Page 72 - The Prophet Jesus (as) will Return

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THE PROPHET JESUS (AS) WILL RETURN
miraculous situation. That is because the words "in the cradle"
and "when fully grown" that follow each other in the verses are
stressing two miraculous periods.
In fact, in his work The Commentary of at-Tabari, Imam at-
Tabari gives the following explanation of these verses:

These statements (Surat al-Ma'ida, 110) indicate that in order to
complete his lifespan and speak to people when fully grown the
Prophet Jesus (as) will come down from heaven. That is because he
was raised to heaven when still young. In this verse (Surah Al 'Im-
ran, 46) there is evidence that the Prophet Jesus (as) is living, and
Ahl al-Sunnah share that view. That is because in this verse it is stat-
ed that he will speak to people when fully grown. He will only be able
to grow fully when he returns to earth from heaven. 21
Some people however, interpret the word "when fully
grown" in a manner far removed from its true meaning and do
not analyse it in the context of the general logic of the Qur'an.
These people maintain that prophets have always been mature
adults, for which reason the expression refers to all the lives of
the prophets. Of course the prophets were mature adults whom
Allah raised. Yet in Surat al-Ahqaf Allah reveals that the age of
full maturity is forty. It is revealed in this verse that:
We have instructed man to be good to his parents. His
mother bore him with difficulty and with difficulty
gave birth to him; and his bearing and weaning take
thirty months. Then when he achieves his full strength
and reaches forty, he says, "My Lord, keep me thankful
for the blessing You bestowed on me and on my par-
ents, and keep me acting rightly, pleasing You. And
make my descendants righteous. I have repented to