The Old Age of the Messiah Isa Ibn Maryam

Whatever Allah has given to His Messenger as spoils from the people of the towns is for Allah and for the Messenger and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, that it may not circulate only among those of you who are rich. And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain fromthat. And fear Allah; surely, Allah is Severe in retribution. (Chapter 59 verse 8)

The Promised Messiah(As) explains this beautifully. He says:

“ In the light of this verse, we shall turn our attention to what our Holy Prophet (sas) has spoken in relation to this affair. From Mishkat al-Masabih comes the first hadith which is narrated by Abu Hurairah as follows: “Some people in my community will live for sixty to seventy years and there will be few who will exceed this age.”

It is undeniable that the Messiah, son of Mary, has been included in this community. So how can such a disparity exist between him and others in that other people will find it difficult

to reach sixty or seventy years and his condition is such that he has lived for two thousand years and even now he has still not died? Instead, our religious leaders insist that he will return to earth and live for forty or forty-five years. The second hadith is taken from the Sahih Muslim and the narrator is Jabir, who says: “I heard the Holy Prophet (sas) say, after taking an oath, that in no part of the earth is there any creature over whom a hundred years will pass and he will still be found alive.” The meaning of this hadith is that no created being on earth will live past one hundred years and saying that he is a prisoner of the earth is that he may be excluded from the category of heavenly beings. It is, of course, an accepted fact that the Messiah, son of Mary, is not a heavenly being (by creation) but an earthly one and belongs to all that exists on earth. The hadith does not mean that if a person with an earthly body lives on earth, he will die here, but if he should go up to heaven (in his earthly body) he will not suffer death if the Holy Qur’an has categorically ruled out the eventuality of an earthly body entering Paradise. Instead, the import of the hadith is that whoever is born on earth, having been created out of earth, cannot live beyond a hundred years.” (Izala-e-Auham, Under verse 29)



And remember when Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘O children of Israel, surely I am Allah’s Messenger unto you, fulfilling that which is before me of the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me. His name will be Ahmad.’ And when he came to them with clear proofs, they said, ‘This is clear enchantment.’ (Chapter 61 verse 7)

This verse of the Quran is quite clear. It makes no sense that Jesus(As) is still alive in the heavens. If this was the case then it would mean that according to this context of the verse, the Holy Prophet(Saw) has not come yet, nor will he come until Isa(As) has come back and has died. Jesus(as) is saying in this verse that after my death a prophet with the name of Ahmad would appear. If Quran is correct then Isa(as) has died a natural death. If you say he is alive then it means this book we are using to prove his death is God forbid not by Allah and also that Muhammad(saw) was not a true prophet, God forbid. This states that Ahmad( cannot appear till Jesus(As) dies. Now I leave it up to you, would you like to keep Isa(as) alive and call Muhammad(Saw) a false prophet, or accept that he has died as Quran says and give Muhammad(Saw) the respect he deserves?

State of Weakness

It is Allah Who created you in a state of weakness, and after weakness gave strength; then, after strength, caused weakness and old age. He creates what He pleases. He is the All-knowing, the All-Powerful. (Chapter 30 verse 55) This verse also clearly proves the death of Hazrat Isa(as). It provides us with clear evidence that a human being is bound to the laws of nature and that every creation is subject to the degree stated in this verse. He is first in a state of weakness, and then given strength, and after that given weakness again and old age. Then after that one dies. This is the cycle for every human being and Isa(As) is not excluded from these laws of Allah.

Stages Of The Human Life

Verily, We created man from an extract of clay; Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a safe depository; Then We fashioned the sperm into a clot; then We fashioned the clot into ashapeless lump; then We fashioned bones out of this shapeless lump; then We clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed it into another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators.(Chapter 23 Verse 13-16)

Allah in this ayah as well has made it clear that he first causes the human beings to advance step by step to the fullness of life and after that we decay until death overtakes us. This includes all human beings and no one is excluded. How can you possibly say Isa(as) is excluded from such a law and is the only human excluded?

Similarity With The Vegetation Of The Earth

Hast thou not seen that Allah sends down water from the sky, and causes it to flow in the form of streamlets in the earth and then brings forth thereby herbage, varying in its colors? Then it dries up and thou seest it turn yellow; then He reduces it to broken straw. In that verily is a reminder for men of understanding.(Chapter 39 Verse 22)

This ayah as well draws a analogy between man and the earth’s vegetation which fulfills its existence by slow degrees until it reaches a stage and finally dies. All humans are included in this.

Paradise Is Interdependent

Verily, the righteous will be in the midst of Gardens and streams, In the seat of truth with an Omnipotent King. (Chapter 54 verse 55-56)

Explained in the Words of the Promised Messiah(as)

“Now, from the point of view of these verses, it becomes quite obvious that Allah, Most High, has made entry into Heaven and occupation of a seat of truth mutually contemporaneous. That is, He has made coming into His presence and reaching Paradise interdependent. So if the verse, “I shall raise you to Me (raafiu‘ka ilaiyya) means that the Messiah has been lifted towards Allah, then of a certainty he has entered Paradise just as another verse, “Return to thy Lord (Irji‘i ilaa Rabbiki)” which has the same meaning as: I shall raise you to Me, is standing proof of this very same point. From this, we can see quite clearly that these three events – being raised towards Allah, Most High, joining the company of those drawn close to Him, and entering Paradise – all take place at one and the same time. Thus, these verses, also, establish conclusively the death of Prophet Jesus (as).…. “ (Izala-e-Auham under verse 26)

No Bodies That Do Not Eat

“And We sent none as messengers before thee but men to whom We sent revelations. So ask the people of the Reminder, if you know not. And we did not give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they to live for ever”(Chapter 21 verses 8-9)

These ayahs have been explained in the explanation which was given for Chapter 5 verse 76 above. It is the way of Allah that no earthly body can survive without food so how can one try and claim that he is alive after such a clear ayah? Allah has clearly told us that never will we find a change in His laws. Allah has Said:





“Such has been the way of Allah in the case of those who passed away before, and thou will never find a change in the way of Allah” (Chapter 33 verse 63)

Allah also States:



“Such is the law of Allah that has been in operation before, and thou shalt not find any change in the law of Allah” (Chapter 48 Verse 24)

Another verse States:

 

 

“Out of arrogance in the earth and evil plotting, but the evil plot encompasses none but the authors thereof. Do they then look for anything but God’s way of dealing with the peoples of old? But thou wilt never find any change in the way of Allah; nor wilt thou ever find any alteration in the way of Allah” Chapter 35 verse 44)

Likeness Of Life To Vegetation

The likeness of the present life is only as water which We send down from the clouds, then there mingles with it the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat till, when the earth receives its ornature and looks beautiful and its owners think that they have power over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day and We render it a field that is mown down, as if nothing had existed there the day before. Thus do We expound the Signs for a people who reflect.(Chapter 10 Verse 25)

This ayah makes it clear that the creation of a man resembles that of land and its vegetation. First it advances towards maturity, and then it declines. Can you really exclude Isa(As) from these laws of Allah ? Was he not human?

Law of Allah in Regards to Death

Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you be in strongly built towers. And if some good befalls them, they say, ‘This is from Allah;’ and if evil befalls them, they say, ‘This is from thee.’ Say, ‘All is from Allah.’ What has happened to these people that they come not near understanding anything? (Chapter 4 verse 79)

This is yet another clear verse which proves the death of Isa(as). The law of Allah the almighty is clearly mentioned and without any exception to anyone. Not a single word here excludes Isa(as), and he was human so is bound to this law just like the rest of the prophets and human beings. To be pursued by death means to experience things like old age or illnesses and calamities and other outcomes which lead to death and no being is spared from these atrocities.

Human Body Becomes Weaker And Weaker

“O people, if you are in doubt concerning the Resurrection, then consider that We have indeed created you from dust, then from a spermdrop, then from clotted blood, then from a lump of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may make Our power manifest to you. And We cause what We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term; then We bring you forth as babes; then We rear you that you may attain to your age of full strength. And there are some of you who are caused to dieprematurely, and there are others among you who are driven to the worst part of life with the result that they know nothing after having had knowledge. And thou seest the earth lifeless, but when We send down water thereon, it stirs and swells, and grows every kind of beauteous vegetation.”(Chapter 22 verse 6)

Allah makes it clear in this ayah, the way he operates in two ways in relation to the human beings. Some die early in life, while others complete an entire span of life until they reach the worst part of their existence. This as well proves that Isa(as) died a natural death since it establishes a clear fact that if a person is blessed with a long life he continues to get weaker and weaker. Believing that Isa(as) is alive after Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) has given such proof is a great dishonesty.

Four Events in the Law of Allah with Life

It is Allah Who has created you, and then He has provided for you; then He will cause you to die, and then He will bring you to life. Is there any of your ‘partners’ who can do any of these things? Glorified be He and exalted above that which they associate with Him.(Chapter 30, verse 41)

In this verse, Allah is describing his natural law that there are four outstanding events in the life of man. Firstly comes the death of the person, then he receives his share of physical and spiritual nourishment for his upbringing and also the consummation of this life on earth, followed by death which comes to him and after all of this he is raised to life again. It is clear and evident from these verses that there is no one or no exception made to this life style by Allah. There is no word indicating any exception from the general rule which shows us that the incidents of Isa(as)’s life are also the exact same, since he was a human being and no one is excluded from the universal law.

Entrance to Paradise Substantiated

But as for those for whom the promise of a good reward has already gone forth from Us, these will be removed far from it. They will not hear the slightest sound thereof; and they shall abide in that which their souls desire (chapter 21 verse 102-103)

This specific reference is to Prophet Ezra(as) and Also to Hazrat Isa(as) whose entry into paradise is substantiated by this verse. This is a clear proof of the death of Isa(as) as well.

Ask Those who Possess The Reminder

And We sent not as Messengers before thee but men to whom We sent revelation, so ask those who possess the Reminder, if you know not. (Chapter 16 verse 44)

I shall let the Promised Messiah(As) give the interpretation to this verse as he has the best understanding of the Quran after Muhammad(Saw).

It invites Muslims to examine the writings of the People of the Book. That is, if Muslims are ignorant of certain matters which have arisen among themselves, they should turn to the People of the Book and consult their scriptures so that the truth may be disclosed to them. So, according to the command of this verse, I turned to the books of the People of the Book, that is, the Jews and the Christians, in order to ascertain whether that same prophet came back or whether there was some other meaning to those passages in their scriptures. I then discovered that there was a case similar to the one under discussion in which the Messiah, Prophet Jesus (as), son of Mary, himself gave a clear verdict which is in complete agreement with mine. For further reference, Muslims can read these two books of the Bible – Kings and Malachi – and read for themselves the explanation given in the Gospel by Prophet Jesus (as) about the return of Prophet Elias (as) and his descent from the heavens. (Izala Auham, under verse # 22)

Here are the biblical verses which show a second coming from the Past:

And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” – Mark 9 :10-13 

Also: But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10-13) clearly says John the Baptist

All That Is On Earth will Pass Away On It

All that is on it (earth) will pass away. And there will remain only the Person of thy Lord, Master of Glory and Honour. (Chapter 55, verse 27-28)

Once again this verse is beautifully explained by the Promised Messiah(As). He states:

In other words, everything that is present on earth and comes out of it is subject to destruction. That is, with every breath it travels towards decay. The meaning is that every earthly body follows a path leading towards non-existence – a path, moreover, that is inexorable. This is the impetus that pushes a person from childhood to youth and adulthood, thence to old age, and finally to the grave, and no one is exempt from this law of nature. Allah, Most High, uses the present participle faanin instead of the present tense yafni to make us comprehend that destruction (fana) is not something that will take place once sometime in the future, but instead the chain of decay and decomposition is a continuous one. Nevertheless, our religious scholars (maulvis) continue to entertain the belief that the Messiah, son of Mary, despite having a physical body which, according to this patent and irrefutable evidence, is subject to the relentless process of degeneration, has gone up to the heavens without any change or alteration to his body and without time having any deleterious effect on him. This, in spite of the fact that in this verse Allah, Most High, has not excluded the Messiah from the status of an earthly human being (Izala-e-Auham, under verse 25)

All Messengers Ate Food And Always Ate Food

And We never sent any Messengers before thee but surely they ate food and walked in the streets. And We make some of you a trial for others. Will you then be steadfast? And thy Lord is All- Seeing. (Chapter 25 Verse 21)

Allah has also in this verse made it clear that the messengers ate food and walked in the streets. This is a law of Allah that they ate food but it’s clear that chapter 5 verse 76 has told us that Isa(as) used to eat food in the past with his mother and includes him in the same category as his mother so either both are eating or none are. The fact that all prophets of the past do not eat food, shows that they have died.

Abode In The Earth

But Satan caused them both to slip by means of it and drove them out of the state in which they were. And We said: ‘Go forth; some of you are enemies of others, and for you there is an abode in the earth and a provision for a time (Chapter 2 Verse 37)

This is beautifully explained by Ahmad(as) where he basically states that the ascension to heaven with a physical body is against the Qur’an and the word lakin leads to special signification to the statement which clearly proves that an earthly body would not go to heaven, rather it originates from earth, then lives on earth and will be returned to the earth.

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmadra states: “The concludiong words of the verse i.e., for you there is an abode in the earth, also prove that the Qur’an lends no support to the idea of anybody ascending to the heavens alive, for the verse clearly fixes the earth as the life-long abode of man. Thus the Qur’an rejects the idea that Jesus, or for that matter, anybody else ever went up to the heavens alive” (Five Volume Commentary of The Holy Qur’an, Pages 87-88)

“We Revert Him To A Weak Condition Of Creation”

“ And him whom We grant long life — We revert him to a weak condition of creation. Will they not then understand?”(Chapter 36 verse 69)

This ayah as well clearly proves the death of Isa(as). Allah has made it clear that we suffer from deterioration and our intellect declines. If one was to assume even for a second that Isa(as) is alive in the heavens with his physical body, then we have to state that after a long period his body was to have died so either one can hold the fact that he died a natural death which is supported by the Qur’an, or believe he died in heaven which is a completely contradictory statement to what the Qur’an has stated.

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmadra states: “The verse points to a very important law of nature, viz., that everything that has life is subject to decay and deterioration. The law applies as well to nations as to individuals. Like individuals, nations also develop, grow and find their fall stature, and then fall a victim to decay, decrepitude and death. The verse means to say that people who had received new life through Divine revelation have now fallen a prey to spiritual decay and decadence. God has, therefore, decreed that another nation, the Arabs should rise and grow on the ruins of their grandeur and glory. For that purpose he has raised a messenger among them” (Five Volume Commentary Page 2204)

Therein Shall You Live, Die and Be Raised

He said, ‘Therein shall you live, and therein shall you die, and therefrom shall you be brought forth.’(Chapter 7 verse 26)

This ayah is extremely clear. Allah has made it clear that this earthly body will be born here, die here and raised from here. Some have raised the accusation that if this is so, then what about astronauts? This is quite a silly allegation as the Arabic kala feehaa refers to anywhere where we have the necessities of living an earthly life. The Arabic used “therein” which makes it clear that it is the conditions of the earth which allow us to live. When we look at astronauts living conditions, they have the same necessities we have on earth. If this was not the case they would be lose their lives in a matter of seconds.

The only reply a non Ahmadi Muslim can possibly have is that wherever Isa(as) is, Allah has made the conditions of his living just like the conditions on earth. This is an extremely erroneous argument of there’s. Firstly, If Allah has given Isa(as) such living conditions, then what about Yahya(as) who was in his company during the journey of the Prophet(saw)? Secondly what would the non Ahmadi Muslims do about this ayah? Allah states:



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. See how We explain the Signs for their good, and see how they are turned away. (Chapter 5 verse 76)

The first argument Allah has given us in this beautiful verse of the Holy Quran is that the Messiah Son Of Mary , who is Jesus(as), is nothing but a messenger. This shows that Isa(As) was nothing but a messenger and falsifies the concept of divinity that the Christians today sadly believe in. Right after this Allah tells us that :

قَدْخَلَتْمِنْقَبْلِهِالرُّسُلُ

This verse shows us that all of the messengers before Isa(as) have died and that he is also subject to that law of nature and has also died. The example of this verse may relate to something like this : Ahmad is just a human being, the human beings before him were made of clay. Now does this not suggest that I am also made of clay? Of course it does and the fact of the matter is that one may say that the verse revealed to Prophet Muhammad(Saw) is similar and was revealed when he is alive, but you have to remember that the Qur’an was revealed to him, and this ayah is talking about the past tense in regards to the life of Isa(As). This is talking about a messenger of the past which is why this logic is used that because all before him have passed away and he is in connection to them by this verse, so has he passed away like them all.

This is not the only argument of the verse alone. Right after Allah tells us that :



Meaning: “And His mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food.”

Food is a necessity for one to live and one cannot survive with out it. The fact that the Quran shows that Isa(as) and his mother used to eat food in the past tense shows us that at some point they did used to eat food , but now they are no longer eating. Now if Isa(as) was still alive Allah would have said that him and his mother used to eat food and are still eating food and shall continue to eat food. The only rebuttal a non Ahmadi can have to this, which one cannot even call a rebuttal is that since Isa(as) is in heaven physically he does not need food.

Now if Allah did give him those conditions of living, then he would also need food and water but the Qur’an is clear that Isa(as) nor his mother are eating anymore. The non Ahmadi Muslims however do not say that Isa(as) has been given the same conditions of living as we have in earth so in reality there is no reply to this ayah and it is one of those ayahs which shows Isa(as) lived on earth, died on earth and will be raised from here.

Those Are A People That Have Passed Away

Those are a people that have passed away; for them is what they earned and for you shall be what you earn; and you shall not be questioned as to what they did (Chapter 2 verse 135)

This ayah also shows that all human beings are bound to die and are accountable to Allah. All of us fall into the same category when it comes to life, whether a prophet or not a prophet. Our bodies are the same and all rules of Allah apply to ask as explained in many other Ayahs.

To Allah Shall You Be Gathered Together

“And if you die or be slain, surely unto Allah shall you be gathered together”(Chapter 3 verse 159)

This ayah does not really need much explanation and is pretty clear. Allah has stated that both the hypocrites and believers will be gathered together for reward of punishment, but gathered together no matter what the situation is.

“The pronoun “you” includes both hypocrites and believers; for all will be gathered unto God for reward or punishment as the case may be” (Five Volume Commentary Page 466)

You Cannot Enter Heaven Until You Have Died

And thou, O soul at peace! Return to thy Lord well pleased with Him and He well pleased with thee. So enter thou among My chosen servants, And enter thou My Garden. (Chapter 89 verse 28-31)

I shall let the Promised Messiah(As) do the explanation to this beautiful proof himself:

“It is crystal clear from this verse that unless a person has experienced death he cannot enter into the company of those who have departed this earthly sojourn. Moreover, a detailed hadith about the Mi‘raj (Ascension) in the Sahih al-Bukhari verifies the fact that the Messiah, son of Mary, was present among the group of former prophets. Therefore, in the face of this decisive and categorical evidence, we have no choice but to accept the Messiah, son of Mary, as dead. We believe in the Holy Qur’an and reject everything that contradicts it.” (Izala Auham, Under the 23rd verse for Death of Isa(As))

Here is a Hadith regarding the mir’aj which will also be talked about later on :

حَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ ‏ “‏ ثُمَّ صَعِدَ حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ، فَإِذَا يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى وَهُمَا ابْنَا خَالَةٍ‏.‏ قَالَ هَذَا يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِمَا‏.‏ فَسَلَّمْتُ فَرَدَّا ثُمَّ قَالاَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Malik bin Sasaa:

That the Prophet (ﷺ) talked to them about the night of his Ascension to the Heavens. He said, “(Then Gabriel took me) and ascended up till he reached the second heaven where he asked for the gate to be opened, but it was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Gabriel replied, ‘I am Gabriel.’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ He replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ When we reached over the second heaven, I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and Jesus who were cousins. Gabriel said, ‘These are John (Yahya) and Jesus, so greet them.’ I greeted them and they returned the greeting saying, ‘Welcome, O Pious Brother and Pious Prophet!;’ (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 640)