Before we answer this allegation, let us focus on the verse which the non Ahmadi Muslims have misunderstood:
وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ {55}إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَىٰ إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ {56}
And they planned, and Allah also planned; and Allah is the Best of planners. When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself, and will clear thee from the charges of those who disbelieve, and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ.(Chapter 3 verses 55-56)
Allah in these ayahs has made four promises to Isaas.
First Promise:
إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَىٰ إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ
When Allah said O Jesus I Will Cause thee to die a natural death
The Jews wanted to kill Isaas and tried to even crucify him and take his life away because Deuteronomy 21:22-23 and many other verses of the Bible state that one who dies on the cross is an accursed. Allah replies to the plan of the Jews by saying they will not be able to kill Isaas, Allah will cause him to die(meaning a natural death) not an accursed death on the cross by the hands of anyone. This was the first promise of Allah to Isaas in reply to the plan of the Jews.
Second Promise:
وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ
And will exalt thee to myself
Meaning Isaas will be exalted in the Presence of Allah and will be raised spiritually and given nearness to Allah (same type of Raf’a Allah rewards the believers with)
Third Promise:
وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا
And will clear thee from the charges of those who disbelieve.
This means that Allah will clear him of the charges which are the false charges from the enemies (I.e, legitimacy of birth, accursed death) and would show to the people that he was indeed a true Prophet of Allah
Fourth Promise:
جَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ
And will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the day of resurrection
This basically means that precedence would be given to the followers of Isaas over the disbelievers till the Day of Judgment. (Muslims are of course included in the believers, as we are true followers of Isaas)
The last three promises have already been fulfilled according to the Non Ahmadis but why do they ignore the first Promise which came first in the plan of Allah? Can they really accuse Allah of a failed plan God Forbid? It is sad to say that the first has been forgotten by Allah and he only completed the latter three promises. First comes his natural death and then come the rest of the promises.
Since the non Ahmadi Muslims cannot reply to this ayah, which clearly proves the death of Hadhrat Isaas, they try to claim that there is taqdim and takhir, meaning there is a change in the order.
They quote the following verse:
“Allah has brought you forth from your mothers wombs when you knew nothing, and He made for you ears, eyes and hearts, so that you may be grateful.” (Chapter 16 Verse 79)
This verse is simply saying that when we are born we have not received knowledge, but with growth and development, we are blessed with hearing, seeing and feeling. It is a proven fact that the first thing we learn is hearing, then seeing and lastly feeling. An example is, when we are born the Adhan is first said into our ears. This verse does not refer to our physical ears, eyes and hearts, rather refers to the abilities.
Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (ra) relates while describing the pilgrimage that the Holy Prophet said to “Start with what Allah starts with.” (Muslim, Book 7 #2803 , Nisa’i #2965, Tirmidhî, #862, Abu Daud #1905, Ibn Mâjah #3074
The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet thus establishes that the order of the Holy Quran must be kept.
Another verse the non Ahmadis often quote is :
“You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah”
In reality all of this comes together. One cannot be the best nation raised for the good of mankind, without believing in Allah. Secondly this is not a plan of Allah either, so it does not change any fact or affect our argument. Thirdly, taqdim and takhir may be applied in some verses, but a order remains. Sometimes, there is no order of time but the verse is following another order. The order is always kept by Allah.
Before we come to the narration attributed to Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra, in Sahih Bukhari the correct view of the great companion is narrated as follows:
عن ابن عباس قوله : ” إني متوفيك ” يقول : إني مميتك
Hazrat Ibn Abbasra stated that Mutawaffika, means death.
The view of Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra was that Hadhrat Isaas has already died and will not return physically. Since the non Ahmadi Muslims cannot respond to this verse and the above narration, they quote a narration of ad-Durr-ul-Mansur which is falsely attributed to Ibn Abbas. Firstly, they condemn a solid and correct reference supported by the Qur’an which is mentioned in Sahih al Bukhari, the most authentic book after the Qur’an. They want us to accept a weak and unauthentic reference which contradicts the Qur’an, and makes no sense.
The reference which they quote is:
وَأخرج اسحق بن بشر وَابْن عَسَاكِر من طَرِيق جَوْهَر عَن الضَّحَّاك عَن ابْن عَبَّاس فِي قَوْله {إِنِّي متوفيك ورافعك} يَعْنِي رافعك ثمَّ متوفيك فِي آخر الزَّمَان
Meaning, Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra “I will cause you to die in the latter days”
Firstly, this reference is without any merit because it is not found in any authentic book. Nor do we find it in Tafseer ibn Jarir at-Tabari which quotes many narrations trying to justify the life of Isaas, nor is it present in Tafsir ibn Kathir. How can this narration be accepted? Why would a Muslim reject the authentic reference of Sahih Bukhari for a fabrication? Furthermore, the belief which is portrayed in this reference makes it seem as if it is the view of the narrator rather than the view of Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra. There are countless of references which are attributed to Ibn Abbas, which have no value at all.
If the word متوفيك means death in the latter days, then it becomes essential that the spiritual rafa has not yet happened because متوفيك comes after رافعك. However, this would be against the Holy Qur’an as it states that the Jews wanted to prove Hadhrat Isaas to be an accursed one, according to the Torah, and did not succeed in killing him on the cross. Rather Allah gave Isaas a spiritual ascension as Allah States in Surah al-Nisa. In the opinion of the non Ahmadis, death before raise as presented in the Qur’an is incorrect and it should be raise before death instead. This thought is completely foolish.
The main reason why this narration must be rejected, even before looking at the authenticity, is because it clearly contradicts the Holy Qur’an and the narrations of more authentic ahadith.
The reference which they quote is:
وأخرج إسحاق بن بشر ، وابن عساكر ، من طريق جويبر، عن الضحاك ، عن ابن عباس في قوله : إني متوفيك ورافعك . يعني رافعك ثم متوفيك في آخر الزمان
Meaning, Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra “I will cause you to die in the latter days”
Firstly, this reference is without any merit because it is not found in any authentic book. Nor do we find it in Tafseer ibn Jarir at-Tabari which quotes many narrations trying to justify the life of Isaas, nor is it present in Tafsir ibn Kathir. How can this narration be accepted? Why would a Muslim reject the authentic reference of Sahih Bukhari for a fabrication? Furthermore, the belief which is portrayed in this reference makes it seem as if it is the view of the narrator rather than the view of Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra. There are countless of references which are attributed to Ibn Abbas, which have no value at all.
If the word متوفيك means death in the latter days, then it becomes essential that the spiritual rafa has not yet happened because متوفيك comes after رافعك. However, this would be against the Holy Qur’an as it states that the Jews wanted to prove Hadhrat Isaas to be an accursed one, according to the Torah, and did not succeed in killing him on the cross. Rather Allah gave Isaas a spiritual ascension as Allah States in Surah al-Nisa. In the opinion of the non Ahmadis, death before raise as presented in the Qur’an is incorrect and it should be raise before death instead. This thought is completely foolish.
The main reason why this narration must be rejected, even before looking at the authenticity, is because it clearly contradicts the Holy Qur’an and the narrations of more authentic ahadith.
The narration itself is not authentic. One of the narrators is Juwaybir ibn Sa’id al-Balkh whom all scholars have rejected.
Imam an-Nasai and Imam al-Dar Qutni have called him weak and not trustworthy (Taqreeb al-Tadheeb, Ibn Hajr)
قال النسائي وعلي بن الجنيد والدارقطني متروك وقال النسائي في موضع آخر ليس بثقة
We see in ad-Du’afa and Tarikhul Kabir al-Bukhari, it is stated:
جويبر بن سعيد البلخي عن الضحاك، قال علي بن يحيى: كنت أعرف جويبرا بحديثين، ثم أخرج هذه الأحاديث فضعفه
Meaning, “Juwaybir ibn Sa’id al Balkhi has related ahadith from ad-Dahhak. ‘Ali ibn Yahya said: I knew Juwaybir by two traditions; but after he narrated these traditions, he was regarded as weak.”
Ibn al-Jawzi stated in his al-Mawdu’at:
وابن الجوزي في (الموضوعات): «وأما جويبر فأجمعوا على تركه. قال أحمد: لا يشتغل بحديثه
Meaning, “The scholars are agreed upon rejecting him. Hadhrat Ahmad Ibn Hanbal stated: “No heed is paid to his traditions.”
Imam al-Dhahabi also spoke about Juwaybir in al-Mizan. It is said:
وفي (الميزان) «قال ابن معين: ليس بشيء، وقال الجوزجاني: لا يشتغل به، وقال النسائي والدار قطني وغيرهما: «متروك الحديث»
Meaning, “Juwaybir is not taken into account” Al-Jawzjanji says: “No heed is paid to him.” Then the point which was mentioned earlier is repeated, that Imam an Nasai, Imam Ad-Daruqutni and others have said that his narrations are abandoned
Imam adh-Dhahabi also stated in al-Kashif that the scholars have abandoned him
وفي (الكاشف): «تركوه»
Furthermore, the statement of Durr al-Manthur is munqati, meaning unconnected. Ad Dahak had never met Hadhrat Ibn Abbasra according to many scholars. Below is a reference from Mizan al-Itidal by Imam Al-Dhahabi where Yahya Ibn Sa’id Al Qattan said:
“Shu’bah denied at all that al-Dhahak ever met Ibn Abbasra”
Shu’bah asked Mushash: Did al-Dhahak listen to Ibn Abbasra and he replied he never saw him at all
Yahya Ibn Sa’id stated that according to us Ad Dhahak is weak
Ibn Hajr also said in Tariqb al Tahdheeb that he was saduq but had a lot of irsals, meaning the absence of the link between the successor and the Prophet. It is written:
الضحاك بن مزاحم الهلالي أبو القاسم أو أبو محمد الخراساني صدوق كثير الإرسال من الخامسة مات بعد المائة 4 | |
The words in Durr-e-Manthur are as follows:
متوفيك في آخر الزّمان
Meaning I will cause you to die in the end times
Firstly, this reference is without any authenticity because its not found in any of the early books like Al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir and not even the false tafsir attributed to Ibn Abbas with any authority. How can it then be accepted? On the other hand, Bukhari already declares the Death of Isa(as)
These words are not even of Ibn Abbas. They are the words of the narrator. Many times narrators have given their own view and wrote it as if its the words of Ibn Abbas. They tried to explain his view. He never said this
If Mutawaffika is after, then the rafa of Isa(as) has not yet happened.
Imam Suyuti(rh) a great scholar himself wrote:
وهذه التفاسير الطوال التي أسندوها إلى ابن عباس غير مرضية ورواتها مجاهيل كتفسير جويبر عن الضحاك عن ابن عباس 6383 وعن ابن جريج في التفسير جماعة رووا عنه
In al-Itqan Imam Suyuti explains how this commentary is not reliable. He says these long commentaries that people attributed to ibn abbas (ra) are unacceptable. The narrators of these references are unknown. There are for example a large number of such references from Jauhar, Dhahak and Ibn Jurayj (al itqan, p 880 by Imam Suyuti)
Some non Ahmadis also accidentally quote Imam Al Razi’s statement. He has said:
والمعنى : أني رافعك إليّ ومطهرك من الذين كفروا ومتوفيك بعد إنزالي إياك في الدنيا ، ومثله من التقديم والتأخير كثير في القرآن
“The meaning is; I will raise you unto me and will purify you from infidels and will cause you to die after I descend you in the word. And examples of advancing and retreating (taqdim and takhir) are numerous in the Qur’an.”(Tafsir Al-Kabir 4/227 under Qur’an 3:55)
The non Ahmadis try to state that according to Imam al-Razi, the rafa was to happen after the tawaffa. This statement in reality, supports the Ahmadi Muslims. Imam Razi has made it clear that mutawaffika means death. Furthermore, Imam Razi in regards to the tafseer of rafa of this ayah, has stated that this is rafa of rank, rather than physically being raised to the heavens. The conclusion of taqdim and takhir of Imam Razi is against his own criteria of this rule. He has stated that this can only apply if another verse of the Qur’an clearly supports the switching of the order. It is just a misunderstanding of the scholar as he knew tawaffa meant death but was unaware of the true meaning of the verse. Furthermore, Allah could have easily mentioned that I will raise you to the heavens and then send you back in this ayah, but nothing of this sort is found anywhere in the Qur’an or authentic ahadith,.
Now the order given by the Qur’an is that death would occur first and after this the raf’a would occur. After this would be the clearing of the charges against him, and lastly the dominance of the followers of Isaas over his opponents. If one was to change the order, where would mutawaffika be put? Would it be put between the exaltation and the clearing of the charges? This is totally baseless as it would mean that unless Isaas dies, the charges against him would not have taken place. If mutawaffika is placed between the clearing of the charges and the natural death of Isaas, it would mean that unless Isaas dies his followers will never become dominant which is also wrong. If we put mutawaffika at the end, the ayah would state that Jesusas would die after the day of resurrection. The truth is clear that mutawaffika was indeed that first promise and it was fulfilled by our Creator.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas states:
“In this verse, ‘I shall cause thee to die’ precedes ‘I shall exalt thee’, which shows that death occurred before exaltation. A further proof is that Allah the Glorious, has said: After thy death I shall place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve (i.e., the Jews), until the Day of Judgment. All Christians and Muslims agree that this prophecy had been fulfilled before the advent of Islam, inasmuch as God Almighty had subordinated the Jews to Christians and Muslims, and they have continued in that condition of subordination for centuries. The verse cannot be construed to mean that such subordination will take place after Jesus returns from heaven.” (Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Volume 3, Page 330, 332)