The Essence of the Purification of Jesus in Verses Fifty-Five of Aal-Imran

Document Type : Academicm and Research

Authors

1 Professor, Research Institute of Hawzah and University (RIHU), Qom, Iran

2 Ph.D. Graduate, Quran and Hadith Sciences, Visiting Professor, Farhangian University, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

Verse fifty-five of the Aal-Imran Chapter indicates the purification of Jesus (peace be upon him) by God: “…and purify you of those who disbelieve.” What is the meaning of this purification and what views exist in this regard? With the aim of explaining what this purification is through the method of comparative exegesis, the present paper seeks to study the view of exegetes about the purification of Jesus and present the adopted view based on Quranic evidence and some Jewish and Christian sources. By emphasizing that Jesus was not killed and crucified, the Quran shows that what is attributed to Jesus is unjust. The Jews had accused him of illegitimacy of birth, disbelief, witchcraft, and heresy, and believed that the punishment for these accusations was to be killed, and they insisted that they killed him. The Quran, in contrast, has purified him from these unjust accusations through different expressions, including by insisting on him not having been killed and crucified

Highlights

Introduction

In verse fifty-five of the Aal-Imran Chapter, the purification of Jesus (peace be upon him) is mentioned, and this purification has come beside the words tuwaffa and rafʿ. Given the correlation of tuwaffa (to cause to die) and rafʿ (ascension) with this purification, they must have a connection with the purification. On the other hand, the expression of the verse is not absolute; rather, it contains the phrase “from those who disbelieve.” Certainly, the preposition “min” in the verse is partitive and no other meaning is conceivable. Thus, purification in this verse, in addition to implying infallibility, also implies something more than infallibility.

This study seeks to examine the point of view of the exegetes regarding the purification of Jesus and present the adopted view based on Quranic evidence and evidence from Jewish and Christian sources – a topic that can be said the exegetes have not analyzed and has been ignored by them

Views of exegetes on the purification of Jesus in verse fifty-five of the Aal-Imran Chapter.

The views of exegetes regarding the purification of Jesus in “…and purify you of those who disbelieve”, are as follows: removing Jesus from among the disbelievers, prevention from being killed at the hands of the disbelievers, the death of all disbelievers at the hands of Jesus at the time of his return, preventing the actions of disbelievers and being misled by them, freedom from the harassment and persecution, and erasing unjust accusations. The best point of view among these is the erasing of unjust accusations; however, the advocates of this point of view have not stated the method of purification.

The adopted point of view about the purification of Jesus in verse fifty-five of the Aal-Imran Chapter

It is true that some exegetes have correctly explained purification as the removal of unjust accusations from Jesus and his mother, but they have not stated the method of purification. How has God done this purification? An overall look at the verses related to Jesus shows that the purification of Jesus is related to his reputation. God says in verse fifty-five of the Aal-Imran Chapter: “And when Allah said: O Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve…” When we consider the preceding and following verses of this verse, it becomes clear that the Jews attributed disbelief to Jesus and God is trying to purify him. Such an interpretation is also supported by the Quran. In only two places in the Quran, the expression “bohtanun ʿaẓim” (great slander) is used; once in verse 156 of the al-Nisa Chapter and again in verse sixteen of the al-Noor Chapter. In the first verse, it is stated that the Jews have unfairly accused Mary, who is one of the best women in the world, and the second verse is related to the story of Ifk (slandering one of the wives of the Holy Prophet with adultery). In both cases, God promises a severe and painful punishment in this world and in the hereafter to those who have spread unjust accusations against chaste women in society. In continuation, in verse fifty-nine of the Aal-Imran Chapter, Jesus is compared to Adam in creation, so that the society’s mentality about his mother’s wickedness can be cleared. The fulfillment of this promise of purification has been stated by God Almighty in verses 156 to 159 of the al-Nisa Chapter. Verse 156 of the al-Nisa Chapter, states that the Jews attributed a great slander to Mary, and in the next verse, it is stated that the Jews claimed that they killed Jesus, but the verse denies it and states that they did not kill him and did not crucify him, and at the end of the verse, it emphasizes again that they certainly did not kill him. In verse 158, it is stated that God raised him to Himself. The slander against Mary is that she was a loose woman and her child was illegitimate. Thus, Jesus is not only not the Messenger of God, but also deserves to be killed and crucified. Therefore, not being killed and not being crucified and elevation leads to the realization of purification. With the accusations they made against Mary and, as a result, her son – such as adultery and him being illegitimate and, in addition to these, that Jesus was a disbeliever and sorcerer – they considered Jesus to be deserving of being killed and claimed that we killed him. The Quran rejects him being killed twice in verse 157 of the al-Nisa Chapter. Through this denial, God removes Jesus from the unbelievers and purifies him from this attribution. Verse 158 of the al-Nisa Chapter states the fulfillment of the promise of ascension that was mentioned in fifty-five of the Aal-Imran Chapter.

Validation of the adopted view from Jewish and Christian sources

Jewish and Christian sources confirm that Jesus was killed and crucified. The Quran, on the other hand, denies his murder and crucifixion. The authors of the article believe that the Christians have confirmed the Jewish claim with their false teachings. The Christians believe that Jesus was both crucified and killed. Of course, the Christians might say that we believe that after the crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave and went to God the Father, and this is the purification of Jesus, whereas the Quran eradicates all the slander about Jesus and his mother from its roots.

Conclusion

Using verses from the Quran and some Jewish and Christian sources, this article considers the method of purification of Jesus to be the denial of his murder and crucifixion because the deceit of the Jews has been to introduce Jesus as a disbeliever with unjust accusations – such as being a disbeliever, a sorcerer and a heretic – and consider him worthy of being killed and crucified, and to do as such, but on the other hand, God prevented them from doing this and cleared him from these accusations.

References

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Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 

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