Intro
Watch Omar Khan’s video on this topic herein. The Quran clearly mentions the second coming of Esa (as) as a sign of the final hour, which indicates that he will physically return (see 43:61 of the Quran)(43:62 in the Qadiani Quran). See Tafir Ibn Kathir and every other classical tafsir. Ibn Kathir was an islamic scholar mujadid, and Ahmadis even consider him as such, he was also a student of the famous Ibn Taymiyyah and lived under the Mamluk Sultanate. In MGA’s book, “Ijaz-e-Ahmadi”, he tries to cover 43:61(see pages 36-37)(1901). In 1901, MGA and his team of writers were asserting that the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] that has been used here refers to the punishment inflicted upon the Jews, and not the Day of Judgement. Which is a total lie. See 54:1 for an example of how سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] refers to the final hour. MGA goes on to argue that the Jews were given a taste of the Day of Judgment by being afflicted with a severe chastisement which could be likened to the سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] for them. In the Quranic idiom, the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] means punishment. This is why it had been foretold that the سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] would strike the Jews as a result of their rejection of ‘Isa.
Along the way, MGA quotes Tafsir al-Baghawi (which is in arabic only), Tafsīr al-Baghawī (Arabic: تفسير البغوي), also known as Ma‘ālim al-Tanzīl, is a classical Sunni tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) by Husayn b. Mas’ūd al-Baghawī (d. 1122), written as an abridgement of Tafsir al-Thalabi by al-Tha’labī (d. 1035). It is generally classified as one of the books of narration-based tafsir, as it collects and presents many statements from the Sahabah and Tabi’oon. The book primarily relies on 11 reliable chains of narrations, which al-Baghawi mentions in the introduction to his work.[1] It currently exists in four volumes and eight volumes in its Lebanon edition and Cairo edition respectively.
MGA seems to have covered 43:61 in his book, “Al-Haq Mubahathah Dehli”, RK-4, pages 168-169. Waiting for scans and further analysis. This book was published in 1905, 14 years after the written debate. MGA and his team seem to have said that this verse only means that “Knowledge of the Quran”. He references Tafsir al-Baghawi. However, he takes 1 of the 8 opinions and rejects the other 7, which clearly prove that this verse is about the second coming of Esa (as).
“”””What is more, the maulawis argue that the verse:
اِنَّهٗ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ (((But verily, he is a sign of the Hour. So have no doubt about it, but follow me. This is the right path.)))
pertains to ‘Isa. Indeed one should fear people who have such gross misunderstanding of the Holy Quran, for an incompetent religious scholar can put a person’s faith in danger. O Wicked people! Is the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, himself not عِلْمٌ للسَّاعَۃِ while he has stated that:
‘I and the Last Hour are like this…’ Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabur-Riqaq, p. 546, Mausu‘a al-Hadith, Darus-Salam Pub. Riyadh. [Publisher]
and while God also stated:
اِقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَ انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ3
Then how obnoxious a folly it would be on the part of the people to interpret the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah—the hour] here as the Day of Judgment! Now, allow me to explain that the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] that has been used here refers to the punishment inflicted upon the Jews at the hands of Titus, the Roman Emperor, after Hadrat ‘Isa had left them. God Himself spoke of this سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] in the Holy Quran in Surah Bani Isra’il. This verse is elaborated further by another one:
That is, during the time of Hadrat ‘Isa, the Jews were given a taste of the Day of Judgment by being afflicted with a severe chastisement which could be likened to the سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] for them. In the Quranic idiom, the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] means punishment. This is why it had been foretold that the سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] would strike the Jews as a result of their rejection of ‘Isa. Consequently, the Sign appeared as foretold and the سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] befell the Jews. What is more, they were also stricken severely by the plague in those days. These events served as Doomsday for them, since the سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] resulted in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of Jews. Besides, thousands died of the plague and the remaining became dispersed in utter disgrace. The Last Day will be a great affliction for the whole of humanity. This, however, was an affliction meant specifically for the Jews. This argument is supported further by the Holy Quran when Allah, the Exalted, says:
This means: ‘O ye Jews! With the advent of ‘Isa, you will experience the horror of the Day of Judgment as you will be afflicted with a similar calamity, i.e.:
which means that an affliction akin to the Day of Judgment will befall you; hence, you must not have any doubt about it.’
It would clearly have been out of place for God to have urged the Jews not to doubt the occurrence of the actual Last Day, saying they would surely witness it. The Jews of that time all passed away and they never witnessed the Last Day, which is actually yet to come. So, did God tell a lie?! What they did witness, however, was the destruction brought about by Titus, the Roman general.
Therefore, the term قِیَامَة [Qiyamah] here refers to the calamity the Jews suffered at the hands of Titus, the Roman emperor, in Jesus’ time and which they then witnessed again as a result of the plague. Since the ancient times, divine Scriptures contained the promise of the punishment that finds mention in the Bible on a number of occasions. In the Holy Quran, a verse was revealed specifically in this context. Hence, the same promise is recorded in the Holy Quran as was recorded in the previous scriptures with a view to warn the Jews. Otherwise, who would have cared for the distant Doomsday?! Do the present-day maulawis fear the Day of Judgment? Surely, they do not! As I have just explained, the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] is not peculiar to the Day of Judgment, nor has the Holy Quran used it specifically in relation to the Day of Judgment. It is appalling that men of imperfect knowledge, who are destined to be ruined, make such interpretations as are clearly contradictory to the purport of the terms themselves. What fear did the Jews have of the Last Day! The promise of an imminent punishment, however, would surely have left their hearts in distress.
Sadly, the maulawis, who are mere simpletons and remain, for most of the time, confined to their chambers, are very narrow- minded. They do not know that the promise recorded in the previous scriptures was related to that very سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] that struck the Jews during the reign of Titus, and that the Holy Quran has stated explicitly that the Jews were punished due to the curse invoked upon them by ‘Isa [ Jesus].
Besides, to apply the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] to an instance of extraordinary punishment is not only a Quranic idiom, it is found in the previous revealed Books as well and is found in abundance. I wonder from where and whom these simpleton maulawis have come to hear that the term سَاعَۃ [sa‘ah] applies only to the Day of Judgment. Unfortunately, these people have become senselesslike animals. In spite of suffering humiliation step after step due to their mistakes, they are still not willing to give up their errors. Is there no limit to their mistakes! They most certainly do not understand the meaning or intent of the Quran. They have raised ‘Isa bodily to Heaven, but failed to address the accusation levelled [against him] by the Jews. God responds to the Jews, who made the claim…………….”
Al-Badr, Volume 1, Number 3, Dated, November 14th, 1902, page 18. MGA claims that the hour refers to the punishment that the Jews were given for rejecting Esa (as).
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1917
Muhammad Ali also lied
Muhammad Ali explains this away as the “final-hour” meaning only the end of Esa’s (as) prophethood. He translates the relevant words as “And most surely it is a sign of the hour”.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1955
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1988
Malik Ghulam Farid’s famous 5-volume commentary of the Quran
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Tafsīr al-Baghawī(Arabic: تفسير البغوي), also known as Ma‘ālim al-Tanzīl, is a classical Sunnitafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) by Husayn b. Mas’ūd al-Baghawī (d. 1122).
He wrote that this verse has 8 possible meanings. 7 of the meanings are that Esa (as) will physically descend and etc. 1 of the meanings is that it can also refer to the quran (that is the verse 43:61).
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Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Allah tells us how the Quraysh persisted in their disbelief and stubborn arguments:
(And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) Several others narrated that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Ad-Dahhak said, “They laughed, i.e., they were astounded by that.” Qatadah said, “They were repelled by that and they laughed.” Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said, “They turned away.” The reason for this was mentioned by Muhammad bin Ishaq in As-Sirah. He said, “According to what I have heard, the Messenger of Allah sat down one day with Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah in the Masjid, and An-Nadr bin Al-Harith came and sat down with them. There were also other men from the Quraysh in the gathering. The Messenger of Allah spoke, then An-Nadr bin Al-Harith came up to him and the Messenger of Allah spoke to him until he defeated him in argument. Then he recited to him and to them,
(Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely) you will enter it.) (21:98) Then the Messenger of Allah got up and went to sit with `Abdullah bin Al-Zab`ari At-Tamimi. Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah said to him, `By Allah, An-Nadr bin Al-Harith could not match the son of `Abd Al-Muttalib in argument. Muhammad claims that we and these gods that we worship are fuel for Hell.’ `Abdullah bin Az-Zab`ari said, `By Allah, if I meet with him I will defeat him in argument. Ask Muhammad whether everyone that is worshipped instead of Allah will be in Hell with those who worshipped him, for we worship the angels, and the Jews worship `Uzayr, and the Christians worship the Messiah `Isa bin Maryam.’ Al-Walid and those who were sitting with him were amazed at what `Abdullah bin Az-Zab`ari said, and they thought that he had come up with a good point. He said this to the Messenger of Allah , who said:
(Everyone who likes to worship something other than Allah will be with the one whom he worshipped, for indeed they are worshipping the Shaytan and whomever told them to worship that person.)” Then Allah revealed the words:
(Verily, those for whom the good has preceded from Us, they will be removed far therefrom (Hell)) (21:101), meaning that `Isa, `Uzayr and rabbis and monks who were also worshipped, who spent their lives in devotion towards Allah. The misguided people who came after them took them as lords instead of Allah. Concerning the notion of worshipping the angels as daughters of Allah, the following words were revealed:
(And they say: “The Most Gracious has begotten a son (or children).” Glory to Him! They are but honored servants.) (21:26) Concerning `Isa bin Maryam, the fact that he is worshipped instead of Allah, and to the amazement of Al-Walid and the others who were present at the argument, the following was revealed:
(And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) meaning, they take this argument as a basis for rejecting your message. Then Allah mentions `Isa bin Maryam and says:
(He was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth. And he (`Isa) shall be a known sign for the Hour. ) meaning, the miracles and signs that happened at his hands, such as raising the dead and healing the sick, are sufficient as signs of the approach of the Hour.
(Therefore have no doubt concerning it. And follow Me! This is the straight path).” Ibn Jarir mentioned that Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, commented on the Ayah:
(Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely) you will enter it.) (21:98) The Quraysh said to him: `What about `Isa bin Maryam’ He said:
«ذَاكَ عَبْدُاللهِ وَرَسُولُه»
(He is the servant and Messenger of Allah.) They said, `By Allah, he means that we should take him as a lord just as the Christians took `Isa son of Maryam as a lord.’ Then Allah said:
(They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people).”
﴿وَقَالُواْ ءَأَالِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ﴾
(And say: “Are our gods better or is he”). Qatadah said, “They were saying, `our gods are better than him’.” Qatadah said; “Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, recited it (أَآلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هذَا) (Are our gods better or is this (person))” they mean Muhammad .
﴿مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ﴾
(They quoted not the above example except for argument.) means, for the sake of stubborn argument, for they knew that he (`Isa ) was not included in the Ayah (21:98), because that would not make sense. The words,
(Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell!) (21:98) are addressed to the Quraysh, for they used to worship idols and false gods — they did not worship the Messiah so why should he be included in what the Ayah says What they said was only for the sake of argument; they did not really believe in it. Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah said:
(They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people).” It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ibn Jarir. At-Tirmidhi said, “This Hadith is Hasan Sahih, we do not know it except from the Hadith of Hajjaj bin Dinar…”
﴿إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ﴾
(He (`Isa) was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him,) means, `Isa, peace be upon him; he was no more than one of the servants of Allah whom Allah blessed with prophethood and messengership.
﴿وَجَعَلْنَـهُ مَثَلاً لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ﴾
(and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.) means, `a sign, proof and evidence of Our power to do whatever We will.’
(And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth.) As-Suddi said, “They would have taken your place on (the earth). ” Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and Qatadah said, “They would have succeeded one another just as you succeed one another.” This view is implied by the former veiw. Mujahid said, “They would have populated the earth instead of you.” Allah’s saying:
﴿وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ﴾
(And he (`Isa) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) The correct view concerning this phrase is that it refers to his descent before the Day of Resurrection, as Allah says:
(And there is none of the People of the Scripture but must believe in him before his death) (4:159). — meaning before the death of `Isa, peace be upon him —
And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them )4:159(. This meaning has the support from an alternate recitation of the Aya0t؛ (وَإِنَّهُ لَعَلَمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ) (And he shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, evidence that the Hour will surely come. Mujahid said:
﴿وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ﴾
(And he shall be a sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, sign and “One of the signs of the Hour will be the appearance of `Isa son of Maryam before the Day of Resurrection. ” Something similar was also narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Ibn `Abbas, `Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Malik, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. Many Mutawatir Hadiths report that the Messenger of Allah said that `Isa will descend before the Day of Resurrection as a just ruler and fair judge.
﴿فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا﴾
(Therefore have no doubt concerning it.) means, do not doubt that it will surely come to pass.
﴿وَاتَّبِعُونِ﴾
(And follow Me.) means, `in what I tell you about it.’
(Verily, he (Satan) to you is a plain enemy. And when `Isa came with (Our) clear proofs, he said: “I have come to you with Al-Hikmah…”), meaning prophethood:
(and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) in which you differ.) Ibn Jarir said, “This means religious matters, not worldly matters.” What he said is good.
﴿فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ﴾
(Therefore have Taqwa of Allah) means, `with regard to what I command you to do.’
(Verily, Allah! He is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him. This is the straight path.) means, `you and I are enslaved to Him, in need of Him and we commonly share in the worship of Him Alone, associating none with Him.’
﴿هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ﴾
(This is the straight path) means, `what I have brought to you is the straight path, which is the worship of the Lord, may He exalted, Alone.’
﴿فَاخْتَلَفَ الاٌّحْزَابُ مِن بَيْنِهِمْ﴾
(But the sects from among themselves differed. ) means, they differed and became parties and factions, some who stated that he (`Isa) was the servant and Messenger of Allah — which is true – while others claimed that he was the son of Allah or that he himself was Allah — glorified be Allah far above what they say. Allah says:
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Scans from Ibn Kathir on 43:61
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Tabari on 43:61 Tafsir al-Tabari Vol. 20, page 631 At-Tabari says that there is more than one opinion in interpreting verse 43:61:
“””Some of the scholars said…that this verse is in reference to Eisa because his appearance is from the signs of the last hour…Ibn Abbas says (43:61) refers to the emergence/appearance of Eisa (as)….”””
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February 18, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Profound explanation , Al Hamdilullah