Jesus Dying on the Cross?

Ayah an-Nisa` (Women) 4:157. and for boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this ˹crucifixion˺ are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions.

format_quote Originally Posted by Loki57

I have a question that has recently come to me. I know, according to Islam that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross according to Muslims. That in his place was a look alike, someone who looked like him. Possibly Simon of Cyrene or Judas Iscariot. I think it more likely Judas Iscariot who is said to have betrayed Jesus and is it not said that it was someone who betrayed him that ended up on the cross in his place?

According to islamqa.info:

Praise be to Allah.

The Qur’aan states that ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) was not crucified or killed, and that he was lifted up to heaven. There is no text of the Revelation that tells us the details of what happened on the day when that was made to appear to the Jews, but there is a saheeh report from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messiah (peace be upon him) said to those of his companions who were with him in the house: “Which of you will be made to look like me and be killed in my stead, and he will be with me in the same level as me (in Paradise)?” A young man who was one of the youngest of them stood up, and he said to him: “Sit down.” Then he repeated it and that young man stood up again, and he said: “Sit down.” Then he repeated it again and that young man stood up and said, “I (will do it).” He said: “You are the one.” So he was caused to look like ‘Eesa and ‘Eesa was lifted up from a window in the house to heaven. Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Tafseer (4/337), commenting on this report: This is a saheeh isnaad going back to Ibn ‘Abbaas. Similarly it was narrated from more than one of the salaf that he said to them: “Which of you will be made to look like me and be killed in my stead, and he will be my companion in Paradise?” End quote.

Then he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said (4/341): Ibn Jareer favoured the view that all of his companions were made to look like ‘Eesa. End quote. This was mentioned in a report narrated from Wahb ibn Munabbih which was narrated by Ibn Jareer (may Allaah have mercy on him) and quoted by Ibn Katheer (4/337), in which it states that when they surrounded ‘Eesa and his companions and entered upon them, “Allaah made them all appear in the form of ‘Eesa and they said to them, ‘You have bewitched us; send forth to us ‘Eesa or we will kill you all,’ until they sent forth one of their number after ‘Eesa promised Paradise to him, and they took him and crucified him.”

But Ibn Katheer said after that: This is a very strange story. End quote.

He also (may Allaah have mercy on him) said (4/341): Some of the Christians claim that Judas Iscariot – who is the one who led the Jews to ‘Eesa – is the one who was made to look like ‘Eesa so they crucified him, and he said: I am not the one you want, I am the one who led you to him. Allaah knows best what really happened. End quote.

With that, Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) concluded his discussion of this topic: Allaah knows best what really happened.

Knowledge of this matter is of no great benefit; if we needed to know that, our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have told us.

And Allaah knows best.

format_quote Originally Posted by Loki57

What I want to know is why the truth was not reveled until Mohammad PBUH 600 years later?

As I understand it, those who were close to Jesus knew he was not going to be placed on the cross, that it was someone in his place. Then he was raised to heaven. Why then didn't they reveal this to the world? That Jesus did not die on the cross? It would have been a blow to the Romans. Yes, you tried to kill our prophet but you failed? Why keep it a secret? Furthermore two of his closest disciples, Peter and John, both write Gospels that ended up in the Bible. Why didn't they right what is called the truth? Why wait until Mohammad?

This is a misconception. The truth wasn't concealed at all. People who sincerely seeked the truth, knew it all along. Remember that the trinity wasn't a thing yet in early christianity. The Christians when Jesus as was alive, knew he was a prophet. by the end of the first cenury "after the crucifiction" people started to believe in Jesus as a god, and the trinitarian doctrine started mid-2nd century somewhere. Besides, Peter and John were not the author of the books Peter and John from the Bible as we know it. The oldest scripture of the Bible (only a small part of it in the size of a credit card) date from early 2nd century...so roughly 100 years after Jesus as. It was maybe dedicated to them, but nothing more.
But even, for the sake of argument, when they would have written that event down...it still would not make any difference...

Jesus as provided many many miracles and came with many evidences during his lifetime. miracles and evidences that impossibly be denied or ignored. Yet, none of them made a difference for the Jews and romans. You think, this one miracle would make the difference? People manipulated the scriptures throughout the history. They would just manipulate it as they like.

format_quote Originally Posted by Loki57

In a way you could almost call Christianity the fault of Islam. If Jesus and his followers were Muslims. If the truth is Jesus did not die on the cross it should have been told. Why let people live under this false belief? Why let this idea go unchecked?

but it wasn't. The truth was known among the believers. The ones that rejected Jesus as anyways were made to believe that they killed Jesus as....They were not open for the truth anyways. The real believers knew better than that.

format_quote Originally Posted by Loki57

Gospels were being written within the lifetimes of those who were close to Jesus, why didn't they correct this?

again, no they weren't. not till at least 100 years after that.

format_quote Originally Posted by Loki57

Surely atleast at that time people would be overjoyed to know Jesus did not die on the cross? That in a way Muslims, even Jesus, his followers are all responsible for this? That for Christians to follow what is "wrong" is our own fault!

There is no "fault". People who still care for the truth will see the truth.