Please look at this verse in context, it talks about the saying of the Jews, that they
‘did slay the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary!’ Allah Almighty answers them that
‘wa ma Qatalu-hu’ -
they slew him not! Then the verse states
‘Wa ma Salabu-hu’ -
nor did they crucify him! Here it is stating that Jesus was not crucified on the Cross; he did not die on it, but it does not deny that he could have been put on the Cross, only that he did not die on the Cross!
The Arabic words
Maa Salabu-hu do not deny the fact of Hadhrat Jesus'AS being nailed to the Cross but deny his having died on it as is clear from Arabic lexicon. For example they say
Salaba Ash-Shaia, i.e., he burned the thing.
Salabal Izama means, he extracted the marrow out of the bones.
Salabal Lissa means, he crucified the thief, i.e., he put him to death in a certain well-known manner (Lane & Aqrab).
In crucifixion one was nailed to a framework made in the form of a cross and, being kept without food and drink, slowly died of pain, hunger, fatigue, and exposure. (This is the definition given in Oxford dictionary of what it 'crucify' means.)
The verse then states
‘Wa lakin Shubbiha La-hum’ -
but he was made to appear to them like one crucified! or the matter of the death of Jesus became obscure or dubious to them! The word Shubbiha means, he was made to appear like, or was made to resemble. Now the question arises, who is the person who was made to appear "like one crucified". Clearly it was Hadhrat JesusAS whom the Jews tried to crucify or slay. Nobody else can be meant here, for there is absolutely no reference to any other person in the context. The context cannot be twisted as to make room for somebody else of whom no mention at all is made in the verse. To what then was Hadhrat JesusAS made like? The context provides a clear answer to that question. The Jews did not kill him by crucifixion, but he was made to appear to them like "one crucified", and thus it was that they wrongly took him for dead. It was thus Hadhrat JesusAS who was made to resemble "one crucified".
As a matter of fact the above Arabic words simply mean that Allah exalted him (Hadhrat JesusAS) to Himself. Here the exaltation is the exaltation of the soul of which the Jews were trying to deprive him by putting to death through crucifixion, but Allah frustrated them in their evil designs, as the Holy Bible states: 'He that is hanged on the tree is accursed of God.'(Deuteronomy 21:23)
In the Holy Quran, the Traditions of the Holy ProphetSAW, the Commentaries and in the Arabic idioms, whenever the word
Rafa'a is used by Allah for a human being, it always connotes exaltation of ranks and spiritual nearness, because no fixed abode can be, or has ever been, assigned to God as the Holy Quran declares: "And He is Allah, both in the heavens and in the earth." (6:4) "So withersoever you turn, there will be the face of Allah." (2:116) "And We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein." (50:17) Hence,
Rafa'a Ilallah does not necessitate one's physical ascension to heaven, rather this
Rafa'a--exaltation is achieved on this very earth.
As a matter of fact that word
Rafa'a has never been used in the entire Holy Quran nor in the Traditions of the Holy ProphetSAW as a connotation of physical ascension to heaven as is clear from the following references:
- Wa Lau Shi'naa La Rafa'anaaho Bihaa Wa Laakinnahoo Akhlada Ilal Ardhi--"And if We had pleased, We would have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth." (7:177) Here the commentators are unanimous in their interpretation of the exaltation of the ranks of the referred person. It is never meant to indicate the intention of physically raising up the referred person to heaven.
- Wa Rafa'anaaho Makaanan Aliyyaa--"And We exalted him (Hadhrat IdrisAS) to lofty station." (19:58) Likewise see: 24:37; 80:14-15; 56:35; 58:12.
- Idha Tawaza Al-Abdo Rafa'ahollaho Ilas Samaa Is-Saabiati--"When a person shows humility, Allah lifts him up to the seventh heaven." (Kanzul Ummaal Vol. 2, page 53) This Hadith clearly shows that even if the word Samaa (sky) had been used here instead of Allah, the verse could not have meant anything else but spiritual honor and exaltation. Will the non-Ahmadies believe that every act of humility literally lifts a person up to heaven in both body and spirit? Certainly, there can be no bigger folly than such an inference. Why then draw such inference in the case of JesusAS? Why should he be sent up to heaven alive? Was not this earth sufficient for him as the Quran declared: Alam Najalil Arza Kifaatan Ahya'an Wa Amwaatan--"Have We not made the earth sufficient for the living and the dead?" (77:26-27)
- All the Muslims are aware of the fact that there occurs the word Warfa'anee (and exalt me in ranks) in the prayer which the Holy ProphetSAW used to pray between two Sajdas (prostrations). (Kitab Ibn Maja) All the Muslims supplicate this prayer between two Sajdas in their Salat, but does any one ever think that he is supplicating for his physical ascension to heaven? Or, is there any doubt regarding the Holy ProphetSAW's Rafa'a (exaltation of ranks) despite his sojourn on this very earth?
- In the Commentary of the Holy Quran known as Tafseer Saafi under the verse Maa Muhammadun Illa Rasool Qad Khalat Min Qablihir Rusul (3:145) the demise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him) has been mentioned in he following words: Hatta Idha Da'a Allaho Nabiyyahoo Wa Rafa'a Hoo Ilaihi--"Until when Allah called His Prophet and exalted him to Himself." Now here are words Rafa'a Hoo Ilaihi used for the Holy ProphetSAW had never been interpreted as his corporal ascension to heaven. Is it not strange and outright blasphemy to interpret the word Rafa'a for the Holy ProphetSAW as exaltation of his ranks, and for JesusAS as his physical ascension to heaven?
‘Isa (as), son of Maryam (as), will be a just judge and just ruler (in my community), break and crush the cross and kill the pig ... The earth will be so filled of peace as a vessel is filled with water. The entire world shall recite and follow one and the same Word and none shall be worshipped except Allah. (Ibn Majah)
As for these hadiths:
"Jabir (radiallahu anh) reported that the Messenger of Allah salallahu 'alayhi wasallam said,
"A party of my followers will not cease to fight for victory until the Day of Resurrection. Then Jesus, son of Mary, will come down. Their Imaam will say, "Come and lead our prayer" He will reply, "Some of you are rulers over others on account of divine honour upon these people." (Muslim)
Abu Huraira (radiallahu anh) reported that the Messenger of Allah Peace and blessings be upon him said,
"By the one whose hands my life is in, surely the son of Maryam (Peace upon her) will descend amongst you as a just ruler. He will destroy the cross, kill the swine and abolish the tax." (Bukhari)
Hadrat Hudaifah ibn Osaid reported: The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him suddenly came to us while we were talking. He asked,
"What are you talking about?" They replied
"We were talking about the last hour." The Prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said,
"It will never come until you see ten signs before it," He then mentioned the Smoke, the Dajjal, the Beast, the Rising of the Sun in its place of setting, the Descent of Jesus son of Mary and Yajuj and Ma'juj. (Muslim)"
It would have been better if you had also pasted the Arabic text of these hadiths so it would have been easier for anyone who reads these hadiths. My point is about the word the interpretation of the word Nazul.
The word
Nazul, it is argued, signifies that Hadhrat JesusAS must come down physically from the high heavens, hence, he is physically alive in heaven. Besides, the Holy ProphetSAW said that the son of Mary will come, so it must be Hadhrat JesusAS himself who should come personally.
In the first place, there is no word
Minas-Samaa from heaven, mentioned in the Traditions. No doubt there are two points which need explanation: One
Nazool and the other Ibn Maryam. It should be remembered that the word
Nazala may mean "he descended" but it cannot by any stretch of meaning, signify "he descended physically from the heavens". There is not the slightest justification for this.
The same word is used about the coming of the Holy ProphetSAW. Says the Holy Quran:
Qad Anzalallaho Ilaikum Dhikran Rasoolan Yatloo Alaikum Aayaatillahi--"Allah has indeed sent down to you a Reminder, a Messenger, who recites unto you the clear signs of Allah." (65:11-12) But No one can say that the Holy ProphetSAW came down from the heavens physically.
Then God says:
Wa Anzalnal Hadeeda--"And We sent down iron" (57:26), and we know that it is not thrown down from the heavens. Likewise the word
Nazool has been mentioned about cattle in 39:7; about raiment in 7:27. Even this word had been used for each and every thing in 15:22 where Allah says:
Wa In Min Shai-in Illaa Indinna Khazaainohoo Wa Maa Nonazzilohoo Illaa Biqadarin Ma'aloom--"And there is not a thing but with Us are the treasures thereof and We send it not down except in known measure."
Hence, it appears that all things in nature descend from God--are gifted by God--and yet they do not drop from Heaven. Their creation takes place in and on and through this very earth. Therefore, the word
Nazool (descend), when used for the coming of the Messiah, can have no other meaning. It can only point to the importance, the blessedness and the spiritual significance of the Promised Messiah. It is not in the least intended to suggest that he would physically drop from Heaven to earth.
This is not even worth answering. You did not answer any points I raised but went on a random rant about me being intellectually dishonest. Well good sir, why don't you show a higher moral point and answer my points about the verses that prove Hazrat Isa (as) is dead, why did you ignore them? I have read the verses before and after them. My points still stand. Apart from those verses that you chose to ignore, what will you do with these hadtihs ?
There is no one alive today but will be dead before a hundred years have passed over it. (Muslim)
If Moses and Jesus had been alive, they would have no choice but to follow me. (ibn Kathir)
If Moses and Jesus had been alive, they would have had to believe in me and follow me. (Tabarani)
Jesus, son of Mary, lived to 120 years. (Tabarani)
Do you not know that our Lord lives for ever while Jesus perished. (Wahidi)
Jesus lived to 120 years. (Kanz al-Ummal)
So sad that you call me liar but don't show where exactly it is that I lied.