and their saying: We have killed the Messiah, 'Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah. Those are the enemies of Allah who boasted of killing the Prophet of Allah, 'Isa, and they claimed that they killed him and crucified him.

His saying, the Almighty: "But they killed him not, nor crucified him."

[6232] My father narrated to us, Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Rahman al-Dashtaki narrated to us, 'Abd Allah ibn Abi Ja'far narrated to us, from his father, from al-Rabi' ibn Anas, from al-Hasan, who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to the Jews: 'Isa has not died, and he shall return to you before the Day of Resurrection.

[6233] Ahmad ibn Sinan al-Wasiti narrated to us, Abu Mu'awiyah narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from al-Minhal ibn 'Amr, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: When Allah Almighty intended to raise 'Isa to heaven, he went out to his companions, and there were twelve men of the Hawariyyin (Disciples) in the house. 'Isa came out from a spring in the house, with his head dripping with water, and he said: "Some of you will disbelieve in me twelve times after having believed in me." Then he asked: "Which of you will have my likeness cast upon him, so that he may be killed in my place and be with me in my rank?" A young man, the youngest of them, stood up. He told him: "Sit." Then he repeated it to them, and the young man stood up again: "I." He said: "It is you." So the likeness of 'Isa was cast upon him, and 'Isa was raised from a vent in the house to heaven. He said: Then the pursuit came from the Jews, and they seized the one who had the likeness, and they killed him, then crucified him. Some of them disbelieved in him twelve times after having believed in him, and they split into three sects. One sect said: "Allah was with us as long as He willed, then He ascended to heaven." These are the Ya'qubiyyah (Jacobites). Another sect said: "The Son of Allah was among us as long as He willed, then He raised him to Himself." These are the Nasturiyyah (Nestorians). A third sect said: "The servant of Allah and His messenger was among us as long as He willed, then Allah raised him to Himself." These are the Muslims. The two disbelieving sects conspired against the Muslim sect and killed them. Thus, Islam remained suppressed until Allah sent Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

His saying, the Almighty: "But it appeared so to them."

[6234] Hajjaj ibn Hamzah narrated to us, Shababah narrated to us, Warqa' narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid, regarding His saying: "But it appeared so to them," he said: They crucified a man other than 'Isa, [thinking him to be] him.