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Answers to Questions Muslims Ask

Why would God allow Jesus to be crucified?

Is it unthinkable that God would allow his Prophet Jesus to suffer the shame and humiliation of being crucified?  Not at all, for several reasons.

First, God has required other prophets to suffer for the good of the people. The story of Joseph (Yusuf) is familiar both in the Bible (Genesis 37-50) and Qur'an (Surah 12 (Yusuf)). Joseph endured a great deal of suffering he did not deserve. He was sold as a slave by his brothers. He was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife of seducing her (when actually it was she who was seducing him, but he rightly refused). Because of this false accusation against him, he was sent to prison. Joseph (Yusuf) did not deserve any of this (peace be upon him). 

But God had a purpose for allowing this suffering. Because Joseph was in prison, he had the opportunity to interpret the dreams of two of Pharoah's officials who had been thrown into prison. These interpretations were accurate, and because of this, when one of these officials was restored to his job, he told the Pharaoh about him, when Pharoah himself was troubled by a dream he could not interpret. 

Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh's dream, and Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph that he made him second in charge of Egypt. A time of plenty was coming, followed by a time of famine (which was the subject of the dream). Joseph was able to provide food to keep people alive throughout the area during the famine, because of his wise handling of the situation. 

So we see that God allowed Joseph to suffer, but it was for a purpose, so that in the end he could be used to save many lives. Likewise, God has allowed Jesus to suffer unjustly, but for a purpose, so that he could save many from sin. 

Second, God has prefigured the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus in an important event in the life of His esteemed prophet Abraham (Ibrahim). God tested Abraham supremely by asking him to sacrifice his son, whom he loved very much. Abraham's submission to God was so complete that he was willing to do this, and was about to do so, when God's voice from heaven stopped him, and God provided a ram for a sacrifice
instead. 

This event is very important for Muslims, celebrated every year at the 'Eid of Sacrifice. But do you know why God asked Abraham to do this? Not only to test him supremely, but to symbolize what God Himself would do 2000 years later when He sacrificed His Son Jesus, whom He loved very much, on the cross to pay for our sins. This important event in the life of Abraham is actually a picture for us of God's plan to allow Jesus to be crucified.

Third, it is not unthinkable that God would allow Jesus to suffer and be crucified, because God vindicated Jesus' honor and reputation through his resurrection from the dead. Muslims believe that to preserve Jesus' honor, God substituted someone else on the cross to die, while Jesus was taken up to heaven unharmed. But this was not necessary to preserve the honor of Jesus. 

Jesus' honor was enhanced far more by the great miracle of his resurrection on the third day. This elevates Jesus above all other Prophets, for no other Prophet was brought back to life.

 Next Question: 
Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?