Islamic View on Jesus Giving Life to the Dead

No doubt, giving life to the dead was one great miracle among the many that Jesus (PBUH) performed, which the Quran confirms and tells that it was from Allah (S.W). “and I quicken the dead, by God's leave.” (Holy Quran 3:49).

However, Christians refuse to relate Jesus’ power to Allah’s (S.W) will, and believe that he was doing that by himself and by his own will. 

One of their reasons is that he (PBUH) said, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” (John 5/21-26).

If we read the passage carefully, we will see that it talks about the gifts that Allah (S.W) gave to Jesus (PBUH), “He has granted the Son”, which he has no power to do or to have without Allah (S.W) giving them to him.

If Christians continue reading the passage, they will find an obvious answer from Jesus (PBUH) to their claim.

He said, “I can do nothing on my own.” (John 5/30).

He Jesus (PBUH) continued and explained to them that his will, when he gives life to the dead, is dependent on Allah’s (S.W) will. “Because, I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me” (John 5/30).

Christians insist that giving life to the dead is evidence of Jesus’ (PBUH) divinity, and ignore many passages, which attribute that deed to others. Why do Christians not consider them gods?

Indeed, Christian avoidance in considering the divinity of those is evidence of their false claim. If Jesus gave life to Lazarus, (John 11/41-44), the prophet Elijah gave life to the son of the widow.

In the First Book of Kings we read, “And he cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son? Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again.

And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.” (Kings (1) 17/20-22) Therefore, Joshua the son of sirach told him, “Who didst raise up a dead man from death” (sirach 48/5).

Elijah (PBUH) - with Allah’s (S.W) will - also raised two dead people. He raised one of them during his life and the other after his death. He gave life to the Israelite woman’s son, who came to him. (Kings (2) 4/32-36)

Not only did Elijah (PBUH) raise a dead man while he was alive, but also his bones, after his death, gave life to another dead man.

The relatives of that dead man put him inside Elijah’s grave. He returned to life after touching Elijah’s bones, and he stood up. “And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.” (Kings (2) 13/21)

I wonder how Christians could use Jesus’ (PBUH) miracles – especially raising the dead - as proof of his divinity, even though they believed that the disciples had done the same.

In the Book of Acts, we read that Peter gave life to Tabitha after she had died and was washed by her family. “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. 

In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.”(Acts 9/36-41)

I wonder, what is the difference between Jesus’ (PBUH) and Peter’s miracles? Both miracles were by Allah’s (S.W) will and aid. According to the Holy Bible, all disciples were capable of giving life to the dead. 

Jesus (PBUH) said, “And proclaims as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (Matthew 10/7-8) so, are all of them gods?

Christians who speak of Jesus’ (PBUH) divinity ignore the passages that speak of his death, and his being unable to escape it. He was unable to get his life back until Allah (S.W) gave it to him and raised him from the dead.

Thus, this wonderful miracle, which is giving life to the dead, cannot be used as evidence of Jesus’(PBUH) divinity, but it is a great miracle that Allah (S.W) gave Jesus (PBUH) the ability to perform them as proof of the prophethood of this great prophet, peace be upon him.