The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 193
The Messiah and his Second Coming 193 cally alive, then, after the passage of so many centuries, he must have arrived at extreme old age and will no longer be capable of performing any religious function or service. His descent upon earth in such a condition would serve no useful purpose and would only put him to unnecessary travail. [Izāla-e-Auhām, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 3, pp. 125-127]. Evidence regarding the Death of Jesus. We have so many certain and conclusive proofs of the death of Jesus, son of Mary, that they cannot all be set out in this brief publication. Read the Holy Qur'ān carefully and you will find the death of Jesus mentioned so clearly and definitely that it is not possible to interpret it otherwise. For instance, the Holy Qur'an reports the acknowledgement of Jesus: 158 فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيتَنِي كُنْتَ اَنْتَ الرَّقِيبٌ عَلَيْهِمْ 3. Can we interpret the word Tawaffi in this verse as meaning sleep? Would it be right to understand this verse as meaning: Since Thou didst cause me to sleep Thou hast been the One to watch over them? Of course not. The only appropriate interpretation of Tawaffi in this context is the straightforward one of death; and the context does not permit us to interpret that death will occur after. Jusus' bodily ascent to heaven. This is because the question put to Jesus refers to the going astray of his people, which had happened after his supposed bodily ascent to heaven and had been completed before the advent of the. Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. ) 158 Since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them. '-Al-Ma'idah, 5:118 [Publisher]