A
Live Bird Made From Clay.
‘When Allah said, "O Jesus, son of Maryam (Mary)! Recount My favour
upon you and your mother, when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit,
so that you may speak to the people in childhood and in maturity and I
brought you the book and wisdom and Torah and Injeel. Behold! When you
would make, out of clay, the figure of a bird, with my permission you breathed
into it so that it became a living bird, by My Leave." 5/110.
The Quran has also recorded Jesus’ statement when he was recounting his
miracles to his people :
‘I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, I that I make
for you, out of clay, the figure of a bird and I breathe into it, so that
it becomes a live bird by Allah’s Leave.’ 3/49.
Imam Tabari(d.310/888) stated that once Jesus was sitting in the company
of those disciples who would write the holy scripture. Jesus took a handful
of clay and said to his disciples, "Shall I make for you, a live bird from
clay?" They replied, "Are you capable of doing so?" He said, "Yes! By the
Will of my Lord." He then took the clay and shaped it to resemble a bird.
He then blew upon it saying, "Be a living bird, by the Will of Allah!"
It became a live bird and flew away in the sky spreading its wings, and
once it disappeared from the public eye, turned back into clay.
Imam Qurtubi says in explanation of this verse, that the people demanded
that Jesus should create an owl from clay, and they challenged him to it,
as a sign to prove his truthfulness and as evidence of being a prophet.
They (the people) thought Jesus would not be able to carry out their order,
but I`sa (Jesus)
proved himself truthful by shaping an owl from clay, blowing upon it and
thus causing it to live so that it flew away.
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