Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (2/274)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

something that could have proceeded only from one whom Allah had supported and through whose hands He caused a miraculous sign to appear in confirmation of his truthfulness; they therefore submitted at once and without the least hesitation (1).

In the same manner, Jesus son of Mary was sent in an age dominated by natural-philosopher sages. He was thus endowed with miracles they could neither perform nor fathom. How could any physician cure a person born blind—a condition even worse than ordinary blindness—or heal the leper, the one ravaged by advanced leprosy, or anyone suffering from a chronic disease? And how could any created being raise the dead from their graves? Everyone realises that such feats are unmistakable miracles proving the honesty of the one through whom they were manifested and the power of the One who sent him.

Likewise, Muhammad—may blessings and peace be upon him and upon them all—was sent in an era of consummate orators and masters of eloquence. Allah therefore revealed to him the majestic Qur’an about which He says, “Falsehood can never come to it, neither from before it nor from behind it; a revelation from One All-Wise, Praiseworthy” (Fussilat: 42). Its very diction is miraculous; through it Allah challenged mankind and jinn to produce something like it (2), or ten chapters of its like (3), or even a single chapter (4). He then declared categorically that they would never be able to do so—neither now nor ever—“but if you do not do so—and you will never do so.” This is because it is the speech of the Creator—glorified and exalted is He—and nothing resembles Him, neither in His Essence, nor in His attributes, nor in His actions.

To sum up: when Jesus (peace be upon him) had presented the proofs and evidences, most of the people persisted in disbelief, misguidance, obstinacy, and tyranny. Allah therefore chose from among them a righteous band who became his helpers and supporters; they followed him, aided him, and offered him sincere counsel. This occurred when the Children of Israel conspired against him and informed certain kings of that time, who resolved to kill and crucify him. Allah, however, delivered him from them, raised him up to Himself while he was still among them, and cast his likeness upon one of his disciples. They seized that man, killed him, and crucified him, thinking he was Jesus. In this they erred and knowingly rejected the truth, and many Christians afterwards accepted the claim the Jews had made. Both groups were in error.

Allah the Exalted says:
“ They plotted, and Allah plotted; and Allah is the best of planners. ”

He also says:
“And [remember] when Jesus son of Mary said, ‘O Children of Israel, I am indeed the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what is before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a Messenger who will come after me whose name is Ahmad.’ Yet when he came to them with clear signs they said, ‘This is manifest sorcery.’ (6) Who is more unjust than one who forges a lie against Allah while he is being invited to Islam? Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. (7) They wish to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even though the disbelievers detest it.”

He then says afterwards: “O you who believe, be Allah’s helpers, just as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, ‘Who are my helpers toward Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are Allah’s helpers.’ So a company from the Children of Israel believed…”

(1) Tala’thum: hesitation. (2) Allah says in Surah al-Isra (17:88): “Say, ‘If mankind and jinn were to assemble to produce the like of this Qur’an, they would not produce the like of it, even if they were helpers to one another.’” (3) Allah says in Surah Hud (11:13): “Or do they say, ‘He has fabricated it’? Say, ‘Then bring ten surahs like it, fabricated, and call upon whomever you can besides Allah, if you are truthful.’” (4) He (Exalted be He) says in Surah al-Baqarah (2:23–24): “And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a surah like it and call upon your witnesses besides Allah, if you are truthful. And if you do not—and you will never be able to—then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.”

الذي لا يمكن صدوره إلّا عَمَّنْ أيده الله وأجرى الخارق على يديه تصديقًا له، أسلموا سراعًا ولم يتلعثموا (١) . وهكذا عيسى ابن مريم بُعث في زمن الطبائعية الحكماء، فأُرسل بمعجزات لا يستطيعونها ولا يهتدون إليها، وأنى لحكيم إبراء الأكْمَه الذي هو أسوأ حالًا من الأعمى والأبرص والمجذوم ومن به مرضٌ مزمن؟! وكيف يتوصل أحدٌ من الخلق إلى أنْ يقيم الميت من قبره؟! هذا مما يعلم كلُّ أحد أنه معجزة دالة على صدق من قامت به وعلى قدرة من أرسله. وهكذا محمد ﷺ وعليهم أجمعين بُعث في زمن الفصحاء البلغاء، فأنزل الله عليه القرآن العظيم الذي ﴿لَا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ﴾ [فصلت: ٤٢] ، فلفظه معجز تحدّى به الإنس والجن أن ياتوا بمثله (٢) ، أو بعشر سور من مثله (٣) ، أو بسور (٤) ، وقطع عليهم بأنهم لا يقدرون لا في الحال ولا في الاستقبال (فإن لم يفعلوا ولن يفعلوا) وما ذاك إلا لأنه كلام الخالق – Exalté soit-Il – ، والله تعالى لا يشبهه شيء لا في ذاته ولا في صفاته ولا في أفعاله. والمقصود أن عيسى (عليه السلام) لما أقام عليهم الحجج والبراهين استمر أكثرهم على كفرهم وضلالهم وعنادهم وطغيانهم، فانتدب له من بينهم طائفة صالحة، فكانوا له أنصارًا وأعوانًا قاموا بمتابعته ونصرته ومناصحته، وذلك حين هَمَ به بنو إسرائيل ووشَوا به إلى بعض ملوك ذلك الزمان، فعزموا على قتله وصلبه، فأنفذه الله منهم ورفعه إليه من بين أظهرهم، وألقى شبهه على أحد أصحابه، فأخذوه فقتلوه وصلبوه وهم يعتقدونه عيسى، وهم في ذلك غالطون وللحق مكابرون، وسَلَّم لهم كثيرٌ من النصارى ما ادّعوه، وكلا الفريقين في ذلك مخطئون. قال تعالى: ﴿وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ﴾. وقال تعالى: ﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَابَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ (٦) وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَى إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ (٧) يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾ إلى أن قال بعد ذلك: ﴿يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي

(١) التلعثم: الانتظار. (٢) قال الله تعالى في سورة الإسراء (٨٨): ﴿قُلْ لَئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا﴾. (٣) قال ﷿ في سورة هود (١٣): ﴿أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ﴾. (٤) قال (تعالى) في سورة البقرة (٢٣ - ٢٤): ﴿وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (٢٣) فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَنْ تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ﴾.