The word Christianity is derived from one of the titles of Jesus, peace be upon him. it is a title that is equally recognized by both Muslims and Christians. The Holy Qur’an also mentions him with the word “Al-Masih” in eight different places; therefore, the followers of this religion are said to be Christians because they follow Jesus.
Naming Jesus (PBUH) as “Al-Masih”
There is a difference of opinions about the origin of the word “Masih”, some have said: “Masih” is from “Sah Yesih” and means walking on earth; But the majority are of the opinion that “Masih” is taken from “Masah” which means to anoint the earth and moving on the earth is considered to mean anointing it, and therefore, Jesus, peace be upon him, was called “Masih”. Others believe that he was called “Masih” because he healed every sick person he anointed.
But apart from all the lexical debates, “Masih” is one of the honorable titles like Siddique and Farouq, whose Hebrew origin is “Masiha” and means blessed.
Definition of Christianity
“Christians” is the plural of “Christian” and Christians are called Christians because of the fact that when Jesus asked them for help against his enemies, twelve people declared their readiness to help Jesus and the religion of Christianity After Jesus, peace be upon him, it also spread through them.
Some researchers are of the opinion that “Nasran” is the name of a village in the Levant to which Christians are attributed; But in summarizing this matter, Ibn Attiyah also said in his commentary: “Nasari” is a word derived from the word “Nasr”; It is also said about the people whose village was called “Nasarah” or “Nasriya”, who helped each other in their work, and when Jesus, peace be upon him, said: “Who is my helper regarding the religion of Allah”, the people of this village helped him; Therefore, the followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, are called Nasrani or Christians and their religion is called “Christianity” because of the victory that the people of the village of “Nasareh” have brought.
Familiarity with Hazrat Maryam (Mari) “peace be upon him”
Hazrat Maryam, daughter of Imran, one of the residents of “Palestine”, was born in a religious family with a special spiritual quality, and her mother, in a special state of faith, presented her before Allah as a servant of “Bait al-Muqadas” before she was born. But when Maryam was born, her mother said to Allah in surprise: Lord! What I gave birth to is a girl, and girls at that time, due to their physical complications, could not become servants of “Bait al-Muqadas”; But God’s will had overtaken them and the Almighty Allah accepted her as the mother of one of the prophets.
The Qur’an says in this regard:
«إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ عِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّی نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِی بَطْنِی مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّی إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِیعُ الْعَلِیمُ [٣٥] فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّی وَضَعْتُهَا أُنثَىٰ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَیسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنثَىٰ وَإِنِّی سَمَّیتُهَا مَرْیمَ وَإِنِّی أُعِیذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّیتَهَا مِنَ الشَّیطَانِ الرَّجِیمِ [٣٦]»(Al-Imran) (When Imran’s wife said: O Lord! I sincerely offered you what I have in my womb (after she was born) (so that she only obeys you and does not engage in anything else); so [this sacrifice] accept from me that you are the Hearer and the Knower, so when she gave birth to her [with regret and apologizing], she said: O Lord! I gave birth to her as a daughter, but God was more aware of what she had given birth to. That a boy is not like a girl [and this girl is far better than the boy he wished for and said:] And I named her Mary and I leave her with her children to you, driven away from the evil of Satan).
Imran’s wife expressed regret and sadness that she gave birth to, a girl; Because she hoped to give birth to a son who would serve God’s house and worship in it, while usually a girl, especially during menstruation, does not have the authority to do such a thing, and because this statement of Imran’s wife regretted the suspicion of the superiority of boys over girls. It is related, Allah has said in rejecting this doubt: Allah was more aware of what she had given birth to and knew better that a boy is not like a girl and this girl is far better than the boy she wished for.
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