Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 110

And (remember) when Allah will say, "O Jesus [158], son of Mary! Recall My favor upon you and upon your mother [159], when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit so that you spoke to people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you the Book and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when, by My command, you made from clay the shape of a bird, then breathed into it, and it became a bird by My command; and you healed the one born blind and the leper by My command; and when you brought forth the dead by My command; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from you when you came to them with clear signs, but those of them who disbelieved said, 'This is nothing but clear magic.'"

[158] That is, first all the prophets will be asked collectively what response their people gave to them or to what extent their call was accepted, then each prophet will be asked the same question individually. And the questioning and answering of ‘Isa (peace be upon him) is mentioned in particular because his community had made several gods independently.

[159] Before the questioning and answering, Allah Almighty mentioned His favors upon ‘Isa (peace be upon him). These favors are mentioned repeatedly throughout the Noble Quran. Most of them are gathered and mentioned at this place. And they are as follows:

(1)
Allah Almighty’s Favors Upon ‘Isa and His Mother:

The greatest favor upon ‘Isa (peace be upon him) and his greatest virtue was that he was born from the breath of Jibril. His birth occurred in a miraculous and extraordinary manner, apart from the natural way. That is why he is called Ruhullah (the Spirit of Allah) and Kalimatullah (the Word of Allah).

(2) The favor of Allah upon his mother Maryam was that He declared her innocent from the accusation of the Jews.

(3) ‘Isa (peace be upon him), at a very young age, when a child does not even learn to speak, used to speak in such a manner as a mature and wise person converses.

(4) At the age of twelve, he used to recite the passages of the Torah fluently from memory, so much so that the great scholars and Pharisees of the Jews would be astonished at this situation. Then, at the age of thirty, he was granted prophethood, and the Injil was revealed to him.

(5)
The Miracles of ‘Isa:

Perhaps it was the effect of this breath of Jibril that he would make a bird out of clay, then blow into it, and that bird would become a living bird by Allah’s command and begin to fly.

(6) Also, by the effect of this breath of Jibril or the support of the Holy Spirit, when he would pass his hand over the eyes of someone born blind, that person would become able to see by Allah’s command, and his eyes would become completely healthy and able to see.

(7) If he passed his hand over the body of a leper, that person would become completely healthy by Allah’s command.

(8) If he told a dead person lying in a grave to rise, that person would come out of the grave alive by Allah’s command.

(9) Despite so many miracles, the Children of Israel denied him and said, “You are a magician, and all your feats are nothing but magic.” Therefore, they became intent on harming him and tried to crucify him, but Allah saved him from them and raised him up to Himself.

(10) When all the people of the Children of Israel became his enemies and no one believed, Allah inspired the disciples to believe in Him and in ‘Isa (peace be upon him), and to be determined to help and support him in every way.

In short, the favors that Allah Almighty bestowed upon Sayyiduna ‘Isa (peace be upon him) are being mentioned to indicate that if he were Allah or the son of Allah, what need would he have for these favors? Also, all the events from the birth of Sayyiduna ‘Isa to his being raised up to Allah are such that they indicate the servitude (‘ubudiyyah) of Sayyiduna ‘Isa (peace be upon him).