌ عَلى حَجَرٍ قَد تَوَسَّدَهُ وَقَد وَجَدَ لَذَّةَ النَّومِ إِذ مَرَّ بِهِ إِبليسُ فَقالَ: يا عيسى ألَستَ تَزعَمُ أنَّكَ لا تُريدُ شَيئًا مِن عَرَضِ الدُّنيا؟ فَهذا الحَجَرُ مِن عَرضِ الدُّنيا قالَ: فَقامَ عيسى فَأخَذَ الحَجَرَ فَرَمى بِه إِليهِ وَقالَ: هذا لكَ مَعَ الدُّنيا.
His Admonitory Dialog With A Ruined City
Passing by a ruined city and being amazed Jesus said: O my Lord! Order this city to answer me. God inspired that city: O Ruined city! Answer Jesus’ questions. At this moment, the ruined city was made to speak saying: O Jesus! My beloved! What do you want? Jesus said: What happened to your trees? What happened to your streams? What happened to your castles and those living in them? The ruined city said: When God’s Promise came, my trees become dry, my streams waterless, my castles ruined and those living there died. Jesus said: Where is their riches? The ruined city said: They put in me what they had earned lawfully and unlawfully for to God belongs the legacy of the heavens and the earth. At this moment Jesus gave a loud cry saying: I am amazed by three groups of people:
1- Those who go after world while death is after them.
2- Those who build a castle while their abodes are graves.
3- Those who laugh while fire is before him.
O children of Adam! You are neither satiated with affluence nor content with a little. You amass wealth for one who is not thankful to you and you go to a Lord before whom you have no excuse. You are really the servant of your gluttony and your lust. Your gluttony is satisfied only when they put you in the grave and you, O children of Adam will find in the scales of others what you have amassed of wealth.
مَرَّ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ عَلى مَدينةٍ خربةٍ، فَأَعْجَبَهُ البُنيانُ فَقالَ: أي رَبِّ مُر هذِهِ المَدينَةَ أن تُجيبَني، فَأوحى اللَّه إِلى المَدينَةِ: أَيَّتُها المَدينَةُ الخَرِبةُ جاوِبي عيسى. قَالَ فَنادَتِ المَدينةُ: عيسى حَبيبي وَما تُريدُ مِنّي؟ قَالَ: ما فُعِلَ أَشْجارُكِ وَما فُعِلَ أنهارُكَ وَما فُعِلَ قُصُورُكَ وَأينَ سُكّانُكَ؟ قالَت: حَبيبي جاءَ وَعدُ رَبِّكَ الحَقُّ فَيَبسَت أَشْجاري وَنشَفَت انهاري وَخَرَبَت قُصُوري وَماتَ سُكّاني. قالَ: فَأينَ أَمْوالُهُم؟ فَقالَت: جَمَعُوها مِنَ الحَلالِ وَالحَرامِ مَوضُوعَةً في بَطني لِلهِ ميراثُ
السَّماواتِ وَالأرضِ، فَنادى عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ: تَعَجَّبْتُ مِن ثَلاثِ أُناسٍ: طالِبُ الدُّنيا وَالمَوتُ يَطلُبُهُ وَباني القُصُورَ وَالقَبرُ مَنزِلهُ، وَمَن يَضحَكُ مَلأ فيهِ وَالنّارُ أمامَهُ ابن آدَمَ لا بِالكَثيرِ تَشبَعُ وَلا بِالقَليلِ تَقنَعُ، تَجَمعُ مالَكَ لِمَن لا يَحمَدُكَ وَتَقدِمُ عَلى رَبٍّ لا يَعذِرُكَ، إِنَّما أنتَ عَبدُ بَطنِكَ وَشَهوتِكَ، وَإِنَّما تُملأُ بَطنُكَ إِذا دَخَلتَ قَبرَكَ وَأنتَ يا بن آدَمَ تَرى حَشَدَ مالِكَ في ميزانِ غَيرِكَ.
Sea Creatures
Jesus was once passing by a sea. He threw into sea a piece of bread which was his own food. Some of the disciples said: O Spirit of Allah! Why did you do so while that piece of bread was your own food? I did it so that a sea creature will eat it, for there is a great reward in it with God.
إِنَّ عيسى عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ لمّا أن مَرَّ عَلى شاطِئ البَحرِ رَمى بِقُرصٍ مِن قُوتِه في البَحرِ فَقالَ لَهُ بَعضُ الحَواريِّينَ يا رُوحَ اللَّه وَكَلِمَتَهُ لِمَ فَعَلتَ هذا وإِنَّما هوَ مِن قُوتِكَ؟ قالَ فَعَلتُ هذا الدّابَّةُ تَأكُلُهُ مِن دَوابِّ الماءِ وَثَوابُهُ عِندَ اللَّه عَظيمٌ.
With God’s Permission
Jesus went up the top of a mountain called Jerico in Damascus. At this time Satan appeared to him as the king of Palestine saying: O spirit of Allah! You made the dead come back to life, you cured the lepers, the crippled and the blind. Now throw yourself down the mountain. Jesus said: I had the permission in what you said, but for this, I have no permission.
إِنَّ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ صَعَدَ جَبَلا بِالشّامِ اسمُهُ أَريحا فَأتاهُ إِبليسُ في صُورَةِ مَلِكِ فِلَسطينَ، فَقالَ يا رُوحَ اللَّه أَحْيَيتَ المَوتى وَأبرأتَ الأَكمَهَ وَالأَبرَصَ فَاطرح نَفسَكَ عَنِ الجَبَلِ، فَقالَ عَليهِ السَّلامُ إِنَّ ذلِكَ أُذِنَ لي فيهِ وَهذا لَم يُؤذَن لي فيهِ.
Forbidding Negative Attitude
One day Jesus and his disciples were passing by the carcass of a dog, one of them said: What a bad smell! Jesus said: Why didn’t you say how white its teeth are!
وَمَرَّ المَسيحُ ابنُ مَريَمَ في الحَواريّينَ بِجيفَةِ كَلبٍ، فَقالَ بَعضُهُم ما أَشَدُّ نَتنِ ريحِهِ؟ قَالَ عَليهِ السَّلامُ: فَهلّا قُلتَ ما أَشَدُّ بَياضِ أَسْنانِهِ.
Free From Want
Jesus said: My two hands are my servant, my feet, my horse. The earth is my bed, the stone my pillow. My winter garment is where the sun rises up, my lantern at night is the moon, my meal is hunger, my garment is fear of God. My garment is of wool, my fruit and vegetables is what grows for wild animals and beasts out of the earth. I pass the night into morning while I have nothing and at the same time, there is no one more rich than I am.
قالَ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ: خادِمي يَدايَ، وَدابَّتي رِجلايَ وَفِراشي الأرضُ، وَوِسادي الحَجَرُ وَدَفئي في الشِّتاءِ مَشارِقَ الأرضِ وَسِراجي بِاللَّيلِ القَمَرُ، وَإِدامي الجُوعُ وَشِعاري الخَوفُ، وَلِباسي الصُّوفُ، وَفاكِهَتي وَرَيحانَتي ما أَنبَتَتِ الأَرضُ لِلوُحُوشِ وَالأنعامِ، أبيتُ وَلَيسَ لي شَيءٌ، وَأَصبَحتُ وَلَيسَ لي شَيءٌ وَلَيسَ عَلى وَجهِ الأرضِ أحَدٌ أغنى مِنّي.
His Humility
Jesus said to the disciples: I have a need which you have to meet. They said: We will meet your need whatever it is. Jesus rose up and washed their feet. The disciples said: We should wash your feet, O Spirit of Allah. Jesus said: A learned man is the best to serve the people. I have given you an example of modesty so that you will be modest to people. Then Jesus said: Wisdom is obtained through modesty not arrogance, for plants grow in soft soil not on rocky mountain.
قَالَ عيسى بن مَريَمَ (ع) يا مَعشَرَ الحواريّينَ لي إِليكُم حاجَةٌ فَاقضوها لي قَالوا: قَضيتَ حاجَتَكَ يا رُوح اللَّه، فَقامَ فَغَسَّلَ أَقْدامَهُم، فَقالوا: كُنّا نَحنُ أَحقُّ بِهذا يا روحَ اللَّه فَقالَ: إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِالخِدمَةِ العالِمُ، إِنَّما تَواضَعتُ هكذا لَكَيما تَتواضَعوا بَعدي في النّاسِ كَتواضُعي لَكَم، ثُمَّ قَالَ عيسى (ع) بِالتّواضُعِ تَعمُرُ الحِكمَةَ لا بِالتَّكبُّرِ، كَذلِك في السَّهلِ يَنبُتُ الزَّرعَ لا في الجَبلِ.
Receiving Guests
Jesus had prepared food for the disciples. When they finished eating, Jesus washed their hands. They said: O spirit of Allah! We should wash your hands. Jesus said: I did it so that you will do it to those whom you teach.
صَنَعَ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ لِلحَوارِيّينَ طَعامًا فَلمّا أَكَلُوا وَضَّأَهُم بِنَفسِه وَقالوا: يا رُوحَ اللَّه نَحنُ أولى أن نَفعَلَهُ مِنكَ قَالَ: إِنَّما فَعَلتُ هذا لِتَفعَلوهُ بِمَن تُعَلِّمونَ.
Immunity From Ignorance
Jesus was asked: Who taught you ethics? Jesus said: No one. I saw the ugliness of ignorance and stayed away from it.
قيلَ لِعيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ: مَن أَدَّبَكَ؟ قالَ ما أَدَّبَني أحَدٌ، رَأيتُ قُبحَ الجَهلِ فَجانَبتُهُ.
Reckoning
Jesus obstructed his nostrils from good scent but he did not do so before a bad smell. Being asked the reason, Jesus said: There is no reckoning for bad smell but there is reckoning for good smell.
كانَ عيسى عَليهِ السَّلامُ يَخمُرُ أَنفَهُ مِنَ الرّائِحةِ الطَّيّبةِ دونَ الكَريهةِ فَقيلَ لَهُ: في ذلِكَ، فَقالَ: لا حِسابَ في الكَريهةِ وَفي الطَّيِّبةِ حِسابٌ.
When Passing By A House
When passing by a house whose people had died and other people were living there, Jesus used to say: Woe to those who have inherited you but have not taken lesson from the predecessors.
وَكانَ عيسى (ع) إِذا مَرَّ بِدارٍ قَد ماتَ أهلُها وَخُلِّفَ فيها غَيرُهُم يَقولُ: وَيحًا لأرْبابِكَ الَّذينَ وَرَّثُوكِ كَيفَ لَم يَعتَبِروا بِإِخوانِهِمُ الماضينَ.