We continue to list some of the various ways in which Jesus is depicted as being greater than John https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/islam-bears-witness-christ-is-superior-to-and-greater-than-the-baptist-pt-1/.
2. Unlike John who was born through the normal process of sexual reproduction, Christ was born miraculously from a virgin (cf. Q. 3:47; 19:20-21).
3. Unlike John, Jesus and his blessed mother were protected from being touched by Satan at their respective births.
Narrated Said bin Al-Musaiyab: Abu Huraira said, “I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘There is NONE BORN among the off-spring of Adam, but Satan touches it. A child therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, except Mary and her child.” Then Abu Huraira recited: “And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from the outcast Satan” (3.36) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 641 http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=55&translator=1&start=0&number=641)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger as saying: NO CHILD is born BUT he is pricked by the satan and he begins to weep because of the pricking of the satan except the son of Mary and his mother. Abu Huraira then said: You may recite if you so like (the verse):” I seek Thy protection for her and her offspring against satan the accursed” (iii. 36). This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):” The newborn child is touched by the satan (when he comes in the world) and he starts crying because of the touch of satan.” In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Shu’aib there is a slight variation of wording. (Sahih Muslim, Book 030, Number 5837 http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=030&translator=2&start=0&number=5837)
4. Unlike John who was merely a prophet, Jesus is the Messiah, a King (cf. Q. 3:45).
The following expositor was aware that the word Messiah meant that Jesus would be a King,
((And remember) when the angels) i.e. Gabriel (said: O Mary! Allah giveth you glad tidings of a Word from Him) of a son who shall come into being by means of a Word from Allah, (whose name is the Messiah) because he travels from one country to another; it is also said: the Messiah means the king, (Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world) he has standing and position amidst people in the life of this world (and the Hereafter) he has standing and position with Allah, (and one of those brought near) unto Allah in the Garden of Eden. (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=45&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0; bold and underline emphasis ours)
Which is exactly how both the Old and New Testaments define this particular title:
“Then their whole assembly rose up and brought Him before Pilate. They began to accuse Him, saying, ‘We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King.’ So Pilate asked Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You have said it.’” Luke 23:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5. Unlike John, Jesus is the Creator and Life-giver who performed signs and wonders.
The Quran fails to mention a single miracle that the Baptist did, obviously because he never performed any, just as God’s Word plainly testifies:
“Then He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and He remained there. Many came to Him and said, ‘John did no sign. But everything that John said about this Man was true.’” John 10:40-41
Jesus, on the other hand, is depicted as performing divine works such as creating life and raising the dead, as well as speaking from the cradle:
He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be… to be a Messenger to the Children of Israel saying, “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I will create for you out of clay as the likeness of a bird; then I will breathe into it, and it will be a bird, by the leave of God. I will also heal the blind and the leper, and bring to life the dead, by the leave of God. I will inform you too of what things you eat, and what you treasure up in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers. S. 3:46, 49 Arberry – cf. Q. 5:110
O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! S. 19:28-33 Pickthall
6. Unlike John who died, Jesus was taken physically, bodily into the very presence of Allah himself.
But Allah raised him [‘Iesa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. S. 4:158 Hilali-Khan – cf. Q. 3:55
7. Unlike John who shall remain dead till the day of resurrection, Jesus will return as a just judge to rule the earth and kill the antichrist.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler); he will break the Cross and kill the pigs and there will be no Jizya (i.e. taxation taken from non Muslims). Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it, and a single prostration to Allah (in prayer) will be better than the whole world and whatever is in it.” Abu Huraira added “If you wish, you can recite (this verse of the Holy Book): — ‘And there is none Of the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (i.e. Jesus as an Apostle of Allah and a human being) Before his death. And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness Against them.” (4.159) (See Fateh Al Bari, Page 302 Vol 7) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 657 http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=55&translator=1&start=0&number=657)
‘Abdullah b. ‘Amr reported that a person came to him and said: What is this hadith that you narrate that the Last Hour would come at such and such time? Thereupon he said: Hallowed be Allah, there is no god but Allah (or the words to the same effect). I have decided that I would not narrate anything to anyone now. I had only said that you would see after some time an important event that the (sacred) House (Ka’ba) would be burnt and it would happen and definitely happen. He then reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The Dajjal would appear in my Ummah and he would stay (in the world) for forty-I cannot say whether he meant forty days, forty months or forty years. And Allah would then send Jesus son of Mary who would resemble ‘Urwa b Mas’ud. He (Jesus Christ) would chase him and kill him… (Sahih Muslim, Book 041, Number 7023 http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=041&translator=2&start=0&number=7023)
It is painfully obvious from the above examples that even Islam denies that John is anywhere near the exalted status of Christ. According to the so-called authentic sources of Islam, the Lord Jesus is vastly superior to the Baptist, being counted worthy of greater glory and honor than all the prophets combined, even Muhammad himself.
This should now put to rest the feeble and desperate attempt by some Muslims to use what the Quran says about John to undermine the explicit Islamic witness to the incomparability and transcendent majesty of the Lord Jesus over all creatures, including Muhammad.
Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptural references taken from the Modern English Version (MEV) of the Holy Bible.
IHS
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