Islam's Jesus

8. Symbolic, Allegorical, and Other Interpretive Approaches to Jesus’s Eschatological Role

eight Symbolic, Allegorical, and Other Interpretive Approaches to Jesus’s Eschatological Role Some Muslim theologians see the descent of Jesus in figurative and allegorical terms. In doing so they employ what I call the interpretive approach. This style of analysis is grounded in the methodological principles of Islamic theology and law and is compatible with the teachings of the Qur’an.1 Within the methodologies of Qur’anic commentary and Hadith criticism there is a fundamental concept known as mutawatir, which can be translated as “recurrently transmitted chain of narration.” All verses of the Qur’an are considered to be mutawatir. However, scholars have validated only a few hadith as mutawatir. Many hadith are still considered sound and reliable, even though they do not reach the level of mutawatir. The Qur’an and the reliable Hadith provide the groundwork for Islamic theology and the themes within it, in our case the descent of Jesus. Even though these texts are reliable, they may seem to contradict the known principles of reason. When this is the case, Islamic theologians and jurists say that the texts should be interpreted instead of rejected. One argument against literalism looks to a methodological principle in the philosophy of Islamic law that clearly says that if there is a conflict between reason and a sound text, either in the Qur’an or the Hadith, reason should be favored and the text should be interpreted in a way that accords with reason. This same principle is stated by the famous Muslim jurist and theologian Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (d. 1388), who says that the evidence for religious law cannot conflict with reason. A conflict would defy the principle of accountability, which is properly based on the use of free will. One must have reason if one is to be accountable before God in the afterlife; without reason, one is not considered accountable. Therefore, according to Islamic theology, mentally ill individuals are not considered accountable for their actions and are destined for paradise because they do not have a chance to exercise their free will. Interpretive Approaches to Jesus’s Eschatological Role 113 God does not place a burden on human beings greater than what they can bear (Qur’an 2:233, 2:286, 6:152, 7:42, and 23:62). In al-Shatibi’s line of reasoning , God would not force human beings who have reason and free will to accept what they cannot understand or comprehend. “Islamic Law proofs do not contradict the outcome of reason,” al-Shatibi writes. In a few pages he illustrates why dogmas should not contradict reason.2 Using the legal principle that alShatibi emphasizes, if one cannot understand a theological theme, one is not required to believe in it. Blind faith is not accepted in Islam, and even if it were, it would be considered a weak level of faith. Since the literal meaning of the texts about Jesus’s descent conflict with reason, they should be interpreted in a way that accords with reason. The descent of Jesus from heaven in his earthly body, in his human form, and in front of people’s eyes is a matter that tests the limits of reason. Therefore, two options present themselves: rejecting the texts or interpreting them using reason. The descent of Jesus is interpreted in a metaphorical way to mean that goodness will prevail or to advocate cooperation between Muslims and Christians. The hadith that mentions Jesus’s visit to the mosque and his prayer with Muslims , when he asks the “leader of Muslims” to lead the prayer, symbolizes this cooperation and is most likely what the Prophet meant. As I discussed in the previous chapter, those who support a literal approach to reading the hadith relate it to the power of God. Yet the power of God does not act in a way to compel people to believe, and if Jesus’s descent happens as a cosmic event, then everybody will be compelled to believe. This goes against the Islamic theological principle of free will. Interpretive Approaches to Jesus’s Descent In what follows I will examine some Muslim theologians’ understanding of the descent of Jesus and their preference for an interpretive approach. I will look at the thought of some theologians of our time and that of some early theologians who understood Jesus’s descent allegorically. Abu ‘Abdillah al-Halimi Abu ‘Abdillah al-Halimi (d. 1012), a Muslim theologian, jurist, and ethicist, speaks of the descent of Jesus and his...