The story of Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him: A miraculous birth, a message of mercy, and his ascension to heaven
The story of Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, is a divine miracle in every detail, from his unique birth to his ascension to heaven. It is a story that inspires hearts, shows the greatness of God’s power and mercy, and provides a living example of a prophet who sent a message of love and tolerance, emphasizing the pure monotheism of God alone.
The birth of a miracle: The Virgin Mary and Divine Purity
The story of Jesus begins with his mother, Mary, a pure and righteous woman, whom God chose and purified over the women of the world. Mary, peace be upon her, had devoted herself to the service of Jerusalem and grew up in the care of the Prophet Zacharias, peace be upon him, and was exemplary in her worship and piety.
As Mary was worshipping in her sanctuary, God’s command came to her in an unprecedented miracle. God sent the angel Gabriel, peace be upon him, in the form of a normal human being, to announce to her that she would have a son who would be a prophet. Mary was astonished and said, “How can I have a child when no man has touched me and I have not been a prostitute?” (Maryam: 20).
Evidence: The Qur’an depicts Gabriel’s dialog with Maryam and the power of God in Surah Maryam:
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا (19) قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا (18) قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ ۖ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِّنَّا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا (21)
(Maryam: 19-21).
God’s will was above all causes, and Gabriel blew into the pocket of her armor (or in it) by God’s command, and Mary became pregnant with Jesus by a divine miracle, to be a sign to the world and proof of the greatness of the Creator.
Birth and Exodus to the People: The Wisdom of Divine Defense
When Mary became pregnant with Jesus, she retreated to a remote place. When she went into labor, she took refuge in the trunk of a palm tree and was in great distress, wishing she had died earlier. But God revealed calmness to her, and told her to eat from the moisture and drink from the spring that he had blown up underneath her.
Evidence: The Almighty said in Surat Maryam:
فَنَادَاهَا مِن تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا (24) وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا (25) فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَن أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّا (26)
(Maryam: 24-26).
Mary returned with her people carrying her newborn baby. When they saw her, they disapproved of her pregnancy and made a great accusation against her. She was in an unenviable position, but by God’s command, she did not speak, but pointed to her baby Jesus.
Evidence: The Qur’an mentions this miraculous situation:
فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ ۖ قَالُوا يَا مَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا (27) يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا (28) فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِي الْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا (29) قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا (30)
(Maryam: 27-30).
Here was the great miracle: Jesus spoke as an infant in the cradle, defending his mother’s innocence, proclaiming his prophethood and servitude to God, silencing the tongues of his accusers, and being a shining proof of God’s power.
The message of prophecy: Miracles and the call to monotheism
Jesus, peace be upon him, grew up and was sent by God as a prophet to the Israelites. God supported him with many great miracles, many of which were not performed by any other prophet in their quality, to prove to them the truthfulness of his prophethood:
- Reviving the dead with God’s permission: He would blow on the dead and they would live.
- He cured the blind and the leper: He used to heal those who were born blind (al-Akmah) and those with the incurable disease of leprosy.
- Creating birds from clay: He would make clay into the shape of a bird, then blow on it and it would become a bird with God’s permission.
- Telling the unseen: He used to tell people what they eat and what they keep in their homes.
Evidence: The Qur’an mentions these miracles in Surah Al Imran:1
وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ أَنِّي أَخْلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ وَأُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
(Al Imran: 49).
His message was to call the Israelites to the monotheism of God alone, to abandon polytheism, to believe in the guidance he brought, to believe in the Torah, and to herald a prophet who would come after him named Ahmad (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him).
Apostles and conspiracy: Faith and disappointment
A few of his people, known as the Apostles, believed in Jesus (peace be upon him), and they were his loyal supporters and followers. However, the majority of the Israelites denied him, were stubborn, envied his miracles, and even plotted to kill him.
When Jesus sensed their disbelief and determination to harm him, God cast the suspicion on another man (said to be one of those who tattled on Jesus or one of his enemies), so they killed him and crucified him, thinking he was Jesus.
Jesus’ ascension to heaven: The end of a miracle and the beginning of a wait
But Allah, the Almighty, spared Jesus from the plot to kill and crucify him, and did not let him be killed. He lifted him up to Him with his body and soul.
Evidence: The Qur’an mentions the fact of his elevation in Surah An-Nisa: 2
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا (157) بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا (158)
(Women: 157-158).
He will return at the end of time to rule by the law of Islam, kill the Antichrist, break the cross, and reveal the truth.
Conclusion: Lessons in Destiny, Mercy, and Monotheism
The story of Jesus is unique in its grandeur and miracles, and teaches us profound lessons in..:
- Divine omnipotence: His birth without a father, His speaking in the cradle, and His miracles of raising the dead and healing the sick are all clear evidence that God’s power is limitless.
- A message of mercy and tolerance: Isa’s message was based on love, mercy and tolerance, calling for pure monotheism.
- God’s support for His servants: How God protects His prophets from the malice of enemies and saves them from plots and intrigues.
- Excellence in morality: Mary was a model of purity and chastity, and Jesus was a prophet who was blessed in every way.
- The truth of servitude to God: Jesus himself declared in the cradle that he was a “servant of God,” emphasizing that prophets are servants of God, not gods.
The story of Jesus, peace be upon him, is a constant testimony to the greatness of the Creator, his mercy for his servants, that the path of guidance is clear for those who wish to follow it, and that pure monotheism is the basis of all good and righteousness.
What is the most important lesson that the story of Jesus left you with after reading it in such detail?
