The Crucifixion Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Anyone who’s familiar with Christian apologetics against Islam knows about Surah 4:157. It’s the verse in the Quran that forces Muslims to oppose the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The verse was “revealed” 600 years after the event that is at the center of the Christian faith. The verse in question reads as such:
And for their saying, “We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of God.” In fact, they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as if they did. Indeed, those who differ about him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it, except the following of assumptions. Certainly, they did not kill him.
When apologists look at this, they focus on the crucifixion denial. While that’s certainly important, there is something interesting that is not usually focused on. That is the second part of the verse which states that those who differ about him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it, except the following of assumptions. Certainly, they did not kill him.
This is a pretty incredible statement. Christians believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. There is no question about that. It’s fairly simple. According to the verse, those who differ with this bold statement of the non-crucifixion of Christ follow assumptions. Some translations say conjecture but I think the point is made clear. We Christians don’t know what happened at the crucifixion but only follow assumptions.
The truth is, the only people who don’t know what happened to Jesus Christ and follow conjecture and assumptions are Islamic apologists. Recently Zakir Hussain debated James White on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Hussain put forward the theory that Simon of Cyrene was crucified instead of Jesus. This is based on a really poor reading of Mark 15:21-22.
Another Islamic apologist who has debated on the crucifixion is Dr. Shabir Ally. His position is that Jesus was indeed put on the cross and appeared to be dead though still barely alive. His body was taken off the cross, given no medical attention then placed into the tomb from where he was assumed into heaven, leaving the tomb empty.
These two theories completely contradict each other and have no evidence in the slightest. These apologists have no idea what happened. They’re following assumptions. This is the exact charge that the Quran levels against Christians.
Other Muslims have different theories. Another popular one is that Judas was made to look like Jesus and he was put on the cross and died while Jesus remained alive.
Not only does the Quran deny an extremely important historical event, it mixes up the subsequent truth. Christians all know what happened. Muslims have no idea and follow assumptions based on no evidence.
One thing that I want to point out is that Zakir Hussain once challenged Dr. Michael Brown to a debate whenever he comes to the UK. The challenge is in this video below. In this video Hussain has a picture of himself with Ally. Obviously he admires him as an apologist, even though his assumptions about the crucifixion differ drastically from his. The photo of the two apologists following differing assumptions is shown ten seconds into the video.
“Indeed, those who differ about him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it, except the following of assumptions. Certainly, they did not kill him.”
It’s the tone and the approach of the ayah that has always struck me. Mohammed is trying so hard to convince his audience but does so in such a clumsy, indeed childish, way. It’s similar to the exhortation for disbelievers to create a surah like one in the Koran. If it weren’t for the fact that so many are trapped by Mohammed’s falsehoods we could laugh at this and wonder that anyone could be taken in.
I agree. It was pretty clumsy. I wonder if Muhammad actually thought twice about what he was saying here. This verse has always been a problem for Islamic apologists. Now that we know this and many ahistorical events narrated in the Quran, there is no reason to remain a Muslim. You can believe Islam or facts. That’s basically what it boils down to.