The Belief in the Ascension and Return of Jesus (علیہ السلام) and the Prophetic Mission of Muhammad (ﷺ)

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sent, three major groups existed in Arabia:

1. The Polytheists of Makkah
2. The Christians of Najran
3. The Jews

Question: What were the duties of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mission according to the Quran?

• He preserved the authentic practices of Abrahamic tradition.
• Eradicated corrupted rituals and polytheistic innovations.
• Clarified the correct methods of worship and removed false customs.
• Revived neglected divine laws from previous revelations.
• Judged disputes between religions with finality through the Quran and Hadith.

Quran 16:64:
وَمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ اِلَّا لِتُبَیِّنَ لَہُمُ الَّذِی اخۡتَلَفُوۡا فِیۡہِ ۙ وَ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃً لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
“We have revealed the Book to you only to resolve their disputes, and as guidance and mercy for believers.”

Analysis of the Three Groups’ Beliefs

1. The Polytheists of Makkah

False Beliefs Corrected by Islam:

• Idol Worship: The Quran demolished polytheism with uncompromising monotheism.
• Naked Tawaf: While they circled the Kaaba, Islam abolished their lewd practice but preserved Tawaf as worship.

وَ لۡیَطَّوَّفُوۡا بِالۡبَیۡتِ الۡعَتِیۡقِ
“They must perform Tawaf of the Ancient House.” (Quran 22:29)

• Female Infanticide: Islam condemned this brutality.

وَ اِذَا الۡمَوۡءٗدَۃُ سُئِلَت۔ ۡ بِاَیِّ ذَنۡۢبٍ قُتِلَتۡ
“When the buried infant girl is asked—for what sin was she killed?” (Quran 81:8-9)

2. The Jews

Quranic Rejection of Their False Claims:

• “Ezra is God’s Son”:

وَ قَالَتِ الۡیَہُوۡدُ عُزَیۡرُۨ ابۡنُ اللّٰہِ
“The Jews say, ‘Ezra is the son of Allah.’” (Quran 9:30)

• “We Killed Jesus”:

وَّ مَا قَتَلُوۡہُ وَ مَا صَلَبُوۡہُ
“They did not kill him nor crucify him.” (Quran 4:157)

• Slandering Mary (علیہا السلام):

وَ اُمُّہٗ صِدِّیۡقَۃٌ
“His mother was a woman of truth.” (Quran 5:75)

Mirza Ghulam Qadiani’s Admission (Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya Vol.21, p.345):
“The Jews believed Jesus was killed and crucified—some claimed he was killed first then crucified, others the opposite.”

3. The Christians

Quranic Refutations of Their Doctrines:

• Trinity:

لَقَدۡ کَفَرَ الَّذِیۡنَ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّ اللّٰہَ ثَالِثُ ثَلٰثَۃٍ
“They disbelieve who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.’” (Quran 5:73)

• Divinity of Jesus:

مَا الۡمَسِیۡحُ ابۡنُ مَرۡیَمَ اِلَّا رَسُوۡلٌ
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger.” (Quran 5:75)

• Atonement Theory:

وَ مَا قَتَلُوۡہُ یَقِیۡنًاۢ
“They certainly did not kill him.” (Quran 4:157)

Mirza Ghulam Qadiani’s Admission (Izala-e-Auham Vol.3, p.292):
“Christians believe Jesus atoned for their sins.”

The Critical Exception: Jesus’ Ascension & Return

Unlike other Christian errors, the Quran affirmed Jesus’ (علیہ السلام) ascension and second coming:

Quran 4:157-158:
بَلۡ رَّفَعَہُ اللّٰہُ اِلَیۡہِ
“Rather, Allah raised him to Himself.”
Quran 43:61:
وَ اِنَّہٗ لَعِلۡمٌ لِّلسَّاعَۃِ
“He (Jesus) is a sign of the Hour (Judgment Day).”

Mirza Ghulam Qadiani’s Contradictions:

1. Initially accepted this belief (“All Christian sects agree Jesus was raised to heaven” – Izala-e-Auham Vol.3, p.225).
2. Later called it “shirk” (polytheism), despite 1300 years of Islamic consensus.
3. Claimed Muslims “borrowed” it from Christians (“This belief came to Muslims from Christians” – Haqiqatul Wahy, p.660).

Conclusion

• The Quran rejected false Christian doctrines (Trinity, divinity, atonement).
• But confirmed Jesus’ ascension and return as divine truth.
• Mirza Ghulam Qadiani’s denial contradicts the Quran, Hadith, and all orthodox scholarship.

(Detailed evidences from Hadith will follow in subsequent discussions.)