The Celebration of Easter

The foundation of the Christian faith is the belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this principle belief which is celebrated each year as Good Friday and Easter.
Though Muslims believe Jesus (peace be on him) to be a prophet of God, the Islamic Holy Scripture, the Qur’an negates his death on the cross. The Islamic belief that Jesus Christ did not perish on the cross is mentioned in Chapter 4, verse 158 which states, “And for their saying, ‘We did slay the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah; whereas they slew him not, nor did they bring about his death on the cross, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified...’”. Islam contradicts the assertion of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross because if he was to have died on the cross, it would have proven him a false Messiah. This is so because the Bible itself says that the one who is hung from the cross is accursed.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that Prophet Jesus was taken down alive from the cross. He was treated for his wounds by his followers and was placed in a tomb to heal. The Gospels also describe that Jesus himself was still flesh and bone after coming out of the tomb (Luke 24:39). Ahmadi Muslims believe that Christ was sent on a mission to find the twelve lost tribes of Israel who were domiciled in the eastern countries due to exile. There is overwhelming evidence from the people of Afghanistan, Kashmir and neighboring regions that they have Jewish ancestry. According to Ahmadi Muslims, Jesus completed his mission and passed away naturally at the age of 120 in Kashmir, India where his tomb, known as the tomb of Prophet Yus Asaf, still exists in Srinagar, Kashmir. The locals who inhabit the area refer to the tomb as Rauzabal, which means “The Honored Tomb”.

The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India (1835-1908) claimed to be the Messiah of the latter days and the reformer in the same manner as Jesus (peace be on him) was the reformer for the Jews.

Even though the Ahmadi Muslim belief is different and we do not participate in the celebration of Easter, let it be known that Jesus Christ is not only loved by those who celebrate Easter but also by Muslims throughout the world.