Walk on Water: The Wisdom of Jesus


The following sayings of Jesus (peace be upon him) from traditional Arabic sources are excerpted from Walk on Water, a book by Hamza Yusuf:

According to Ahmad, Jesus peace be upon him was known to have said, "Virtuous action does not consist in doing good to someone who has done good to you that is merely returning a favor. A virtuous action consists in doing good to those who have wronged you." (Ahmad)

According to Malik b. Anas, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "Do not speak much without remembering God, for by doing so, you harden your hearts. Surely a hard heart is distant from God though you are unaware. Do not, like lords, look at the faults of others. Rather, like servants, look at your own faults. In truth, humanity is comprised of only two types, the afflicted and the sound. So show mercy to the afflicted, and praise God for well-being." (Muwatta of Malik)

According to Hilal b. Yusuf, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "If a day of fasting comes upon one of you, let him oil his hair and beard; let him moisten his lips lest others know he is fasting. If he gives alms with his right hand, let him conceal that from his left; should he pray, let him draw the curtain across his door. Surely, God apportions praise to people just as provision is apportioned." (Ibn al -Mubarak)

According to Salim b. Abi al-Ja'd, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "Work for God and not for your stomachs. Look at the birds: they rise up at dawn and enter into the evening having neither planted nor harvested, yet God provides for them. Now if you say to me, 'Our stomachs are so much larger than those of birds,' look then at the oxen, the wild beasts, and the donkeys; they neither plow nor harvest the earth, yet God provides for them as well. Beware of the luxuries of this world, and fear them, for the luxuries of this world are filth in the sight of God." (Ibn Al -Mubarak )

It is related that Jesus, the son of Mary,  said, "It is of no use to know something if one does not act upon it. In truth, an abundance of knowledge only increases one in pride if one does not act accordingly." (Ahmad)

Once someone asked Jesus,"How are you able to walk on water?" Jesus replied, "With certainty." Then someone said, "But we also have certainty!" Jesus then asked them, "Are stone, clay, and gold equal in your eyes?" They replied, "Certainly not!" Jesus responded, "They are in mine." (Ahmad)

Jesus, the son of Mary, was known to have said, "Love of this world is the source of every wrong action, and there is much harm in wealth." They asked, "What is its harm?"

Jesus replied, "Its possessor is never safe from pride and arrogance." They said, "What if he is free of those two? Is there still harm?" Jesus responded, "Yes, for by nurturing his wealth, he is diverted from the remembrance of God." (Ahmad)

Once Jesus and his disciples were outside the temple of Solomon, and the disciples said, "O Messiah of God, look at the House of God! What could be finer?" Jesus replied, "Amen. Amen. But I say to you that God will not leave one stone of this House standing. Indeed, God will destroy it because of the misdeeds of its people. God does not build anything of worth with gold or silver, nor even with these stones. Righteous hearts are more beloved to God than these stones. For God cultivates the earth with righteous hearts; and, in their absence, the earth is destroyed." (Ahmad)

Jesus, the son of Mary, was accustomed to say, "O my God, surely I have entered into the morning unable to neither forestall what I fear nor hasten what I hope for. The whole affair is in another 's hand. I have arisen bound to my deeds. There is no one poorer than me. Do not make me the cause of my enemies being cursed, nor make me the reason any harm should come to a friend. Do not place tribulation in my spiritual path, nor empower anyone over me who shows me no mercy." (Ibn Abi Al-Dunaya)

Once Jesus met Iblis [Satan ]and Iblis said, "Is it not true that only what has been decreed will happen?" Jesus replied, "That is true." Then Iblis said, "So throw yourself down from the top of this mountain, and let us see if you live or not!" Jesus answered, "The servant does not test his master; rather, it is the master who tests his servant." (Abu Na'im)

Some people once said to Jesus,"O Spirit of God informs us about the nature of wealth." He answered, "The possessor of wealth always has one of three qualities: he either gains it by unlawful means, obstructs it from reaching the one who deserves it, or by accumulating it is distracted from the worship of his Lord." (Ibn Abd Al-Barr)

Sufyan al- Thawwri relates that Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "Love of this world and love of the next world can never reside in the heart of a believer simultaneously, just as fire and water cannot be contained in a single vessel at the same time." (Ibn Kathir)

Ubayd Allah b. Muslim relates that Jesus once said, "Woe to the possessor of this world since he must die and leave the world behind. He places his hope in it and is deceived. He trusts it and is forsaken.

Woe to the deluded, for this world, shows them what they detest. In the end, they must abandon what they love, and depart for that which they were promised. Woe to the one whose constant preoccupation is this world and whose grave mistakes are his very actions. What shame they will cause him soon enough!" (Ibn Abi Al Dunya)

Jesus  said, "You will never obtain what you desire except through patience with what you despise." (Al Ghazzali)

According to Salam, Yazid al Dabi reported that once a woman said to Jesus, son of Mary, as he was working, "Blessed be the womb that bore you, and blessed be the breast that suckled you." Approaching her, Jesus said, "And blessed be someone who, having read the Book of God, acted in accordance with what was in it." (Ahmad)

Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "God has given me the power to give life to the dead, sight to the blind, sound to the deaf; but He did not give me the power to heal the fool of his foolishness." (Al- Razi)

(The names in parentheses indicate the hadith scholar in whose collection the hadith is found.)

Hamza Yusuf is an American convert to Islam who studied for several years under leading scholars in the Muslim world. He is the co-founder of the Zaytuna Institute in California and has translated into modern English several classical Arabic texts and poems.


Related Suggestions

 
COMMENTS DISCLAIMER & RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
The opinions expressed herein, through this post or comments, contain positions and viewpoints that are not necessarily those of IslamiCity. These are offered as a means for IslamiCity to stimulate dialogue and discussion in our continuing mission of being an educational organization. The IslamiCity site may occasionally contain copyrighted material the use of which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. IslamiCity is making such material available in its effort to advance understanding of humanitarian, education, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and such (and all) material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.


Older Comments:
HANEEFA FROM USA said:
Congratulations Brother Hamza - break the barriers of uncertainty
and doubt and let the people of the world understand and recognize
that Muslims love and honor Jesus, the Messiah (peace upon him) but
worship, exultation and glorification is due to Allah (Mighty and
Sublime is He) alone - the Creator of mankind and all that exists
including Jesus, the son of Mary as well as all of His Prophets and
Messengers from Adam (peace upon him) to the final Prophet and
Messenger, Muhammad (peace upon him). SubhanAllah (Glory to
Almighty God) whose name is Allah)! Takbir!
2014-12-19

BABANDI A.GUMEL FROM U.K said:
Surely, they have disbelieved who say "Allah is the Messiah son
of Mary" But the Messiah said " O Children of Israel ! Worship
Allah ,my Lord and your Lord>" Verily whosoever sets up partners
with Allah,then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him and the Fire
will be his abode. The Messiah son of Mary was no more than a
Messenger many were the Messengers that passed away before
him.His mother (Mary) was Siddiqah (Truthful pious woman who
believed in the words of Allah and His Books).They both used to
eat food.Look how We make the Ayah (proofs)clear to them;yet
look how they are deluded away (from the truth thinking that
Jesus is God or His Son).How do you worship besides Allah
somethiing which has no power either to harm or benefit you.But
it is Allah Who is the All-Hearer the All-Knower. Say " O people
of the Scripture Exceed not the limits in your religion other
than the truth and do not follow the vain desires of people who
went astray before and misled many and strayed (themselves) from
the Right Path.That is the message of Islam concerning Jesus
born miraculously to Virgin Mary without any father.The example
of Jesus is like that of Adam Allah decided to create them and
He only said be.This shows you that God can create some body
without father or mother like Adam or even without mother like
Eve the wife of Adam which is even more miraculous than the
conception of Jesus and finally he Jesus with mother but without
father.Then God created me and you and every one with mum and
Dad.
2014-12-16

MUHAMMAD FROM USA said:
No one knows what Jesus said and not said. It is mere speculation that
he did this and that. Christians make claims that suits their desires
and so do muslims. Both the religions has so much middle-eastern
cultural element to it.
2014-04-23

GC FROM US said:
I like Hamza but this looks really close to a book that laready exists: The Muslim Jesus, Sayings and Stories In Islamic Literature, by Tarif Khalidi.
2014-04-22

KHAN FROM US said:
Jesus never did anything on his own. He performed the miracles with the permission of ALLAH and they were th Signs from ALLAH.
He did perform miracle like other Prophets.

Prophet Muhammad(s)and his companions never celebrated Jesus Birthday(Whatever it is) and never said Happy/Merry Christmas to Christians although he he protected their and Jews rights.

Some contents are from Bible? Why? We have to see Jesus as mentioned in Quran and Ahadith and nothing else.
2013-04-04

L.CREE FROM UK said:
A beautifully well-researched article. I have just sent it to a Christian friend who is searching for the truth. May ALLAH guide her. Amen.
2013-04-04

FAHAD FAHEEM ANSARI FROM PAKISTAN said:
I think most of these sayings of Jesus of Nazareth are the same as those found in the New Testament! Merry Christmas dear Christian brothers! I think that Jesus Christ was also, like Muhammed, a prophet for all humanity not for just a particular race or nation. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Jesus and Muhammed.
2007-12-24

BABANDI A. GUMEL FROM U.K said:
verily the likeness of Isa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam.He created him from dust then He said to him Be and he was.This is the truth from your Lord so be not of those who doubt.Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come to you say come let us call our sons and your sons,our women and your women,ourselves and yourselves then we pray and invoke sincerely the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.Verily this is the true narrative none has the right to be worshipped but Allah the One and the Only(He begets not nor was He begotten)And indeed Allah is the All-Mighty the All Wise.
2007-12-24

YOHAN DAHAL FROM BHUTAN said:
Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "God has given me the power to give life to the dead, sight to the blind, sound to the deaf; but He did not give me the power to heal the fool of his foolishness." Author's Comments

Some questions about the statement:
People are called after their father as "son of Mr. Ali " etc. Why is Jesus called as son of Mary? Did he not have father of his own to be called by his name?
Are there so many who know about Jesus in the world but who still are not healed from the sickness of their foolishness? What would be the greater foolishness than knowing the physician and turning away from him with despises?

Be chosen by choosing him that chooses. Despising his lowliness with saving grace in this world leads to being despised and tormented for ages without rest or respite. Many earn the name of being "bold" by despising this lowly man and simply flattering "peace be upon him" instead of wishing "his peace be upon me/us".


Some questions about the statement:
People are called after their father as "son of Mr. Ali " etc. Why is Jesus called as son of Mary? Did he not have father of his own to be called by his name?
Are there so many who know about Jesus in the world but who still are not healed from the sickness of their foolishness? What would be the greater foolishness than knowing the physician and turning away from him with despises?

Be chosen by choosing him that chooses. Despising his lowliness with saving grace in this world leads to being despised and tormented for ages without rest or respite. Many earn the name of being "bold" by despising this lowly man and simply flattering "peace be upon him" instead of wishing "his peace be upon me/us".
2007-12-24

SAIF FROM USA said:
subhanullah.
2007-12-21