How Muslims View Easter

[xchrom]

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/04/how-muslims-view-easter.html



Jesus didn’t die on the cross. He was born of a virgin, but he isn’t the son of God. He did not redeem the sins of humankind. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead. He spoke complete sentences even as an infant in the cradle, announcing to his mother, Mary, that God had granted him the scripture and made him a prophet. Jesus is neither almighty nor eternal. Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is a Muslim.

This is the Jesus of the Koran. Ninety-three of its verses refer to him—more than any other prophet save Muhammad—and the Koranic account of Jesus’ life harmonizes with the Gospels in more particulars than even many Muslims realize. My wife is a Muslim with years of madrassa education behind her, but when I mentioned Jesus’ virgin birth to her she was skeptical. “Does the Koran really say that?” she asked. I started to look it up, but five seconds later she waved me off. “Don’t bother,” she said, “I found it on Wikipedia.” And so it was written.

With Easter on the way, I became curious about what the Koran has to say about the crucifixion. I called an imam I know, Ibrahim Sayar, and we got together over glasses of Turkish tea. Sayar does a lot of interfaith work, much of which involves getting people from different religions together to eat kebabs. In the company of Christians, he said, mentioning the status of Jesus in Islam can be a great icebreaker. “I always tell people, there are millions of Muslims named after Jesus and Mary—we call them Isa and Mariam,” he said. “Nobody names their children after someone they don’t like.”

In Islam, he emphasized, “believing in Jesus is an absolute requirement. If you don’t believe in him, you’re automatically not a Muslim.” According to the hadith—sayings of the Prophet, second only to the Koran in Islamic authority—Jesus was assumed into heaven, and will return at the end of time in the east of Damascus, his hands resting on the shoulders of two angels. When it sees him, the Antichrist will dissolve like salt in water, and Jesus will rule the earth for forty years. What Muslims don’t believe, though, is that Jesus died on the cross. It’s spelled out quite clearly, Sayar said, in the Koran’s fourth Sura, verse 157: “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him.”

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/04/how-muslims-view-easter.html#ixzz1rSDOjXyD

[Hepburn]

1. Thanks for the explanations.

I found this very interesting -- and learned some new things. KnR

[mia]

2. Thanks for sharing this.

I had no idea that Muslims claim Jesus as one of their own.

[Bohunk68]

3. The bit about not dieing

on the cross? The Gnostics have the same belief. Thanks for the posting. Very intresting.

[Brickbat]

8. Welcome to DU!

As a fellow Bohunk, I love your name.

[Bohunk68]

19. Well,

Thank you Brickbat. Was called that a lot by my step-family when I was just a wee lad. I was the dark one in the family of Anglos. Which is amusing because I actually look like my mother's Anglo side of the family and have the Luces coloration.

[The Magistrate]

9. That Is Probably Where It Came From, Sir

The composition of the Koran post-dating the Gnostic traditions by some years.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Given the choice, I would probably be a Gnostic today,

but there aren't too many Gnostic churches around, at least in Anchorage.

[The Magistrate]

14. You Might Find Some Elements Tricky, Sir

Most Gnostic sects held a view that matter, the material realm, was evil entire, and spirit the sole abode of good.

[Bohunk68]

18. True that is.

The Cathars were just about the same as the Gnostics in their belief systems. They were wiped out in the Albigensian Crusade. The Gnostics also thought that the current God was an evil god and should not be worshipped. When we look to the early church, the beliefs are wide-ranging until Connie decided to exercise mind-control. I have a copy of The Other Bible, edited by Willis Barnstone c. 2005. It doesn't have the Gospels of Mary or Judas in it, but it has a lot of the other Gospels. Interesting reading. You can readily see where Manicheanism comes from.

[stonecutter357]

4. K&R...

[Swede Atlanta]

5. Wow...I had no idea........

Thanks for posting. I have a copy of the Koran but I have never taken the time to delve into it. I am still working my way through my study Bible and keep getting stuck on passages that I then spend weeks researching for commentary and explanation.

[riverbendviewgal]

6. This is a very concise and informative article

I found it helpful in understanding the Muslim interpretation.

[treestar]

7. Very interesting

Muslims and Christians should get together more often to discuss this. Discussing how many angels dance on the head of a pin is much better than killing each other.

[Igel]

11. An yet a propensity for the former

ultimately led to the latter.

I often wonder what would have happened if Byzantium had been stronger and not sapped by this kind of effete gibberish.

[Arugula Latte]

10. Interesting

but it all once again makes me so glad I don't buy into any of this religious nonsense.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I've had good discussions with my Muslim son-in-law about this.

I have to admit to being somewhat clueless before he became a part of our family. We did get Easter greetings from the kids today, even though I haven't been much of a practicing Christian for some time, and I feel certain the grandchildren got Easter baskets or at least a special egg or two.

[blaze]

15. Thanks for the link! Very interesting read. nt

[vaberella]

16. That's why I love Islam so much.

Such a rich religion that encompasses both judaic and Catholic beliefs.

[cali]

17. that's so interesting. thanks for posting it.