Proof #3: Jesus fate no different to earlier prophets

The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a Messenger; surely, Messengers like unto him had indeed passed away before him. And his mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food. (5:76) more translations

This verse makes the following claims:

• Jesus was a messenger, and previous messengers have passed away.
• Jesus and his mother ate food.

In this verse from the chapter Al-Maidah, both statements independently assert Jesus’ death.

Argument 1

The first part of this verse uses a classic syllogistic construct, a form of reasoning where a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions, with a common term providing the bridge. For example: propositions "All humans are mortal," and "All Greeks are humans" together imply All Greeks are mortal. 

Here, the common term is messenger, linking the two propositions Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger and messengers before him have passed away. The implied conclusion is that Jesus, like all messengers before him, has passed away. 

Indeed, while syllogism can lead to invalid conclusions if misused, it's unlikely that such a strong reasoning device would be used in a misleading way in this context. The logical conclusion drawn from the verse is that Jesus, like all prophets before him, has passed away.

Argument 2

The same verse asserts that Jesus and his mother used to eat food. If both Jesus and his mother, mentioned together, stopped eating, and we know his mother's cessation was due to death, it's reasonable to infer Jesus also stopped eating for the same reason: his own death.

There is not much wiggle room interpreting this verse differently, yet it could be argued that it's possible for Jesus to have stopped eating but still be alive by some special decree of God. However, this escape route is also blocked by the Quran. The following puts to rest the notion that Jesus, despite being hungry, is somehow surviving in the fourth heaven:

And we did not give them (Messengers) bodies that ate no food, nor were they to live for ever. (21:9)

Let's assume Jesus is still alive and will one day descend from the heavens. Imagine his return day. Having not eaten for over two thousand years, he'd naturally look forward to food and might ask his hosts, the Ulema, for something to break his extraordinarily long fast. He'd be surprised when, instead of a feast in his honor, the Ulema present him with verse 76 from Al-Maidah. They'd tell Jesus that according to the Holy Quran, he used to eat food, and since there's no mention of his future eating, they feel obliged to deny him much-deserved hospitality. Al-Maidah:76 prevents Jesus from eating anything. The moment Jesus consumes even a morsel, Al-Maidah:76 would be factually incorrect. No amount of Jesus' protestations would prevail. On one hand, the Ummah would risk losing the Quran's integrity, and on the other, a starving man in need of food! Of course, the Ummah can't lose the Quran, so Jesus would have to save the world on an empty stomach!

With a bit of reflection, it becomes abundantly clear that belief in a living Jesus is, in fact, a grave insult to our Holy Master, Muhammad^saw. If there was someone who deserved to live and return, it would have to be the Master Prophet himself. It is troubling for one who truly loves Muhammad to accept that someone who received no spiritual training from him could bring about the spiritual revival of his people in the latter days. Remember, Jesus, having preceded Muhammad in time, is not his spiritual pupil. As far as Jesus is concerned, he owes nothing to Muhammad. Yet, the same cannot be said of Muhammad if the scenario of Jesus's return is true. He would find himself monumentally obliged to the returning Israeli prophet as the Ummah is rescued at the time of its greatest need. Does this mean Muhammad was simply not up to the task of producing a savior from among his own people and was left with no choice but to requisition one from the distant past? If so, it's a stunning admission of Islam's inability to produce quality followers. When Jews needed a messiah, they were not told to get one from the cold storage of earlier peoples; their savior was from among their own, showing there was still life in Moses's spiritual lineage. However, in the time of their greatest peril, Muslims are supposed to go begging to the Jews and borrow their messiah—a cringe-inducing scenario for any self-respecting Muslim with troubling implications on the honor of the Holy Prophet. Where does that leave the Quranic claim of Muslims being the best of all peoples and their prophet the highest in rank? Instead, the Christian claim that Jesus is the "Alpha and the Omega—the first and the last" would be proven. It would be Jesus alone who would save the world, and the fact that there was Muhammad somewhere between Jesus' first and second appearance would only be a footnote in religious history. Jesus would indisputably emerge as the Savior and the Christian boast would stand vindicated. There is no escaping this conclusion for those Muslims who await the literal return of Jesus as part of their belief system. But thankfully and mercifully, this notion is nipped in the bud by the Holy Quran with its straightforward declaration that Jesus has died. May his soul rest in peace!

“Your Imam from amongst you”

The Holy Prophet^saw stated that the forthcoming Issa (Jesus) would originate from within the Ummah. He used the phrase imamokum minkum, meaning "your imam from among you." This Hadith, sourced from Bukhari and Muslim, is highly reliable.

Abu Huraira narrates that the Holy Prophet^saw said that (O Muslims!) how would you feel when son of Mary will descend amongst you and he will be your imam from amongst you.

This narration negates the possibility that the 'son of Mary' to return is the original Jesus. The one to lead Muslims will be from among them, the followers of Muhammad, whereas Jesus was a Bani-Israeli from Moses' people. The Quran limits his charter to a specific group, the Children of Israel (see 3:50, 61:7). A prophet sent to the Children of Israel would be foreign to Muslims. Muslims, as followers of the Universal Prophet Muhammad, come from all global races, not just the Children of Israel. Jesus simply lacks the qualifications to address Muslims or a worldwide audience. If he were to return in person, Muslims, based on the Quran's authority, would be justified in declining to follow him.

Also, the term "nazala," which means 'to descend,' needs clarification. It is a principal stumbling block for those who approach this issue with preconceived notions, expecting Jesus to float down from the skies—like a skydiver with his parachute deployed, perhaps—but without a parachute. In Arabic, the term "nazala" is also used to signify high importance, usefulness, or glory. The Quran uses this term in relation to clothing, iron, and cattle (see 7:27, 57:26, and 39:7), each described as having descended and each having undoubtedly played a critical role in the progress of human civilization. The same word is used in relation to Muhammad himself (see 65:11-12)! Of course, no one understands it to mean that Muhammad descended from the heavens. Therefore, the descending of the messiah signifies his high status and the critical role he would play in the revival of Islam. His coming would be a source of great blessing for Muslims; he would be born within the Ummah and metaphorically given the name Jesus, son of Mary, to indicate his remarkable similarity with that prophet, even though he would be an entirely different person.

The question arises: why has he been called Jesus and not by some other name? To understand this, one needs to be attuned to the language of scriptures and prophets, which is always rich in metaphors and analogies, especially when it comes to prophecies. Given that Holy Muhammad was a prophet mirroring Moses in many ways, the anticipated messiah among Muhammad's followers is named after the messiah who appeared to Moses' people, further underscoring this parallel. This elegantly completes the analogy between Muhammad and Moses. Moreover, the name 'Jesus' carries a wealth of clues aiding in his identification upon arrival. The timing, circumstances, the condition of Muslims at that time, and numerous other indicators are all subtly encapsulated within this name.

To conclude, the Messiah, the savior of Muhammad's followers, would emerge from their midst. His spiritual prowess would be a direct result of the Holy Prophet's influence, and all his triumphs would essentially be victories of Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Next Proof>