Page 43 - The Prophet Jesus (as) will Return

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HARUN YAHYA (ADNAN OKTAR)
1. TAWAFFA: TO CAUSE TO DIE, TO TAKE IN
SLEEP OR TO TAKE BACK

The word tawaffa as used in this verse has other meanings
than simply 'death' in English. A study of the Arabic equivalents
of the words in the verses reveals that the Prophet Jesus (as) did
not die in the accepted sense. This is how his being taken back to
Allah is described in Surat al-Ma'ida:

I said to them nothing but what You ordered me to say:
"Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." I was a wit-
ness against them as long as I remained among them,
but when You took me back to You (tawaffa), You were
the One watching over them. You are Witness of all
things. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 117)
Surah Al 'Imran states:

When Allah said, "Jesus, I will take you back (mutawaf-
feeka) and raise you up (wa rafi'uka) to Me and purify
you of those who are disbelievers. And I will place the
people who follow you above those who are disbeliev-
ers until the Day of Resurrection..." (Surah Al 'Imran: 55)
This verse informs the believers that Allah will "take back"
the Prophet Jesus (as), protect him from the unbelievers, and
raise him to His Presence. Many great Islamic scholars and com-
mentators have interpreted this verse to mean that the Prophet
Jesus (as) did not die.

In Arabic the word that is translated in some translations of
these verses as "You have caused me to die" is tawaffa and comes
from the root wafa – to fulfil. In fact, in Arabic commentaries it is
not used in the sense of death. The commentary of Imam al-Qur-
tubi is one example of this; he used the expression "the taking away