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What did Jesus and Muhammad (peace be on them) have in common?

What do jesus and Muhammad have in ommon
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December 25, 2020
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I would like to make a comparison between what Allah Almighty sent Eesa and what Allah sent Muhammad (peace be on them).

Servants of Allah

When Allah Almighty talked about the miraculous birth of Eesa (peace be on him), He said:

قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا

He (Eesa) said, “I am the servant of Allah. He gave me the Scripture, and He made me a prophet. (19:30)

 When Allah referred to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) He said:

وَأَنَّهُ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًا

And when Allah’s servant stood up calling on Him, they almost fell on him in a mass. (72:19)

We see here that both prophets are referred to in the Quran as the ‘Abdullah’, the Servants of Allah. We too are servants of Allah, but there are different levels of this, with prophets and messengers at the highest level and then the righteous.

Blessed – mubarak

وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

And has made me blessed wherever I may be; and has enjoined on me prayer and charity, so long as I live. (9:31)

In the description of Esa Allah Almighty made him blessed wherever he goes.

And Allah Almighty made the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) mubarak (blessed) wherever he went. When we read his seerah we see this throughout it.

When Jabir bin Abdillah[i] had to repay his father’s debt when he passed away, he put barakah on his dates so that he was able to repay it.

Umm Ma’bad, whose tent he stopped at, during his migration from Makkah to Madinah, told her husband when he returned and asked who had visited them, that he was ‘al mubarak’, a blessed man. Even though she was not Muslim yet she could recognise that there was something special about him and later when she found out about Islam she accepted it.

Kindness and gentleness

Eesa (peace be on him) described his qualities, he was:

وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا

And kind to my mother, and He did not make me a disobedient rebel. (19:32)

Allah Almighty described the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) as also being gentle and kind. We see this quality which was one of his hallmarks, highlighted in the ayah:

Only through the Divine Mercy have you (Muhammad) been able to deal with your followers so gently. If you had been stern and hard-hearted, they would all have deserted you a long time ago. (3:159)

Bringers of peace

All prophets brought a message of peace and kindness. Eesa (peace be on him) said:

وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدْتُ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

And Peace is upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the Day I get resurrected alive.” (19:33)

Allah’s name is As Salam, our Islamic greeting is ‘asalamalaikum’, which means ‘peace upon you’. Jannah is called Dar as Salam – the place of peace, and Islam is a religion of peace.  

We see this encapsulated in the narration of Abdullah bin ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) saying:

“The true Muslim is the one whom the people are safe from his tongue and from his hand”. (Ahmad. Sahih narration)

Confirmation of the divine message

In the opening of Surat Al Imran, Allah Almighty says to Muhammad (peace be on him):

Alif. Lam. Meem. Allah. There is no god but He—the Living, the Eternal. He sent down to you the Book with the Truth, confirming what came before it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel. Aforetime, as guidance for humanity; and He sent down the Criterion. Those who reject Allah’s communications will have a severe punishment. Allah is Mighty, Capable of revenge. (3:1-4)

In Surat al Maidah, Allah says about Eesa (peace be on him):

وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنْجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

In their footsteps, We sent Jesus son of Mary, confirming the Torah that preceded him. And We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the Torah that preceded him, and guidance and counsel for the righteous. (5:46)

وَيُعَلِّمُهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ

And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. (3:48)

﴿٦﴾ وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ

And when Jesus son of Mary said, “O Children of Israel, I am Allah’s Messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and bringing the good news of a Messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he brought them the miracles, they said, “This is obvious magic.” (61:6)

All prophets of Allah have confirmed the message of the prophets before them; they do not create a new message, but are on the same page as previous prophets. They all continue the mission to spread the very same divine message which started with Adam and ended with Muhammad (peace be on them).

Sometimes in addition to confirming what Allah Almighty sent before them, they are given additions. Thus, Eesa did not abolish the Torah, but added the Injeel. The shariah (Divine law) is in the Torah and the Injeel brought some ease and relaxation of certain earlier rules.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) similarly confirmed what had been revealed before him – the Torah and Injeel and then brought the message of the Quran.

In Surat al Baqarah, Allah Almighty gave us insight into the dua of Ibrahim (peace be on him) when he said:

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

Our Lord, and raise up among them a messenger, of themselves, who will recite Your revelations to them, and will teach them the Book and Wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, the Wise.” (2:129)

﴿١٦٤﴾ لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

Allah has favoured the believers, as He raised up among them a messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His revelations, and purifying them, and teaching them the Scripture and Wisdom; while a foretime they were in obvious error. (3:164)

The message has come from the same source: from Allah Almighty.

Bringer of good news

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

And when Jesus son of Mary said, “O Children of Israel, I am God’s Messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and announcing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he showed them the miracles, they said, “This is obvious sorcery.” (61:6)

In this ayah, Allah Almighty calls Eesa (peace be on him) mubasshir – the spreader of good news

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا

We sent you as a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner.48:8.

 Anas ibn Malik reported the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) said

 “Make things easy and do not make things difficult. Give glad tidings and do not repulse them.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Again, we see the same divine light and concepts in both messages, because they came from Allah Almighty.

The meeting of the prophets

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) met Eesa and all the other prophets (peace be on them) during Isra’ wal Me’raj twice. First he led them all in salah in Palestine in Bayt al-Maqdis and then again, in the second heaven during the ascension to heaven, Muhammad (peace be on him) met Eesa and Yahya (peace be on them) and spoke to them.

The commonality between Jesus and Muhammad (peace be on them)

We see there are many things shared by the prophets of Allah Almighty. He called Eesa and Muhammad (peace be on them) both His servants, and He commanded them both to pray and give charity, which are the pillars of Islam.

Obedience We see their obedience in action. They do not rebel. but carried out Allah’s commands.

Eesa (peace be on him) was kind not only to his mother but people around him. And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was the promoter of kindness. As Aisha narrated, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him said):

“ Kindness will never be in anything but makes it better, and never be removed from anything but makes it worst. (Abu Dawoud)

Peace Both prophets promoted peace, which is the message of Islam.

Confirming and a continuation Both Eesa and Muhammad continued the divine mission, through the Gospel and Quran, which Muhammad (peace be on him) completed.

Bishara They were came to spread the good news of paradise for those who believe in Allah, are obedient to Him and do good deeds.

We too have to have this attribute of cheerfulness and optimism.

We ask Allah Almighty to lift the pandemic and deliver goodness to all of us. Ameen.

Shaykh Haytham Tamim – Thought for the Week 25th December 2020https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb4x9-5v7s8

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[i] Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansari:

My father was martyred on the day (of the Ghazwa) of Uhud and left six daughters and some debts to be paid. When the time of plucking the date-fruits came, I went to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! you know that my father was martyred on Uhud’s day and owed much debt, and I wish that the creditors would see you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Go and collect the various kinds of dates and place them separately in heaps”‘ I did accordingly and called him. On seeing him, the creditors started claiming their rights pressingly at that time. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw how they behaved, he went round the biggest heap for three times and sat over it and said, “Call your companions (i.e. the creditors).” Then he kept on measuring and giving them, till Allah cleared all my father’s debts. By Allah, it would have pleased me that Allah would clear the debts of my father even though I had not taken a single date to my sisters. But by Allah, all the heaps were complete, (as they were) and I looked at the heap where Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting and noticed as if not a single date had been taken thereof. (Bukhari)

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansari:

My father was martyred on the day (of the Ghazwa) of Uhud and left six daughters and some debts to be paid. When the time of plucking the date-fruits came, I went to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! you know that my father was martyred on Uhud’s day and owed much debt, and I wish that the creditors would see you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Go and collect the various kinds of dates and place them separately in heaps”‘ I did accordingly and called him. On seeing him, the creditors started claiming their rights pressingly at that time. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw how they behaved, he went round the biggest heap for three times and sat over it and said, “Call your companions (i.e. the creditors).” Then he kept on measuring and giving them, till Allah cleared all my father’s debts. By Allah, it would have pleased me that Allah would clear the debts of my father even though I had not taken a single date to my sisters. But by Allah, all the heaps were complete, (as they were) and I looked at the heap where Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting and noticed as if not a single date had been taken thereof. (Bukhari)

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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