Allah Raised Jesus(as) To Himself

And their saying, ‘We did kill the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah;’ whereas they slew him not, nor crucified him, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified; and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it; they have no definite knowledge thereof, but only follow a conjecture; and they did not convert this conjecture into a certainty; On the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.(Chapter 4 Verses 158-159)

Firstly, it is clear that in no way does the fact that Isaas was not killed or crucified, suggest that heas is alive in the heavens. This same ayah can apply to even the Holy Prophetsaw who was neither killed nor crucified and was also raised. This applies to many prophets and many righteous people who have passed. They were neither killed nor crucified and were indeed raised by Allah, who is Al-Rafi, the One Who Exalts. However, this does not mean that any Prophet is alive in the heavens physically.

Some have tried to use the words “wa lakin shubbiha lahum” to mean that another person’s face was switched with the face of Isa(as) who was killed, while Isa(as) was raised to the heavens. This once again has no basis in the Qur’an nor do any Arabic dictionaries ever support such a meaning attributed to the words.

The Jews wanted to crucify Isa(as) meaning put him to death on the cross, to prove to the public that Isa(as) was God Forbid a false prophet as Deuteronomy Chapter 21 Verses 21-23 state in regards to the ones who die on the cross. This was the plan of the Jews to show that Isa(as) was God forbid, a false prophet. Such an interpretation that another person’s face’s likeness was put onto Isa(as) and that person was killed instead of Isa(as), is totally unacceptable for many reasons. Firstly, the Jews wanted to show the people that Isa(as) would die on the cross to prove him false, so if another man died in his place, with his face, the people would have still seen Isa(as), and to them he would remain a false prophet, God Forbid. Some believe that it’s because Isa(as) was going to be put on the cross, Allah decided that his prophet should not be persecuted, and therefore was raised to the heavens. This again is against the teachings of the Qur’an and contradicts the reaction the other prophets received from their people. The Holy Prophet(saw) faced a lot of persecution in Ta’if and his feet would be drenched in blood. His(saw)s reply was always to pray to Allah for protection as did Isa(as), which is the reason Allah did not let him die on the cross.

If we were to assume that Allah did indeed put the looks of Isa(as) onto someone else, Allah would be accused for many things against his way. Firstly one would say that Allah secretly raised a prophet of Allah from the earth to the heavens, contradicting the Qur’an and removing his prophet from his mission, in fear of the Jews who defeated him. How can a sincere Muslims after all of the proof in regards to the death of Jesus(as) present in the Qur’an and the Ahadith, believe that Allah was afraid of the Jews and they had defeated him? The Qur’an has made it clear that the Prophets always fulfill their missions in their lifetime on earth and are persecuted, but protected by Allah. Secondly, why would an innocent person have to die for no reason? Thirdly Allah has made it clear in the Qur’an that we should not alter ourselves yet the non Ahmadi Muslims have put such an allegation on Allah, that He himself altered his creation, God Forbid!

The story in regards to the face of Isa(as) switching is not Islamic.

Firstly Ibn Ishaq on the authority of a Christian convert who is not even narrated with his name has related a similar story but has given the name of the disciple and named him Sergus, meaning one unknown so this is israliyyat and is not from Islam. There are many contradictions within this narration itself as many have quoted the name tityanus as well. How can we accept such a saying? Now this also mocks at our creator. Firstly it tries to state that the Jews God forbid defeated Allah and his messenger and forced Allah to remove his prophet from his mission because he was unable to handle it. This tries to state that Isa(as) did not have faith in Allah and was too scared of the Jews. Was a prophet ever scared enough of his opponents where Allah had to remove his prophet from his mission? Never has this happened.

There are many narrations presented by tabari all contradicting each other and all from israliyyat. Some say it was Judas who got the image of Jesus onto him and it was Judas who died. Tabari has given two traditions which support the first opinion of Judas but there is a second tradition where Jesus asked which one wants paradise for his soul today, and a faithful servant said he wants to who was crucified, while Jesus was raised. Then after this it was when tabari used 9 narrations for this second opinion. Clearly these narrations have no basis in Islam and also attack the character of Allah and the Quran

The Word Rafa

Let us now analyze the next ayah where Allah states:



On the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.(Chapter 4 Verse 159)

Now we know that Allah saved Isa(As) from the attempted crucifixion of the Jews and did not let him receive an accursed death,as he was indeed a true prophet of Allah. This next verse tells us that “Allah exalted him to Himself. And Allah is the Mighty, The Wise”

Whenever we look at the word Rafa’a and it is used for a human being this will never ever in the history of the Arabic lexicons mean that the physical body has been raised to the heavens, rather always refer to the elevation of his status when Allah causes it.

For example Allah states in regards to Prophet Idris(as):



And We exalted him to a lofty station.(Chapter 19 Verse 58)

Here are more examples from the Qur’an and every single time, Allah speaks of causing rafa’a on a human being, it is spiritual:


The word rafa’a in ahadith is also always used for spiritual exaltation and never physical raise. Here are some beautiful ahadith which further prove the point which is being made: 

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَذَكَرَ، آخَرَ قَبْلَهُ عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ غَزِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ أُحُدٍ وَوَلَّى النَّاسُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نَاحِيَةٍ فِي اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَفِيهِمْ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ فَأَدْرَكَهُمُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَالْتَفَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ ‏”‏ مَنْ لِلْقَوْمِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ طَلْحَةُ أَنَا ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ كَمَا أَنْتَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَنْتَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ مَنْ لِلْقَوْمِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ طَلْحَةُ أَنَا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ كَمَا أَنْتَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَنَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَنْتَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلْ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ وَيَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِمْ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَيُقَاتِلُ قِتَالَ مَنْ قَبْلَهُ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ حَتَّى بَقِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَطَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ مَنْ لِلْقَوْمِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ طَلْحَةُ أَنَا ‏.‏ فَقَاتَلَ طَلْحَةُ قِتَالَ الأَحَدَ عَشَرَ حَتَّى ضُرِبَتْ يَدُهُ فَقُطِعَتْ أَصَابِعُهُ فَقَالَ حَسِّ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لَوْ قُلْتَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ لَرَفَعَتْكَ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَالنَّاسُ يَنْظُرُونَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ رَدَّ اللَّهُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“On the day of Uhud, the people ran away, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in one position among twelve men of the Ansar, one of whom was Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah. He said: ‘Who will face the people?’ Talhah said: ‘I will.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Stay where you are.’ One of the Ansar said: ‘I will, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ He said: ‘You (go ahead).’ So he fought until he was killed. Then he turned and saw the idolators. He said: ‘Who will face the people?’ Talhah said: ‘I will’. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Stay where you are.’ One of the Ansar said: ‘I will, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ He said: ‘You (go ahead).’ So he fought until he was killed. This carried on, and each man of the Ansar went out to face them and fought like the one before him, and was killed, until only the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah were left. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Who will face the people?’ Talhah said: ‘I will.’ So Talhah fought like the eleven before him, until his hand was struck, and his fingers were cut off, and he exclaimed in pain. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘If you had said Bismillah (in the Name of Allah), the angels would have raised you with the people looking on.’ Then Allah drove back the idolators.”( Sunan an-Nasa’i 3149)

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives Allah adds to his respect, and the one who shows humility Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).( Sahih Muslim 2588)

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ صَبِيحٍ، عَنْ كَامِلٍ أَبِي الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حَبِيبَ بْنَ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فِي صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ ‏ “‏ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي ‏”‏

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“When praying at night (Qiyamul-Lail), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations: ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warzuqni warfa’ni (O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, improve my situation, grant me provision and raise me in status).’” (Ibn Maja book 1, vol 5, hadith 898)

As a Muslim in every namaz we ask Allah to raise us but did we ever see someone be raised Physically? Of course not and neither do we ever ask for a physical raise.

Another hadith states:

When a servant shows humility, Allah elevates him to the seventh

heaven.”( Kanzul-‘Ummal)

This hadith has stated heaven but even this is not taken literal and its clear that raf’a is indeed spiritual in the Qur’an and in the ahadith. Never physical body raise when Allah is causing the rafa.

Even when we look in the Arabic lexicons the same story is found. Rafa’a is always spiritual.

In Aqrabul Mawarid it is written “He was elevated to the king, i.e. he was brought close or became his intimate”

In lisanal Arab it is stated: The name rafi is among the names of allah because he elevates a believer with good fortune and his friends with nearness. The word rafa means to bring one thing close to another.

It is an attribute of Allah, that he does rafa of the believers. Its been his law since the start of creation and never was it bodily.

Allah has made it clear in the Qur’an that Messengers are given rafa. Some over the others.



These Messengers have We exalted, some of them above others: among them there are those to whom Allah spoke; and some of them He exalted by degrees of rank. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Spirit of holiness. And if Allah had so willed, those that came after them would not have fought with one another after clear Signs had come to them; but they did disagree. Of them were some who believed, and of them were some who disbelieved. And if Allah had so willed, they would not have fought with one another; but Allah does what He desires.(Chapter 2 verse 254)

Its also interesting to note that Allah decided to mention Isa(as) right after speaking about rafa of the ranks. Allah Has clearly stated that the rafa is of status and in rank.

Some also claim that Allah has used Illalah. This also does not ever mean physical ascension according to the Qur’an so is a misinterpreted point by the non Ahmadis. Illalah is basically the turning of attention towards Allah or the spiritual return of the soul.It has been used in the Qur’an many times for Example:



And he said, ‘I am going to my Lord, Who will guide me.(Chapter 37 verse 100)



And Lot believed him; and Abraham said, ‘I take refuge with my Lord; surely He is the Mighty, the Wise.’(Chapter 29 verse 27)



And thou, O soul at peace! Return to thy Lord well pleased with Him and He well pleased with thee.(Chapter 89 verse 28-29)

A third point to be made clear is that according to the Qur’an there are many Ayahs that prove to us that Allah is not confined to the heavens nor does he have a direction which he is confined to. Its clear that Isa(as) was raised but raised in his honor. He was not a false prophet and Allah removed all the misconceptions by making sure he did not die on the cross and Allah gave him a natural death as stated in the explanation of chapter 3 verse 56. Here are some clear ayahs showing that Allah is everywhere so if someone does insist that it was a physical raise and wants to go against the words of Allah, then in his belief Isa(as) must be everywhere as well.

Allah has made it clear that He is everywhere. Here are a few verses which prove this fact.



And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: ‘I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.’ (Chapter 2 verse 187)

Now Allah makes it clear of how near he is as well in the Qur’an, since He knew what would happen to the Muslims and how even they would become like the Christians and end up confining God like they have. Allah states:



And assuredly, We have created man and We know what his physical self whispers to him, and We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein. (50:17)

Here are some more Ayahs that make it clear that Allah is indeed everywhere:



And He is Allah, the God, both in the heavens and in the earth. He knows your inside and your outside. And He knows what you earn.(Chapter 6 Verse 4)

 

 

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, then He settled Himself on the Throne. He knows what enters the earth and what comes out of it, and what comes down from heaven and what goes up into it. And He is with you wheresoever you may be. And Allah sees all that you do.(Chapter 57 Verse 5)



To Allah belong the East and the West; so withersoever you turn, there will be the face of Allah. Surely, Allah is Bountiful, All- Knowing.(Chapter 2 Verse 116)

. It is quite sad that the non Ahmadi Muslims try to only interpret rafa for Isa(as) differently, however say that it is always a spiritual raise when used for others. This is a clear misunderstanding of there’s, and a point which is in contradiction to the Qur’an. An important Qur’anic ayah to notice is in Chapter 17. Allah states:





‘Or thou have a house of gold or thou ascend up into heaven; and we will not believe in thy ascension until thou send down to us a book that we can read.’ Say, ‘Holy is my Lord! I am not but a man sent as a Messenger.’And nothing has prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them save that they said, ‘Has Allah sent a man as a Messenger?’(Chapter 17 Verses 94-95)

This verse is so clear and beautiful that there should really be no misconception left of Jesus(as) going physically to the heavens. The unbelievers asked the Prophet Muhammad(saw) for a sign to prove his truthfulness and the sign they asked was for him to physically go to heaven but his reply is clear. He has shown us that it was not the habit of Allah to transport an earthly body to paradise by stating that Holy is my Lord, I am not but a man sent as a messenger. If we accept that Isa(As) physically went to the heavens then the response of the Prophet(saw) would not be accepted rather the Christians and others who are against us can use this as a huge allegation. Secondly it would also mean Isa(As) is not a man nor a messenger so we should be careful by stating that Isa(as) is alive after all of this clear proof has been given to us by the Imam of the Age, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of Qadian.This Ayah has clearly shown us that Allah and the Prophet Muhammad(saw) are against a Physical Ascension.