“And so, for the breaking of their pledge, and their refusal to acknowledge Allah’s signs, and their slaying of prophets against all right, and their boast, “Our hearts are already full of knowledge”- not so, but Allah has sealed their hearts as a result of their denial of the truth, and now they believe in but few things.” (Qur’an 4:155)
﷽
“And because of their disbelief and of their speaking against Mary a terrible slander.”
“And for their saying: “We have killed the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah!” They did not kill him, nor did they impale him, but it appeared to them so. Those who dispute are in doubt of him, they have no knowledge except to follow conjecture; they certainly did not kill him.”
“Rather, Allah exalted him in his presence. Allah is Almighty, the Wise.” (Qur’an 4:155-158)
It is important to understand that the whole context of these verses is in reference to Jews. The Qur’an asserts they, their and them all in reference to Jews. There is absolutely no reference to Romans.
The Qur’an asserts that the Jews mocked Jesus, ‘We have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary the messenger of Allah!’
This is similar to the mocking recorded here:
“And they said, Prophecy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” (Matthew 26:68)
As well as:
“In the same way the chief kohen and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “But he can’t save himself. Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross, that we may see and believe.” (Mark 15:31-32)
It is important to note that the Qur’an in the above passages does not categorically deny the death of Christ Jesus. The Qur’an refutes that Jews were responsible for it.
“They did not kill him” (It means in any way conceivable)
This statement is also asserted here:
“And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) you when you did show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.'” (Qur’an 5:110)
Qur’an 4:157 is not a reference to the supposed “Crucifixion” either in support or denial. The Qur’an simply does not mention the event known as the ‘Crucifixion’. The Qur’an is simply ambivalent about it.
Also of importance to note is that the Qur’an 4:157 does not interact with the supposed historical event called the “Crucifixion”. There is no mention of the Romans anywhere in the Qur’an 4:157. It does not even interact with Christian historical beliefs at all!
The only place that Allah (swt) mentions Romans is the following text:
“The Romans have been defeated.” (Qur’an 30:2)
Some people just see Romans where there are no Romans!
Is Qur’an 4:157 an Anti-Semitic Anti-Jewish Text of the Qur’an?
First, the Qur’an cannot be anti-Semitic, because the Arabs themselves are a Semitic people.
Allah informs us in regard to the children of Israel:
“Yet they are not all alike: there are some among the People of the Book who are upright, who recite Allah’s revelations throughout the night, prostrating.” (Qur’an 3:113)
As regards to the clam of Qur’an 4:157 let’s examine the text closely
This is important because most Muslims see Qur’an 4:157 as relating to the so-called “Crucifixion”. They also somehow see Romans in the text! Those Muslims make Jews culpable in the death of Jesus.
Because they somehow, for some ungodly reason, think that the text has to do with Romans crucifying Jesus, they have to make sense of the following:
“BUT IT APPEARED TO THEM SO.“
It is important that the following views all posit cross, crucifixion and Roman involvement in Qur’an 4:157.
View one: Mistaken identity. Allah made someone look like Jesus, and presumably he was killed. Jews are still culpable. They just got the wrong guy. Jews kill “stealth” Jesus.
Second view: Swoon theory. Jews attempted murder via Roman proxy. Jesus was crucified but, he was not crucified to death.
Third view: The Jews didn’t kill Jesus the Romans did! Jews are culpable though, as they hand Jesus over to Roman authorities. The Jews, via Roman proxy, did indeed kill Jesus’ body but not his soul. People like Todd Lawson hold this view.
Prima-Qur’an comments:
Notice that “but it appeared to them so” is in reference to the double denial. Whereas the three views above connect it only to “they did not (ṣalabūhu) him”.
However, the “but it appeared to them so” is in reference to any and all accusations. It is obvious that all the accusations cannot be synchronous, unless it is to be interpreted as a denial of a death (like stoning) and a post-mortem event (like impaling). Which means that(salabuhu) is not a death act.
Please see our article under the discussion of Qur’an 5:33
The three above views believe somehow there was only one particular event and the people were contemporaneous to said event.
Jews did not kill Jesus at all. They are not culpable, they did not kill the body and they did not use the Romans as proxies. The Qur’an does not affirm any of this.
Anti-Semitic. Anti-Jewish Text of the New Testament?
Note this statement by Paul:
“For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone.” Source: (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15)
This one statement, ‘The Jews who killed the Lord Jesus’, has been the bedrock of Christian hatred of Jews for centuries. They were called ‘Christ Killers’ and guilty of committing deicide. Upon this statement, Jews were put in ghettos.
The Protestant Reformer Martin Luther wrote a book: “The Jews and their Lies.”
Some of Martin Luther’s comments were:
That the Jews were: “venomous beasts, vipers, disgusting scum, canders, devils incarnate.”
He also stated: “Their private houses must be destroyed and devastated, they could be lodged in stables. Let the magistrates burn their synagogues and let whatever escapes be covered with sand and mud. Let them be forced to work, and if this avails nothing, we will be compelled to expel them like dogs in order not to expose ourselves to incurring divine wrath and eternal damnation from the Jews and their lies.”
At one point he wrote: “...we are at fault in not slaying them...”
There can be no doubt that such sentiment was influential among Christians who did what they did to Jews during World War 2.
Prior to that, history tells us that:
“On 31 March 1492,Ferdinand 2 of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, the rulers of Spain in 1492, declared that all Jews in their territories should either convert to Christianity or leave the country.”
It is very important that we give you just an overview of why the Qur’an clears Jews of this false charge; as well as the theological, social and political impact that such a belief had among Christians towards Jews.
The Qur’an refutes the idea that Jews did either of two things:
“They did not kill him, nor did they impale him.”
They did not kill him: (Which is a very general meaning. They did not kill him at all)
Nor did they impale (ṣalabūhu) him.
The Qur’an is interacting with information in circulation among Jews concerning any notion they had about him killing him or playing a part in him being impaled in reference to the idea circulating from oral traditions that Jesus was stoned to death and his body was impaled.
One such report in circulation could be:
Other writings assert that Jesus was killed AND THAN displayed in a tree.
“The mishna teaches that a crier goes out before the condemned man. This indicates that it is only before him, i.e., while he is being led to his execution, that yes, the crier goes out, but from the outset, before the accused is convicted, he does not go out. The Gemara raises a difficulty: But isn’t it taught in a baraita: On Passover Eve they hung the corpse of Jesus the Nazarene after they killed him by way of stoning. And a crier went out before him for forty days, publicly proclaiming: Jesus the Nazarene is going out to be stoned because he practiced sorcery, incited people to idol worship, and led the Jewish people astray. Anyone who knows of a reason to acquit him should come forward and teach it on his behalf. And the court did not find a reason to acquit him, and so they stoned him and hung his corpse on Passover eve.”
Source: [ https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.43a ]
This is, of course, from the Jewish rabbinical literature. It asserts that Jesus was stoned to death for sorcery, idol worship and leading the Jewish people astray — all charges of which Allah clears Christ Jesus from.
By the way, the above text is taken from the Jewish Sanhedrin. Many times we have noted that Christian apologists will cut the passage up and not mention anything about stoning. Some people can be very slippery.
Remember that according to the Gospel of John, Jews say to Pilate:
“Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected.” (John 18:31)
However, this itself is flatly contradicted by the following:
“Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council.” (Acts 6:11-12)
” The Jews and religious leaders listened to Stephen. Then they became angry and began to grind their teeth at him. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. As he looked up to heaven, he saw the shining-greatness of God and Jesus standing at the right side of God. He said, “See! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” They cried out with loud voices. They put their hands over their ears and they all pushed on him. Then they took him out of the city and threw stones at him. The men who were throwing the stones laid their coats down in front of a young man named Saul. While they threw stones at Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” After that he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:54-60)
In fact, several times the Gospel accounts tell us that Jews tried to stone Jesus.
“At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” (John 8:59)
“Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him..” (John 10:31)
Those Jews certainly don’t sound like people who would say, ” But we have no right to execute anyone, “
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree.” (Acts 10:39)
Jesus was put to death first and than hanged on a tree.
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree.” (Acts 5:30)
Jesus was put to death first and then hanged on a tree.
By the way, some translations see the problem with the above text, and they cover this up by saying: “Hung him on the tree and killed him.” or ‘Killed him by hanging him on the tree.”
Again very slippery.
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangs on a TREE.” (Galatians 3:13)
(This is the text that will eventually come back to haunt the Christians.)
Note: The above-mentioned verse is found here:
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not listen to them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place; And they will say to the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city should stone him with stones, that he will die: so that you put evil away from among you; and all Israel will hear, and fear.”
“If a man guilty of a sin worthy of death, and is put to death AND his corpse hung on a tree, it shall not remain on the tree overnight. You shall bury it the same day, otherwise, since God’s curse rest on him who hangs on a tree, you will defile the land which the Lord, your God is giving you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21:18-23)
The Hebrew root ת.ל.ה/י can mean hang. But in the context of corpses, it means “impale,” and thus עץ here means not “tree” or “gallows” but “stake.”
You will notice this as well when you look at disparate translations of the text.
‘Hung on a tree‘ or ‘impaled on a tree.’
In any case, the hanging or impaling was not the means used to execute the criminal; he was first put to death by the ordinary means, stoning, and his corpse was then exposed on high as a salutary warning for others.” Source: (New American Bible pg. 180 commentary on Deuteronomy 21)
So what is the objective of Qur’an 4:157-158 ?
a) It repudiates the claims of those Jews who claimed that they killed him in any way shape or form. In this case, the ‘they didn’t kill him’ would be a reference to stoning.
b) It repudiates the claims of those Jews who claimed the impailed Jesus. The text clearly mentions salabu-impailed. Jesus died by being impailed. The text of Qur’an 4:157 is a reference to what Jews claimed about Jesus.
c) In connection to this, it repudiates the claim that Jesus became a curse or accursed. (Deuteronomy 21:18-23)
All of this can be seen by the following:
“Rather, Allah exalted him in his presence. Allah is Almighty, the Wise.” Source: (Qur’an 4:158)
Whereas the New Testament claims:
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangs on a TREE.” (Galatians 3:13)
Question? Did Jesus commit a sin worthy of death?
“And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and you hang him on a TREE: his body shall not remain all night upon the TREE, but you shall in any wise bury him that day; that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God gives thee for an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
If the answer is yes, then Jesus is not an unblemished sacrifice!
If the answer is no, then Jesus is obviously not accursed as he is not guilty of sin and thus never lifted anyone from any law! Allah obviously knows who is guilty and who is not.
Merely being displayed in the tree does not mean one is accursed. You have to have committed a sin worthy of death.
Paul said above in Galatians 3:13 that Jesus became a curse for us.
“Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)
If no one speaking ‘by the Spirit of God’ calls Jesus accursed, we wonder what spirit motivated Paul to make such a statement?
Accursed has reference to the state of one’s heart. This is not something to attribute to a messenger of Allah.
“When you do read the Qur’an, seek Allah’s protection from Satan the l-rajimi.” (Qur’an 16:98)
l-rajimi means the rejected, accursed or stoned. This verse is also a rejection of the claims of Christians that Jesus became a curse, or those Jews who claim that Jesus was stoned, or the overall claim by those who never accepted him as being rejected.
Satan is the raijim not Jesus!
All three claims in one are refuted.
This is why Christians believe that Jesus said:
“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)
The Qur’an also repudiates the claim that Jesus was ever forsaken by Allah. Both before, during, and after the death of Jesus.
BEFORE HIS DEATH
“Behold,” the angels told Mary, “Allah has given you the glad news of the coming birth of a son whom He calls His Word, whose name will be Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be a man of honor in this life and the life to come, and who will be one of the ones nearest to Allah.” (Qur’an 3:45)
Can it be argued that there ever was a time in which Jesus was not ‘near to Allah‘?
During his death. If we assume the Roman imperium impaled Jesus, the following could have been revealed to him as reassurance and solace:
“Allah said, O Jesus, I shall cause you to die and will exalt you in my presence and shall purify you of the ungrateful disbelieving people, and shall place those who follow you above those who deny the truth, until the Day of Judgement; then to Me shall all return and I will judge between you regarding your disputes.” (Qur’an 3:55)
This is also what is meant by:
“The Day when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit.” (Qur’an 5:110)
This is why we know that if Jesus actually cried out while being impaled, it is an acknowledgment of him willing to die in holy armed struggle against the Roman imperium.
“And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Ali, lemana, shabakthani! Which means, My God, my God, for this is my purpose! “
Source: (Mark 15: 34 George M Lamsa translation)
AFTER HIS DEATH
“Rather, Allah exalted him in his presence. Allah is Almighty, the Wise.” (Qur’an 4:158)
” And how I prevented the children of Israel from harming you when you came to them with all evidence of the truth.” (Qur’an 5:116)
“I did not say anything to them except what you commanded me with: That worship Allah, my Lord, and your Lord.” (Qur’an 5:116)
THE CHRISTIAN DILEMA. REVISITING GALATIANS 3:13
Temporal Mismatch (Ante-mortem vs. Post-mortem)
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 explicitly describes a two-step process:
- The man is put to death (executed by legal means, typically stoning).
- Then his corpse is hung on a tree.
The hanging is not the means of execution. It is an additional act of post-mortem shaming.
In Roman crucifixion (or impalement), the person dies on the tree. The tree/cross is the instrument of death, not a display after death. Paul applies “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” to a living person dying on the tree. That is a category error according to the original legal context.
The Curse Attaches to a Convicted Criminal, Not the Method Alone
Deuteronomy 21:22 says the man was put to death for a capital offense — a sin worthy of death. The curse is not magical or mechanical. It is juridical: God’s law says a executed criminal’s displayed corpse brings a defilement if left overnight.
Paul, however, treats the phrase “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” as if hanging itself imparts a curse, regardless of the person’s innocence or guilt. He then claims Jesus became that curse for us, even though Jesus was (in Christian belief) innocent.
But the Torah text assumes guilt. An innocent person would never be executed, let alone hung. So Paul inverts the logic: an innocent person takes on a curse meant for the guilty by undergoing a death resembling the post-mortem display.
This is massively devastating to Christianity.
The Qur’anic Critique.
The Qur’an implicitly rejects this entire move in *Q 4:157-158* by:
- Denying Jewish claims to have killed or impaled Jesus.
- Affirming God exalted Jesus to Himself — no curse, no humiliation.
- Rejecting the idea that any prophet of God could be in a state of divine curse or abandonment.
From a Qur’anic perspective, Paul’s error is not exegetical sloppiness but theological overreach — applying a law about executed criminals to an innocent messenger of Allah, and then turning that into a doctrine of vicarious atonement.
The writer of Galatians misapplies Deuteronomy 21:22-23 by:
- Ignoring the post-mortem context and treating it as ante-mortem.
- Ignoring the requirement of a prior capital crime.
- Using the verse to claim Jesus became a “curse” — something the Qur’an explicitly denies.
The Dilemma Restated
Premise 1 (from Torah, Deuteronomy 21:22-23):
The “curse of God” applies only to a person who has committed a sin worthy of death, who is executed, and whose corpse is then displayed on a tree.
Premise 2 (from Christian theology):
Jesus died by hanging on a tree (cross), and Galatians 3:13 says he became a curse for us.
Question: Did Jesus commit a sin worthy of death?
A: Yes, Jesus committed a sin worthy of death.
- If yes, then:
- Jesus was a legitimate criminal under Torah law.
- He was not innocent.
- He cannot be an “unblemished” or sinless sacrifice (contradicting 1 Peter 1:19, Hebrews 9:14).
- His death was his own just punishment, not a vicarious atonement for others.
- Christianity collapses because the entire sacrificial logic requires a sinless victim.
Conclusion: Christianity is false.
B: No, Jesus did not commit any sin worthy of death.
- If no, then:
- Deuteronomy 21:22-23 does not apply to him.
- The “curse” in that verse has no legal or theological standing over an innocent person.
- Paul’s application of the curse to Jesus in Galatians 3:13 is invalid — he is quoting a verse that has nothing to do with an innocent man.
- Jesus did not “become a curse” for anyone.
- He therefore did not redeem anyone from the curse of the law, because there is no mechanism by which an innocent person’s undeserved death transfers to the guilty under Torah.
Conclusion: Paul made an exegetical and theological error. Jesus remains innocent, but Pauline atonement theology is unfounded.
Why This Dilemma Is Fatal to Pauline Christianity?
Christian theology wants both:
- Jesus is absolutely sinless (no sin worthy of death).
- Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13 quoting Deuteronomy 21).
But the Torah text does not allow an innocent person to be “cursed” in that juridical sense. The curse is not magical or transferable — it is a legal declaration attached to a guilty, executed criminal’s corpse.
Paul’s move is to sever the curse from guilt and reattach it to the method of death alone. That is not exegesis; it is creative theology. But it violates the plain meaning of the Hebrew text.
The Qur’anic Resolution
The Qur’an simply rejects the premise that Jesus was ever in a state of curse or humiliation before God:
“Rather, Allah exalted him in His presence. Allah is Almighty, the Wise.” (Qur’an 4:158)
And:
“They did not kill him, nor did they impale him, but it appeared to them so.” (Qur’an 4:157)
From the Qur’anic perspective:
- Jesus committed no sin.
- He was not accursed.
- He was not abandoned by God (contra Matthew 27:46).
- Therefore, Galatians 3:13 is a false attribution to God’s law.
- Allah knows who is guilty and who is innocent. An innocent man does not become cursed, and no prophet is made a curse for others.
Possible Christian Responses (And Why They Fail)
| Christian Response | Why It Fails |
|---|---|
| “Jesus became a curse representatively, not because he was guilty.” | Deuteronomy 21 does not recognize representative curse. The curse is on the actual criminal. |
| “The curse is on the manner of death, not the person’s sin.” | The text says “cursed by God is everyone who hangs” — but that “everyone” is already defined as an executed criminal. You cannot separate the curse from guilt. |
| “Paul is doing midrash, not literal exegesis.” | Then it is not a proof text. If you abandon literal meaning, you abandon legal force. |
| “Jesus bore the curse for us as a substitution.” | Substitution requires the substitute to be legally eligible to bear the curse. Torah never allows an innocent substitute to be cursed in place of the guilty. |
None of these responses resolve the core logical contradiction we have identified.
THE LESSON FOR MUSLIMS IN THE DEATH OF JESUS AS A MARTYR.
This is based on speculation.
It is likely that Jesus died as a martyr in an armed struggle against the authority of the Roman imperium.
“And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those after them who have not yet joined them – that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Qur’an 3:169-170)
Allow me to share with you a very interesting text from the Qur’an.
The Injil or Gospel is mentioned 12 times in 12 verses of the Qur’an. In one of those verses we have the following:
“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.” (Qur’an 9:111)
Prima Qur’an Comment: Out of all the teachings that Allah could inform us about concerning what Jesus taught in the Injil, why did Allah mention the teaching concerning martyrdom? Why would Jesus teach about ‘killing and being killed’ if he was simply a pacifist?
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.” (Luke 12:4)
This is exactly what Allah [swt] would have revealed to Jesus if indeed the Romans impaled Christ Jesus.
“Allah said, O Jesus, I shall cause you to die and will exalt you in my presence and shall purify you of the ungrateful disbelieving people, and shall place those who follow you above those who deny the truth, until the Day of Judgement; then to Me shall all return and I will judge between you regarding your disputes.” (Qur’an 3:55)
Jesus received good tidings about those that would come after him and have not joined him yet. While the people were perceiving that Jesus had a horrible ending, the death of Jesus was a tranquil experience, and Jesus was told that he would be cleared of the falsehoods said concerning him.
“It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply” (Qur’an 39:42)
“And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead.” Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.(Qur’an 2:154)
“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties in exchange for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. It is a true promise binding upon Him in the Torah and the GOSPEL and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.” (Qur’an 9:111)
Look at this astonishing verse above. That the idea of fighting in the cause of Allah [swt] killing and being killed is established in the Qur’an, the Torah and the GOSPEL.
Rather than Christ Jesus being seen as some theological projection onto Judaism, a very different picture emerges. We have a Christ Jesus who was a Jewish prophet, a Muslim, a Messenger of Allah [swt], and a figure ultimately wanted dead by the Roman authorities.
Instead, what emerges is a picture of a Messenger of Allah [swt] who was defiant to the very end. He challenged the religious authorities of his time and challenged the government of his time, ultimately leading to his trial and his death. In the face of this death, Jesus became triumphant and became a symbol of martyrdom.
Jesus had spent most of his life calling the children of Israel to Allah and correcting the learned on points where they were in error. Jesus’ teachings on martyrdom were a threat to the Roman government. Jesus and a group of pious Jews who were sick and tired of the Roman Imperium most likely led a violent revolt against the Romans. Jesus and some of his people were charged with sedition and impailed.
Jesus didn’t die with relative dignity hanging from the cross. He died, suspended on one single stake penetrating his body: he was impaled. There were no nails in his hands or feet. He did not die on a cross-shaped execution tool († or T). Just a sharp stake shoved right into his body upon which he was suspended – that is the most logical and plausible form of execution of Jesus by far…
Furthermore, one of the alleged witnesses, St. Mark, tells us that at the most critical juncture in the life of Jesus — “All his disciples forsook him and fled“- (Mark 14:50).
The Roman spectacle of impalement was meant to be as savage and tortuously cruel as possible because it had to accomplish two things.
- To act as a visual deterrent to crime and, in the case of Jesus — uprising against an oppressive regime.
- To provide a theater of gore to satisfy the bloodlust of those who came to watch. The spike was the centerpiece of this typically gruesome Roman conception. That is why they didn’t just kill Jesus with a sword and be done with it.
Most likely the Romans introduced the tip of the spike into the victim’s back side and continued hammering it, pushing it far enough to where it passed under the pelvic bone so it would support the body on the impale.
The two thieves, if they were real, (most likely really guilty of sedition), get the same treatment. When the impale device was upright, it kept the victim’s body from being torn loose by his own weight and sliding off. That was its practical use.
But there was also a kind of diabolical sideshow, something to further attract the viewer interest in the impalement process. With the spike thrust under the pelvic bone, but not yet coming out of the body, a man could use the leverage of his arms and his legs to project his body outward, curving it away from the impale and thus preventing the spike from penetrating any further up into the bowels. But as one’s arms gave out, one’s body would slowly sink down on the spike, causing the spike to penetrate further along through one’s maze of intestines.
Eventually, after the leg strength also gave out, all leverage was lost and the body, of its own weight, would slump/slide back against the vertical beam, driving the spike slightly upwards through the body’s maze of vital organs until it pierced the stomach lining from the inside out, spewing blood and guts all over the ground.
Mercifully, death usually followed in a short time thereafter. When it came to devising fiendish methods of torture and death, the Romans were absolutely without equal. They left no sadistic, bloodthirsty detail behind.
It is also reasonable that Jesus hastened his own death by forcing his body down on the spike, an extremely awesome and heroic achievement! It indicates that Jesus had no fear of death. We imagine Jesus looking on at the Romans, with a certain look in his eye as if to say, “Go ahead, make my day!” Whereas the two thieves, if they were real, (most likely rebels) used all their strength to cling to life as long as possible. Hence, the breaking of the legs!
During his death: When the Romans impaled Jesus, it is possible the following was revealed to him as reassurance:
“Allah said, O Jesus, I shall cause you to die and will exalt you in my presence and shall purify you of the ungrateful disbelieving people, and shall place those who follow you above those who deny the truth, until the Day of Judgement; then to Me shall all return and I will judge between you regarding your disputes.” (Qur’an 3:55)
This is also what is meant by:
“The Day when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit.” (Qur’an 5:110)
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY OF JESUS?
This would be an obvious question from Christian. One that they may find suspect.
The Christian version:
“Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.” (Luke 3:23)
We are told that God incarnate was on the earth for 30-something years, not really doing much of anything. Only 3 years of his life were truly important. He died on the double cross, rose from the dead and ascended bodily up into heaven.
A possible Muslim version
During the impalement, Allah (swt)took the soul of Jesus, leaving behind his body, as he does with everyone else. His body was either given over to his followers or they stole it at night for a more proper burial.
“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” (Matthew 28:11-15)
Even though we have not even a shred of evidence outside the New Testament accounts that this was a Jewish polemic directed towards Christianity, we believe it to be plausible. Namely, the disciples took the corpse of Jesus and buried it in a place they found suitable.
The life of Jesus can be likened to a 3-hour Blu-ray in which, in the Christian version, the first 2 hours and 30 minutes are missing (30 years) and in the Islamic version [that we find plausible] the last 15 minutes are missing (last few days).
Whatwe mean by this is that the last 15 minutes are so important to Christian theology that they are obviously not going to be agreeable to what we believe.
Muslims don’t have to lose any sleep over where the bodies of prophets are buried. In the end Allah (swt) knows best.
For reasons why we do not find the supposed crucifixion historical kindly see our article here:
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had already passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!” (Qur’an 5:75)
“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.” (Qur’an 5:83)
May Allah (swt) Guide the Ummah.
May Allah (swt) Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 
Extremely Helpful and Insightful, JazaKallah Khayran.
Wa iyyakum. Alhamdulillah.
you might also find this interesting to read.
https://www.academia.edu/45655884/The_Gospels_testify_did_Jesus_die_on_the_cross
Mash’Allah very interesting! Thank you!
Mash’Allah it was a really good read. His findings seem to concur with what is written in this post! Al hamdulillah! May Allah (swt) open up the hearts to see.
I’m relieved to know that I’m not necessarily in a state of kufr to imagine Jesus aliahi wasalaam actually being martyred, but also that God is merciful and spared him the worst, that the torture porn we see in Passion of the Christ is not essential to a passive-aggressive lovingness of God’s. Obviously having grown up in Christianity the image of the crucifixion is burned into my mind so glad I can reconcile it better with Islam under this reading. The martyrdom angle combined with perhaps a docetic hologram of the crucified body was the interpretation I settled on during my reversion process.
The qudsi hadith about martyrs as little birds and the “We raised him up” line in Qur’an suggests that, contrary to the Ibadi position, he was martryed (as you’ve outlined) and resides in Jannah. The hadiths about Dajjal and Isa’s return are probably based on a Jewish man named Isa who lead a rebellion against a caliphate in the 9th/3rd century.
https://islamicorigins.com/common-links-as-the-creators-of-hadith/
Yet if it were true it’d be more in line with e.g. Mark chapter 13.
As for the “Elaha, Elahi” line, it’s based on a Psalm:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+22&version=OJB
Same with the nails going through the wrists and feet.
I leave it as an exercise for the reader whether or not this was a hadithic attribution of a prophectic callback to Tanakh by the author of gMark, or, something that the literal Mark literally overheard as a witness to the crucifixion and related to us in the future on a Sahih basis.
Not sure it necessarily goes against your reading, that Jesus was based and faced martrydom with aplomb.
As for Jesus’s body, the ending of gMark (before the add-on text about handling snakes that Christians had to walk back due to its peril) is (Olde King James Version):
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
I like this ending, seems to jibe with the Qur’an interpretation of Jesus alaihi wasalaam being taken up by Allah azzawajal.
Alhamidullah akhi (brother)
Al hamdulillah! Pray for our brothers in Palestine, Yemen, the Rohingya, the Uigurs, and all the oppressed.
Just wanted to clarify something:
“The qudsi hadith about martyrs as little birds and the “We raised him up” line in Qur’an suggests that, contrary to the Ibadi position, he was martryed (as you’ve outlined) and resides in Jannah.”
I am not sure what you are suggesting in the Qur’an is “contrary to the Ibadi” position. Perhaps you meant to word it differently.
Thank you.
Salam alaykum brother, and thank you for your insight.
I’m not completely sold on the divine rapture yet, even though I do believe Jesus lived out the rest of his short life and Allah then caused him to die naturally. I still maintain that Barabbas (if he’s even real) was the one crucified instead. But you absolutely raised some good points. Here are my thoughts.
“This is why we know that if Jesus actually cried out while being impaled it is an acknowledgement of him willing to die in holy armed struggle against the Roman imperium.”
Nowhere throughout his entire ministry was Jesus against the Roman imperium. Actually the contrary happened, he encouraged his followers to pay their taxes and “give unto Caesar what belongs to him.”
He never rebelled or started any type of uprising against Rome.
In fact, Pilate found no fault in him.
It doesn’t make sense that all of a sudden it turns into a holy struggle against the Romans. The Romans were never his enemies.
In fact it makes no sense why he would even maintain silence when being questioned by Pilate when his life was at risk. If any trial even took place, he most definitely would’ve defended himself against his accusers and wouldn’t just allow them to lead him to the slaughterhouse like a lamb.
If Barabbas (killer and insurrectionist) was even real, then it made way more sense that Pilate decided to kill him instead and Jesus escaped.
I still maintain that he lived out his natural lifespan and Allah caused him to die naturally.
I also think that 3:55 is a hint at the attempted and failed plan to get Jesus crucified. A hint at the “divine conjecture.”
Also, the verbal usage kafaftu (restrain) in 5:110 should not be restricted to physical violence only, it could also imply preemptive actions taken that could lead to violence. So if some of the Jews were successful in getting Jesus indicted and eventually crucified (even if done by the Romans), it would sill count as being “responsible” for his death. Thus contradicting the assumption that they (Jews) did not kill him.
My last thought is a request for a response to the following question:
what is your understanding of 4:159? This verse is often used as evidence for the second coming but I don’t look at it that way at all. This is how I understood it:
”and there is not a single (Jew or Christian) except that they will believe bihi (in it, meaning the boast of Jesus dying on a cross) before their death. And on the day of judgement he (Jesus) will bear witness against their claim.”
I made the connection to bihi in the previous verse that states, maa lahum bihi min ilmin.
what are your thoughts on this, thank you.
walakum salaam warahmutallah wabarkatuh,
I hope and trust that you are making the most of this blessed month and may you find in it joy, mercy, forgiveness, and closness to our Creator.
First it should be said that what I mentioned concerning Jesus (as) and the Romans is pure zann (speclative). This is not yaqin (certainty) it is not creed for us.
This is simply offering a plausible narrative if someone asked: “What about” or ‘What if”…
“Actually the contrary happened, he encouraged his followers to pay their taxes and “give unto Caesar what belongs to him.”
“In fact, Pilate found no fault in him.”
“ In fact it makes no sense why he would even maintain silence when being questioned by Pilate when his life was at risk. IF ANY TRIAL EVEN TOOK PLACE , he most definitely would’ve defended himself against his accusers and wouldn’t just allow them to lead him to the slaughterhouse like a lamb.”
So I have noted the phrase: “If any trial even took place.” So what we have is a document, or a document that has been collated by different sources. There are several versions of this document with some slight modifcations to the final documents. “Matthew.” , “Mark” , “Luke,” John etc.
So what you said is plausible. It could also be that that the IF (that is used in reservaton and skepticism of a trial) could also be an IF that is applicable to:
“Actually the contrary happened, he encouraged his followers to pay their taxes and “give unto Caesar what belongs to him.”
“In fact, Pilate found no fault in him.”
Meaning this whole document is to portray Jesus (as) as some type of pacifist. A document portraying Jesus (as) as a martyr would who died in Jihad against Roman authorities would not serve the interest in Rome. Think of how certain Muslim scholars today speak to us about how we are to keep quite about the rulers and not rock the boat.
So with this document it is plausible. However, as stated it is zann (speculative) It is not creed or doctrine for me, or us (Ibadi).
“What is your understanding of 4:159? This verse is often used as evidence for the second coming but I don’t look at it that way at all. This is how I understood it:
”and there is not a single (Jew or Christian) except that they will believe bihi (in it, meaning the boast of Jesus dying on a cross) before their death. And on the day of judgement he (Jesus) will bear witness against their claim.”
Well, the Ahl Sunnah and they are not alone in this have some rather odd views about the surrounding text. For example if we go back to the Qur’an: We need to look at the context.
The theme starts at Qur’an 4:153.
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. (Qur’an 4:153)
The People of the Scripture can refer to either Jews or Christians or both.
The context often makes it clear.
Christians did not live in the time of Moses, nor did they worship the calf.
Clearly Qur’an 4:153 is a reference to Jews in the time of Moses.
And We cursed them for their breaking of the covenant and their ingratitude towards the signs of Allah and their killing of the prophets* without right and their saying, “Our hearts are wrapped”. Rather, Allah has sealed them because of their ingratitude, so they believe not, except for a few. That they rejected Faith; that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge. (Qur’an 4:155-156)
There are no records of Christians killing their prophets. The only Prophets of the Christians are Yahya (John) & Esau (Jesus).
Also, Christians would never utter against Mary a false charge.
Notes*
2 Chronicles 24:20-21
Jeremiah 26:20-23
1 Kings 18:4
1 Kings 19:9-10
“And because of their saying, “Indeed, we killed the Messiah, Isa, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah, “And they killed him not nor did they صَلَبُوهُ impale him, but it was made to appear so to them. They differ over it and have no knowledge about it, following only conjecture. For certainly they did not kill him.”
(Qur’an 4:157)
1)The text is referring to Jewish enemies of Jesus.
2)There is no mention of Romans in this text.
3)This text is not addressing Christians. (Nasara)
4) There is NO text in the Qur’an that connects Christians and an act known as “صَلَبُوهُ”
5) Because Allah (swt) is addressing Jews, salabu (صَلَبُوهُ) cannot be a reference to a cross or a crucifixion!
6) It was made to appear to them does not address people who live witnesses of anything.
As there is no asbab an nuzul of this verse, neither sahih hadith traced back to the Blessed Messenger (saw) nor was it used by the Prophet (saw) in his debate with Christians the earlier mufasirun started to take information from Israliyaat material.
So they took unreliable information from Non Muslims with no chain.
That is the beginning, the foundation of this belief that.
a) Allah (swt) made someone look like Jesus and that person was put on a Cross.
b) latter Qadiani view adopted by Ahmed Deedat (r) and Shabir Ally etc…. Allah put Jesus upon a Cross and he was taken down alive.
c) view of some contemporary Nizari Ismaili. Jesus died on a cross (bodily) and his spirit did not die.
Notice a common theme? Yes, the word cross. Where did they get that from?
So our method is to interpret the Qur’an in light of the Qur’an. However, the foundation of this view is flawed, and b and c simply modify the view of a.
Now as regards Qur’an 4:159 you maybe interested in seeing our understanding of this in the article here:
May Allah (swt) bless your Ramadan and please continue to pray for Palestine, the Uyghurs, the Rohingya, our brothers in Sudan, and the people of Congo and all the oppressed in this world.