The story of Prophet Eesaa -II

In the first part of the Story of Prophet 'Eesaa )Jesus(we highlighted
the most important events in his life: his miraculous birth, his
childhood, the opposition of the Jewish authorities to his mission,
his miracles, etc. Here we continue his story:
Prophet 'Eesaacontinued calling people to Almighty Allaah and laying
down for them what might be called the 'Law of the Spirit.' Once, when
standing on a mountain surrounded by his disciples, 'Eesaasaw that
those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, and
the downtrodden, and their number was small. Some of the miracles
which 'Eesaaperformed had been requested by his disciples, such as
their wish for a 'holy table-spread' to be sent down from heaven.
Allaah the Exalted Says )what means(:"]And remember[ when the
disciples said: 'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Can your Lord send down to
us a table ]spread with food[ from theheaven?' ]'Eesaa[ said: 'Fear
Allaah, if you should be believers.'They said: 'We wish to eat from
itand let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful
to us and be among its witnesses.' Said 'Eesaa, the son ofMaryam: 'O
Allaah, our Lord! Send down to us a table ]spread with food[ from the
heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us andthe last of us
and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of
providers.' Allaah said: 'Indeed, I will send 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.'"]Quran: 5:112-115[
'Eesaacommanded his disciples to fast for thirty days; at the end of
it, they asked 'Eesaato bring food from heaven to break their fast.
'Eesaaprayed to Allaah after his disciples had doubted Allaah's power.
The great table came down between twoclouds, one above and one below,
while the people watched. 'Eesaasaid: "O Lord! make it a mercy and not
a cause of distress." So it fell between 'Eesaa's hands, covered with
a napkin.
'Eesaasuddenly prostrated, and his disciples followed suit. They
sensed a fragrance, which they had never smelled before. 'Eesaasaid:
"The one who is themost devout and most righteous may uncover the
table, that we might eat of it to thank Allaah for it." They said: "O
Spiritof Allaah! You are the most deserving."
'Eesaastood up, performed ablution and prayed before uncovering the
table, and behold, there was a roasted fish. The disciplessaid: "O
Spirit of Allaah! Isthis the food of this world or ofParadise?"
'Eesaasaid to his disciples: "Did not Allaah forbid you to ask
questions? It is the divinepower of Allaah the Almighty, Who said:
'Be' and it was. It is a sign from Almighty Allaah warning of great
punishment for unbelieving mortals of the world. This is the kernel of
the matter."
It is said that thousands of people ate from it, andyet it was never
entirely consumed. A further miracle was that the blind and lepers
were cured by 'Eesaaby Allaah's leave.
The Day of the Table became one of the holy days for the disciples
andfollowers of 'Eesaa. Later, the disciples and followers who forgot
the real essence of the miracles, worshipped 'Eesaaas a god. Almighty
Allaah asserts )what means(:"And ]bewarethe Day[ when Allaah will say:
'O 'Eesaa, Son of Maryam! Did you say to the people: 'Take me and my
mother as deities besides Allaah?' He )i.e. 'Eesaa( will say: 'Exalted
are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have noright. If I
had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself,
and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, itis You who is
Knower of the unseen'"]Quran: 5:116[
'Eesaawent on his mission, until the corrupted leaders and
hypocritical men of religious power felt his threat to them. So the
forces of evil accused himof magic, infringement of the Mosaic Law,
and allegiance with the devil; and when they saw that the poor people
followedhim, they began to scheme against him.
The Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the
Jews, began to plot against 'Eesaa. The plan took a new turn. When the
Jews failed to stop the call of 'Eesaathey decided to kill him. The
chief priests held secret meetings to agree on the best way of getting
rid of 'Eesaa. While they were in such ameeting, one of the twelve
apostles, Judas Iscariot, went to them and asked: "What will you give
me if I deliver him to you?" Judas bargained with them until they
agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver,known as shekels. The plot
was laid for the capture and murder of 'Eesaa.
The priests had no authority to pass the death sentence at that time,
so they convinced the Roman governor that'Eesaawas plotting against
the security of the Roman Empire and urged him to take immediate
action againsthim. The governor ordered that 'Eesaabe arrested and
crucified.
The Glorious Quran, contrary to the Gospels, affirms that Allaah, the
Exalted, did not permit the people ofIsraelto kill or crucify 'Eesaa.
Allaah saved him from hisenemies and raised him to heaven. They never
killed 'Eesaa; they killed someone else.
Allaah the Almighty declares )what means(:"And ]We cursed them for[
their saying: 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, 'Eesaa, the son of
Maryam, the messenger of Allaah.' And they did not kill him, nor did
they crucify him; but ]another[ was made to resemblehim to them. And
indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no
knowledgeof it except the following of assumption. And they did not
kill him, for certain. Rather, Allaah raised him to Himself. And ever
is Allaah Exalted in Might and Wise."]Quran: 4:157-158[
Almighty Allaah also revealed )what means(:"]Mention[ when Allaah
said: 'O 'Eesaa! Indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and
purify ]i.e.,free[ you from those who disbelieve and make those who
follow you ]in submission to Allaah 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 youused to
differ.'"]Quran: 3:55[
Almighty Allaah refutes the claims of the Jews and the Christians many
times in the Glorious Quran. For example, He Says )what means(: "And
they say: 'The Most Merciful has taken ]for Himself[ a son.' You have
done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the
earth splits open and the mountains collapse indevastation; That they
attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for
the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the
heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a
servant."
In many verses, in addition to those alreadymentioned, Allaah, the
Almighty, affirmed His being highly above having a child, a wife, or a
partner, thus, refuting all such false allegations. Allaah, the
Almighty, revealed a separate Quranic chapter to affirmHis Unity and
Uniqueness.This chapter is the one-hundred and twelfth, the meaning of
which is:"Say: 'He is Allaah, ]who is[ One. Allaah, the Eternal
Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any
equivalent.'"]Quran: 112:1-4[