Is Jesus Coming Back?

Is Jesus Coming Back?
by Kashif Ahmed Shehzada

With the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

"And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to
life. Such is Jesus, the son of Mary; (this is) the saying of truth about which they dispute."
(Quran 19:33-34)

Dear Reader,

Please confirm the following verses (if possible) in your Arabic Qur'an. The translations are mostly
from M.H.Shakir, Allama Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Asad's translations of the Qur'an,
except some places where I have highlighted words myself. All emphasis are mine, but one should
confirm all the verses in Arabic as it is the Arabic which is the source of confirming the translations. It
is hoped that those who do not understand the Arabic of the Qur'an will also find this article
comprehensible.

Before coming to the subject under discussion there is an important principle which needs to be
discussed.

HOW DOES THE QUR'AN EXPLAIN ITS SUBJECTS ?

The Qur'an is not like an ordinary book whose chapters are bifurcated according to subject at one
place, rather the Quran has its topics scattered within its Sura's (Chapters) at many places. So if one needs to understand a topic then he has to look into all the locations within the Qur'an where that subject occurs and compile all the verses related to it. If we do this excersize, then we observe that all the verses about one particular subject explain and clarify each other. And once we organize those verses according to subject, we see what it really is that the Qur'an is saying about that topic.This manner of Qur'anic study is not my own invention but already presented in the Qur'an.The following verses identify this aspect:

"And thus do We REPEAT the Ayat <nussariful Ayat> and that they may say: You have read;
and that We may make it clear to a people who know." (6:105)

"And certainly We have REPEATED <sarrafna> for men in this Quran every kind of
similitude, but most men do not consent to aught but denying." (17:89)

It is by repeating the Ayat at different places within the Quran that Allah discusses different subjects, and by gathering and analyzing those Ayat, we get the explanation <Tafseel> of the Book of Allah, as said in the following verse:

"And this Quran is not such as could be forged by those besides Allah, but it is a verification
of that which is before it and a clear explanation of the book, <tafseel al Kitab> there is no
doubt in it, from the Lord of the worlds." (10:37)

The above verse informs us that the Quran is itself <Tafseel al Kitab>, i.e. "A detailed
explanation of the Book". Whatever may be the subject under discussion, the Quran elucidates it
by it self. What is not clear in one verse is clarified through some other passage of the Qur'an itself.
So it is by this method that research should be conducted on the Qur'an, and it is by this method that this topic will be presented to you.

DEPARTURE OF JESUS FROM THIS WORLD- A QURANIC PERSPECTIVE

When Jesus (p) propagated the message of Allah, and invited people to obey the laws of Allah
alone, the Religious leaders and Priests felt threatened, as in a Social order where subservience and
obedience is only for Allah's Laws, there is no room left for the Clergy and they in turn showed
severe opposition to the mission of Jesus:

"But when Isa perceived UNBELIEF <kufr> on their part, he said Who will be my helpers in
Allah's way? The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and
bear witness that we are submitting ones <Muslims>." (3:52)

Now the unbelievers in Jesus' message plotted to stop the message of Allah from gaining ground, so they plotted against the person of Jesus.

"And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is
Allah." (3:54)

But Jesus himself stated that the unbelievers would not be able to kill him but instead his death
would be in peace:

"And PEACE IS ON ME on the day I was born, and on the DAY THAT I DIE, and on the day
I am raised to life." (19:33)

Allah himself assured Jesus that the unbelievers will not kill him, instead it is Allah who will complete
his period of life and cause him to die, as said in the following verse:

"Lo ! God said:`O Jesus! Verily I shall cause thee to die,and shall exalt thee unto me,and
cleanse thee of those who are bent on denying the truth;and I shall place those who follow
thee above those who are bent on denying the truth,unto the day of resurrection.In the end
unto Me you all must return,and I shall judge between you with regard to all on which you
were wont to differ." (3:55) Muhammed Asad's translation.

The expression in arabic <MUTE VA FEEKA> comes from the root word <VAFFA> which
carries the meaning of 'Completing something or some task to such an extent that nothing else
is left out'. In the same manner <Vafaat> means 'Death',as in Death the life term of a person is
fully completed. Following are some references from Standard Arabic dictionaries which tell us
about the meaning of the word <VAFFAT>.

'VAFFAT' = "Death", "Decease" (An advanced Learners Arabic-English Dictionary by
H.Anthony Salmone pp1222)

'VAFFAT' = "Death", "Demise", "Decease" (Al Mawrid Arabic-English Dictionary pp 1240)

'TUVAFA' = "To take the life of anyone" (A Dictionary & Glossary of the Koran by J.Penrice pp
161)

'TUUFFA' = "To die", "Expire", "Pass away", "Give up the ghost", "Breath ones last", "Part ones
life" (Al Mawrid Arabic-English Dictionary pp 391)

In English to Arabic dictionaries ie reverse the meaning of 'vaffat' is again confirmed;

"DEATH" = 'vaffat' (Al Manar English-Arabic Dictionary pp 157)

"DEATH" = 'vaffat' (Al Asri English-Arabic Dictionary pp 193)

"DEMISE" = 'vaffat' (Al Asri English-Arabic Dictionary pp 199)

"DEMISE" = 'vaffat' (Al Mawrid English-Arabic Dictionary pp 259)

"DEATH" = 'vaffat' (Al Mawrid Eng Arabic Dictionary pp 251)

And much more.

However apart from General Arabic works of Reference, this word has also been used in the sense
which conveys the meaning of death or demise or completion of one's life term in the Qur'an it self. The following verses are very clear in ascertaining the meaning of "Vaffa", "Mutavafa" etc in the Qur'an itself. Please check all of these and above in Arabic to confirm them yourself. They are from M.H.Shakir's translation where otherwise stated.

IN THE QURAN 'TAVAFFA' HAS BEEN USED FOR 'DEATH' IN MANY VERSES:

"Our Lord! surely we have heard a preacher calling to the faith, saying: Believe in your Lord,
so we did believe; Our Lord! forgive us therefore our faults, and cover our evil deeds and
MAKE US DIE <TUWAFFANA> with the righteous." (3:193)

"And you do not take revenge on us except because we have believed in the communications
of our Lord when they came to us! Our Lord: Pour out upon us patience and CAUSE US TO
DIE <TUWAFFANA> in submission." (7:126)

"My Lord! Thou hast given me of the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of sayings:
Originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my guardian in this world and the
hereafter; MAKE ME DIE A MUSLIM <TUWAFFANI MUSLIM AN> and join me with the
good." (12:101)

"But how will it be when the angels CAUSE THEM TO DIE <TAWAFAT'HUM> smiting their
backs." (47:27)

"And (as for) those of you WHO DIE <YUTAWAFFAUNA> and leave wives behind,"(2:234)

"And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses
against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the
houses until DEATH TAKES THEM AWAY <YATAWAFFAHUNNE> or Allah opens some
way for them." (4:15)

"And Allah has created you, then He CAUSES YOU TO DIE <YATAWAFFA'KUM> , and of
you is he who is brought back to the worst part of life, so that after having knowledge he does
not know anything; surely Allah is Knowing, Powerful." (16:70)

"O people! if you are in doubt about the raising, then surely We created you from dust, then
from a small seed, then from a clot, then from a lump of flesh, complete in make and
incomplete, that We may make clear to you; and We cause what We please to stay in the
wombs till an appointed time, then We bring you forth as babies, then that you may attain
your maturity; and of you is he who is CAUSED TO DIE <YUTAWAFFA> , and of you is he
who is brought back to the worst part of life.." (22:5)

"Say: The angel of death who is given charge of you shall CAUSE YOU TO DIE
<YATAWAFAAKUM>, then to your Lord you shall be brought back." (32:11)

The above verses are very distinct and clear in informing us the meaning of 'Yutavafa'.Now let us
again see the verse which discusses about Allah's 'Vaffat' to Jesus (p).

In above Allah clearly informs that He will complete Jesus' life on earth, and this is confirmed again,
namely that Jesus had to die a natural death, when we are reminded through Jesus himself stating on
the Last Day:

"I did not say to them aught save what Thou didst enjoin me with: That serve Allah, my Lord
and your Lord, and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou
didst CAUSE ME TO DIE <TAVAFAYTANI>, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou
art witness of all things" (5:117 M.H.Shakir)

"..when Thou didst cause me to die..<fallamatavafaaytani>"

Is confirming what Allah had earlier said to him in 3:55:

"..Verily I shall cause thee to die...<inni mutavafeeka> "

In other words Jesus was neither crucified nor taken up into heaven but Allah caused him to die a
natural death, i.e. fully completed his life span.Then in the above mentioned verse Jesus is saying:

"..and I was a witness of them AS LONG AS I WAS AMONG THEM..<WA KUNTU
ALAYHIM SHAHIDUN MAA DUMTU FEEHIM>.." And further he says; "...but when Thou
didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them..<FALAMA TAVAFAYTANI KUNTA
ANTAr RAQIBA ALAYHIM>."

Here Jesus clearly mentions two periods, one in which he dwelt among his people, and the other in
which Allah caused him to die. There is no other period mentioned here which informs of a stage of
being taken up and stationed in heaven temporarily. Furthermore in 19:31 he says:

"And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be and hath enjoined on me Prayer (Salat) and
Charity (Zakat)as long as I live." (19:31)

In above verse the words "..as long as I live.." bear some importance. Jesus is to establish Salat
and give Zakat AS LONG AS HE LIVES. Now if we accept that Jesus is taken up into heaven
alive, then how is he performing these activities up there? He mentions that Allah has enjoined Salat
and Zakat on him AS LONG AS HE LIVES <MAA DUMTU HAY'YAA>. Now some one can
say that in heaven he may be performing Salat. But what about Zakat? Are there any Orphans and
Unfortunate persons in heaven as well to whom Jesus is paying Zakat? Does God have any poor
people in heaven too? Giving Zakat in heaven would say that in heaven there are poor people! Does this make any sense?!

The above verse is very clear in informing that as long as Jesus lived this earth, he performed these
activities, i.e. Salat and Zakat, and Allah caused him to die a natural death. Now we come to the
other issue which creates confusion for people, that is, Jesus being raised unto God.