INTRODUCTION

Prophets and Messengers have been sent to all nations throughout history to teach the core concepts of the same religion: to believe in the one and only God, to abandon idolatry, to live and do good deeds only for God's good pleasure, to have faith in God and to seek His help alone, and to be virtuous. The principles of faith that they have taught to humanity have always been the same, despite some slight differences in practical matters according to place and time. For instance, Jesus (peace be upon him)1 did not bring a different religion, and the religion revealed to Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (may God bless him and grant him peace), the last prophet, is the same. (In other words, the Torah sent to Moses and the Gospel sent to Jesus as guiding lights for people, have been tampered over time and so are no longer true to their respective original revelations.2) In one verse, God tells believers not to distinguish between revealed religions:

Say: "We believe in God and what has been sent down to us; what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes; and what Moses, Jesus, and all the Prophets were given by their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them. We are Muslims submitted to Him." (Qur'an, 3:84)

Another verse reveals the following:

He has laid down the same religion for you as He enjoined on Noah, that which We have revealed to you and which We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: "Establish the religion and do not make divisions in it." What you call the idolaters to follow is very hard for them. God chooses for Himself anyone He wills and guides to Himself those who turn to Him. (Qur'an, 42:13)

Our Lord, Who has sent His religion to all nations, has cautioned all of their inhabitants through those He honored by choosing as Prophets. Every human being who has received the call to the true religion will be held accountable for how he or she responded to it.
The lives of God's chosen Messengers contain many messages and lessons for all people, especially when we study their encounters, their troubles, and their great struggles. The Qur'an cites Jesus as an example for people to follow, because of how he conducted his life and his struggle, and because of his great virtue.
Jesus' birth, life, and ascension to God's presence are all miracles that the Qur'an reveals in some detail. Although God reveals the narratives of many Prophets, Jesus, whom God supported with superior wisdom, is set apart from the others in several aspects, among them that he spoke even in the cradle, and that he was the vehicle for countless miracles while he was in this world. That his status is different also can be deduced from the fact that he was raised to God's presence and that the Qur'an indicates strongly his second coming.
The website seeks to analyze Jesus' life and struggle, as well as his virtue and character, closely and to spread the good news of his second coming in light of the relevant Qur'anic verses and hadiths (the sayings and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed). Our Lord gives important signs about Jesus and the future (the time between the Qur'an's revelation and the Day of Judgment) in the Qur'an, and the Prophet Mohammed (may God bless him and grant him peace) revealed much good news about him. The valuable information about Jesus' great struggle after his second coming, provided by the renowned Islamic scholar Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1877-1960), is a glad tiding for all readers and should increase their excitement and lift their morale. All of this, as we said previously, shows that Jesus' creation was miraculous and that his life continued to be full of miracles.
While reading this website, the reader will come to know of his miraculous life and realize that we live in a very special time. One purpose of this work, besides drawing attention to an important miracle revealed in the Qur'an, is to say a "practical" prayer in the hope of being present when Jesus, a praised Messenger who is lauded in the Qur'an many times, returns to this world. Given that his second coming will be an extraordinary, miraculous, and metaphysical event that will affect the whole world, all believers should prepare and mobilize to welcome him in the best possible way. The excitement, love, and morale invested in these preparations will be an actual prayer, and those who do not prepare will feel great remorse when he returns. All of the signs indicate that the second coming will take place soon, so there is no time to waste.

JESUS

The Messengers sent to warn and to give the good news to people faced many difficulties from the unbelievers, who wanted to prevent them from preaching God's religion. These unbelievers also thought that they could prevent people from following the Messengers' path by means of plots, slander, and persecution. Jesus endured everything that all of the other Messengers endured. For example, he was exposed to attacks from the idolatrous Roman occupying authorities and the dogmatic Jewish religious establishment. He fought against both of these powers, which were hostile to the true religion, although only a very few believers supported him.
Jesus' miraculous birth, teaching of the true religion, all miracles led some of the people of his time to recognize him as the expected Messiah, and they loved him for it. This love for him and his justified criticism of the religious elite led the leaders of the Roman occupation forces and the Jewish religious establishment to conspire against this noble man, and ultimately to attack him. Their attempt on his life was foiled when God raised him to His presence.
Before we proceed to examine Jesus' life and struggle in detail, it would be useful to know what the various sources say about him.

The oldest written portion of the New Testament ever found (125 CE). The New Testament was written in Greek, which was spoken in the eastern portion of the Roman Empire.

Sources about Jesus' life

Several sources relate Jesus' life. The primary source is the Qur'an, which has never been altered since its revelation and which contains no contradictions. For this reason, the information related by the other sources, which might have been altered since their original recording, will be used only insofar as they do not contradict the Qur'an. For any other matter not in conflict with the Qur'an, such as historical or archeological data, the Bible will be used as a reference along with other documents from that era. Other sources are the hadiths of the Prophet Mohammed(may God bless him and grant him peace) and the explanations, views, and interpretations of Islamic scholars.
The Bible, another important source, also gives detailed information about Jesus. However, over time it was tampered with and so lost its authenticity. As a result, it contains parts that are based on the true religion as well as parts that are wholly fabricated. For this reason, those parts that contain information about his life, teachings, and struggle, and which do not contradict the Qur'an, must be considered as important historic documents.
The earliest New Testament accounts are thought to have been written 30 to 40 years after Jesus died, in 63 CE. However, these no longer exist. The oldest documents available date back to the third and fourth centuries. Paul's letters, which gave Christianity its present form, were written before the New Testament (52-63 CE).
Otherwise, such historians as Flavius Josephus (37-100? CE), Philo (20 BCE-50 CE, and Tacitus (56-c.120 CE) have small chapters on the subject in their works. Even though they did not write much about Jesus as a person, their works contain useful and detailed information about the era. Finally, archeological explorations and discoveries will be used to shed light on the era in which Jesus lived and the events that took place during the time.

Zeus, a Greek mythological god and the counterpart of the Roman god Jupiter.

Palestine at the time of Jesus

During Jesus' lifetime, the whole Mediterranean basin was under Roman rule and thus a domestic affair. The Roman Empire was at its peak, militarily as well as culturally. It had inherited both the ancient and the classical Greek civilizations and had built upon them, and architecture and the arts were at an advanced level. Not surprisingly, the Romans considered themselves superior to all other nations and tried to impose their way of life on the conquered lands.
The Roman religion was idolatrous. The deities of Greek mythology had long been a part of Roman religion, albeit under different names. Many idols, symbolized by statues, were worshipped, and Jupiter was considered the highest-ranking godhead. By the first half of the second century CE, the power of the Roman emperors had become so absolute and consolidated that some later emperors claimed divinity during their own lives. Greek religion was still widely practiced in Roman-ruled lands, and statues of Zeus, Hermes, and Venus were erected in the major cities' large public squares. Archaeology and literature of the time show that every city, suburb, and even house had its own different shrines complete with statues, icons, and a place dedicated to making offerings and worship. The Roman rulers used these pluralistic religions to further their own ambitions, and so did not interfere with them as long as they posed no threat to continued Roman rule. On the contrary, they encouraged these idolatrous beliefs by building temples and commissioning statues everywhere. For them, religion was a tool to inspire the masses to loyalty and a way to control them. Religion was an abstract concept that was only indirectly related to the world.

At the end of the first century CE, Rome controlled a great part of western Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. The empire was well served by a network of roads and harbors, which helped the spread of Christianity. (Above: The Roman Empire in 117 CE)

(The Greek temple in Paestum, Italy (550 BCE) ) Have they not travelled in the land and seen the final fate of those before them? They were greater than them in stregth and than them in strength and left far deeper traces on the land, yet God seized them for their wrong actions… (Qur’an, 40:21)

When the Romans encountered another culture, they would seek out similar idols and merge them into their own pantheon in order to establish Roman superiority. For such reasons, monotheistic Jews were forced to acknowledge Zeus as godhead, especially at the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who reigned from 175-63 BCE. This led to great conflicts, for religious Jews responded negatively to such spiritual contamination and resolutely resisted the attempts to Rome's spreading of its idolatrous beliefs.
The Romans chose not to interfere with the Jews' internal affairs, especially their religious affairs, when they saw the Jews' devotion to their religion, which was very different from their own man-made religion. Throughout Roman rule in Palestine, the Jews were permitted to practice their faith and the Temple, their spiritual center, continued be administered by the Jewish religious elite. Rome also permitted the Sanhedrin Council, the Jews' highest religious priestly tribunal, to continue its activities.
Even under Roman rule, the Sanhedrin could prosecute and punish a Jew according to Jewish law. The Roman governors appointed to rule the area suppressed all rebellions with an iron fist and showed no leniency when collecting taxes. For this reason, they tolerated the collaborating Jewish leadership and ruthlessly punished any rebellion against them.

A picture depicting the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The small Jewish nation in which Jesus lived bordered the great empires of the ancient world, which were always at war with one another: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Syria. It did not survive for long as an independent nation, and from the expulsion of Babylon (586-38 BCE) onwards, the Jews lived under foreign rule. In the Hellenistic era,3 they first came under Egyptian, then Syrian, and finally Roman rule. Only once were they able to establish a Jewish kingdom. The Maccabees, a family of priests, began a rebellion (167-42 BCE) that led to a Jewish kingdom that survived for 80 years. Its ruling family, the Hasmonaeans, became widely influential, but their kingdom collapsed because of fierce competition for its leadership. The Roman general Pompey, who obtained the backing of the warring factions, entered Palestine by taking Jerusalem in 63 BCE and confined the Jewish state to Judea. The Hasmonaean King, Hyrcanus II, enjoyed limited autonomy under the rule of the Roman governor. From that day on, resentment toward this idolatrous government began to grow in the Jewish community. In 37 BCE, Rome abolished this kingdom and appointed Hyrcanus II's son-in-law, Herod I, as the new "King of Judea."

The Era of King Herod I

The Roman leadership's primary concern in Palestine was to collect taxes. An excessively high tax rate was imposed on the Jewish community, and Rome built a state machinery loyal to itself. Herod I (73-4 BCE), known for his admiration of Hellenistic culture, managed to have himself appointed the King of Jews with Rome's help and by taking advantage of Roman weaknesses and the changing landscape of power since Caesar's assassination (44 BCE). He expanded the Jewish province's borders to cover all of Palestine and actively promoted Hellenistic culture in order to gain Rome's favor. In addition, he advocated Hellenism's architectural and artistic aspects and wished to impose its materialistic worldview on the Jewish masses. Herod I had Solomon's Temple restored, in order to win popular Jewish support, and commissioned many statues and works of architecture. As a result of his popularity, he became known as "Herod the Great." However, despite all of the spectacular buildings, religious Jews resented him because he had become a collaborator and a despot.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was born while Herod the Great ruled Palestine (37-4 BCE). The Herodium palace-fortress, built for Herod, was located 8 km south of Jerusalem and comprised a palace, where Herod himself is buried. His tomb has not yet been discovered.

Herod was a tyrant who killed many innocent people. Fra Angelico's (1387-1455) painting, entitled "The Massacre of the Innocents," depicts Herod's era. The painting dates from 1451-53 and is on display at Florence's San Marco Museum.

Herod I ruled his province with Roman support from 37 BCE to 4 BCE. After his death, Rome disregarded the Jews' appeals to end Herod's government and divided the province between his sons. Rome appointed one son, Herod Antipas, as tetrarch of Galilee, which he ruled from 4 BCE to 40 CE. According to historical sources, Jesus' ministry coincides with the rule of this man, who was at least his father's equal in terms of tyranny. This is why the area's sociopolitical conditions are important to us. Galilee's social fabric had changed dramatically since its colonial occupation. The Jews scoffed at the area, and its civilization and culture, particularly Herod Antipas' court, as well as the great palaces and some quarters of the town, were under Hellenistic influence. The religion-based traditions of those Jews who spoke Aramaic were far removed from Hellenistic culture.
As mentioned earlier, the Romans traditionally did not interfere with the Jews' religious affairs. But not all Roman governors adhered to this principle. Pontius Pilate in particular, the procurator at Jesus' time, was one of them. His government (26-36 CE) was tainted by tyranny and cruelty, both of which eventually caused him to be removed from office.

Jewish Sects at the Time of Jesus

Another problem that the Jews had to face was internal sectarian strife. Until the second century BCE, such strife was unheard of. However, in the last century before Jesus, the Jewish people became fragmented and many different views on the essence and true meaning of Judaism emerged. Besides the books of the Old Testament and the different interpretations of religious rules, political factors and Rome played an important part in this developing sectarianism. Looking at the records of that time, especially those of the famous Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, it can be said that many schools of thought developed among the Jewish people.
Four schools of thought became particularly prominent. One of these was the Sadducees, who were allied with the Roman government, gradually became the ruling class with Rome's support, and enjoyed great wealth. This school of thought became dominant among the wealthy Jews and was comparable to a political party. Their religious rules were derived from the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah), which were interpreted according to their practical meanings, for the Sadducees did not accept such fundamental tenets of religion as life after death, Hell, and Paradise. Confronting them were the "conservative" Pharisees, who disagreed with the Sadducees' religious views, opposed their false beliefs, and generally led a more modest way of life. The Pharisee school was founded by religious Jews who played an important part in preserving and defending the Jewish faith. Later on, the Pharisees also became fragmented.
Another group was formed by the Zealots, who advocated armed resistance against Rome and its Jewish collaborators. They began to carry out assassinations and acts of violence against those members of the Jewish and Roman leadership who they considered to be opponents of God's rule. However, this rebellious movement was soon suppressed. Finally there were the Essenes, who devoted themselves to worship and meditation in caves and who would, in our own time, become well-known through their writings (the Dead Sea Scrolls), which were discovered in 1947. According to some researchers, the Essenes were a branch of the religious Pharisees. As will be seen in subsequent chapters, there seems to be a consensus among some researchers that the Essenes were closely linked to Jesus.
According to historical sources and some Biblical passages, Jesus was engaged in a great struggle against these idolatrous and heathen movements and preached God's religion by means of enlightening examples. It will be useful to examine these movements' views in order to understand the chaotic environment in which they existed.

The Sadducees

An examination of these movements reveals that the Sadducees were the most influential and highest sect in terms of social status, as well as the only movement that held a worldview completely contradictory to the message delivered by Jesus. Even though the available sources do not explicitly state so, it is highly probable that Jesus vehemently opposed this movement. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns the believers of the Sadducees' views:
"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6)

This group, which consisted of about 7,000 to 8,000 people, claimed to be the descendents of the high priests, collaborated with Rome, were responsible for the Temple in Jerusalem, and supervised the sacrifice system in place at the Temple.4 As they were in charge of all of the Temple's activities, they considered themselves a superior class and would not do any other work. As a result, they acquired a great deal of wealth, political privilege, and status, and also passed their respective jobs on to their sons. While they wished to continue this legacy that guaranteed their dominant position, they also adopted Hellenistic traditions and tried to spread them among society.

Furthermore, they had their own creed, which could be termed "materialistic." They believed that the soul died when the body died; that there was no afterlife; that angels, Hell, Paradise, and destiny did not exist; and that worldly matters were independent of matters of faith. Rome's cultural influence is evident here. Due to this perverse system of faith, they strove for the worldly life and political power. They remained in power for a relatively long time, during which they fought the other schools of thought. Their rule only came to an end when the Jewish province was abolished in 70 CE.

The Pharisees

Ruins of the Roman Empire in Rome.

The Pharisees disagreed with the Sadducees and diverged from them in many ways. They studied the Torah and other scriptures, were considered to be the authority in matters of faith, and were respected by the people. They opposed the Sadducees' administration of the Temple and criticized all of their extra-religious activities. Contrary to the Sadduceees, they believed in the soul, the afterlife, and in Paradise and Hell. Moreover, they did not collaborate with Rome and rejected the Hellenistic culture introduced by Rome. However, the policy of Pax Romana, introduced by Rome to create an atmosphere of peace throughout the Roman Empire, suited them too.
In reality, the Pharisees were a deeply religious group of Jews who fought irreligion. They tried to preserve and propagate religion in the Jewish community under the term "verbal tradition." They worked to introduce the Mosaic law and even fought in this cause. Some historians suggest that Jesus must have been together with these religious people, as his teachings are closest to the Pharisees' views. Although he warned and reminded the Pharisees several times, he also befriended and ate with them (Luke 7:36, 11:37, 14:1).

The Zealots

The most active group after the Sadducees and the Pharisees were the Zealots, most of whom had originally been Phariseees. Their resentment of the Roman occupation drove them to radicalism and, eventually, to form this new movement. The Zealots, who believed that an armed uprising against the Roman occupation was necessary, established a resistance movement and, using guerilla tactics, assassinated Romans as well as Jewish collaborators. They even organized large-scale uprisings. One of their branches became known as the Sicarii (Dagger-men) at the time of Jesus because of their dagger attacks.
This group, which emerged at the time of Herod the Great, advocated a different political view. Under the leadership of Judas the Galilean, a messianic figure, the Zealots started an uprising when Judea was brought under direct Roman rule in 6 CE and a new tax regime was introduced. According to them, acknowledging the pagan rule of the Roman emperor meant rejecting God's authority in favor of slavery.
The first uprising was quashed quickly. Most of the rebels died, but those who survived continued their resistance. The next uprising turned into the first Jewish revolt (66-70 CE), which ended in a mass suicide of the Jews holed up in their fortress in Masada. At the time of Jesus, many such fanatical movements expecting the Messiah emerged and managed to attract large followings. However, the Romans took serious precautions against these movements and increased their control and oppression. If they encountered anything that could incite the people, they reacted hard and without mercy. Later on, the Jews used the Romans' sensitivity in this regard against Jesus.
The Zealots also took an interest in Jesus' ministry, for they were anticipating the Messiah.

The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls

(The caves in Qumran) Those with faith, those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabaeans, all who believe in God and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. (Qur’an , 2 : 62)

Unlike the other groups, whose members lived in Jerusalem or other towns and cities, the Essenes lived in remote corners of the Jordanian hinterland. They were a more devout people, in comparison to the others, and had a more spiritual nature. They shared the common belief of the people: The Messiah would come soon, would correct the deviations and aberrations of the Children of Israel, and would free the Holy Land from Roman occupation. This sect's members were totally hostile to Hellenistic culture and Roman rule, and were trying their best to live by the Mosaic law. They isolated themselves from the outside world, living in caves in the Jordanian hinterland and spending all of their time working on scriptures, in order to await the Messiah in dedication and worship.
Flavius Josephus wrote about this group in his book, but when scholars realized that the scrolls found in the caves of Qirbet Qumran in 1947 near the western shore of the Dead Sea belonged to the Essenes, they suddenly became the best-known group of all, and their sect's importance to history was raised by the interpretations of the scrolls' contents. Further excavations yielded a total of 600 scrolls and other items in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek. Among the discoveries were Biblical texts, heretofore unknown religious texts of Judaism, texts relating the sect's rules and practices of everyday life, and many other subjects.
After long and arduous research, researchers ascertained that the scrolls were written by the scribes of a Jewish sect, widely acknowledged to be the Essenes. The Roman writer Pliny the Younger (62-113 CE) states that the Essenes lived in Qirbet Qumran, which strengthens their case further. The oldest scroll dates back to 200 BCE, and the most recent belongs to the year 68 CE. This date coincides with the counterattack launched by the Roman General Vespasian (9-79 CE) to quell the Jewish revolt.

On April 15, 1957, Time magazine published a comprehensive article on the Dead Sea Scrolls. After this, the world media began to take an interest in the excavations.

When the scrolls were analyzed, much about the Essenes' lives and beliefs came to light. They believed in a Savior-Prophet about to come to them; believed in the scriptures and abiding strictly by their law; and, contrary to the Sadducees, believed in the Hereafter, destiny, angels, Paradise, and Hell. Furthermore, they believed themselves to be the "Sons of Light" in the service of the Lord, and were preparing for the battle with the "Sons of Darkness." The expression "Sons of Light" also appears in the Bible. The Essenes, who considered cleanliness paramount, bathed several times a day, regarded one another as brothers, and valued brotherly love. One of their core beliefs was that a Messiah would come. Without a doubt, this community was in a high state of expectation and believed that the End Times were near. Their writings reveal that they were expecting more than one person and also mention more than one person with superior qualities. However, it has not been possible to ascertain their true identity or nature. They are referred to as Messiah-Priest, Messiah-King, and Teacher of Righteousness.
To sum up, research reveals that the Essenes were a branch of the Pharisee movement and shared the same beliefs. They abandoned the Sadducee's official religion of Judaism and their Torah, as did the Pharisees, and tried to spread their creed by leading a modest life. This religious group expected a Messiah, based on the scriptures that they had, and sought to prepare for his arrival. This proves that the true religion was alive and followed, despite all attempts to lead people away from it. The Jews' fragmentation at the time of Jesus is noteworthy. The Jewish people were enduring a pagan occupation government and were ideologically divided in their various interpretations of Judaism. Each sect had its own views, and each one claimed to represent true Judaism. Many Jews had given up hope in the world and had begun to await the Last Hour, which they believed to be near.

 

The first scrolls belonging to the Essenes were found in sealed containers. The first part of the scrolls found in cave no. 11.

This painting depicts a meeting of the believers in Qumran.

Jews Expecting "The Savior"

The Old Testament contains a great deal of material on the Messiah's second coming. These revelations, some of which we will examine later on, had such an effect on people that the Messiah came to mean salvation for them. When Maimonides (1135-1204), the famous Jewish theologian who lived in Andalucia (Muslim Spain), was working on the Jewish system of faith, he reserved an article of faith out of his thirteen principles for the coming of Messiah. It read: "I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah; and though he may tarry, I shall wait for him every day."5

… “Our Lord, take us out of this city, whose inhatiants are wrongdoers! Give us a protector from You! Give us a helper from You!” (Qur’an, 4:75)

According to Judaism, God will send a leader to the Children of Israel, at a time when they are at their lowest politically as well as religiously, to save them on both counts. This leader will enable the Children of Israel to believe as purely in God as they used to, and also will lead them to victory against their enemies as "the Messiah."
Some books of the Old Testament refer frequently to this savior and reveal the righteousness, justice, and happiness that will prevail when his time has come. For instance, the Book of Isaiah reveals the Messiah's great sense of justice, "fear of the Lord," and insight, as well as the happiness that he will bring to the Children of Israel, as follows:
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit. The spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of power, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt. ... The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling [will lie down] together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child will put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, [just] as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:1-9)

According to the New Testament, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Thus, Christians consider it a holy town. … His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God) (Qur’an, 3: 45)

This anticipation of the Messiah grew stronger under Herod the Great's tyrannical regime. Movements expecting the Messiah sprang up everywhere on Jewish soil and were busy either preparing for his arrival or reminding people of his imminent arrival. However, this anticipation began to be perceived as a threat by and to Rome, as well as to Herod's authority, because they were usually aimed at the Roman regime and its compliant Jewish administration. Such a strong movement could incite the whole society to rise up against pagan rule. To prevent this, both authorities took various precautions. According to the Bible, this was the reason why Herod ordered the murder of all Jewish boys up to 2 years old. The Gospel of Matthew relates that:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [wise men] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east."… When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said: "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me." … When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Matthew 2:1-8, 16-18)

The exterior of the Church of the Nativity, believed to have been built on the spot where Jesus was born. This church, located in Bethlehem, is one of the most holy sites for Christian pilgrims.

One of the Messiah's signs is that he will be a descendent of David. The Bible reveals that Jesus is a descendent of David (2 Timothy 2:8).
The belief in the Messiah was a variable factor with the Jewish sects. Some of the Jews believed that the Messiah would be a Savior-Prophet, not a supernatural being but a human just like the Prophets David, Solomon, or Moses. In other words, he would be a loyal servant of God and someone, as the Bible says, who "will delight in the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:3) The Essenes foresaw the Messiah's miracles and anticipated his arrival. According to them, the Messiah would raise the fallen, heal the sick, free the captives, and awaken the dead. Since the Jews knew very well by looking at the available information that the Messiah's arrival was imminent, many groups and people were awaiting and preparing for this event, both in the desert and in the city.

Oppressed People Want a Savior

The Qur'an speaks of oppressed people who, while suffering hardship and tyranny, expect a savior who will deliver them from their troubles. Our Lord says the following:

What reason could you have for not fighting in the Way of God-for those men, women, and children who are oppressed and exclaim: "Our Lord, take us out of this city whose inhabitants are wrongdoers! Give us a protector from You! Give us a helper from You!"? (Qur'an, 4:75)

The verses reveal that the nations to which God sent His Messengers were experiencing total social and moral exhaustion before the arrival of the Messengers appointed for them by God. Following their arrival, the people who believed in them lived in plenty, ease, and happiness. But after their departure, some people followed their selfish instincts and thus moved away from religious morality and toward denial. They failed themselves by worshipping idols as God's partners. In the Qur'an, God reveals the Messengers' loyalty to Him, as well as their sincerity and devotion, and then speaks of those people who lost their faith, as follows:

Those are some of the Prophets God has blessed, from the descendants of Adam and from those We carried with Noah, from the descendants of Abraham and Isra'il, and from those We guided and chose. When the Signs of the All-Merciful were recited to them, they fell on their faces, weeping, in prostration. An evil generation succeeded them, who neglected the prayer and followed their appetites. They will plunge into the Valley of Evil. (Qur'an, 19:58-59)

God reprimanded these people, for they distanced themselves from religion and never thought about why they were created or what their responsibilities toward their Creator were. In return for this, He changed His blessing and gave them a hard life: "But if anyone turns away from My reminder, his life will be a dark and narrow one..." (Qur'an, 20:124)
Throughout history, people who are enduring economic or social problems and who are suffering under an unjust regime have felt the need for a savior who would correct the system's negative aspects; guarantee justice, peace, and security; and guide them onto the right path. Today's societies also are experiencing rapid decline, decadence, and degeneration. People who live in abject poverty, misery, and cruelty crave a life of morality and happiness. God sent saviors to people in the past, following their social breakdown, and then gave them lives filled with plenty, ease, and wealth. In the following verse, God reveals that He will give wealth and ease to people who fear and stand in awe of Him, and who respect the limits that He has established:

If only the people of the cities had believed and guarded against evil, We would have opened up to them blessings from Heaven and Earth. But they denied the truth, [and] so We seized them for what they earned. (Qur'an, 7:96)

Our Lord reminds us of an important reality in the above verse: Religious morality is the only way leading to peace, happiness, general welfare, and prosperity. This was so in the past, and will remain so in the future. Where there is no Islamic morality, there cannot be justice, security, and dependability. This is God's law, as stated in the following verse:

You will not find any changing in the pattern of God. You will not find any alteration in the pattern of God. (Qur'an, 35:43)

The period in which we are living is ruled by decadence. Material as well as spiritual decay is widespread, perversity (in the sense of irreligious behavior) is widespread, political and economic instability are the norm, and the gap between rich and poor is huge. Among the truths revealed by the Qur'an is that God shows a way out after such times, through which Islamic morality will prevail everywhere on Earth, and true religion will prevail over man-made beliefs. As the verses given below state:

They desire to extinguish God's Light with their mouths. But God refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the unbelievers detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth to exalt it over every other religion, even though the idolaters detest it. (Qur'an, 9:32-33)

God has helped every faithful nation, and will continue to help the believers, for He has promised this to His sincere and faithful servants. The verses say:

[They are] those who were expelled from their homes without any right, merely for saying: "Our Lord is God." If God had not driven some people back by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, places where God's name is mentioned much, would have been pulled down and destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him. God is All-Strong, Almighty. [And they are] those who, if We establish them firmly in the land, will perform prayer and give the alms, and command what is right and forbid what is wrong. The end result of all affairs is with God. (Qur'an, 22:40-41)

Prophet John (Yahya)

If only the people of the cities had believed and guarded against evil, We would have opened up to them blessings from Heaven and Earth. But they denied the truth, so We seized them for what they earned. ( Qur’an, 7 :96 )

According to the New Testament, John (known as John the Baptist in the Christian tradition) began preaching some time before Jesus appeared about the Messiah's imminent arrival. In fact, he became Jesus' greatest supporter.
John's birth was a miracle, as the Qur'an reveals:

Kaf Ha Ya 'Ayn Sad. Remember your Lord's mercy to His servant Zechariah, when he called on his Lord in secret and said: "My Lord, my bones have lost their strength and my head is crowned with white. But in calling on You, My Lord, I have never been disappointed. I fear [that] my relatives [will forget You] when I am gone, and my wife is barren, so give me an heir from You to be my inheritor and the inheritor of the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing to You." "Zechariah! We give you the good news of a boy named John, a name we have given to no one else before." He [Zechariah] said: "My Lord! How can I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached advanced old age?" He [the Lord] said: "It will be so! Your Lord says: 'That is easy for me to do. I created you before, when you were not anything.'" (Qur'an, 19:1-9)

Fain would they extinguish Allah's light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it). (Qur'an:9:32)

The narrative of John's birth in the Gospel of Luke is compatible with these verses. Zechariah was John's father, and he and his wife Elisabeth were, according to Luke, "upright in the sight of God, observing all of the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly" (Luke, 1:6). Both were old, and neither could have children. But God gave Zechariah the news of a son, as follows:
When Zechariah saw him [the angel], he was startled and gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God." (Luke 1:12-16)
John was a God-fearing and righteous servant, a guide to enlightenment for his people. God praises him in the Qur'an, as follows:

[We said:] "John, take hold of the Book with vigor." We gave him judgment while still a child, and tenderness and purity from Us. He guarded [himself] against evil, was devoted to his parents, and was not insolent or disobedient. Peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised up again alive. (Qur'an, 19:12-15)

John, whom the New Testament also calls a loyal servant of God and a God-fearing believer warned the Jews about their conceit, and invited them to abide by God's law and to abstain from sin. The Gospel of Luke relates a conversation between John and some Jews who came to hear him:

Jordan Valley

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves: 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered: "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him: "And what should we do?" He replied: "Don't extort money, don't accuse people falsely, and be content with your pay." (Luke 3:7-14)
According to the New Testament, John was telling the people who came to hear him that "the time has come" (Mark 1:15). The one foretold in the verse "after me will come one" was about to arrive (Mark 1:7).

JESUS' LIFE

According to the historical sources, Mary was born at a time when the chaos mentioned earlier in the book was happening, when Roman oppression was real, and the Jews were impatiently awaiting the Messiah's arrival. She was a descendent of `Imran, whose family had been made superior by God (Qur'an, 3:33). God chose her from among them, purified her, and placed her above all other women, for as the Qur'an reveals:

And when the angels said: "Mary, God has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women. Mary, obey your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow." (Qur'an, 3:42-43)

One of Giovanni Bellini's masterworks depicting Mary (1481) on display in the Frari church.

The family of `Imran was known to believe in God, to seek His good pleasure in whatever they do, and to always respect the limits that He has established. When Imran's wife learned of her pregnancy, she immediately turned to God in prayer and dedicated her unborn child to God. It is a sign of her true submission to God that she named her child Maryam (Mary in English), meaning "someone who is always worshipping God." This subject is revealed in the Qur'an:

Remember when the wife of 'Imran said: "My Lord, I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service]. Please accept my prayer. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." When she gave birth, she said: "My Lord! I have given birth to a girl"-and God knew very well what she had given birth to, male and female are not the same-"and I have named her Mary and placed her and her children in Your safekeeping from the accursed Satan." (Qur'an, 3:35-36)

God reveals that Mary's mother dedicated her to God, "consecrated for His service." The Arabic word used here, i.e., muharraran, means "one who is wholly preoccupied with the Hereafter, who has no business with the world, who worships God at all times, who is in the service of the House of God, who is sincere in his or her worship and, who has no worldly intentions in his or her worship." Imran's wife asked God to allow Mary to serve only Him, and for her to become totally devoted to His good pleasure rather than other people's.
When Mary was born, Imran's wife asked God to protect Mary and her descendents from the evil of Satan. God answered her sincere prayer and gave Mary a superior morality. The Qur'an reveals how carefully Mary was raised under God's protection:

Her Lord accepted her with approval and made her grow in health and beauty. And Zechariah became her guardian. (Qur'an, 3:37)

A view of the Sea of Galilee

O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His apostles. Say not "Trinity" : desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah. Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. (Qur'an, 4:171)

God states that Zechariah was a righteous servant who was favored over all beings, and one guided to a straight path as a Prophet. God praises him in the Qur'an and points out his impeccable character (Qur'an, 6:85-87). Zechariah, who took on the responsibility of caring for Mary and thus witnessed many of her miracles, realized that she was God's chosen one.
For instance, whenever Zechariah entered the presence of Mary, who always worshipped by herself, he found food with her. The Qur'an says:

Every time Zechariah visited her in the praying chamber, he found food with her. He said: "Mary, how did you come by this?" She said: "It is from God. God provides for whoever He wills without any reckoning." (Qur'an, 3:37)

Mary became well known in her community as a member of her family who was dedicated wholeheartedly to God. The Qur'an speaks of her chastity in particular, as follows:

And Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity-We breathed Our Spirit into her, and she confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book and was one of the obedient. (Qur'an, 66:12)

Mary's Encounter with Gabriel

Mary's life was full of miracles, one of which was her encounter with Gabriel. At a particular stage in her life, Mary left her community and family and secluded herself somewhere in the east. There, the Qur'an mentions that Gabriel appeared to her in the form of a man:

Mention Mary in the Book, how she withdrew from her people to an eastern place and veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her, and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She [Mary] said: "I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil." (Qur'an, 19:16-18)

Van de Velde's (1851-52) Nazareth water painting, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. And We sent Jesus son of Mary following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. (Qur’an, 5: 46)

At first, she did not know that the unknown person was Gabriel. Thus, she immediately sought refuge with God when he approached and said that she was a God-fearing believer. Her words make it clear that she was a God-fearing and chaste servant. Gabriel introduced himself by stating that he was sent by God to give her the following good news:

He said [to Mary]: "I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy." (Qur'an, 19:19)

When the angels said: "Mary, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, one of those brought near." (Qur'an, 3:45)

Mary received this important news and asked Gabriel how she could have a child while she was still a virgin:

She said: "How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?" He said: "It will be so, for your Lord says: 'That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us.' It is a matter already decreed." So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. (Qur'an, 19:20-22)

She said: "My Lord, how can I have a son when no man has yet touched me?" He said: "It will be so." God creates whatever He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it "Be!" and it is. (Qur'an, 3:47)

Gabriel replied that God has the power to do anything and that He needs only to say "Be!" and it is. This is how Mary conceived Jesus-by the will of God and without ever being touched by a man. Her pregnancy was created independent of the worldly order in a miraculous way. As our Lord reveals, after receiving this good news, Mary withdrew to somewhere quiet. God supported her during that time in every way and provided all that a pregnant woman could wish for psychologically as well as materially. He made her withdraw from her people, who would not have been able to comprehend her situation, and thereby prevented the physical or spiritual damage that they could have caused her.

JESUS' BIRTH

In the Qur'an, God draws the attention to the fact that Jesus was unique in every respect. First of all, he was born without a father. Through His angels, God revealed to Mary before Jesus' birth that her son would be the Messiah and have many other God-given qualities as well. In fact, Jesus had the honor of being called "God's Word":

( A voice called out to Mary:) “Shake the trunk of the palm toward you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes…” (Qur’an, 19:25-26)

The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God and His Word, which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him. (Qur'an, 4:171)

When the angels said: "Mary, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near." (Qur'an, 3:45)

In the Qur'an, the expression "God's Word" is only used for Jesus. God revealed his name before his birth and named him "Messiah Jesus," as a Word from Him. This is another sign that Jesus' creation differs from that of all other people.
God sustained Mary in the best way during her pregnancy and Jesus' birth, and also guided her. He made the environmental conditions favorable for her, for since she had removed herself from her family and community, she was all alone. With the help of God, Mary managed this difficult situation by herself and gave birth to her son without any complications. God reveals His grace for Mary in the following verses:

And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples. (Qur'an, 21:91)

The pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She exclaimed: "Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!" A voice called out to her from under her: "Do not grieve. Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm toward you, and fresh, ripe dates will drop down to you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes. If you should see anyone at all, just say: 'I have made a vow of abstinence to the All-Merciful, and today I will not speak to any human being.'" (Qur'an, 19:23-26)

As the verses tell, God helped Mary with revelation and told her not to lose heart. He revealed to her everything that she needed to know, and ensured that she would have an easy birth. God's grace and protection for her are shown in this event.
When Mary returned to her people together with Jesus, her people slandered her with ugly accusations based on speculation, even though they knew her and her dedication, as well as that of her family, to God, and her chastity. The circumstances of Jesus' birth are, in reality, a miracle that God granted to Mary's people and proof of His existence. However, her people failed to understand this, and so made unfounded allegations against her and tried to make their slander stick:

A Peter Paul Rubens oil painting (1624) depicting people paying their respects to Mary following the birth of Jesus. Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium.

She brought him to her people, carrying him. They exclaimed: "Mary! You have done an unthinkable thing! Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man nor was your mother an unchaste woman!" (Qur'an, 19:27-28)

In reality, Mary was being tried with these ugly allegations. For such a devout and chaste person to be slandered in this way is a test from God. When confronted this situation, she turned to God and placed her trust in Him, knowing that He would help her against her people's accusations. She sought only His help and support and received His favor and mercy.
God helped His chosen servant in her time of trouble with another miracle: He revealed to her that she should not speak when her people wanted her to, but to point to Jesus when they accuse her. The Qur'an reveals this order in the following way:

"If you should see anyone at all, just say: 'I have made a vow of abstinence to the All-Merciful, and today I will not speak to any human being'." (Qur'an, 19:26)

When God gave her the good news of Jesus' birth, He also revealed that Jesus would speak as a baby in the cradle. This miracle became a big help for Mary from the Lord:

Lorenzo Lotto's (1505-06) painting depicting Mary and the Disciples. This work is on display at the Church of Santa Cristina near Treviso, Italy.

"He will speak to people in the cradle, and also when fully grown, and will be one of the righteous." (Qur'an, 3:46)

In a miraculous way, God made Jesus give the explanation that was expected of Mary. By this miracle, He restored her good reputation and informed the Children of Israel of Jesus' appointment as His Messenger to them:

She pointed toward him. They asked: "How can a baby in the cradle speak?" He [Jesus] said: "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, [has] directed me to perform prayer and give alms as long as I live, and to show devotion to my mother. He has not made me insolent or arrogant. Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised up again alive." (Qur'an, 19:29-33)

Jesus declares that he is God's servant, that he has been given revelation, that he is a Prophet expected to call to faith when he reaches adulthood, that he must perform the prescribed prayers (salat) and give alms (zakat), that he must respect his mother's word, and that he will die and be resurrected on the Day of Judgment.
This situation proved to the Children of Israel that they had encountered an extraordinary event: the birth of the Messiah for whom they had been waiting. God reveals:

… and she [Mary], who protected her chastity. We breathed into her some of Our Spirit and made her and her son a Sign for all the worlds. (Qur'an, 21:91)

The verses also reveal that those people who continue to slander Mary will be punished (Qur'an, 4:156-57).

Jesus' Life

Alessandro Boticelli's painting (1470-74) depicting respects being paid to Jesus and Mary. The painting is on display in London's National Gallery.

According to the historical records of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Jesus lived approximately 2,000 years ago. He was a chosen messenger of God and is held in honor both in the world and the Hereafter. The Gospel of Mathew states that he was born either during the reign of Herod l or in a period of the regime change (4 BCE). According to the Gospel of Luke, he was born during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) when a census was being conducted in Judea (6 CE). Such information cannot be verified. However, experts analyzing various sources believe that Jesus was born around 7-6 BCE.
The true religion brought by Jesus, God's chosen Messenger who was rewarded with Paradise and special gifts, exists today. However, it does so in name only, for it has been corrupted. Likewise, the revelation given to Jesus by God exists only in name and certainly not in its original, for the Christian scriptures have been tampered with and altered. As we cannot acquire any true knowledge about Jesus from this source, we turn to the only source that can provide true information: the Qur'an, which God promised to protect until the Last Day. The Qur'an reveals much about Jesus' birth, life, examples of his encounters with other people, the situation of those living around him, and many other subjects. It also provides many examples of his efforts to invite the Jewish people to faith. The Qur'an relates the following words of Jesus:

"I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So heed God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him. That is a straight path." (Qur'an, 3:50-51)

Only a few Jews answered his call and became his followers. The Qur'an reveals the existence of these devout believers as follows:

When Jesus sensed unbelief on their part, he asked: "Who will be my helpers for [the cause of] God?" The disciples said: "We are God's helpers. We believe in God. Bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and have followed the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses." (Qur'an, 3:52-53)

According to the New Testament, Jesus traveled to all corners of Palestine with his 12 disciples to call people to faith. On this journey, God allowed him to perform many miracles. He healed the sick and disabled, cured people suffering from leprosy, brought sight to those who had been blind from birth, and raised the dead. The Qur'an reveals these miracles in the verses below:

"I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it, and it will be a bird by God's permission. I will heal the blind and the leper and bring the dead to life, by God's permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a Sign for you in that if you believe." (Qur'an, 3:49)

Remember when God said: "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay by My permission, and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission; and healed the blind and the leper by My permission; when you brought forth the dead by My permission; and when I held back the Children of Israel from you, when you brought them the Clear Signs and those who did not believe said: 'This is nothing but downright magic.'" (Qur'an, 5:110)

Jesus performed great miracles, and many people were impressed by them. However, he always stated that these miracles happened only by the will of God and, according to the Bible, he always told the people he healed: "Your faith has saved you." In response, the people praised the Lord when they saw his miracles:

Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at his feet. And he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:29-31)

Despite the increasing obstacles and, in particular among the people who suffered from oppression and cruelty, the number of believers began to rise. At the time, Jesus and his disciples had wandered through all of the towns and cities in the land. Meanwhile, the priests and teachers of the law (scribes) began to scheme and plot against Jesus, who had been telling them of the wrongs inherent in the traditions that they had promoted for years, reminding them of the deviations in the order they had established and calling them to believe only in God and to live only for Him. (Luke 22:1-2, John 11:47-53)
Like all other Prophets, Jesus called his people to believe in God, to submit wholeheartedly to Him, to live for His good pleasure, to refrain from sin and evil, and to do good. He reminded them of life's impermanence and of death's proximity, and told them that they would have to answer for all of their deeds in the Hereafter. He called them to worship God alone and to fear and mind only Him. The Bible also contains much advice and educational material (mashal) in this respect. According to the New Testament, Jesus advised those who had "little faith" (Matthew 8:26), brought them the good news that "the kingdom of God is near" (Mark 1:15) and asked them to seek God's forgiveness. This dominion is the rule which the Jews expected to be established when the Messiah arrived, a rule that would bring them renewed faith and deliverance.
Jesus remained true to the Mosaic law (the commandments of the Torah) and reprimanded the Jews for straying from them or their hypocritical practice. According to the New Testament, he told them: "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me" (John 5:46). Jesus called people to return to the Torah. The Gospel of Matthew records his order to abide by the Mosaic law ("the holy law"):
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17)
Ayone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:19)
The Qur'an says the following about Jesus:

[Jesus said,] "I come confirming the Torah I find already there, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So heed God and obey me." (Qur'an, 3:50)

Jesus' Struggle

As we saw earlier, during Jesus' lifetime there were a number of Jewish sects, each of which interpreted religion in its own way. The Jews had strayed from the true religion brought by Moses, and therefore false beliefs and superstitious traditions had taken root. Furthermore, the pagan Hellenistic culture was being promoted and encouraged, and some Jewish sects had forsaken their monotheistic faith for the symbols and statues of this false belief.

Giotto di Bondone's fresco, "Christ Disputing with the Elders" (1302-1305) in the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy. This famous painting depicts the respect of the elders for Jesus.

Jesus was sent to his people as aguide, and so had to fight many groups to realize the ultimate goal of bringing his people back to God. We can deduce from the Qur'an that he was providing guidance to people who were engaged in disputes over religion. From the New Testament, we gather that he primarily called upon false priests, those who denied God by ascribing partners to Him and who misled people by religious pretence, to abandon their wrongdoing and believe wholeheartedly in God. The Pharisees and the Sadducees, who are often mentioned in the New Testament, are therefore of relevance in this respect. These two opposing sects agreed on one thing only: Their strong discontent with the revelation with which God had entrusted to Jesus for his people. According to Jesus' true religion, the Sadducees had gone astray because of their materialistic worldview, and the Pharisees were on the wrong path because they had lost their faith by getting bogged down in myths and pretence. These groups turned against Jesus as soon as they realized where they stood with him. God says in the Qur'an:

And when Jesus came with the Clear Signs, he said: "I have come to you with Wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differed. Therefore, heed God and obey me."(Qur'an, 43:63)

As both the Pharisees and the Sadducees had a vested interest in the existing system, and so would not obey Jesus. They had great authority over the Jewish people and, as priests, enjoyed great respect among them. The false religion that they had created had become an institution that was making them rich. They had entered into a close working relationship with the Roman governor, and the Sadducees in particular sought to reduce the tensions between Rome and the people of Judea, and thus were granted many privileges in return. Bearing these circumstances in mind, it becomes quite understandable why Jesus' teachings caused these priests such discomfort: Jesus, like all other Prophets, targeted the wrongness of the established order, which considered all kinds of evil legitimate. He wanted people to abandon injustice, unfairness, immorality, and idolatrous religious beliefs and to replace them with a life dedicated to serving God. He advised people to fear and love God in equal measures, to submit to Him, to distance themselves from superstitious rules and dogmatic practices, to worship God alone, and to turn only to Him for success in their undertakings. The miracles he performed by God's will showed clearly that he was a valued Prophet chosen above all people by God, Who supported him with power and superior knowledge. His depth of faith, high morality, superior awareness, and explanations full of insight were greatly admired by the people.
According to the New Testament, Jesus was teaching and rekindling people's faith at the same time by saying that deliverance was nigh for the people and that God's rule was imminent. Meanwhile, the news of his descent from David spread among the people, and the belief that he was the Messiah began to spread like wildfire (Matthew 9:27-35). All of this was disturbing news for those who had adopted the pagan culture introduced by Rome and the priests, who had a vested interest in the established order.
The New Testament says that these circles never missed an opportunity to hinder Jesus' message, but that they were disappointed each time. The priests became increasingly irritated by his subtle answers, which invalidated their claims, and also by his insightful teachings. His statements about them were their biggest concern, and this became one of the decisive factors that led them to scheme against him. According the Gospel of Luke, Jesus exposed their frauds to the public:
"Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." (Luke 20:46-47)
Some Jewish priests in the past had altered Torah's commandments and added new ones to serve their own interest. Jesus invalidated these false commandments in his quest to eradicate the erroneous traditions, myths, and man-made rules and laws that had, in effect, caused Moses' commandments to be ignored. According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus specifically mentioned this to the Pharisees:
He replied [to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law]: "…You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. … Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." (Mark 7:6-13)
The Pharisees believed that they had to pledge one-tenth of their income to God and abided by this rule. But it had become a tradition, whereas before it had been an act of worship. The Gospel of Luke records Jesus' reprimand:
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it." (Luke 11:42-44)
"... And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." (Luke 11:46)
"Woe to you experts in law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." (Luke 11:52)
Such public warnings and the priests' public humiliation because of their immorality increased their hostility toward Jesus. According to Luke, the Pharisees and the religious scholars began to oppose him fiercely after Jesus said the words recorded above (Luke 11:53-54).
As the Qur'an also makes clear, Jesus called the Children of Israel to return to the Mosaic law and to believe in God wholeheartedly. The Gospel of Matthew and the Qur'an contain some strikingly similar words about the unbelievers, "They have hearts with which they do not understand. They have eyes with which they do not see. They have ears with which they do not hear" (Qur'an, 7:179). In the Gospel of Matthew, we read the following words that Jesus said about the Jews:
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused;they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." (Matthew 13:14-15)

The Bible mentions many towns and regions, from the Mediterranean to western Europe, as illustrated on this map.

Prophets fulfilled their God-given duty in the best possible way and used all of their resources and energy to invite their people to the path of guidance. Jesus displayed extraordinary patience in the face of all the conspiracies and attacks directed against him. He merely trusted in God and continued communicating His message and, even though he had only a few supporters, he defeated his opponents every time. He tried many things in order to return religion to its original purity, to rid it of all the myths and false practices that had entered it over time. Thanks to his God-given insight and superior understanding, he was a very effective public speaker and was able to give guiding examples.
Jesus called his people to worship God alone; brought the good news of the rule of religious morality; fought against false beliefs, myths, and idolatry; and explained that this worldly life is a test. He made every conceivable effort to correct his people's flawed sense of morality and was himself a role model of high character. However, these activities only made his enemies fiercer and led them to plot his death.

Jesus' Superior Character

The hadith literature reveals many important truths about Jesus. Some hadiths inform us that he was of medium height, had white skin with a hue of red, straight hair, and was very handsome. He had shoulder-length hair and wore a woolen cloak and sandals made of bark. He often removed himself from this world, had a strong desire for the Hereafter, and spent much time worshipping God.6 Other hadiths describe this astonishingly handsome and holy man as follows:

We purified their sincerity through sincere remembrance of the Abode In Our eyes they are among the best of chosen men. (Qur’an, 38:46-47)

While I was asleep, I saw myself (in a dream) making tawaf (circling) around the Ka`bah. I saw a brown-skinned man with straight hair being supported by two men, and with water dripping from his head. I asked: "Who is this?" They said: "The son of Mary." (Sahih Bukhari)
When you see him, you will recognize him. He is of medium height, and his coloring is reddish-white. He will be wearing two garments, and his hair will look wet although no water will have wet it. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad)
Like every chosen and sent Prophet, Jesus had the highest form of character. One of his most distinguishing features was his high standard of morals and noble personality, which had an immediate effect on people. In addition, he had a strong personality due to his complete trust, reliance, and faith in God; was decisive and courageous; and could not be manipulated by society. The following verses reveal his superiority:

This is the argument We gave to Abraham against his people. We raise in rank anyone We will. Your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. We gave him Isaac and Jacob, each of whom We guided. And before him We had guided Noah. And among his descendants were David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. That is how We recompense the good-doers. And Zechariah, John, Jesus, and Elias. All of them were among the righteous. And Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot. All of them We favored over all beings. And some of their forebears, descendants, and brothers; We chose them and guided them to a straight path. That is God's guidance. He guides by it those of His servants He wills ... (Qur'an, 6:83-88)

Jesus was also a just, modest, compassionate, sincere, honest, selfless person and a chosen Prophet. In one verse, God says the following about him:

These Messengers: We favored some of them over others. God spoke directly to some of them and raised up some of them in rank. We gave Clear Signs to Jesus, son of Mary, and reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. (Qur'an, 2:253)

When we look at Jesus' life, we can see his high morality. First of all, he was a discerning leader who taught the true religion to his people. He was the most obedient to God's commandments and recommendations, and was a guide who rid people of myths. The Qur'an reveals that Jesus was diligently fulfilling all of the requirements of worship and morality:

He [Jesus] said: "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am, directed me to perform prayer and give alms as long as I live, and to show devotion to my mother." (Qur'an, 19:30-32)

Throughout his life, Jesus spoke wisely and effectively and knew right from wrong. He replied with insight and reason to all of his enemies' questions posed to catch him and defeated all of their attempts. He remained true to God, irrespective of his people's attitude toward him, drew strength from his strong faith and devotion, and explained God's existence in the most effective way.
Like all other Prophets, Jesus used plain, clear, and intelligible language when preaching. His allegories moved people's conscience, and encouraged them to reflect deeply and to behave according to God's good pleasure. Jesus' love for God, as well as his exuberant faith and diligence in following God's orders, is evident from his teachings. His method of preaching shows clearly that God chose him above all other people.

Jesus' Ministry

Jesus' life was full of miracles from the moment of his birth until the day he was raised to God's presence. The Qur'an reveals some of the miracles, all of which he performed by the will of God:

Remember when God said: "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel." (Qur'an, 5:110)

As a Messenger to the Children of Israel, saying: "I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it, and it will be a bird by God's permission. I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life, by God's permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a Sign for you in that if you are believers." (Qur'an, 3:49)

And when Jesus came with the Clear Signs, he said: “I have come to you with Wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differend. Therefore, fear God and obey me”. (Qur’an, 43:63)

The Qur'an reveals several of the miracles associated with Jesus: He was conceived without a father, spoke in the cradle, had full knowledge of God's holy books (the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur'an), made a likeness of a bird out of mud and enabled it to fly away by breathing into it, healed the blind from birth and the leper, raised the dead, knew what people ate and what they saved, and foretold our Prophet by the name "Ahmad."
Despite these miracles and his efforts to teach God's revelation, most of his people continued to deny him. Like the other nations mentioned in the Qur'an, these unbelievers simply said that he was only doing magic tricks because he was no more than a magician:

And when Jesus son of Mary said: "O Children of Israel, I am the Messenger of God to you, confirming the Torah that came before me and giving you the good news of a Messenger after me, whose name is Ahmad." When he brought them the Clear Signs, they said: "This is downright magic." (Qur'an, 61:6)

The Qur'an reveals that Jesus did not come to wipe out Judaism, but to affirm and purify religion of the myths that had crept in over the centuries and to return it to its original purity. God also sent him to resolve the issues disputed over by the various Jewish sects, which we examined earlier in the book. The Qur'an says:

[Jesus said:] "I come confirming the Torah I find already here, and to make lawful for you some of what was previously forbidden to you. I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. So have fear [and awe] of God and obey me." (Qur'an, 3:50)

And when Jesus came with the Clear Signs, he said: "I have come to you with Wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differed. Therefore, heed God and obey me." (Qur'an, 43:63)

Jesus confirmed the matters of faith mentioned in the Torah and also brought the Gospel, God's last revelation to humanity, to guide and advise his people.

And We sent Jesus son of Mary following in their [the Prophets'] footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. The people of the Gospel should judge by what God sent down in it. Those who do not judge by what God has sent down, such people are deviators. (Qur'an, 5:46-47)

Very few people answered Jesus' call at the beginning, for his call sought to abolish the privileges of the priestly class, which profited from the myths and traditions that had been established many years ago, and also those members of the ruling class who did not recognize God's sovereignty. The pressure they applied, when combined with their threats, scared the common people and prevented them from approaching Jesus. When Jesus' teachings began to spread and the number of his followers increased, the number of his opponents increased accordingly. More cowardly traps were prepared and more plans were made to discredit and defeat him. Such plots were nothing new, for all Prophets encountered such hostility. The Qur'an reveals the unbelievers' maliciousness toward the Messengers in the following terms:

Why then, whenever a Messenger came to you with something your lower selves did not desire, did you grow arrogant and deny some of them and murder others? (Qur'an, 2:87)

Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah.- but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, except those (doomed) to ruin! (Qur'an, 7:99)

Society began to be divided by those who believed in Jesus and those who denied him, and the difference between the two groups became more and more apparent. On the one side was God's Messenger, who was teaching the true religion and calling people to believe in the one and only God, and on the other side was a group of people who had decided not to believe in him regardless of his miracles or proofs, even if they saw them with their own eyes. His enemies revealed themselves clearly. Probably there were people who were with him and heard him, but who later denied him. God reveals such a situation in the following verse: "The various factions among them differed..." (Qur'an, 43:65)
For this reason, Jesus chose his disciples from those believers whom he could really trust. The Qur'an reveals:

When Jesus sensed unbelief on their part, he asked: "Who will be my helpers for [the cause of] God?" The disciples said: "We are God's helpers. We believe in God. Bear witness that we are Muslims." (Qur'an, 3:52)

The Qur'an reveals that the unbelievers devised a plot to take Jesus' life. According to some sources, a group of bigoted priests bribed Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, to betray him, after which they would arrest Jesus and hand him over to the Romans. According to the same sources, the priests did not have the power to sentence someone to death and so had to make another plan to agitate the Roman regime. Thus, they portrayed Jesus as being hostile to the Roman leadership, for the Romans were highly sensitive and ruthless when confronted with dissidents. But these priests failed, for the Qur'an relates:

They [unbelievers] planned and God planned. But God is the best of planners. (Qur'an, 3:54)

And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah. (Qur'an, 3:54)

As the verses reveal, they plotted and moved to kill Jesus. However, their plot failed and they ended up killing a look-alike. During this event, God raised Jesus up to His presence:

And [on account of] their saying: "We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Messenger of God." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him, but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. (Qur'an, 4:157)

Many people believe in the widespread hypothesis that the Romans crucified Jesus. The Roman soldiers and Jewish priests who arrested Jesus are said to have killed him on the cross. The majority of Christians believes this, as well as that he was resurrected three days later and, after several brief meetings with his disciples and others, ascended into the heavens.
The Qur'an, however, says otherwise. The reality revealed in the verses is clear. The Romans, abetted by Jewish agitation, attempted to kill Jesus but did not succeed. The expression "but it was made to seem so to them" reveals this fact. God showed them a look-alike and raised Jesus up to His presence. Our Lord also reveals that those who made that claim had no knowledge of the truth.
In the early years of Christianity, several views on Jesus' fate emerged. In the subsequent centuries and until the articles of faith were fully formulated at the Council of Nicea (325), these ideological differences continued to persist, and movements that claimed that Jesus had not been crucified were accused of heresy and its members were persecuted.