The True Mission of Jesus Christ; the Islamic Perspective

The true mission of Jesus Christ from the Islamic perspective is that like every other prophet before him, he was sent to emphasise the worship and Oneness of Allah as the Lord of the world and the only One worthy of being worshipped.

Allah said in Surah An-Nisa (The Women) Chapter 4, Verse 163-164 about the messengers (prophets) He sent to mankind thus:

163:“We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it To Noah and the messengers after him: We sent inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms.”

164:“Of some messengers We have already told thee the story; of others We have not; and to Moses Allah spoke direct.”

Islam believes that Jesus Christ’s mission was to the children of Israel.  Note the quotation in Verse 163 above;“...And the tribes to Jesus...”  Moses was sent to the children of Israel with the Torah before Jesus.  There are twelve tribes of the children of Israel as confirmed by Allah in Surat Al-A’araf (The Heights) Chapter 7, Verse 159-160:

159:“Of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice In the light of truth.”

160:“We divided them into twelve tribes or nations; We directed Moses by Inspirations, when his thirsty people asked him for water; “strike the Rock with thy staff” out of it there gushed forth twelve springs. Each group knew its own place for water.  We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails, (saying): “eat of the good things We have provided for you”: (But they rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls.

Allah (SWT) informed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the Qur’an about the mission of Jesus Christ to the children of Israel in Surat Al-Imran (The Descendants of Al-Imran), Chapter 3, Verse 48-51:

48:“And Allah will teach him the book and wisdom; the Torah and the Gospel”

49:“And (appoint him) a messenger to the children of Israel, (with this message): “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave; and I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I bring the dead into life by Allah’s leave: and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses.  Surely therein is a sign for you if ye did believe”

50:“(I have come to you), to attest to the Torah which was before me; and to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord.  So fear Allah and obey me.

51:It is Allah who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him.  This is a way that is straight”

The Holy Bible confirms the true mission of Jesus Christ in the following instances: When he came into Jerusalem in fulfilment of a prophesy of his status as a prophet of Allah, it was confirmed in Matthew 21:11 thus: “And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee”.

In Luke 2:32, Simeon described the child Jesus as: “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel’’. 

The same Simeon in Luke 2:34 said to Mary mother of Jesus thus: “...Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against”.

In answer to his disciples about a woman who came to him seeking help for her daughter that was afflicted with a devil, Jesus said in Matthew 15:24: “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.

In conformity with the Qur’anic verses about the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, Jesus had 12 disciples chosen for each tribe as stated in Matthew 10:5-7: “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not”: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; And as ye go, preach, saying , The kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

In answer to Peter in Matthew 19:28, it was reported: “And Jesus said unto them, verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon the twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel”.

From the Qur’anic verses and the indisputable quotations of the Holy Bible above, Islam concludes that Jesus was a prophet of Allah sent not to the whole world but to the children of Israel.  This conclusion is further buttressed by Jesus’ action of choosing all his twelve disciples from the twelve tribes of Israel.

Islamic Sharia Law

Most non-Muslims and even some Muslims do not know what the Islamic Sharia Law is all about. A Christian colleague of mine thinks that Islamic Sharia Law is only about mutilating people’s limbs for stealing or killing people for committing fornication.

What really is the Islamic Sharia Law?  According to an Islamic Scholar, Salah Al-Sawy, the word ‘Sharia’ refers to all that Allah ordained for His creation concerning religion whether it relates to acts of worship, transactions, or ethical matters.  It also refers to laws concerning actions as opposed to those referring to beliefs.

From another perspective, Sharia is all about Islamic rulings in Islamic jurisprudence as it relates to Muslims ‘actions.  It covers every aspect of human life right from birth dealing with dos and don’ts as ordained by Allah (SWT) and the reward for dos and punishment for don’ts. It simply means all that is expected of a Muslim is to desist from the don’ts and observe the dos.

On the other hand, there are rights prescribed by Allah (SWT) under the Sharia Law for protection of not only Muslims but also of non-Muslims.  The Sharia Law doctrine revolves around protecting and safe-guarding the following:

-          One’s religion;

-          One’s life;

-          One’s mind;

-          One’s honour and;

-          One’s wealth

In preserving one’s religion, Sharia give people the right to choose their religion. In the Qur’an verse 2 chapter 256, Allah (SWT) says:

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path.”

It is therefore a matter of choice what religion one chooses there is no compulsion to be a Muslim however, once you decide on being one, there is no going back.  The Sharia Law protects the right of non-Muslims living within the Islamic community to practice the religion of their choice giving them freedom to practice their faith and to judge according to their rulings concerning personal law.

Secondly, in preserving one’s life, the Sharia Law protects the individual’s life by declaring manslaughter and murder to be unlawful and enforces Islamic legislation with deterrent sentences so as to discourage the act.

Thirdly, in protecting one’s wealth, Sharia urges people to invest rather than hoard their money.  It also prohibits taking other people’s money by dubious means or by force (theft or armed robbery).  It declares that no one has any right over his brother’s money except that which was given to him by consent.

Fourthly, in protecting one’s mind, the Sharia declares alcoholic drinks and all sorts of intoxicants as unlawful.  It is not only the drinking of alcohol or using these intoxicants that is prohibited but also the selling and buying of such prohibited substances.

Finally, the Sharia Law protects one’s honour and posterity by prohibiting fornication and all kinds of perverse vices like sodomy and lesbianism.  It also prevents the act of unlawful sex by urging marriage.

This my dear brothers and sisters is an abridged discourse on Sharia Law to clear the minds of ‘doubting Thomases’ who think the Islamic Sharia Law is abhorrent because of the harshness of deterrent sentences in respect of unlawful sex and theft.

In 1999, the erstwhile Governor of Zamfara, in northern Nigeria now Senator, Ahmed Yerima introduced Sharia Law in that State. The media particularly from Southern Nigeria began a crusade condemning him for persecuting Christians living in Zamfara.  I read an article by a biased journalist who claimed that Christians were denied the right to buy land to build churches in Zamfara.  If that were so then Yerima would have been guilty of violating the Islamic Sharia Law which allows people to practice whatever faith they choose, as I mentioned earlier in this discourse.  As we speak today Christians are living peacefully in Zamfara going about their business without any fear of persecution while the Islamic Sharia Law is still active in the State.

Islamic Sharia Law in the Bible

When I discussed the topic: “Islamic Sharia Law” in this Forum, I was ignorant of the fact that there are also some aspects of the Sharia in the Holy Bible until a friend e-mailed this most remarkable discovery. 

As a student of comparative religion, I am always interested in new developments that are supported with facts and figures. I checked out all the quotations he sent me in my copy of the Holy Bible and was pleased to confirm their authenticity.  I therefore equally studied the Holy Qur’an to find comparable quotations to support that of the Bible.

As I said in my earlier discourse, most non-Muslims and even some Muslims do not know what the Islamic Sharia Law is all about.  A Christian colleague of mine thinks that Islamic Sharia Law is only about mutilating people’s limbs for stealing or killing people for committing fornication and behold it has now come to light that even the Bible approves of severe punishment for murder and adultery.  Its own concept is even more severe than that of the Qur’an.

In my earlier discourse, I also defined what the Islamic Sharia Law is according to Islamic doctrines.  The word ‘Sharia’ simply refers to all that Allah ordained for His creation concerning religion whether it relates to acts of worship, transactions, or ethical matters.  It also refers to laws concerning actions as opposed to those referring to beliefs.  In line with this definition, below are areas that border on worship, transactions and ethical issues:

Adultery

On adultery, the Bible said in Leviticus 20:10 that:

“And the man that commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death”. The verses run up to 16 but we are only taking verse 10 to elucidate (see other quotations in Exodus 21:15-25).

In comparison, the Qur’an is silent on the punishment for adultery. The punishment is however, laid down in the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as stoning of the adulterous parties to death.  

On the other hand, in the Qur’an Allah (SWT) specified punishment for fornication (sex between unmarried couples) in Surah An-Nur (The Light) 24:2: “The woman and the man guilty of fornication – flog with a hundred lashes and do not be taken by pity for them in a matter prescribed by Allah if you believe in Allah and the Last Day.  And let a group of believers witness their punishment”. 

This punishment is meant to serve as a deterrent to the society to avoid unlawful sex that is why people are required to witness it.

Murder

On the issue of murder, the Bible said in Leviticus 24:17: “And he that kills any man shall surely be put to death”. (See Exodus 21:15-25 on punishment for murder).

In the Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah (The Heifer) 2:178 Allah says: “O you who believe! Prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered – the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But whoever overlooks from his brother (that is; the killer), anything then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him (that is; the deceased’s heir or legal representative) with good conduct. This is a concession from your Lord and a mercy.  But whoever transgresses after that will have a painful punishment”.

Mixing Tradition with Religion

This issue refers to the many mistakes both Christians and Muslims make in using tradition where it suits them and ignoring God’s commandments. For instance in the cases of marriage and burial in Nigeria, some of the traditions include fetishes not approved by either of the religions. 

The Bible vehemently abhors tradition as reflected in Matthew 15:1-6: “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharises, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they was not their hands when they eat bread.  But he answered and said unto them, why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death.  But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother; he shall be free.  Thus have you made the commandment of God of non effect by your tradition”.

Many Christians particularly from Southern Nigeria, prefer traditional marriages and burial ceremonies over and above the doctrines of the Bible. Many Muslims also favour traditions in matters of marriage and naming ceremonies in contradiction to the Qur’an.

In the Koran, Surah Al-Maidah (The Table Spread) Allah says: “When it is said to them: “Come to what Allah has revealed; come to the Messenger”: They say: “Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following”.  What! Even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?”. 

Worshiping Jesus as the Lord, God

Leviticus 26:1: “You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God”. (See Exodus 20:1-5 for other references).

The Roman Catholic faith of the Christian religion approves of erecting idols of Jesus (PBUH) and Mary in all their churches and they kneel to these idols in worship in direct contradiction to the above Holy quotations of the Bible.  Some churches also approve a caricature of Jesus in the form of the cross, paintings and photographs while no one can authoritatively prove that the images going round in the world is that of Jesus (PBUH).  Jesus was a Jew not an European but the artist’s impression of images purportedly being touted resembles that of an European rather than a Jew. 

These caricatures and images are mere conjecture and imagination that the Catholics ascribe as partners to Allah.  You only kneel to God in supplication. Allah said in the Qur’an Surah Yunus (Jonah) 10:36: “But most of them follow nothing but conjecture: truly conjecture can be of no avail against truth.  Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do”.  In Surah Al-Qasas (The Narration) 28:62 Allay says: “That Day (Allah) will Call to them, and say: “Where are My partners?”- Whom you imagined (to be such)?”.