The idiomatic style of the Holy Qur`ān describes those who refuse to accept the Divine message [(Surah An-Naml 27:81), (Surah Fatir 35:23), (Surah Al-Anfal 8:25)] as ‘dead’ and depicts the believers as ‘alive’ (Surah Ya-Sin 36:71) even if they are killed in the way of Allāh (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155). Unfortunately, non-Ahmadi Muslim scholars interpret these verses as literally and against the firm verses of the Holy Qur`ān.

While interpreting these verses, the earlier Muslim commentators neglect the inviolable Divine law that, dead are never sent back to this world and that those, who pass away from this world, pass away forever, [(Surah Al-Anbiya 21:96), (Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:100-101), (Surah Ya-Sin 36:32), (Surah Az-Zumar 39:43)].

DIED FOR HUNDRED YEARS

They contend that, according to the verse (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:260) of the Holy Qur`ān, Allāh caused a Prophet to die for a hundred years and then raised him again.

The real fact of this story is that in 586 BC Prophet Ezekiel passed by the ruins of Jerusalem, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Saddened over this situation, he asked God when this city shall be revived again. God showed him in a dream that after 100 years, Jerusalem shall be rebuilt. This vision is also mentioned in the Bible (Ezekiel-37). The Holy Qur`ān sometimes mentions scenes seen in a vision as if they had actually happened, without stating that they were witnessed in a vision or dream e.g., (Surah Yusuf 12:5).

Causing him to die and then raising him was not the answer to his question. He asked about the revival of the city and it was showed to him in the vision that Jerusalem shall be rebuilt in 100 years. This vision came to fulfillment. Pointing towards his food, which was still fresh, and donkey, which was still alive, shows that he did not remain dead for 100 years.

SLAUGHTERED BIRDS RAISED

Unfortunately, the verse (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261) is also literally interpreted, as if Prophet Ibrahīm ^as asked about revival of physical dead. It is stated that Prophet Ibrahīm ^as actually slaughtered and minced the birds and then God raised those birds to life again to show him how God revives the dead.
What actually happened is that Prophet Ibrahīm ^as asked God how these spiritually dead people shall be raised to life. God asked him to take four birds and attach them to himself. He was then told to put each of them on a hill and call them. They shall come to him in haste. In this way God taught him to have an intimate relationship with people, and then invite them towards God. Then people shall respond to his call. The Arabic word “Fasurhunna used in this verse is followed by the preposition- ilaika”, which gives it the meaning ‘to attach’ not ‘to slaughter’. No one slaughters meat ‘towards’ him.

PEOPLE OF THE CAVE

Likewise, the story of the people of cave is also presented as another strange phenomenon of revival of dead and many fantastic legends have been woven around them. However, the verse (Surah Al-Kahf 18:10) declares the Dwellers of the Cave to be no novel or out of the ordinary thing but as only one of the so many Signs of God. There was nothing about them which might be considered a departure from the ordinary laws of nature.

It is a well-known historical fact that for 300 years early Christians had to suffer untold persecutions at the hands of the idolatrous Roman Emperors for their belief in the Oneness of God. It continued intermittently till the reign of the Emperor Constantine who converted to Christianity and made it the religion of the State.

To save them from this most cruel and inhuman persecution the helpless Christians had to seek refuge in catacombs found around Rome, Alexandria and some other places. They had their dogs sit at the entrance of the caves as guards and caution them whenever they feel any danger. This throws light over the love of Christian nations for dogs.

Contrary to this claim, the Holy Qur`ān and Hadīth prove that the ascension of the Holy Prophet <sup>sa</sup> was spiritual and not physical. Many ahadīth also prove that al-Isra and M`erāj are two separate incidents. The incident of M`erāj happened in 5<sup>th</sup> year of his prophet-hood at the time when the Holy Prophet <sup>sa</sup> was sleeping in Ka`aba. Whereas, the Isra incident happened in 11^th year of Prophet-hood while the Holy Prophet ^sa was sleeping in his cousin Umm-e-Hānī’s ^ra home. The fact that he was sleeping in both cases clearly demonstrates that these incidents were spiritual and not physical.

NOT EYES BUT HEART SAW

If the Holy Prophet ^sa had ascended physically, he would have seen God with his physical eyes. But the Holy Qur`ān and Hadīth mentions that he saw God through his heart.

“The heart of the Prophet lied not in seeing what he saw.” (53:12)

“And We made not the Vision which We showed thee but as a trial for men…” (17:61)

“Ibn-e-Abbas ^ra relates that the Holy Prophet ^sa saw Allah two times through his heart.” (Muslim Kitab-ul-Īman)

Hadhrat Ayesha ^ra says:

“Whosoever thinks that Prophet Muhammad ^sa saw his Lord, he surely attributed a great lie on God…Haven’t you heard that Allāh says that the eyes do not reach Him but He reaches the eyes.” (Muslim Kitab-ul-Īman – Book of Faith)

DEMAND OF MAKKAN DISBELIEVERS

Disbelievers of Makka said to the Holy Prophet ^sa that they wouldn’t believe him unless he ascended to the heavens and then descend a book upon them. Upon this demand, Allāh asked the Holy Prophet ^sa to tell them that Allāh is free from any defect.  It means that He has not ever raised anyone physically to the heavens and that the Holy Prophet ^sa is nothing but a human and a Prophet. Therefore, if non-Ahmadi Muslims consider Jesus Christ ^as to have ascended physically to the heavens, then they must believe that he is not a human and a Messenger.

“…or you ascend up into heaven; and we will not believe in your ascension until you send down to us a Book that we can read.’ Say, ‘Holy is my Lord! I am but a mortal sent as a Messenger.’ (17:94)

SLEPT IN KA`ABA—WOKE UP IN KA`ABA

The following hadīth mentioned in Bukhari categorically proves that this journey was spiritual. In the beginning this hadīth states that the Holy Prophet ^sa was sleeping in Ka`aba and it ends with the words that when he woke-up, he was still in Ka`aba. This shows that the whole vision was seen by his heart that was awake while his eyes were sleeping.

“And he was sleeping in Ka`aba…His heart was awake but his eyes were sleeping but his heart was not sleeping…and when he woke-up, he was in Ka`aba.” (Bukhari Kitab-ul-Tauheed)

HIS BODY DID NOT DISAPPEAR

Hadhrat Ayesha ^ra states, swearing to God, that during M`eraaj, the body of the Holy Prophet ^sa did not disappear.

“By God, the body of the Holy Prophet ^sa did not disappear, but he was raised spiritually. (Tafseer Kashāf)

Ibrahīm ^as—a Jew or a Christian

O People of the Book! Why do you dispute concerning Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Will you not then understand? (3:66)

In this verse Allāh draws the attention of Jews and Christians by mentioning a principle that religious groups are formed after the revelation of a Divine Book. Thus Jewish and Christian communities came into being after the revelation of the Torah and the Gospel. Whereas Ibrahīm ^as was before the revelation of the Torah and the Gospel, i.e., before the formation of Jewish and Christian communities. Thus he could not be considered a member of both of these groups.

Ibrahīm as—a Member of Noah’s ^as Group

And, verily, of his party was Abraham; (37:84)

As both Prophet Moses ^as and Prophet Jesus ^as came after Prophet Ibrahīm ^as, thus he cannot be considered as member of Jewish and Christian communities. However, according to the above verse, he came after Prophet Noah ^as, thus declared a member of Noah’s ^as community.

The Desire of Prophet Moses ^as
In the following Hadīth, it is mentioned that Prophet Moses ^as expressed his desire to become a member of Muslim Ummah. This desire was not accepted by Allāh on the ground that Prophet Moses ^as is before the formation of Muslim Ummah that shall be formed, after two thousand years, with the revelation of the Holy Qur`ān. Thus the same obstacle for Prophet Moses <sup>as</sup> to become a member of Muslim Ummah is for Prophet Jesus <sup>as</sup>. Thus, he cannot become a member of the Muslim Ummah which came into being with the revelation of the Holy Qur`ān, after six hundred years of his time.

“Abu Na`eem related in “Hulya” from Anas ^ra that the Holy Prophet ^sa said that Allāh revealed to Prophet Moses ^as that I shall throw all those in hell who come to me in a state that they rejected Ahmad ^sa. Prophet Moses ^as asked, O God, who is Ahmad? Allāh said that he is the best amongst all the creatures and I wrote his name on throne before the creation of heaven and earth and none of my creatures can enter Paradise unless they become member of his Ummah. Prophet Moses ^as requested that O God, appoint me a Prophet of this Ummah. Allāh said that their Prophet shall be from amongst them. Prophet Moses ^as again requested that then make me a member of this Ummah. Allāh said that you are before them and they shall be after you, but I shall join you in the House of My Majesty.” (Al-Khasaisul Kubrā by Allamā Jalāluddin Al-Sayyūtī; & Nashr-ut-Tīb Fī Zikr-un-Nabī Alhabīb, by Ashraf Alī Thanvī)

More on this topic in Jesus – a humble prophet of God