Quran 4:158 Explained: The True Meaning of Rafa (رفع) of Isa (AS)

Introduction

The majority of Muslims claim that the proof Isa (AS) is still alive in the heavens with his body is the following verse which states:

وَّقَوۡلِہِمۡ اِنَّا قَتَلۡنَا الۡمَسِیۡحَ عِیۡسَی ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ رَسُوۡلَ اللّٰہِ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوۡہُ وَمَا صَلَبُوۡہُ وَلٰکِنۡ شُبِّہَ لَہُمۡ ؕ وَاِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اخۡتَلَفُوۡا فِیۡہِ لَفِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّنۡہُ ؕ مَا لَہُمۡ بِہٖ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ اِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوۡہُ یَقِیۡنًۢا

بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًۭا

And their saying, ‘We did kill the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah;’ whereas they slew him not, nor crucified him, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified; and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it; they have no definite knowledge thereof, but only follow a conjecture; and they did not convert this conjecture into a certainty;

Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.

[Quran 4:157-158]

They make two claims:

1. Since Isa (AS) was not killed nor crucified, he must be alive.
2. “Raising towards Allah” refers to a physical elevation, implying that Isa (AS) was physically taken to the heavens and remains alive there.

In this article, we will explore why these interpretations are flawed and examine the true meaning of the verse based on the Quran, Hadith, and statements of Islamic scholars.

Refutations of the “Sunni”/Shia belief

1) Not Crucified & not Killed = Alive?

Some Muslims claim that since the verse states Isa (AS) was not killed or crucified, it must mean he is alive. However, this reasoning is unfounded. Many individuals were neither killed nor crucified, including Muhammad (SAW). Does this imply they are all physically alive in the heavens?

2) Does the verse mention raising to the Heavens?

The verse in question states that Allah raised Isa (AS) to Himself. However, it does not mention “heavens” or specify a physical elevation. Inferring physical ascension from the text is an unwarranted extrapolation.

3) Where is Allah? Does Allah have a physical body?

The next question one gets is if Isa (AS) is raised to Allah, how did he end up in Heaven? Is Allah located in Heaven?

The clear answer to this statement is no, Allah does not exist in Heaven or is located there. This is agreed upon by almost all “Sunnis” and Shias.

So how did Isa (AS) end up in Heaven when he was only raised to Allah?

4) Does the verse mention that Isa (AS) was raised ALIVE?

Even if we assume a physical raising occurred, the verse does not explicitly state that Isa (AS) was alive when he was raised. Allah could have caused his death and then raised his soul or body, as is the belief of certain group of Sunni Muslims.

True Understanding of the verse

1) Rafa (Raising) after Tawaffa (taking of the soul)

The raising of Isa (AS) that is mentioned in 4:157 happens after the death of Isa (AS). We know this from Quran 3:55 which states:

إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself, and will clear thee from the charges of those who disbelieve, and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ.

In summary, Allah first took the soul of Isa (AS) and then raised him. This proves that whatever type of raising happened for Isa (AS), it did not involve Isa (AS) being alive, as the majority of the “Sunnis” claim.

2) Al-Rafi: 1 of the 99 names of Allah

Al-Rafi is one of the names of Allah which means:

He is The One who lowers whoever He wills and raises whoever He wills. The One who chooses who will be raised in rank in every way.

Thus, Allah doing Rafa (رفع) of Isa (AS) is not something special. Rather, Allah raises every believer and lowers those who disbelieve. Does Allah physically raise other believers, alive, to the heavens too?

One of the greatest Muslim scholars of all times, Imam Ghazali (RH) says the following regarding this attribute of Allah

AL-KHAFID, AR-RAFI
The One Who Abases the Unbeliever and Exalts the Believer
He is the One who abases the unbelievers by means of misfortune and the One who exalts the believers by means of good fortune. He exalts His elect by drawing them near to Him.

[Al-Maqsad al-asna fi sharh maani asma Allah al-husna]

In summary, Rafa (رفع) is an action by Allah where He brings believers closer to Himself. This closeness is not physical but rather refers to spiritual proximity.

The following hadith beautifully explains the concept of Allah getting closer to His chosen ones:

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلأٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah says: ‘I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’ “
[Sahih al-Bukhari 7405]

The wonderful hadith clarifies any misconceptions that one might have regarding the act of Allah coming closer to a believer or bringing that believer closer to Himself.

This is the reason Muhammad (SAW) taught us a beautiful dua where we beg Allah to raise us in every rak’a of Salat:

قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فِي صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ ‏ “‏ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي ‏

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“When praying at night (Qiyamul-Lail), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations:

O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, improve my situation, grant me provision and raise me.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 898] Sahih by Albani, Arna’ut
[Hisn al-Muslim 49]

Are we asking Allah to fly us to heaven with our physical bodies?

4) Rafa (رفع) in the Ahadith

In the following hadith, the Prophet (SAW) explains that Allah is always raising people.

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَزِيرُ بْنُ صَبِيحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ حَلْبَسٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏{كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ}‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مِنْ شَأْنِهِ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ ذَنْبًا وَيُفَرِّجَ كَرْبًا وَيَرْفَعَ قَوْمًا وَيَخْفِضَ آخَرِينَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Darda’ that:

The Prophet said concerning the Verse: “Every day He is (engaged) in some affair.” “His affairs include forgiving sins, relieving distress, raising some people and bringing others low.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 202]

Yet if “Sunnis” and Shia Muslims were correct about their definition, we would see many people getting physically flown to heaven and staying alive there.

 قَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَا إِنَّ نَبِيَّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْفَعُ بِهَذَا الْكِتَابِ أَقْوَامًا وَيَضَعُ بِهِ آخَرِينَ

‘Umar said: So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: By this Book, Allah would raise some people and degrade others.

[Sahih Muslim 817a]

Again, another hadith shows that Allah raises believers and lowers the disbelievers.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرُ بْنُ رَاشِدٍ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، أَخِي وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا ‏.‏ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِي أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ يَمِينُ اللَّهِ مَلأَى لاَ يَغِيضُهَا سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُذْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاءَ وَالأَرْضَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَعَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ وَبِيَدِهِ الأُخْرَى الْقَبْضُ يَرْفَعُ وَيَخْفِضُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah said to him:

“Spend, I will bestow upon you.” And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The right hand of Allah is full and spending (the riches) liberally during day and night will not diminish (the resources of Allah). Don’t you see what (an enormous amount of resources) He has spent since He created the heaven and the earth, and what is in His right hand has not decreased? His Throne is upon the water. And in His other hand is death, and He elevates and degrades (whom He likes).

[Sahih Muslim 993b]

5) Rafa (رفع) used by Sahaba (RA)

عن أنَسِ بنِ مالِكٍ «في قَولِه عَزَّ وجَلَّ: ﴿فَإِمّا نَذْهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنّا مِنْهُمْ مُنْتَقِمُونَ * أَوْ نُرِيَنَّكَ الَّذِي وَعَدْناهُمْ فَإِنّا عَلَيْهِمْ مُقْتَدِرُونَ﴾. قال: أكرَمَ اللهُ عَزَّ وجَلَّ نَبيَّه أن يُرِيَه في أمَّتِه ما يَكرَهُ، فرَفَعَه إليه وبَقِيَت النِّقْمةُ»

Allah honored His Prophet, peace be upon him, by not letting him see in his nation what he would dislike, so He raised him to Himself, and the punishment (for the disobedient ones) remained.

[Shu’ab al-Iman, 1410]

يقولُ اللهُ: مَن تواضَع لي هكذا رفعتُه هكذا وجعَل باطنَ كفِّه إلى الأرضِ، ثم جعَل كفَّه إلى السماءِ ورفَعها نحوَ السماءِ

Ibn ‘Umar from ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them,… Allah, Blessed and Exalted said:

“Whoever humbles himself before Me in this way” – [the narrator] lowered the palm of his hand to the ground and brought it close- “I raise him in this way” – and he raised the palm of his hand towards the sky

[Musnad Ahmad, 309]

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no definitive evidence in the Quran or authentic Hadith to support the claim that Isa (AS) is alive in the heavens. The interpretation that 4:158 indicates physical ascension is a misrepresentation of the verse.

Believers are encouraged to seek nearness to Allah through piety, devotion, and understanding. The act of raising by Allah means exactly that.