Did Jesus (pbuh) Die?

Did Jesus (pbuh) Die?

Article:

In one of his articles[1]

Mr. Jochen Katz has pointed out a contradiction in Al-Nisaa 4: 157 –

158 and Aal Imraan 3: 144.

Al-Nisaa 4: 157 – 158 read as:

And because they say: ‘We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary – the

messenger of God’. And they did not kill him neither did they crucify him

but the matter was rendered into confusion for them. And those, who differ

therein are in doubts about it, they do not have any knowledge of it, they

follow aught but conjecture, but they did not kill him, for sure. On the

contrary, God raised him up to Him. And God is indeed Mighty, Wise.

While Aal Imraan 3: 144 reads as:

And Muhammad is only a messenger of God; messengers have gone by before

him.

According to Mr. Katz, Aal Imraan 3: 144

implies that all the messengers, who came before Muhammad have died already.

While, to the contrary, Al-Nisaa 4: 157 – 158 implies that Jesus (pbuh)

God raised Jesus (pbuh) to Himself, while He was still alive, which, in turn,

implies that Jesus (pbuh) is not yet dead[2].

Thus, according to Mr. Katz, the two referred verses entail two contradictory

implications.

Even if it is accepted that Aal Imraan 3:

144 entails the implication, which Mr. Katz has mentioned, it is quite clear

that Al-Nisaa 4: 157 – 158 does not say that God raised Jesus (pbuh),

while he was still alive. There is no reason to assume that Jesus (pbuh) was

still alive, when God raised him up. In fact, Aal Imraan 3: 55 clearly

declares that before God raised Jesus (pbuh) up to Him, He caused Jesus (pbuh)

to die. Aal Imraan 3: 55 reads as:

When God said: ‘Jesus, I shall

cause you to die and raise you up to Myself.

I am sure this would clarify the issue for the

readers[3].

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April 2001. All Rights Reserved with the Author