Discussion of the Christians and their exaltation of the cross, and clarification of the Muslim belief regarding the Messiah, 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him)
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The Shaykh : We have previously stated that the Christians worship crosses. Ibn al-Qayyim said:
" *** They are donkeys, and they worship the crosses "
And we said that he described them as donkeys because of their dullness, for their worship of the cross indicates great dullness. For the cross, as they claim, is the one upon which the Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him) was crucified. If they were truthful, it would have been more faithful to him for them to break the cross when they saw it. Why? Because their prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was crucified upon it, as they claim. And this cross which they claim the Messiah was crucified upon has been refuted by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an, where He said:[An-Nisa 4:157] Yes.
The student:[An-Nisa 4:157]
The Shaykh :[An-Nisa 4:157-158] But we are being lenient with them. As for what they believe about their prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we say: How do you worship the cross when your prophet was crucified upon it? It would have been more fitting for you to break the cross when you saw it, rather than worship it. As for us, our belief in the Messiah, 'Isa ibn Maryam, is that he is the servant of Allah and His messenger, and that he is a sign among the signs of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he and his mother, for she carried him without a husband, and he was created without a father, and he spoke in the cradle, and he was raised to the sky, and he is alive, and he will remain until the Day of Resurrection, until he descends at the end of the world. We believe that he was not killed and not crucified, but rather Allah raised him. And he will descend at the end of time, ruling by the Shari'ah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), except regarding the jizyah, for he will not accept the jizyah; he will not accept anything but Islam. This is not an innovation of the Shari'ah, but rather a confirmation of a Shari'ah about which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us. So it is as if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is saying: The jizyah will be accepted, except if [he] descends.
The student: 'Isa
The Shaykh : Except if 'Isa descends. This is the summary of the discussion on 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) and what Muslims believe about him.
" *** They are donkeys, and they worship the crosses "
And we said that he described them as donkeys because of their dullness, for their worship of the cross indicates great dullness. For the cross, as they claim, is the one upon which the Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him) was crucified. If they were truthful, it would have been more faithful to him for them to break the cross when they saw it. Why? Because their prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was crucified upon it, as they claim. And this cross which they claim the Messiah was crucified upon has been refuted by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an, where He said:
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah."
وقولهم إنا قتلنا المسيح عيسى ابن مريم رسول اللهThe student:
And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him
وما قتلوه وما صلبوهThe Shaykh :
And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. (158) Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
وما قتلوه وما صلبوه ولكن شبه لهم وإن الذين اختلفوا فيه لفي شك منه ما لهم به من علم إلا اتباع الظن وما قتلوه يقينا بل رفعه الله إليه وكان الله عزيزا حكيماThe student: 'Isa
The Shaykh : Except if 'Isa descends. This is the summary of the discussion on 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) and what Muslims believe about him.