From these descriptions one can have a basic description of Jesus; his skin colour (color) was brown. He was of medium height and his hair was straight.
Abu Hurayrah said, “The Prophet (S) said , ‘On the night of the Isra’ (miraculous journey to Jerusalem) I met Moses – he was a slim man with wavy hair, and looked like a man from the Shanu’ah tribe. I also met Jesus – he was of medium height and of a red complexion, as if he had just come out of the bath.’” [Bukhair, Kitab al Anbiya’, 4/302. Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, 1/106, 107]
The Prophet (S) said, "Whilst I was asleep, I saw myself (in a dream) making Tawaf around the Ka’bah. I saw a brown-skinned man, with straight hair, being supported by two men, and with water dripping from his head. I said ‘Who is this’? They said, The son of Mary’…" [Bukhari, ibid]
Sourced from The Signs Before The Day of Judgement, Ibn Kathir, Dar al Taqwa Ltd, 1991, p76
May Allah send His blessings upon Prophets Muhammed and Jesus. Ameen
Dr Laurence Brown Becomes a Muslim - Listen to his conversion story!
These stories are obviously phony. The first one says this ISA was of red complexion; the other says he was brown-skinned. The first one also only mentions that Muhammad saw Isa; the other says that there were two men there who were supporting him. Did he see only Jesus or Jesus being supported by two others? Obviously these "synoptic" accounts of the same incident are not in agreement. For shame.
ReplyDeleteI have a theory: I think these accounts represent an original tale that became embellished over time. The originators of these stories, neither of which do we have any documentation for until long after the time the man named Muhammad is supposed to have existed, crafted these stories in order to meet different needs of different groups of people.
There are also some odd things associated with these stories. Why did Isa take a bath? Does he live on earth and contract the filth of this world such that he needs to clean himself? And why are two men closely associated with this freshly bathed Isa? What is it that has him all fatigued that they are supporting him? It all sounds so bizarre to say of someone who supposedly was taken up to paradise.
There is another major snafu in these reports. But I will save it until you attempt to iron out the above problems for me.
The stories do not contradict. You are thinking about the gospels. The Hadith are if 2 DIFFERENT events. One is a dream and the other is the meeting with prophets in the Miraj journey. And it's not a contradiction to say he's brown with a red complexion. I see many white ppl with red complexion. I'm brown and with a red complexion too similar to Jesus. The Hadith also teaches us he looks like he just came from a bath. When you come from a bath you turn redder. try it and check.
ReplyDeleteDoes the bible not give a description of Jesus appearance?
ReplyDeleteOnly too funny. The response was exactly what I expected. Point out to Muslims that their sources appear to conflict and watch them start trying to harmonize them like Christians do with the Gospels. If it should be allowed in your case, why not in theirs? Double standards and bias, obviously.
ReplyDeleteSeeing a white person with a red complexion is quite a bit different than saying someone is brown skinned with a red complexion. But even if there are cases where this somehow counts as an accurate description, the problems with these tales hardly stop there. I will come back to show just how much of a problem these discrepant stories create for Muslims, including the claim that these relate to two different events.
Anonymous, look at abdullah al andulusi he's brown with a red complex. Plenty of Arabs and Jews have that look. They aren't white but still have redness showing coz they have light brown skin. It's similar skin color as light Latinos. Hope you are not getting angry because Jesus is not white. Many churches have a picture of Jesus with blond hair and white skin. These lies are disproved.
ReplyDeleteExplain to me why there are different accounts on how many ppl visited the tomb in the gospel stories.
John, no need to lose your cool and make this an occasion for spewing racism against white's or anyone else. This, in part, was a simple discussion about the consistency that cannot be found between these two tales on a number of levels, skin color being only one of them. It is a question of consistency, not whether or not you like White's or need for Jesus to look like someone from some Arab tribe.
ReplyDeleteAssuming we are speaking about the same Abdullah al Andalusi, he does not look red to me, but if he and others need to be both brown and red in order for the hadith to work, then I understand why you would want that to be the case.
Both stories look like they are supposed to be the same event to me. Both speak of Muhammad seeing Jesus as if he had just come from the bath/water dripping from his head. But in the one he only mentions seeing Jesus, and in the other it says their were two men with him who were supporting him. If one is just giving more detail than the other, then Muslims lose their complaint that the Gospels sometimes add details.
Also, if they are said to be separate events, how do you account for the fact that in both cases Muhammad appears not to have known who Jesus was at first. In the first he "meets" Jesus. In the second he asks "Who is this?" If he met Jesus in the first account, then he wouldn't have to ask "who is this" the next time he saw Jesus.
4 the guy who is so unlearned that he doesn't know that the description of red complexion is different from skin color. The Arabs had a saying for this. Lots of ppl in semitic cultures are like this. Read:
ReplyDeleteArabs used to rather call the male individual who has a rosy complexion ‘Azhar’ and the female ‘Zahra’. This is the reason why Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his pure family) was called rather ‘Azhar’ and not ‘Uhaimer’.
For example, Rabia bin Abi Abdur-Rahman narrated: “I heard Anas bin Malik describing the Prophet saying, ‘He was of medium height amongst the people, neither tall nor short; he had an Azhar (a rosy) colour, neither absolutely white nor deep brown” (Sahihul Bukhari, vol. 4, Book 56, no. 747).
http://www.alqatrah.net/en/question/index.php?id=59
It appears to me as an observer that Muslims are struggling here, as appears from the fact that each respondent attempts to answer one part of what was pointed out, usually engaging in ad hominem along the way (i.e. racial remarks), and altogether ignoring the other thorny issues that were brought up. You guys make yourselves look ignorant, all the while calling other people ignorant for (allegedly) not knowing that Arabic is such an ambiguous language that your scholars constantly have to offer different interpretations of words in order to make different reports look like they agree.
ReplyDeleteSahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0317:
ReplyDeleteAbu al-'Aliya reported: Ibn Abbas, the son of your Prophet's uncle, told us that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had observed: On the night of my night journey I passed by Moses b. 'Imran (peace be upon him), a man light brown in complexion, tall. well-built as if he was one of the men of the Shanu'a, and saw Jesus son of Mary as a medium-statured man with white and red complexion and crisp hair, and I was shown Malik the guardian of Fire, and Dajjal amongst the signs which were shown to me by Allah. He (the narrator) observed: Then do not doubt his (i. e. of the Holy Prophet) meeting with him (Moses). Qatada elucidated it thus: Verily the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), met Moses (peace be upon him).
Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0322:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When I was taken for the night journey I met Moses peace be upon him). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) gave his description thus: He was a man, I suppose-and he (the narrator) was somewhat doubtful (that the Holy Prophet observed): (Moses) was a man erect in stature with straight hair on his head as it he was one of the men of the Shanu'a; and I met Jesus and the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) described him as one having a medium stature and a red complexion as if he had (just) come out of the bath He observed: I saw Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and amongst his children I have the greatest resemblance with him. He said: There were brought to me two vessels. In one of them was milk and in the other one there was wine. And it was said to me: Select any one you like. So I selected the vessel containing milk and drank it. He (the angel) said: You have been guided on al-fitra or you have attained al-fitra. Had you selected wine, your Ummah would have been misled.
Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0325:
ReplyDeleteIt is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I saw near the Ka'bah a man of fair complexion with straight hair, placing his hands on two persons. Water was flowing from his head or it was trickling from his head. I asked: Who is he? They said: He is Jesus son of Mary or al-Masih son of Mary. The narrator) says: I do not remember which word it was. He (the Holy Prophet) said: And I saw behind him a man with red complexion and thick curly hair, blind in the right eye. I saw in him the greatest resemblance with Ibn Qitan I asked: Who is he? They replied: It is al-Masih al-Dajjal.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 54, Number 462:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
The Prophet said, "On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, I saw Moses who was a tall brown curly-haired man as if he was one of the men of Shan'awa tribe, and I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me." (The Prophet then recited the Holy Verse): "So be not you in doubt of meeting him' when you met Moses during the night of Mi'raj over the heavens" (32.23)
Narrated Anas and Abu Bakra: "The Prophet said, "The angels will guard Medina from Ad-Dajjal (who will not be able to enter the city of Medina)."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 607:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "On the night of my Ascension to Heaven, I saw (the prophet) Moses who was a thin person with lank hair, looking like one of the men of the tribe of Shanua; and I saw Jesus who was of average height with red face as if he had just come out of a bathroom. And I resemble prophet Abraham more than any of his offspring does. Then I was given two cups, one containing milk and the other wine. Gabriel said, 'Drink whichever you like.' I took the milk and drank it. Gabriel said, 'You have accepted what is natural, (True Religion i.e. Islam) and if you had taken the wine, your followers would have gone astray.' "
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 608:
ReplyDeleteNarrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet said, "One should not say that I am better than Jonah (i.e. Yunus) bin Matta." So, he mentioned his father Matta. The Prophet mentioned the night of his Ascension and said, "The prophet Moses was brown, a tall person as if from the people of the tribe of Shanu'a. Jesus was a curly-haired man of moderate height." He also mentioned Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire, and Ad-Dajjal.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 648:
Narrated Ibn Umar:
The Prophet said, "I saw Moses, Jesus and Abraham (on the night of my Ascension to the heavens). Jesus was of red complexion, curly hair and a broad chest. Moses was of brown complexion, straight hair and tall stature as if he was from the people of Az-Zutt."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 649:
Narrated Abdullah:
The Prophet mentioned the Massiah Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one eyed while Messsiah, Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka'ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Kaba. I asked, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'This is Jesus, son of Mary.' Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka'ba. I asked, 'Who is this? 'They replied, 'The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.' "
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 650:
ReplyDeleteNarrated Salim from his father:
No, By Allah, the Prophet did not tell that Jesus was of red complexion but said, "While I was asleep circumambulating the Ka'ba (in my dream), suddenly I saw a man of brown complexion and lank hair walking between two men, and water was dropping from his head. I asked, 'Who is this?' The people said, 'He is the son of Mary.' Then I looked behind and I saw a red-complexioned, fat, curly-haired man, blind in the right eye which looked like a bulging out grape. I asked, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'He is Ad-Dajjal.' The one who resembled to him among the people, was Ibn Qatar." (Az-Zuhri said, "He (i.e. Ibn Qatan) was a man from the tribe Khuza'a who died in the pre-lslamic period.")
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 649:
Narrated Abdullah:
The Prophet mentioned the Massiah Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one eyed while Messsiah, Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka'ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Kaba. I asked, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'This is Jesus, son of Mary.' Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka'ba. I asked, 'Who is this? 'They replied, 'The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.' "
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 650:
Narrated Salim from his father:
No, By Allah, the Prophet did not tell that Jesus was of red complexion but said, "While I was asleep circumambulating the Ka'ba (in my dream), suddenly I saw a man of brown complexion and lank hair walking between two men, and water was dropping from his head. I asked, 'Who is this?' The people said, 'He is the son of Mary.' Then I looked behind and I saw a red-complexioned, fat, curly-haired man, blind in the right eye which looked like a bulging out grape. I asked, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'He is Ad-Dajjal.' The one who resembled to him among the people, was Ibn Qatar." (Az-Zuhri said, "He (i.e. Ibn Qatan) was a man from the tribe Khuza'a who died in the pre-lslamic period.")
Wow! Look at all the contradictions between those hadith. Incredible. And they believe this stuff. Absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteU guys are not scholars. U think these are contradictions when u don't know the original language of the Hadith. I've already told u u can be brown with a red complexion. I am brown and have red complexion. That's not a contradiction. The Hadith in the OP are two different events. Even a child can see that. U guys are desperate to make Muslims look away from ur gospel contradictions. How many ppl were a the Tomb in your gospel writings ?why Paul never met Jesus ?
ReplyDeleteComplexion:
ReplyDelete1) As to the complexion, apparently there seems to be a contradiction but there isn’t any. One Hadith of Ibn Umar (RA) above says that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) described Jesus (PBUH) to be of red complexion while other narration from him says he was described to be of wheatish complexion. This apparent contradiction is resolved considering other narrations.
عَنْ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِعِيسَى أَحْمَرُ وَلَكِنْ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أَطُوفُ بِالْكَعْبَةِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ آدَمُ سَبْطُ الشَّعَرِ
Salim reports from his father (i.e. Abdullah bin Umar), he said: “No, By Allah, the Prophet did not say that Jesus was of red complexion but he said, “While I was asleep circumambulating the Ka’ba (in my dream), suddenly I saw a man of brown complexion and lank hair.” (Bukhari, Kitabul Ahadith al-Anbiya, Hadith 3185)
2) Considering the fact that Ibn Umar (RA) himself so emphatically repudiates the idea that Holy Prophet (PBUH) described Jesus (PBUH) to be of red complexion so we have to believe, the narration which attributes to Ibn Umar (RA) the report of Holy Prophet describing Jesus as such is perhaps a mistake by some later narrator. Jesus (PBUH) was not purely of red complexion. Infact this is generally not true for the Semitic people.
3) The rightful description of Jesus (PBUH) is as narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA):
ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ …َرَأَيْتُ عِيسَى رَجُلًا مَرْبُوعًا مَرْبُوعَ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ سَبِطَ الرَّأْسِ
Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet said, “On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, … I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair.” (Bukhari, Kitabul Bad’ al-Khalq, Hadith 3000)
4) Infact his complexion was neither white as lime nor purely red but something between these two as described in the Hadith above. And the same complexion was sometimes referred to as ‘wheatish’ or ‘wheat-colored.’
Al-Nawawi has written the same in his commentary to the Hadith that speaks of red complexion of Jesus (PBUH):
وَأَنَّهُ اِشْتَبَهَ عَلَى الرَّاوِي فَيَجُوز أَنْ يُتَأَوَّل الْأَحْمَر عَلَى الْأَدَم ، وَلَا يَكُون الْمُرَاد حَقِيقَة الْأُدْمَة وَالْحُمْرَة بَلْ مَا قَارَبَهَا
“And this is confusion on the part of the narrator and perhaps he took red to be wheat-like and it does not mean tan or red but what is near to it.” (Sharah Al-Nawawi on Sahih Muslim 1/302, Kitabul Iman)
5) The fact of the matter is that it’s not easy to describe ones complexion. The same is evident from the fact that Anas (RA) in one narration says Holy Prophet (PBUH) was wheatish in complexion and in another narration says he was not wheat-colored. (Shamail Tirmidhi Hadith 1 & 2. Both authenticated by Albani)
The Hair:
ReplyDelete1) As to the hair; straight or curly, we need to have a look at the actual wording of the Hadith that is taken to speak about the curly hair of Jesus (PBUH);
فَأَمَّا عِيسَى فَأَحْمَرُ جَعْدٌ
The usual translation goes as; “Jesus was of red complexion [and] curly hair.”
Here the word جَعْدٌ is taken to mean curly hair but this is not the exclusive meaning of this word. Ibn Athir writes about it:
مَعْناه… شَدِيد الأسْرِ
i.e. “It means… ‘Of strong built.’” and further gives an example of it from Hadith:
والحديث الآخر [ على ناقة جَعْدَة ] أي مُجْتَمِعة الخَلْق شَدِيدةٍ
“In another Hadīth, ‘On a camel of strong built’ i.e. of rigorously cogent built.” (Nihaya fi Gharib al-Asar 1/767)
Indeed scholars have always taken جَعْدٌ to mean ‘of strong built’ in this context. Hafiz Ibn Hujr mentions that it refers to his physical bearing and not hair. He says;
وَوَصْفه لِجُعُودَةِ فِي جِسْمه لَا شَعْره وَالْمُرَاد بِذَلِكَ اِجْتِمَاعه وَاكْتِنَازه
“And this is about sturdiness in body, not the hair and it refers to its compactness and robustness” (Fath Al-Baari 10/242, kitabul ahadith al-anbiya)
Al-Nawawi has also said the very same. He writes;
الْمُرَاد بِالْجَعْدِ هُنَا جُعُودَة الْجِسْم وَهُوَ اِجْتِمَاعه وَاكْتِنَازه وَلَيْسَ الْمُرَاد جُعُودَة الشَّعْر .
“Here جَعْدِ means firmness of the body i.e. its compactness and being thickset. And it does not refer to curling of the hair’ (Sharah Al-Nawawi on Sahih Muslim 1/296, Kitabul Iman)
* Please note, both Hafiz Ibn Hajr and Imam Al-Nawawi have been recognized as Mujaddids by Ahmadiyya.
2) So the correct and most suitable translation of the Hadith which is generally taken to refer to the curly hair of Jesus (PBUH) is:
Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet said, “I saw Moses, Jesus and Abraham (on the night of my Ascension to the heavens). Jesus was (person) with red complexion, robust body and a broad chest.” (Bukhari, Hadith 3183)
Similar Description of Jesus (PBUH) as seen during Mi’raj and on his descent:
The thing of utmost importance we need to consider here is the fact that when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) told about the features of the Jesus (PBUH) to recognize him on his descent it went directly in line with the description of Jesus (PBUH) found in the Ahadith about Night of Ascension (Mi’raj).
ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ …َرَأَيْتُ عِيسَى رَجُلًا مَرْبُوعًا مَرْبُوعَ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ سَبِطَ الرَّأْسِ
Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet said, “On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven … I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair.” (Bukhari, kitabul bad’ al-khalq , Hadith 3000)
عن أبي هريرة أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ليس بيني وبينه نبي يعني عيسى وإنه نازل فإذا رأيتموه فاعرفوه رجل مربوع إلى الحمرة والبياض
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (PBUH) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (PBUH). He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognize him: a man of medium height, complexion inclined to red and white…” (Abu Dawud, Kitabul Malahim, Hadith 4324. Classified as Sahih by Albani)
This proves that the man who is described in the Ahadith to descend from the Heavens near the End of Times will be same Israelite Prophet whom the Holy Prophet (PBUH) met during the Miraculous Night (Mi’raj).
http://thecult.info/blog/tag/death/
ReplyDeleteTo say he was red or brown is no contradiction African Americans that are light skin are sometimes called red or yellow because of the undertone of the light brown skin and also remember native Americans were called Redskins but there brown skin
ReplyDelete