USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: ON Maryam, Jesus Christ and Easter

Dear AFIS A. OLADOSU,

A few hundred years before Jesus was born, this Bible was already complete, with Malachi as the last prophet of Israel

In your Easter Message you could be an excellent Muslim hagiographer, but in the interests of historical accuracy, truth, justice and sincerity, methinks that your paragraph down below needs some modification. You say about Jesus son of Mary,

"But the message he brought to the Jewish nation equally led to controversy. How could a man enjoin justice, egalitarianism and sincerity in the worship of the Almighty in a society where injustice, oppression of the poor and dishonesty were the very spirit of success? Thus, Jesus Christ became an enemy within. To hate him is to be popular; to seek to kill him is to show commitment to the hideous principles which undergird the then Jewish society"

The truth is that (if he did indeed exist), in his lifetime in his Roman administered native land, Jesus the Jew (who Islam says is/ was a prophet of Islam) was not the significant figure that he later became after his crucifixion, death and resurrection (a crucifixion that al-Islam denies) - so – with that being the case – that he did not die on the cross  and therefore any talk of resurrection is superfluous, there can be no Islamic hypocrisy about Easter...

 By the way, there is this one sentence in Kofi Awoonor's poem "This Earth, My Brother" – that I don't like – not that he doesn't / didn't have the poetic licence to write just about anything or that we lack the imagination to interpret or understand in whatever manner, but for the fact that for the surface reader this his sentence is misleading he writes,

"They  walked
across the grassland to the edge of the mound
and knelt down in silent prayer;
they rose again led to the mound,
they crouched
like worshippers of Muhammed."

I don't like that last line. Muslims don't worship Muhammad( S.a.W)  or Jesus son of Mary....

The reasons for Jewish rejection of Jesus as the messiah are many but that is not what this thread is all about, so, suffice it to say that the reformist ideas attributed to Jesus in the Gospels that were said to be inspired many years after his disappearance up in the skies, and in particular his identity/unity with Godhood – which the Quran also rejects in Surat al Ikhlas  as blasphemous - that  -  and the zealotry (for which many were crucified before and after Jesus)  - was the probable reason for his execution by the Roman authorities  - according to the so called gospels, at the behest of the some of his rebellious or not so rebellious countrymen...

My own understanding of the issues you've raised  is derived from Rev. Travers Herford's classic work "The Pharisees" which I recommend that you acquaint yourself with, if you have not already done so - because most Christians and non-Christians who were not  there with Jesus, have arrived at their view of the Pharisees, through the Gospel portraits which are very hostile to  the Pharisees (the rabbinical ancestors of today's orthodox rabbis), to the extent that in today's English Pharisee is a synonym for hypocrite...

 It strikes me as the kind of question you could equally ask about a reformist politician or prophet in e.g. Nigeria: "How could a man enjoin justice, egalitarianism and sincerity in the worship of the Almighty in a society where injustice, oppression of the poor and dishonesty were the very spirit of success?"

Would such a one "become an enemy within"?

  "To hate him is to be popular; to seek to kill him is to show commitment to the hideous principles which undergird the society"?

Next question: What would you or your Prophet Jesus' message be to Boko Haram, who believe that they are doing some kind of Jihad?

"All who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Something to look forward to: His Holiness the Pope will be visiting the Holy land next month...

Wa Salaam!

Cornelius

We Sweden

On Monday, 21 April 2014 06:21:19 UTC+2, H O wrote:

Reflections on Maryam, Jesus Christ and Easter

AFIS A. OLADOSU

In the name of the Almighty, the Beneficent the Merciful

"The Messenger believes in the Guidance revealed to him from his Lord and so do the Believers. They all believe in the Almighty, His angels, His books and His Messengers. They say: "We do not discriminate against anyone of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear and we obey. Grant us your forgiveness, O Lord; to You we shall all return". (Q2: 285)

 

Today's sermon is not meant for you but for us. But in dedicating the sermon to our Christian compatriots who are marking the Easter Friday today, we are equally drawn into a dialogic encounter with aspects of the Christian faith from which creedal postures in Islam take shape and derive strength. In other words, today's sermon ponders the enigma, named Isa (Jesus Christ) – upon him be peace. In pondering his personality, we have an opportunity to review commonalities between Islam and Christianity. In 'looking' at the figure of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to look at our world through a new window, a window which brings humanity face to face with the Truth; the Truth which is and has remained one and indivisible since the beginning of the world and so shall it be till the end of life.

In other words, brethren, the persona of Prophet Isa calls attention to our world- a world in which that which is right could be multifarious. Any mention of Jesus Christ, therefore, functions as a solemn reminder to humanity that our world is designed by the Almighty as a conundrum or a jigsaw puzzle. The more of the world you know, the more ignorant you become. Without divine intervention, in the absence of His direction and instruction, through His books, Prophets and messengers humanity would have had to wallow in the abyss of ignorance. Imagine a situation where no answers are available in the revealed books on the beginning and ending of the world, scientists would have become gods; atoms would have occupied the cathedrals as objects of worship and adoration. Brethren, in the absence of the Glorious Quran, the question 'who is Prophet Isa?' would have remained unanswered till today.

But dear brethren, it was beyond him. It was not his choice- that he is probably the only personality in the 'house of God' in whose birth, life and death much controversies and polemics exist. It was not his choice that he was born by a woman whose personality was equally a matter of controversy. In other words, Prophet Isa's mother was born to the family of a chaste woman and a righteous man by name Prophet Imran (a.s). Both husband and wife had desired the fruit of the womb. They had toiled and labored so that the wife could become a mother. I remember that sister too. She has been married now since a couple of years ago. She is still waiting. Imran's wife had to wait too. She had to wait because Prophet Ibrahim's wife (a.s) equally had to wait. But keep this in mind. Throughout the 'waiting period', the wife of Prophet Imran never despaired in the mercy of the Almighty. She knew that when the Almighty enters into a covenant with the righteous, He is faithful and bonded by His words. She knew that one measure of the treasure of faith is the extent to which we are ready to outstay the challenges which faith is putting us through. She knew the Almighty stands not in need of a child; she knew He has not yet said 'be' to the 'union' not because He is callously unwilling –fal iyadhbillah- but because He has a better plan for her, for him, for them. Would you wait for your Lord? Would you stand by and beside your creator? Would you wait for His plans for you? Would you be patient?

Eventually, she became pregnant. The wife of Prophet Imran (a.s) became pregnant. It happened with ease; it was like a play. Suddenly hope rose once again. Faith became strengthened by the power of faith. The wife of Prophet Imran reaped the fruit of standing by the Almighty. Thus she teaches this to me- those who stand by the Almighty are never let down in time of adversity.

Pushed more by faith and strengthened more by commitment she immediately made a vow: "I dedicate to you whatever is in my womb please accept it from me, You alone hear and knows all". In other words, long before the fetus became a child, the bearer of the womb had delivered her to her Creator. She had vowed to put the unborn child into the service of the Almighty in the monastery. The wife of Prophet Imran, cared less about what was in her womb; she cared more about what would become of it.

Invariably she put to bed. She said, as if she was telling her creator: "I have brought forth a female child" (Q3: 36). She probably expected a male; the Almighty gave her a female. She was given a female child because it is only the latter who could bear the burden of bringing a great man to the world. This is probably what the Almighty alludes to when He says: the Almighty knew very well what she had delivered" (Q3: 36). In other words, the wife of Prophet Imran wanted an heir, someone who would carry on and carry through the divine ordinance, the Almighty chose for her an 'heir' who was destined to bring forth to the world a wonder. Thus the moment the cord which binds the womb to the fetus was separated, she named the new child Maryam. She said: "I have named her Maryam and I seek Your protection for her and her children from the mischief of Satan, the accursed."[Q3:36]

 

Brethren, Maryam's sojourn in the monastery is marked by series of miracles which the Quran recalls with delight. Those miracles occurred as precursors to the fulfillment of her divine mission in life and on earth. For example, each time Prophet Zakarya enters the monastery with the intention to give her (Maryam) food, he finds in her presence enough meal to satiate her hunger. Each time he asks her "where did you get this?", Maryam would respond: "It is from the Almighty; He provides sustenance to whoever He wills without measure".

 

Having lived all her life in the sacred precinct of the monastery, Maryam became an exemplar in chastity and integrity. She was kept away from the social corruption and debauchery that were prevalent in the dissolute community in which she was born. She preserved her chastity at a time moral depravity was the order of the day. Ultimately and miraculously, the virgin girl, Maryam, became pregnant after she received the 'word' from the Almighty. She received the same "word" whose power and potency led to the creation of Prophet Adam out of nothing. She received the same word which led to the creation of Hawa (Eve) out of Prophet Adam (a.s). She received the same word which, by the will of the Almighty, has been leading to conception and population of the world by humans each time the male and female copulate.

 

Brethren, Maryam received the word and she became pregnant; the fetus came to the world as a male child, the child became a man, the man eventually became Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ).
"This is opprobrium" The Jews shouted. "This is impossible" they chorused. "In response she merely pointed towards the baby. They said: "How can we talk to a babe in the cradle?". Whereupon the baby spoke out: "I am indeed a servant of the Almighty. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. His blessing is with me wherever I go. He has commanded me to establish Salat (Muslim prayer) and give Zakah (charity to the poor) as long as I shall live. He has exhorted me to honor my mother and has not made me domineering, hard to deal with. Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I shall die and the Day I shall be raised to life again." Such was Jesus the son of Mary, and this is the True statement about him concerning which they are in doubt. (Q19:27-34).

 

Now dear brethren, the above speaks to the story behind the story of the birth of Prophet Isa (a.s). But the message he brought to the Jewish nation equally led to controversy. How could a man enjoin justice, egalitarianism and sincerity in the worship of the Almighty in a society where injustice, oppression of the poor and dishonesty were the very spirit of success. Thus, Jesus Christ became an enemy within. To hate him is to be popular; to seek to kill him is to show commitment to the hideous principles which undergird the then Jewish society. Ultimately, the Jewish authorities announced it had killed him on the cross. It is this event and his subsequent rising after the third day, both of which the Quran negates (Q4: 157-158) which informs the celebration of the Easter every year.

In other words, dear compatriots, Easter is associated with the belief in Christendom that Jesus Christ is the savior of humanity. Brethren, our Christian compatriots equally hold the belief that the Almighty God is Just and that in effect, it is incumbent on Him to punish every sin and every infraction of His laws. Brethren our Christian compatriots further hold that in order that humanity can have access to Heaven, in order to rescue humanity from the abyss of eternal damnation the Almighty sent the sinless Jesus Christ to the world and cause him to die on the cross as ransom for humanity and that only those who believe in and acknowledge this shall have eternal salvation. This belief is premised on yet another principle which is that no human being can live a good enough life to warrant entry into God's presence in heaven except through the redemptive blood of Jesus which was spilled, according to the Bible, on the cross. Without his death and resurrection the whole idea of Christianity becomes invalid.

On this occasion therefore due respect and reverence, in line with the Quranic injunction, is expected from Muslims for Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ). But what else other than reverence and respect is expected from you for a man who Islam equally regards as a savior, though not through a redemptive sacrifice. What else other than honour and reverence does Islam expects from Muslims for a man whose conduct and carriage call attention to other prophets of the Almighty all of who lived sinless lives and were torch-bearers of the highest moral standard for the whole of humanity. What else other than reverence do we expect from Muslims for Prophet Isa whose birth is Quranized as miraculous and one whose vocation is the invocation of miraculous ministrations?

In other words, contrary to the oft-celebrated conflictual interface between the cross and the crescent, there is unequivocal scriptural consensus between the Quran and the Bible around awesome aspects of Jesus life including his nature, birth by a chaste woman and his performance of miracles. Thus, the primary differences between Muslims and Christians about the historical Jesus are only his divinity and his death and by implication the idea or notion of salvation.

Thus while my Christians compatriots 'claim' Jesus as their savior, I affirm my belief in him too as a stakeholder in my spiritual world. In that sense, you could very well refer to me as a Muslim-Christian. But in referring to me as such, you would have to note that I am equally an Ibrahimian (believer in the message of Prophet Ibrahim, a.s), a Musaian (believer in the message of Prophet Musa, a.s) and a Nuhian (believer in the message of Prophet Nuh, a.s). While referring to me as a Muslim-Christian, dear sister, you are 'condemned', as it were, to yield space to my identity as a strict follower of the message brought by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). In other words, I lay claim to and identify with all the prophets and guides sent by the Almighty to the world as saviors, through their deliverance of God's messages to humanity. The universal message that all the prophets delivered and which instructs mankind about knowing and approaching God, distinguishing truth from falsehood, and distinguishing right from wrong actions, is what Muslims consider as the "Gospel" that Jesus delivered and that saves. The Quranic warrant for this posture can be found in Q2: 285 where the Almighty says: "The Messenger believes in the Guidance revealed to him from his Lord and so do the Believers. They all believe in the Almighty, His angels, His books and His Messengers. They say: "We do not discriminate against anyone of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear and we obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, O Lord; to You we shall all return".

 

In another portion of the Quran, the Almighty says in reference to what is expected of the Muslims in relation to other scriptures sent by the Almighty to the world: "Say: We believe in Allah and that which was revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes; and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord.  We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we are submitters" (Q3:84)

But one thing constantly catches my attention in the life of Prophet Isa on earth. First, he was said to have been questioned one day: "why don't you get married"? He responded, as usual with wisdom and decorum: "we prefer the plenitude of the hereafter". In other words, Prophet Isa never built a cathedral of materialism as is common in our world today. He never built mansions and estates all of which raise questions about our claim to faith in him and his ministry. He led a life which was tempered by the certainty of the ephemerality of life on earth and the eternity of life hereafter.

Or what other interpretation do you give to the Biblical reading that he rode a donkey to Jerusalem? Would Jesus Christ have purchased a private Jet were he to be alive today at a time his followers are wallowing in abject poverty? If indeed the Easter occupies the core of the Christian faith such should include the opportunity it provides for my compatriots to return to his eterrnal messages- of continence and contentment, of humility and piety, of love and compassion. Brother! If Jesus were to appear today, are you actually ready to meet with him?

Oladosu A. Afis Ph.D

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