Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 177
177 believe—that he died on the cross, then what would happen of this sign and how would a parallel exist with Prophet Jonah as ? To suggest that Jesus as entered his grave and was then resurrected after three days is utterly absurd. For Jonah as entered the belly of the whale living, not after he had died. Such interpretations are a disrespect to the Prophet. The fact of the matter is that Jesus as was taken down from the cross alive. It is necessary for any pure-intentioned individual to firmly grasp what the Messiah as clearly stated himself. Jesus as was overtaken by a state of swoon. We learn from the Gospel, and on account of various means and factors, that he was saved from death on the cross. For example, the realisation that Sabbath was upon them, the governor washing his hands of the Messiah’s blood, the dream of the gover- nor’s wife, so on and so forth. God Almighty has enlightened me and has granted me a very large treas- ure of arguments and proofs, which establish that Jesus as absolutely did not die on the cross, but was taken down from the cross alive. A state of swoon is also a form of death. One may observe that in a state of swoon, neither the pulse remains, nor movement of heartbeat. In such a state, one is as good as dead, but then one comes back to life, as it were. There are two very powerful testimonies which prove that the Messiah as did not die on the cross. Firstly, his being saved was to serve as a sign and a miracle, and I would never want to see its grandeur diminished. Indeed, most contemptible and loathsome is the one who views the signs of Allah Almighty with contempt. Secondly, our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, does not sup- port the view that Jesus as died on the cross, but that he was taken down alive after which he died a natural death. In addition to this, if all the individual Gospel accounts which relate to the crucifixion are analysed together as a whole, it becomes clearly evident that the Messiah as did not die on the cross. His meeting the disciples, showing them his wounds, eating cooked meat with them, his travels, etc. , are all proofs which reject that Jesus as died on the cross. One may put forth whatever fanciful interpretation one desires to explain these accounts, but a just individual would proclaim that apparent flesh wounds and a need for food are characteristics that apply to a man who is alive. This account, the other events that follow after the crucifixion, and historical testimony all bear witness to the fact that Jesus as did not remain on the cross for more than two or three hours. Moreover, hanging on the p. 161