What is the meaning of the saying of the Exalted, "Indeed, I am taking you and raising you to Myself," the verse?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : ...Surah Al-Imran. What is the meaning of "taking you" here?
The Shaykh : This verse is confusing to some people, and the reason is that it has become dominant in their understanding that "taking" means death. They do not return to the root of the word "taking" because of their distance from the Arabic language and its etiquette. The root of the word "taking" in the language is seizing a thing in its complete state. For example, a person says, "I have collected my debt." What does "I have collected my debt" mean? It means I took my debt in full and complete. The root of "taking" in the language is like this. In the verse, "We have taken," it is assumed by them that the meaning of "taking" is killing, so they interpret it as death. But here, the intended meaning is the seizing of 'Isa as he is, just as you are, meaning I am seizing you with your body and your soul. So the meaning of the verse confirms this meaning. To whom is the address of "raising you"?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, to 'Isa, with the soul and the body together. This is exactly like the saying of the Exalted,[Al-Isra 17:1] the verse. People have differed, both in the past and the present, [Hud 11:118-119] whether the Night Journey was with his body and his soul, or with his soul without his body? There are two well-known opinions, but the correct opinion, in which there is no doubt or ambiguity, is that his Night Journey, peace be upon him, and his Ascension were with the soul and the body together. This verse indicates this meaning because He said, so His servant Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), about whom this verse informed, was with the soul and the body. Therefore, Likewise, the previous verse, means seizing you as you are and raising you as you are. Therefore, it was said that the correct opinion is that 'Isa, peace and blessings be upon him, was raised by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to the sky with his body and his soul. Then this was confirmed by the authentic, indeed mass-transmitted hadith, where he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, So this one whom Allah raised to Himself, whom Allah raised with his body and his soul, He will also lower him with his body and his soul to judge between all people, the Muslims, the Christians, and the Jews, by the law of Allah, Islam. So this is a miracle from beginning to end: raising him as he is, then He will lower him as he is to judge by what he, peace and blessings be upon him, brought from the Book and the Sunnah. Yes.
The questioner : There is a question... regarding 'Isa, it does not move.
The Shaykh : Please proceed.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
The questioner : My master, since approximately the beginning of...
and raising you to Me
ورافعك إليThe Shaykh : This verse is confusing to some people, and the reason is that it has become dominant in their understanding that "taking" means death. They do not return to the root of the word "taking" because of their distance from the Arabic language and its etiquette. The root of the word "taking" in the language is seizing a thing in its complete state. For example, a person says, "I have collected my debt." What does "I have collected my debt" mean? It means I took my debt in full and complete. The root of "taking" in the language is like this. In the verse, "We have taken," it is assumed by them that the meaning of "taking" is killing, so they interpret it as death. But here, the intended meaning is the seizing of 'Isa as he is,
Indeed, I am taking you
إني متوفيكand raising you to Me
ورافعك إليّThe questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, to 'Isa, with the soul and the body together. This is exactly like the saying of the Exalted,
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa
سبحان الذي أسرى بعبده ليلا من المسجد الحرام إلى المسجد الأقصىbut they will not cease to differ. (119) Except whom your Lord has given mercy
ولا يزالون مختلفين إلا من رحم ربكtook His servant on the Night Journey
أسرى بعبدهtook His servant on the Night Journey
أسرى بعبدهtaking you
متوفيك"Indeed, 'Isa, the son of Mary, will descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and wealth will be so abundant that no one will accept it. And the prostration of the believer will be better than the world and what is in it."
لينزلنّ فيكم عيسى بن مريم حكما عدلا فيكسر الصليب ويقتل الخنزير ويفيض المال حتى لا يقبله أحد وتكون السجدة للمؤمن خير من الدنيا وما فيهاThe questioner : There is a question... regarding 'Isa, it does not move.
The Shaykh : Please proceed.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
The questioner : My master, since approximately the beginning of...