Correspondence: Jesus Died a Natural Death
by Muhammad Manzur Ilahi
The Light (Pakistan), 1st June 1922 Issue (Vol. 1, No. 12, p. 3)
To:
The Editor
The Light
Dear Sir,
With reference to Mr Thaffar’s article in your issue of 15th May, I request the hospitality of your columns for the publication of these few lines.
M. Thaffar’s contention that the verse
“ma qatalu hu wa ma salabu hu”
negatives the assertion of the Jews that Jesus [AS] was nailed to the cross is rather surprising. These words only contradict his having expired on the cross as a result of being nailed to it.
The meaning of the verse
“Ya Isa inni Muta Waffika”
should be read in the light of the verse (The Holy Quran, 5:117):
“Falamma Tawaffaitani Kunta antar rakiba alai him” (and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the Watcher over them).
This verse is a conclusive proof that Jesus [AS] died a natural death, and he is not now alive in heaven, as is the theoretic belief of the Christians and the supposition of many Muslims, because, here, Jesus [AS] says that so long as he was among his followers he was a witness of their condition, and he did not find them holding the belief in his and his mother’s divinity. The logical conclusion of this statement is that the false doctrine of his divinity was introduced into the Christian faith after his death; after
“Thou didst cause me to die.”
A saying of the Holy Prophet [pbuh] is recorded in Bukhari, in which he speaks concerning himself in the very words which are here put into the mouth of Jesus [AS]. He said that he would be shown on the Day of Resurrection some men who had gone against his teachings, and
“I would say what the righteous servant said: I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the Watcher over them.”
This saying shows clearly that it was after the death of both Jesus [AS] and the Holy Prophet [pbuh] that their followers perverted their teachings.
Compare John 17:3:
“and this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent”;
and John 17:12:
“while I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name.”
This verse (5:117) conclusively settles the meaning of Muta Waffi ka.
As regards,
“I withheld the Children of Israil from you,”
it should be read with
“Allah will protect you from the people” (The Holy Quran, 5:67).
In spite of this promise, the Holy Prophet [pbuh] was persecuted by his enemies and at last had to flee to Medina [Madina], He was also called an enchanterer, forger, and poet (The Holy Quran, 21:1-5).
[Muhammad] Manzur Ilahi
Lahore
20 May 1922