Return of Jesus (follow up)
Question:
Earlier you stated that the Quran does not specify the return of Jesus (Isa pbuh).
While I understand this to be true, earlier revelations (the New Testament) do imply that he will return to administer the justice in upholding the Law (Matthew 5: 17-20).
Now I understand from studying the New Testament that it has been infiltrated by human content in places. But there is nothing that "directly" sates to us in the Quran against what is in the NT about this event. Allah as well tells us that these earlier revelations are to be adhered to as well but to be careful in content where He gave no authority.
It seems to me, from studying this difficult concept, that Jesus (Isa pbuh) will return to finish what He started in correction of the Jews and their wayward practice of the Law that was handed down to all the prophets beforehand. His return is proof to the Jews that He was a prophet of Allah(some knew the truth), and that He will administer justice to the Jews for transgressions committed. His mission is incomplete until this time.
The question is: How do we decipher the true content of what is revealed earlier against the Quran, when the Quran is silent upon the matter and shows no conflict?
Thank you.
Answer:
First, the silence of the Qur’an about the return of Jesus (pbuh) is not a neutral silence. The story of Jesus (pbuh) is given in detail in the Qur’an and even news of the future of those who associate themselves with him and his opponents till the end of the world is given (3:55). Yet the huge news of his return is not given. This silence is more than skipping some details.
Second, in my answer I referred to verses of the Qur’an that in my understanding conflict with the idea that Jesus (pbuh) will return. These are 3:55 and 5:117.
Third, I do not see any explicit verses in the Bible that promise coming of Jesus (pbuh) near the end of the world. On the other hand there are verses that seem to say that he promised returning very soon after his disappearance:
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:18)
The verses of the Bible that you refer to are as follows:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly 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. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
I fail to see where in the above verses it says that Jesus (pbuh) will return near the end of the world. The statement “I have not come to abolish them (i.e. the law) but to fulfil them” does not necessarily imply that Jesus (pbuh) should return to fulfil the law. This is only an interpretation that is based on the assumption that Jesus (pbuh) will return.
At the end, I would like to directly answer your last question:
“How do we decipher the true content of what is revealed earlier against the Quran, when the Quran is silent upon the matter and shows no conflict?”
The Qur’an refers to itself as the guardian of the previous scriptures (5:48). This not only means that what is known as previous scriptures should not be in conflict with the Qur’an, but also means that the message of what is believed to be from previous scriptures should be inline with the Qur’an.
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Related Topics:
- Return of Masih ibn Maryam
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February 2014
Earlier you stated that the Quran does not specify the return of Jesus (Isa pbuh).
While I understand this to be true, earlier revelations (the New Testament) do imply that he will return to administer the justice in upholding the Law (Matthew 5: 17-20).
Now I understand from studying the New Testament that it has been infiltrated by human content in places. But there is nothing that "directly" sates to us in the Quran against what is in the NT about this event. Allah as well tells us that these earlier revelations are to be adhered to as well but to be careful in content where He gave no authority.
It seems to me, from studying this difficult concept, that Jesus (Isa pbuh) will return to finish what He started in correction of the Jews and their wayward practice of the Law that was handed down to all the prophets beforehand. His return is proof to the Jews that He was a prophet of Allah(some knew the truth), and that He will administer justice to the Jews for transgressions committed. His mission is incomplete until this time.
The question is: How do we decipher the true content of what is revealed earlier against the Quran, when the Quran is silent upon the matter and shows no conflict?
Thank you.
Answer:
First, the silence of the Qur’an about the return of Jesus (pbuh) is not a neutral silence. The story of Jesus (pbuh) is given in detail in the Qur’an and even news of the future of those who associate themselves with him and his opponents till the end of the world is given (3:55). Yet the huge news of his return is not given. This silence is more than skipping some details.
Second, in my answer I referred to verses of the Qur’an that in my understanding conflict with the idea that Jesus (pbuh) will return. These are 3:55 and 5:117.
Third, I do not see any explicit verses in the Bible that promise coming of Jesus (pbuh) near the end of the world. On the other hand there are verses that seem to say that he promised returning very soon after his disappearance:
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:18)
The verses of the Bible that you refer to are as follows:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly 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. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
I fail to see where in the above verses it says that Jesus (pbuh) will return near the end of the world. The statement “I have not come to abolish them (i.e. the law) but to fulfil them” does not necessarily imply that Jesus (pbuh) should return to fulfil the law. This is only an interpretation that is based on the assumption that Jesus (pbuh) will return.
At the end, I would like to directly answer your last question:
“How do we decipher the true content of what is revealed earlier against the Quran, when the Quran is silent upon the matter and shows no conflict?”
The Qur’an refers to itself as the guardian of the previous scriptures (5:48). This not only means that what is known as previous scriptures should not be in conflict with the Qur’an, but also means that the message of what is believed to be from previous scriptures should be inline with the Qur’an.
-------------
Related Topics:
- Return of Masih ibn Maryam
-------------
February 2014
