ACCORDING TO MANY MUSLIMS, JESUS WAS AN ISLAMIC MARTYR

Truth always takes a backseat to Islam’s political agenda. A recent example of this is the oft repeated claim that Jesus was Palestinian and an Islamic Martyr.

Tawfiq Tirawi, senior Palestinian leader and Fatah Central Committee member posted on his personal Facebook page:

·       “This is blessed Christmas, The birthday of our lord Jesus the Messiah, the first Palestinian and the first Shahid (Islamic Martyr).” (Tawfiq Tirawi Facebook page, Dec. 24, 2019)

For one thing, Islam had been based upon “revelations” allegedly given to Mohammad more than 600 years after the birth of the Messiah. What do the Hebrew Scriptures claim regarding the identity of the Messiah? He would be a Hebrew and would descend from the lineage of King David. Moses had revealed to the Israelites that the next “Moses,” the Messiah, would be an Israelite:

·       “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’” (Deuteronomy 18:15-16)

Peter and Stephen later claimed that this promise had been fulfilled by Jesus (Acts 3:22; 7:3)

The Messiah would be a descendant of the tribe of Judah:

·       But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2; Genesis 49:10)

King David’s Father, Jesse, an Israelite, would be His forefather:

·       There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD…In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1-2, 10)

King David would be his forefather:

·       For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

·       You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” (Psalm 89:3-4; Psalm 132:11)

·       “Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you [David] from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel…He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:8,13; 1 Chronicles 7)

·       “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

There is not a single hint anywhere in the Bible that the Messiah would be anything but a Jew, let alone a “Shahid,” a Muslim martyr or a Palestinian Arab. On the basis of what do Muslims make this claim? They have not the slightest piece of evidence. Why then do they make this claim? Because Israel and Christianity are regarded as their enemies, and they have a right and a duty to deceive their enemies for the sake of Allah:

·       "Let believers not take for friends and allies infidels instead of believers. Whoever does this shall have no relationship left with Allah – unless you but guard yourselves against them, taking precautions." (Quran 3:28; see also 2:173; 2:185; 4:29; 22:78; 40:28.)

·       Al-Tabari's (838-923 AD) Tafsir, or Quranic exegeses, is essentially a standard reference in the entire Muslim world. Regarding 3:28, he wrote: "If you [Muslims] are under their [infidels'] authority, fearing for yourselves, behave loyally to them, with your tongue, while harbouring inner animosity for them... Allah has forbidden believers from being friendly or on intimate terms with the infidels in place of believers – except when infidels are above them [in authority]. In such a scenario, let them act friendly towards them."

·       Ibn Kathir (1301-1373) wrote: "Whoever at any time or place fears their [infidels'] evil, may protect himself through outward show [deception]."

·       As proof of this, he quotes Muhammad's companions. Abu Darda said: "Let us smile to the face of some people while our hearts curse them." Al-Hassan said: "Doing taqiyya [deception] is acceptable till the day of judgment [in perpetuity]." https://www.meforum.org/2095/islams-doctrines-of-deception