Depictions of Prophet Jesus

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Okay i had this Catholic friend (Lebanese) and her family were pretty devout Catholics. We were extremely close, used to spend a great deal of time at each other’s houses etc. One thing i noticed is that they had this small (perhaps 12 inches?) statue of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) on a table in their living room. Something i noticed about this statue only years later, and something that i think i have observed in many other places (they sell wall hangings of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as well in some Christian areas in the middle east) - is the particular depiction of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). From a Christian perspective - does it state anywhere, in any scripture(s) etc., what he may have looked like - because i tend to predominantly see him portrayed as being usually very ‘distinctive’ or ‘uniform’ in his looks (i.e., always has light brown hair and almost always is Caucasian). i am just wondering whether this is corroborated by some genuine passages in a scripture?

PLEASE note: The sole reason i am asking this is simply out of simple curiosity, not intending to insult anyone or prove anyone wrong; if you don’t agree with the depicting of prophets (as i realize many of us do not), then that’s fine but that’s not the issue about which i am puzzled. All stupid/insulting remarks towards any person’s religious beliefs will be completely ignored by myself so please don’t waste your time writing out a rude reply that i will have to ignore. :flower1:

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Nadia, I dont know about in Christianity, but you will find in hadith, particularly Sahih Bukhari, a very brief description of Hazrat Isa (AS). If you'd like me to look it up, let me know. smile

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Hey Munni :flower1: :slight_smile: How are you doing?

Now that you have mentioned it, i do remember i think reading something like that in one of the Hadiths. i’ll try to paste it here if i find it.

In those written descriptions, does it ever mention anywhere that he had extremely light-coloured skin and brown hair? i am just curious about this fact, certainly NOT intending to insult anyone (or sound racist etc.) - just wondering how these predominant and very particular depictions of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) came to be.

Thanks so much for your reply :flower1: :flower1:

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jesus looks like his followers speaks the local tongue ,

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hey Nadia... im not very sure... but i do recall my mama telling me about Hazrat Isa too.. i think it states somewhere that he had really light brown hair.. and was quite beautiful... but hmmm maybe im confusing him with Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)..

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There have been a lot of studies done regarding what would Jesus would have looked like. Mos experts agree that he would have looked semitic in stature and apprearance and would be of dark complexion.

that been said, in frescoes in Ravenna you have Jesus look like one of the Roman Legion. In the byzantine churches of he has a psuedo afro, in scandinavia he is depicted blonde and blue eyed.

But non e of tha tis important. what is important is that he was the most important and popular person on earth to date. His message that god is loving and turn the other cheek and love thy neighbo, is one o the most enduring things to date in human history. That is what should be revered

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The most authentic description of jesus can be known by looking at the shroud of turin. You can see a pic of the shroud at http://www.tombofjesus.com

Munni, the Ahadith mention two different descriptions of how Jesus would look like. It has been said one of the description is for the Jesus that is to come. Look both of them up for us please. I’m too lazy to do that myself.

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I saw a few programs on the shroud of turin, and they seemed to be saying that it was the work of da Vinci, or some other artist. Some very compelling evidence, but then this is a hot debate/topic, so wont get into it.

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Thank you Sadzzz :slight_smile: :flower1:

Do you know where it states the above by any chance?

Sorry, Paaga| |nsaan, but um - how reliable is this shroud of Turin? i’m afraid i haven’t heard/read much about this - sorry if i sound stupid. :o

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Nadia-H,
Quite an interesting topic. It is apparent that the images of Jesus Christ in most Christian art over centuries have depicted him as a caucasian, and quite handsome too. Considering the fact that he was born in Palestine, it would make perfect sense that he would have been somewhat like what artists have potrayed him to be, as most Palestiaian people are fair skinned. However this is not to be taken as a fact, and his appearance is not to be made the object of our attraction to him. And as Matsui has put it, It is not his appearance but his message that is the most unique one in all of human history.
We (Christians) believe the following scripture revealed his true personality and mission, centuries before his birth.

Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not ....

As for the Shroud of Turin, there is still a lot of controversy surrounding it. Some scientists claim it is a medival forgery. Although still quite unconclusively, it remains a mystery.

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I think Blitz said it all

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All Muslims know that Jesus (pbuh) did not die, so there is no question of a tomb.

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Nadia,

I have fascination with religious architecture, and so I visit mosques, churches, synagogues and gurdawarasa and take pictures. Every time I am on a road trip and I know there is an old church around, I would go in to take pictures!! Anyway, I have found that there is a difference in depiction of Jesus (as) among Christians in different parts of the world, which has more to do with their geographical location and ethnic origin, than to which denomination they belong to.

For example, a Mormon church (along with most other protestant Anglo-Saxon churches) depict him with blonde hair, blue eyes, tall with a slander body. Most often carrying a cane to symbolize his status as a shepherd. If you visit a black church, be it a southern Baptist or Jehovah Witnesses, they portray Jesus as a black man, with curly black hairs that are shorter than the blonde ones depicted elsewhere, big hazel brown or black eyes and a tall young man dressed as a shepherd again.

Now if you visit a Korean or a Chinese church, which are usually Methodists, Catholics or Episcopalians .. Jesus almost always have black hair though not curly like their African counter parts. You can find an acute difference in the appearance of Jesus in a Catholic church frequent by Mexicans. I visited a few when I went to Mexico and Jesus was carved out as a tall young man with Bible in his hand, dark straight hair but also dark eyes and a tanner complexion, though white .. not black!! So, IMO, Jesus is depicted by most as they see themselves!

I don’t know if you followed a great documentary on PBS This far by faith: An African American Spiritual Journey, they had a whole episode about ‘God is a Black Negro’ where the black Christians of America refused to believe in a white Lord, Jesus!

Anyway, it’s similar to the depiction of Buddha by the different people in Asia. Have you ever noticed that the Buddha in Pakistan and India is very weak, usually sitting down in meditation, and has a long face with hair pulled back!! While the Buddha in China or East Asia is usually more healthier, rounder and difference in hair & in some pictures bald.

Religion, in many cases, comes out to be a very ethnic doctrine as well. Most people don’t consider it something changeable, they consider it something innate, something they are born into, like their parents or kin, like their color of skin, their language etc. It’s not a doctrine for spiritual fulfillment but also a justification of their ethnocentric attitude.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ahmadjee: *
Religion, in many cases, comes out to be a very ethnic doctrine as well. Most people don't consider it something changeable, they consider it something innate, something they are born into, like their parents or kin, like their color of skin, their language etc. It's not a doctrine for spiritual fulfillment but also a justification of their ethnocentric attitude.
[/QUOTE]

I Could'nt agree with you more adamjee. Every human has a desire to worship God within the comforts of his/her own culture and ethnic setting. Religious doctrines, dogmas and rituals are made palatable and less invasive to a particular race of people when introduced within the settings of that particular culture. However the essence of the message, should remain intact and constant.
Albeit, Jesus Christ potrayed around the world with every possible skin color would not be any more offensive than garbing him in a dress of every nation, so long as the message of His love gets through to every one.
I am glad that being a Christian I am free to worship my God in the language I am comfortable with, and in the manner I choose. Be it in song, prayer or praise. I am free from the shackles of conformity that other religions impose on its members.

Old Man: Thanks for the encouragement!

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About the shroud of turin, it probably does need another thread, but from what I say, the logic of it being unauthentic is more unbelievable than the thought that it is real. The mention of blood gushing out of the heart of Jesus in the bible, is in accordance with the mark of blood on the shroud. The gushing blood shows that he was alive when covered with the shroud. There is no other explanation as to why people kept on seeing Jesus for a few more days before he disappeared. The second best reason you could give for this was that Jesus was God, the best being that he was a human that had survived the cross. Or, if you want to believe in the orthodox molvis, you can say God replaced him with a clown who looked like him! This is the most ridiculous of the beliefs.

-== Prophet Mohammad on the Looks of Jesus ==-

Allah's Apostle said, "Today I saw myself in a dream near the Ka'ba. I saw a whitish brown man, the handsomest of all brown men you might ever see. He had the most beautiful Limma (hair hanging down to the earlobes) you might ever see. He had combed it and it was dripping water; and he was performing the Tawaf around the Kaba leaning on two men or on the shoulders of two men. l asked, "Who is this?" It was said. "Messiah, the son of Mary." (Bokhari Volume 7, Book 72, Number 789)

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Paaga| |nsaan: *
Or, if you want to believe in the orthodox molvis, you can say God replaced him with a clown who looked like him! This is the most ridiculous of the beliefs.

Why ridicule others beliefs when you yourself wouldnt want your own beliefs ridiculed in such a manner?

I infact believe the belief you just mentioned above, as do the majority of muslims, but telling me that it is ridiculous, well, I would never say to you that your beliefs are ridiculous. It simply isnt a nice thing to do.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Munni: *

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Paaga| |nsaan: *
Or, if you want to believe in the orthodox molvis, you can say God replaced him with a clown who looked like him! This is the most ridiculous of the beliefs.

Why ridicule others beliefs when you yourself wouldnt want your own beliefs ridiculed in such a manner?

I infact believe the belief you just mentioned above, as do the majority of muslims, but telling me that it is ridiculous, well, I would never say to you that your beliefs are ridiculous. It simply isnt a nice thing to do.
[/QUOTE]

Munni, I didn't mean the word 'ridiculous' in a ridiculing way. I say that only because its pretty hard for someone who loves the prophets of God to believe God replaced them with clowns. The whole idea is disrespectful towards Jesus himself, and if you look at it objectively, it is quite funny, that out of all the people, a clown was chosen to replace a beloved prophet of God! Why did the clown not yell that he was not Jesus? We see no historical account of the man on the cross claiming to be a clown! It are the logical deductions of the belief that make it qualify to be called 'ridiculous'. It is for this reason that trends among modern Muslim scholars have been of leaving this belief.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Paaga| |nsaan: *

Munni, I didn't mean the word 'ridiculous' in a ridiculing way. I say that only because its pretty hard for someone who loves the prophets of God to believe God replaced them with clowns. The whole idea is disrespectful towards Jesus himself, and if you look at it objectively, it is quite funny, that out of all the people, a clown was chosen to replace a beloved prophet of God! Why did the clown not yell that he was not Jesus? We see no historical account of the man on the cross claiming to be a clown! It are the logical deductions of the belief that make it qualify to be called 'ridiculous'. It is for this reason that trends among modern Muslim scholars have been of leaving this belief.
[/QUOTE]

I forgot to mention I dont believe he was a clown, I dont know anyone who thinks that he was a clown by trade or whatever the case may be.

But either way, surely it is your right to feel it is illogical, but surely there are better ways to state that u disagree with this logic, than saying its "ridiculous". Thats all I was trying to say.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Munni: *

I forgot to mention I dont believe he was a clown, I dont know anyone who thinks that he was a clown by trade or whatever the case may be.

But either way, surely it is your right to feel it is illogical, but surely there are better ways to state that u disagree with this logic, than saying its "ridiculous". Thats all I was trying to say.
[/QUOTE]

My darling sister, I insist on using the word ridiculous for a belief that a prophet of God was replaced by a clown. If you don't believe he was a clown by profession, thats because it is ridiculous. The majority however believes he was a clown. You can change the word for a 'comedian'. Many of the local mllahs used the word ''miraasee'' which is even more ridiculous.

I still don't understand, even if he was a doctor or a lawyer, he was not dumb, so why didn't he say, even for once, that he was not Jesus but a lookalike? Why did he pray like Jesus would've?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by rvikz: *
jesus looks like his followers speaks the local tongue
[/QUOTE]
I think this is the most accurate description. I don't know if that original comment was meant to be rude or what, but it seems best to me. I can't cite many of the religious writings from memory, but I don't think that matters. I don't think it matters what Jesus truly looked like, in the Christian belief that is.

In Christianity Man was created in God's image and Jesus was the son of God. So, to be quite simple, most would interpret, at least symbolically that Jesus would look like themselves. A person in this part of the world may not know what someone looks like in that part, their only reference is the man standing next to them. Then, for those that might ask why Jesus often seems to be European in places where the people are not, that is simple, who was it that brought Christianity to so many places? If they are the ones that tell you that this new God exists, why should you not believe their description of his appearance after accepting their description of his power?

Of course this answer disregards all writings, Christian or Muslim. But for most, simple sociology/psychology covers it.