This event was held on Sunday 7^th June 09 at Darul Aman, Manchester and was organised by Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, North West. Guests started to arrive at 3.30pm and were invited to view the Islamic exhibition, which included a section on Jesus^as in India. The formal session began at 4pm with Tilawat and English translation by Ayyaz Khan. Dr Imran Khan (Regional officer for information) then gave a welcome address. Maulana Ataul Mujeeb Rashed began his speech by saying that the topic of Jesus^as and the crucifixion is well known to all Jews, Christians and Muslims. The topic can be controversial as religions have their own views. Imam Sahib stated that this event was not intended to offend anyone, it was simply expressing a different point of view. Muslims accept Jesus^as as a noble prophet of God and God was his helper and guide throughout his life. Muslims have the utmost love and respect for Jesus^as.

Some guests viewing the exhibition

Dr Imran Khan discusses the Ahmadiyya viewpoint on the crucifixion, with 2 guests

Imam Sahib continued by saying Jesus^as was a human being and a noble prophet. He was born without the aid of a Father and it was a miraculous birth (3:48). This is not against the laws of nature. Muslims also believe that Jesus^as was not born in the winter but in a month such as July, August or September as it says in the Holy Qur’an (19:26) on the trees were “fresh ripe dates”. Jesus^as never claimed to be the literal son of God. He said he was sent by the “Father” who was the loving Creator. It says in the Qur’an (3:50) that Jesus^as had a specific mission to the Israelites. Jesus^as was also supported with Heavenly signs.

 There are two chapters in the Qur’an which discuss Jesus^as in detail. Chapter 19 – Maryam, which describes his birth, life, crucifixion and miracles. The other chapter is Chapter 3 – Al-Imran. Imam Sahib read some verses from Surah Al-Imran:

“He (Jesus) said ‘I am a servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. And he has made me blessed wheresoever I may be and had enjoined upon me Prayer and almsgiving so long as I live.” (3:31-32)

“And He has made me dutiful towards my mother and He has not made me haughty and unblessed. And peace was on me the day I was born, and peace there will be on me the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised up to life again. Such was Jesus, son of Mary. This is a statement of the truth about which they doubt.” (3:33-35)

Maulana Dawood Qureshi (Regional Missionary N.West), Maulana Ataul Mujeeb Rashed (Imam of the London Mosque), Dr Naseer Choudhary (Regional Amir, North West) and Sajid Arain (Regional Qaid North West)

The Holy Qur’an is not the word of any person, including the Holy Prophet. It is the word of God. The Crucifixion was a real event and other Muslims believe Jesus^as was not put on the cross, but a person who looked like Jesus^as was put on the cross. They believe Jesus^as himself was taken up by Angels into heaven and has spent the last 2,000 years living in heaven. They also believe that one day he will descend back to earth. These are not the teachings of the Holy Qur’an. The real Islam teaches that Jesus^as was put on the cross and stayed there for 3-4 hours or less. A man aged 32-33 could not have died so soon. Crucifixion was a lingering death that could take 3-4 days. A person’s legs were then broken to ensure he was dead. There were no eye witnesses to Jesus’s^as death, as the clouds were dark and there was an earthquake. People had run away in fright. Jesus^as was simply unconscious and taken as dead. He was then taken down, treated and came out of the tomb after 3 days to meet with his disciples.

Views of the audience

Imam Sahib stated that the Bible does not support the death of Jesus^as by crucifixion. This may seem a tall claim and some guests may not agree, but the evidence is in the Bible. Such as, Jesus^as himself said that one sign he would give would be the “Sign of Jonah”. Jonah^as went into the belly of the whale alive and came out alive. So if Jesus^as died on the cross there would be no similarity with Jonah^as, therefore Jesus^as must have been alive on the cross.

 Similarly the wife of Pontus Pilate (the Roman Governor) received a divine message through a dream of Jesus’s^as innocence. Pilate asked for some water and washed his hands of this affair and said that he was away from this conspiracy. He also delayed the proceedings until Friday morning and put Jesus^as on the cross on Friday afternoon, knowing well that before the start of the Sabbath on Friday evening, Jesus^as would have to be taken down.

 A solider then pierced Jesus’s^as side and “blood and water gushed forth”. There must have been a pumping force – the heart, which proved Jesus^as was alive. Additionally Jesus’s^as mission was to preach to the 12 tribes of Israel. If he died, his mission would have been incomplete. Before the crucifixion Jesus^as had prayed all night at Gethsemane. He had also requested his disciples to pray for him (Hebrews 5:7) to take away the cup of death. If these prayers were to be heard, Jesus^as could not have died on the cross.

Imam Sahib ended by saying Jesus^as survived the crucifixion and then travelled East. He journeyed to Srinagar in Kashmir and died there at the age of 120. This has even been documented in a BBC documentary which showed the tomb of Jesus^as in Srinagar. The documentary traced Jesus’s^as life through the Eastern countries. Other countries outside the UK have also done some research on Jesus^as and showed the same, that is, Jesus^as survived the crucifixion and travelled East, dying in Srinagar.

 A Question and Answer session then took place with many questions being asked, such as what is the proof that Jesus^as lived in Kashmir; how can we believe that Jesus^as lived to 120; how has the true Christian doctrine changed so much; why was crucifixion chosen for Jesus^as as opposed to a more definitive death sentence; who is Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as; if Jesus^as survived the crucifixion where did he go? Imam Sahib was more then adequately able to answer each question.

 Dr Abid Ahmad gave a vote of thanks after which the function ended with a silent prayer. Dinner was then served at 6.10pm. In total there were approximately 70 non-Ahmadi guests present.