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Muhammad Speaking of the Messiah: Jesus in the Hadīth Tradition

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MUHAMMAD SPEAKING OF THE MESSIAH: JESUS IN THE HADĪTH TRADITION A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Fatih Harpci (May 2013) Examining Committee Members: Prof. Khalid Y. Blankinship, Advisory Chair, Department of Religion Prof. Vasiliki Limberis, Department of Religion Prof. Terry Rey, Department of Religion Prof. Zameer Hasan, External Member, TU Department of Physics © Copyright 2013 by Fatih Harpci All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT Much has been written about Qur’ānic references to Jesus (‘Īsā in Arabic), yet no work has been done on the structure or formal analysis of the numerous references to ‘Īsā in the Hadīth, that is, the collection of writings that report the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. In effect, non-Muslims and Muslim scholars neglect the full range of Prophet Muhammad’s statements about Jesus that are in the Hadīth. The dissertation’s main thesis is that an examination of the Hadīths’ reports of Muhammad’s words about and attitudes toward ‘Īsā will lead to fuller understandings about Jesus-‘Īsā among Muslims and propose to non-Muslims new insights into Christian tradition about Jesus. In the latter process, non-Muslims will be encouraged to re-examine past hostile views concerning Muhammad and his words about Jesus. A minor thesis is that Western readers in particular, whether or not they are Christians, will be aided to understand Islamic beliefs about ‘Īsā, prophethood, and eschatology more fully. In the course of the dissertation, Hadīth studies will be enhanced by a full presentation of Muhammad’s words about and attitudes toward Jesus-‘Īsā. While several non-eschatological references to Jesus appear the Hadīth and will be referenced, the dissertation focuses especially on Prophet Muhammad’s statements concerning ‘Īsā’s parousia (return to earth) and his messianic roles toward the End Times. It is anticipated that the work will contribute to further studies about correlations of ‘Īsā and Muhammad in Islamic and Christian theology, as well as to interreligious examinations of the Hadīth traditions. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I appreciate my research committee’s time and dedication to this study. Prof. Khalid Y. Blankinship, Prof. Vasiliki Limberis, and Prof. Terry Rey have all contributed to this dissertation with guidance and intellectual insight. My committee chair, Prof. Khalid Y. Blankinship has remained flexible and patient while he spent time and attention diligently editing and commenting on drafts. I am also indebted to my external reader Prof. Zameer Hasan for providing his assistance and knowledge. My appreciation further extends to Prof. Walter Wagner for his advice, gentle and astute corrections, and patience in reading the manuscript. Also, I would like to thank Ahmet Cetinkaya for sharing his collections of Hadīth and Resit Haylamaz who encouraged me to pursue this path and provided me with many Arabic sources. iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 THE HADĪTH TRADITION ................................................................... 1 SUNNAH AND HADĪTH ...................................................................................................... 1 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HADĪTH TRADITION .......................................... 6 HADĪTH COMPILATION ................................................................................................. 11 THE CLASSIFICATION OF HADĪTH ........................................................................ 19 CHAPTER 2 GENERAL MUSLIM VIEW ON JESUS CHRIST FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS PROPHETHOOD .............................................................................. 24 JESUS’ NAMES ...................................................................................................................... 25 1- ) ‘Īsā ...................................................................................................... 25 2- ) Ibn Maryam (Son of Mary) ................................................................ 27 3- ) Al-Masīh (The Messiah) .................................................................... 28 JESUS’ TITLES ...................................................................................................................... 29 1- ) Abdullah and Rasulullah .................................................................... 29 2- ) Kalimatullah ....................................................................................... 31 3- ) Ruhullah ............................................................................................. 36 MARYAM (MARY) .............................................................................................................. 40 JESUS’ BIRTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD ........................................................... 50 DID JESUS HAVE ANY SIBLINGS? ............................................................................ 57 JESUS’ APPEARANCE ...................................................................................................... 59 v 1- ) Stature................................................................................................. 61 2- ) Hair ..................................................................................................... 61 3- ) Face and Skin ..................................................................................... 62 4- ) Individuals Resembling Jesus ............................................................ 63 CHAPTER 3 KEY CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM CONTRASTS ....................................... 67 INITIAL CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS ...................................................... 67 WHERE CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS AGREE AND DIFFER ON JESUS .................................................................................................. 74 1- ) Jesus the Messenger ........................................................................... 75 2- ) Jesus’ Miracles ................................................................................... 85 3- ) Jesus’ Piety, Virtue, and Asceticism .................................................. 95 4- ) Jesus the Servant ................................................................................ 99 5- ) No Passion, No Crucifixion, and No Resurrection .......................... 111 ISLAMIC JESUS’ RELEVANCE FOR CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS TODAY .............................................................................................................................. 119 CHAPTER 4 NUZŪL-U ‘ĪSĀ (DESCENT OF JESUS CHRIST) .......................... 123 A SYNOPSIS OF ISLAMIC ESCHATOLOGY AND END TIME EXPECTATIONS .......................................................................................................... 123 FITNAH (TRIBULATION) .............................................................................................. 130 AL-MASĪH (THE MESSIAH) ........................................................................................ 135 WHAT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE THE NUZŪL? ................................................ 149 THE MAHDĪ .......................................................................................................................... 154 WHERE AND WHEN WILL JESUS DESCEND? ................................................ 159 WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE NUZUL?.................................................... 163 vi 1- ) Jesus Killing the Dajjāl .................................................................... 163 2- ) Jesus as a Just Ruler and Imam ........................................................ 168 3- ) Jesus Struggling for Islam ................................................................ 168 4- ) Jesus Breaking the Cross .................................................................. 169 5- ) Jesus Killing the Pig ......................................................................... 170 6- ) Jesus Abolishing the Jizyah .............................................................. 170 7- ) Extraordinary Abundance and Fertility ............................................ 171 8-) No More Animosity and Hatred ........................................................ 172 9- ) Ya’jūj and Ma’jūj (God and Magog) ............................................... 172 10- ) Jesus performing Hajj or/and ‘Umrah, (pilgrimage to Makkah) .... 174 11- ) The Death and Resurrection of Jesus ............................................. 175 A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE NUZŪL-U ‘ĪSĀ............................... 177 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 194 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................... 200 vii INTRODUCTION Much has been written about Qur’ānic references to Jesus (‘Īsā in Arabic), yet no work has been done on the structure or formal analysis of the numerous references to ‘Īsā in the Hadīth, that is, the collection of writings that report the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. In effect, non-Muslims and Muslim scholars neglect the full range of Prophet Muhammad’s statements about Jesus
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