Qiyamah: The Day That Death Will Die, Lesson 11

Prophet Isa, Victor over Death

Prophet Isa is known as "the sign of qiyamah". This literally means that he is the "sign of the rising of the dead". But why should he have this special distinction? The most obvious reason is that he is coming to earth again in qiyamah, when the resurrection will occur. But there are other possible reasons why he should be called the "sign" of qiyamah.

Prophet Isa, He Who Raised the Dead

One time Prophet Isa arrived at the home of friends only to find that his sick friend Lazarus had died. The body of his friend had been in the tomb for four days already and many people were gathered mourning for the loss of this man. The dead man Lazarus, had two sisters, Martha and Mary:

When Martha heard that Isa was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. "Lord," Martha said to Isa, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now that Allah will give you whatever you ask." Isa said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Isa said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."-- Holy Injil, John 11:21-25

Prophet Isa made an astounding claim for himself in this passage. He claimed to be "the resurrection and the life". Not only that, but those who believed in him, would be raised from death. Then to prove that he was not making a wild claim he told the people to remove the stone from the mouth of the tomb, then prayed and called out to the dead man in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" What happened?

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Isa said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." -- Holy Injil, John 11:44

Who better to be the "sign of qiyamah"--the sign of the rising of the dead--than the one who can raise the dead?

Prophet Isa, He Whom Death Did Not Defeat

Allah has sent many prophets to mankind down through the centuries. But among all the prophets who have lived and died, Isa stands out as unique, because he is the prophet whom death did not defeat. Followers of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and followers of 'Isa al-Masih both believe that Prophet Isa was not defeated by death. The main difference is that the followers of Isa believe that he died first but then rose again from death victoriously the third day. They believe that Isa willingly gave his life according to Allah's preconceived plan. Also, they believe that by God-given power he rose again from the dead. Here's what Prophet Isa said about his own life,

No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. -- Holy Injil, John 10:18

Isa's disciples, including this author, believe that in this way he was victorious over death. He faced death, and finally defeated death. He faced death for a reason though. He died so that others could be freed from fear of death, and so that death and Satan could be destroyed:

Isa... shared in their humanity so that by his death he could destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, Iblis--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. -- Holy Injil, Hebrews 2:14,15

Are you afraid of dying? If so, take heart in the fact that Prophet Isa died to free you from your fear. You can believe that his death for you has infinite value. But how did his death take place? What were the circumstances? In order to find out, we must look into the holy Injil, one of the books sent by Allah:

So the soldiers took charge of Isa. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others-one on each side and Isa in the middle.
Near the cross of Isa stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Isa saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the disciple took her into his home. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that Al-Kitab would be fulfilled, Isa said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Isa's lips. When he had received the drink, Isa said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. -- Holy Injil, John 19:17-18, 25-30

Prophet Isa 's words from the cross, "It is finished", refer not merely to finishing the drink, but to finishing his work of dying so that death would be destroyed. It is as though he was saying, "Death is finished! I have conquered it!" Afterward, we read not that his spirit was taken from him, but that Prophet Isa willingly gave up his spirit. If Prophet Isa of his own free will died so that death could be destroyed, then his death was not in vain. His death means he was victorious. The proof of his victory is that he did not stay dead. He rose from the grave:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Isa, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Isa met them. "Rejoice," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped. Then Isa said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Isa had told them to go. When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted. Then Isa came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." -- Holy Injil, Matthew 28:1-10, 16-19

Is it not interesting that the one who rose again from death, would be known as the sign of qiyamat, that is, the sign of the day of resurrection? Other famous prophets lie in their graves awaiting qiyamah so that they, like us, may be raised from the dead. But Isa, having once died, is now alive and will come back to earth to raise the dead to life. This is why he said:

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. -- Holy Injil, Revelation 1:18

Prophet Isa, He Who Will Raise the Dead in Qiyamah

When Prophet Isa walked this earth, he proved his power and authority to give life to others by healing the sick and raising the dead. He will prove it again in the day of qiyamah by raising the dead to immortality. Listen to these words spoken about Isa:

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. -- Holy Injil, John 5:28,29

According to this, at the shout of Prophet Isa the dead will rise. After this, each person will be judged according to his works.

Prophet Isa, He Who Will Judge All Men

Did you know that in the day of qiyamah, your judge will be Prophet 'Isa al-Masih ? Although it is widely believed that when Isa returns he will administer some sort of judgment, few people think about what that really means. It means that he is the one to whom we must answer for our sins and wrongdoing. He is also the one who will reward us for work well done. He is the one who will intercede for his own people. One time when the great apostle Paul was speaking to idolaters about the foolishness of worshipping idols, he spoke this message from the Lord:

In the past Allah overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. -- Holy Injil, Acts 17:30,31

Prophet Isa is the one who has been raised from the dead. He is also the one Allah has appointed to judge all men, both those who are his followers and those who are not. Listen to his words:

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." -- Holy Injil, Revelation 22:12

Isa al-Masih is keeping a book called the "Book of Life". In this Book of Life the names of all his true followers are recorded. In the day of judgment that book will be brought forward and opened. Those whose names are in the Book, will receive a place in Allah's eternal kingdom. Those whose names are absent, will be cast away from Allah's presence forever:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. -- Holy Injil, Revelation 20:11-15

Prophet Isa, He Who Saves Men from Death and Hell

Prophet Isa claimed to be the "resurrection and the life". He proved it by raising the dead and by rising from death himself. He will also cause all men to rise from their graves in qiyamah and then either accuse them or defend them. How will it be with you, friend? Are you his follower? Have you believed that he gave his life so that you could receive salvation? Do you depend on him to save you in the day of judgment?

...if you confess with your mouth, "Isa is Lord," and believe in your heart that Allah raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As al-Kitab says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." -- Holy Injil, Romans 10:9-11

Right now, you should accept him as your Lord and Saviour. He wants to save you. As Isa said,

...whoever comes to me I will never drive away. -- Holy Injil, John 6:37

Seek out others who believe in him as well, and tell them of your faith in Isa as Lord and Saviour. Then together you can look forward to the day when Prophet 'Isa al-Masih will come again. Together you can look forward to the day when death will die.