The story of Prophet Essa is one of the most captivating narratives mentioned in the Holy Quran, replete with miracles that preceded even his birth. This article delves into the story of Prophet Essa, highlighting the lessons and miracles it encompasses.
Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) is a revered messenger of Allah and one of the resolute prophets. His birth itself was a miracle, as his mother bore him without a father, a divine sign meant to spread Allah’s religion and peace among people. He was sent to the Israelites, accompanied by the Gospel, as their last prophet before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
1. The Lineage of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him)
2. The miraculous conception of Mary with Prophet Essa (peace be upon him)
3. The miraculous birth of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him)
4. Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) speaking in the cradle
5. The miracles of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him)
6. The Israelites’ response to the call of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him)
7. Was Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) crucified or was he raised by Allah?
Firstly: The Lineage of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him):
Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) is attributed to the lineage of his mother, Maryam bint Imran, since she conceived him without a father. Maryam descends from the lineage of Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him), and she is the daughter of Imran, about whom Allah has said in His noble book, “Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran over the worlds. Descendants, some of them from others. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Al Imran: 33-34). Thus, she belongs to the chosen family of Imran.
Secondly: The miraculous conception of Mary with Prophet Essa (peace be upon him):
Allah Almighty says, “And mention, [O Muḥammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. She said, ‘Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah.’ He said, ‘I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., son].’ She said, ‘How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?’ He said, ‘Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, “It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.”‘ (Maryam: 16-21).
These verses narrate the story of Maryam’s miraculous conception of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him). Maryam, who was devoted to worship in the sanctuary under the care of her uncle, the Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him), withdrew to a secluded place in the east of Jerusalem to engage in her devotions. It was there that Gabriel appeared to her in the form of a man, causing her to seek Allah’s protection from any harm. Gabriel reassured her that he was a messenger from her Lord, sent to grant her a pure son. She questioned how she could bear a child without being touched by a man, and Gabriel responded that this was a simple matter for Allah and that the child would be a sign to the people and a mercy from Him.
Thirdly: The miraculous birth of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him):
Gabriel breathed into Maryam’s garment, and by this divine breath, she conceived Prophet Essa (peace be upon him). Distressed by the prospect of disgrace, she withdrew from her people. When the labor pains drove her to the trunk of a palm tree, she wished for death to escape her predicament. However, either Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) or Gabriel called out from beneath her, reassuring her not to grieve, as Allah had provided a stream beneath her. She was instructed to shake the trunk of the palm tree so that fresh dates would fall upon her, and she was told to eat and drink and be contented. If questioned by anyone, she was to declare that she had vowed to fast from speaking that day.
Allah says, “So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, ‘Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.’ But he called her from below her, ‘Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, “Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.”‘ (Maryam: 22-26).
Fourthly: Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) speaking in the cradle:
After regaining her strength, Maryam returned to her people carrying Prophet Essa (peace be upon him). Astonished, they accused her of bringing forth something unprecedented. They exclaimed that her father was not a man of evil, nor was her mother unchaste. She responded by pointing to her infant son. Angrily, they questioned how they could communicate with a child in the cradle. At that moment, Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) miraculously spoke, proclaiming himself to be a servant of Allah, bestowed with the Scripture and prophethood, blessed wherever he may be, and enjoined to pray and give charity as long as he lived. He further declared his dutifulness to his mother and that he was not made a tyrant or wretched. He concluded with peace upon himself the day he was born, the day he would die, and the day he would be resurrected.
Allah says, “Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, ‘O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.’ So she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?’ [Jesus] said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.'” (Maryam: 27-33).
Fifthly: The miracles of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him):
1. The birth of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) without a father.
2. Speaking in the cradle.
3. Reviving the dead by Allah’s permission.
4. Fashioning a bird from clay and breathing life into it, by Allah’s permission.
5. Healing the blind and the leper, by Allah’s permission.
6. Informing people of what they ate and what they stored in their houses, by Allah’s permission.
7. Bringing down a table from heaven upon the request of his disciples.
Sixthly: The Israelites’ response to the call of Prophet Essa (peace be upon him):
Allah sent Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) to the Israelites to guide them to the truth and lead them to the straight path. Their response was to turn away from him and the truth he brought. When Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) found their rejection, he asked, “Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah?” A group of his followers, known as the Disciples, responded with faith, declaring their belief in Allah and submitting as Muslims. They were called the Disciples because they sincerely dedicated themselves to Allah and purified themselves from hypocrisy.
Seventhly: Was Prophet Essa (peace be upon him) crucified as the Christians claim, or was he raised to the heavens by Allah?
The Israelites conspired to kill Prophet Essa (peace be upon him). When one of his followers betrayed him, leading them to him, Allah cast his resemblance upon the traitor, who was then killed and crucified in his place. As for Prophet Essa (peace be upon him), Allah raised him to the heavens, body and soul, saving him from their plot.
Allah says, “Mention] when Allah said, ‘O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.'” (Al Imran: 55)
Allah also says, “And because of their saying (in boast), ‘We killed Messiah ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah,’ – but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared so to them [the resemblance of ‘Isa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man)], and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e.
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