Translation
[Reflect on what] God said to Jesus, “I will cause your death [in a manner that befits you], give you eminence [in the world] in my presence, protect you from those who disbelieve, and make your followers above those who disbelieve till the day of resurrection. Remember that your eventual return is to Me [God], and I [God] will judge on all that you differ among yourselves. As for those who deny the truth, God will punish them severely in this world and in the hereafter, and they will have no helpers. God will pay those who believe and do good their rewards to the fullest extent. Know that God does not love those who are unjust!”185 This is how God describes the messages and brings reminders full of wisdom.
The likeness [birth] of Jesus is similar to that of Adam in God’s eyes. He created Adam from dust and said to it, “Be,” and it became. This is truth from your Lord, and do not become one of those who doubts or disputes. Whoever disputes on this matter with you, tell them that you will risk all that you have and let them put at risk all that they have [children, family, close circles, wealth, reputation, etc.] and sincerely ask that God destroy those who lie [and see if they are prepared to do this!]. These are accounts for truth. Let it be a reminder that there is no god but God, and God is Mighty and Wise. If they refuse to acknowledge the truth [even after all of these], then know that God is aware of those who make mischief!186
Interpretation
185. The promise of eminence and superiority to those who believe in God and do good things is a universal one, and we have seen time and again the validity of this commitment from God. The rise of the Israelites against the Pharaoh, the rise of the Christians against the Jews, and the rise of the Muslims against the Jews and the Christians, the rise of the Allies against Nazi Germany, and the rise of the South Africans against apartheid are all evidence of good people overpowering those who deny faith and do evil things. This has nothing to do with labels or superficial allegiance to one faith or another. This is fundamentally important in our time to recognize, especially for those who call themselves jihadists or evangelists or orthodox Jews or sons of Shiva or communists. The rise and fall of civilization and our own individual achievement is dependent on good works and faith in God and less on our label or group affiliation.
186. The Qur’an is very emphatic about the nature of Jesus’s birth and the power of God to create whatever He wishes. The controversy about Jesus’s birth has created deeper enmity and theological difference between Jews and Christians and among various sects of Christianity. Muslims in general have largely distanced themselves from such controversy and consider the birth of Jesus in the same light as the birth of Adam and Eve. While it is only human nature that we want to understand all that is around us and that is what makes us the best of creations, it is this very fact, however, if exercised without wisdom, patience, and purposefulness of existence, that also leads us to speculation, conjecture, enmity, and dissonance that cause enormous damage to ourselves, to our societies, and to the planet we live in. The two world wars, the proliferation of atomic bombs and weapons of mass destruction, global warming, terrorism, and counterterrorism are all examples of such dissonance and lack of attention to the larger purpose in our lives and our unwillingness to submit to the one and only God.
REFLECTION
The elevation of Jesus in the world as a major religious figure and the dominance of early Christians in the world arena are not acts of isolation or favoritism but are similar to what was accomplished by the Jews under the leadership of Moses, David, and Solomon and what had happened to Muslims under the leadership of Prophet Mohammad and his followers. In our contemporary world, the same rule applies—whoever is closer to God and to good works through faith, knowledge, wisdom, hard work, and commitment to truth and justice will always gain eminence over those who lack faith, do evil, and are given to injustice and oppression.
ACTION
We have to examine ourselves in light of such fundamental rules of human prosperity and superiority. For those of us who say they read the Qur’an and follow its guidance, what other message do we need to awaken ourselves and to commit to the true vision and wisdom of the Qur’an? We need to align ourselves with all people of faith to follow the path of true faith and true commitment to do good to everyone and to be good to everything on this planet of ours.