“It appeared to them?”

 

It is generally understood and argued by Christians that the Qur’an somehow indicates instead of Jesus somebody else took his place on the cross. They get this from gloss reading the verse without any formal understanding of the context.

 

Let us first read the verse in question before we examine it.

 

And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but it appeared to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. [Surah 4:157]

 

“And for their saying” we must first establish who is “their” referring to? Now In Arabic if you want to find out what the Pronoun is you have to go back to the last noun, in this case the last noun would go back to verse 153.

 

 

The People of the Scripture ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. But they had asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, "Show us Allah outright," so the thunderbolt struck them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf [for worship] after clear evidences had come to them, and We pardoned that. And We gave Moses a clear authority. [Surah 4:153]

 

Verse 153 starts by addressing the people of the scripture [book] in this context specifically the Jews.

 

Allah Swt addresses the Jews up and till verse 157 where they the boasted they killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary hence, the pronoun “it appeared to them” identifies the noun as the Jews. Therefore, “it appeared to them” from context is referring to the Jews who made the claim not someone standing beside the cross watching. The Qur’an does not speak of another person on the cross or else the verse would have read ولكن بدل لهم “but he was replaced to them”, nor does the Qur’an say Allah Swt made it appear to them or else the verse would have read ولكن الله شبهه لهم “but Allah made him appear to them like this”.

 

The verse is specially speaking about the Jews who boasted they killed and crucified the Messiah, which they got from the Talmud [Sanhedrin 43a] and their forerunners in this case the rabbis. Now the other amazing part is the very same verses also addresses the Christians.

 

“And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.”

This segment of the verse is specifically directed to the Christians who differ hoe Jesus was killed and crucified to the point even disagreeing to the Jewish narration found in the Talmud hence, they follow nothing, but conjecture i.e., made up opinions and conclusions.

 

Let us break this down:

 

Surah 4:153, the Jews are being addressed for the transgression and wickedness. They worshipped the golden calf even after clear proof was given to them.

 

Surah 4:154-155, the verse continues to inform us the covenant made with them, but they violated the covenant denying Allah Swt revelation and killing the prophets, saying “their hearts are covered”.

 Surah 4:156, the made a monstrous allegation against Mary Pbuh which is documented in their Talmud [Sanhedrin 106a]. a lie which is cleared up in the Qur’an.

 

Surah 4:157, the Jews boasted they killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary which the verse refutes by saying “it appeared to them” who is them? the very same Jews who made the claim in the beginning of the verse.

 

Therefore, we can conclude the Qur’an clearly and eloquently describes the crucifixion narrative as a myth and addresses both parties being followers on conjecture. Note crucifixion is mentioned overall six times in the Qur’an only once for clearing the allegation against Jesus Pbuh.