That is Allah's guidance. He guides by it those of His slaves He wills… (Surat al-An’am: 89)
Throughout history, Allah communicated His messages and revelations by His messengers. He also granted wisdom to these messengers: a decisive and highly pertinent style in speaking, exemplary manners in enjoining right actions and in forbidding evil, are all attributes common to the prophets. In the Qur'an, Allah also draws attention to the wisdom granted to each prophet. For instance, for the prophet Dawud (as), Allah states: "…We gave him wisdom and decisive speech." (Surah Sad: 20) It is similar for the prophet Yahya (as): "Yahya, …We gave him judgement while still a child." (Surah Maryam: 12) About Musa, Allah informs us: "And when he reached his full strength and maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge." (Surat al-Qasas: 14) Another relevant verse follows: "We gave Luqman wisdom: 'Give thanks to Allah.' (Surah Luqman: 12).Similarly, Allah relates: "We gave the family of Ibrahim the Book and Wisdom..." (Surat an-Nisa: 54)
In accordance with the verse, "He gives wisdom to whomever He wills and whoever has been given wisdom has been given great good," (Surat al-Baqarah: 269), Allah rewarded all the prophets. This reward also holds true for Jesus (as) as we learn from the Qur'an:
Remember when Allah said, ‘‘‘Isa, son of Maryam, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Injil. (Surat al-Ma’idah: 110)
And when ‘Isa came with the Clear Signs, he said, "I have come to you with Wisdom and to clarify for you some of the things about which you have differed. Therefore have taqwa of (heed) Allah and obey me." (Surat as-Zukhruf: 63)
In the light of these verses, we can conclude that a particular attribute of Jesus (as), which will enable us to recognise him, will be his decisive, highly pertinent and striking speech. As in all other issues, a decisive manner of speaking is a striking attribute common to the prophets. Believers who adhere to the Qur'an as a guide to the truth grasp that the speech of Jesus (as) has "the power granted" (Surat al-Kahf: 91) exclusive to messengers chosen by Allah. The wisdom he displays, the flawless diagnoses he makes, the intelligent solutions he brings will be the clear signs of a special gift granted by Allah. Nobody around him will be able to display such excellence, which will make his superiority even more evident.
4. He is very reliable
Each messenger introduced himself to the community to whom they were sent by saying: "I am a faithful Messenger to you." (Surat ash-Shua'ra: 107) This reliability of the messengers is an outcome of their strict adherence to the Book and religion of Allah and to the obligations set by Him. They meticulously observe the boundaries of Allah and never deviate from His righteous path. Only intending to attain the good pleasure of Allah, they never submit to anyone. In the Qur'an, Allah draws our attention to this attribute of the prophets. For instance, Musa (as) introduced himself to the community among whom he lived as follows:
Before them We put Pharaoh’s people to the test when a noble Messenger came to them, saying, "Hand over to me the slaves of Allah. I am a trustworthy Messenger to you." (Surat ad-Dukhan: 17-18)
No doubt, the communities generally failed to appreciate this important attribute of the messengers. Furthermore, declining to abandon the ignorant way of living in which they indulged and refusing to live by the true religion to which the messengers summoned them, they usually showed intolerance towards them. Only after some time did they conceive the messengers to be trustworthy. The prophet Yusuf (as) is a good example. He was tested with difficulties for an extended period; first he was sold as a slave and then imprisoned for a long time. By the will of Allah, when the due time arrived, however, he was recognised as a trustworthy person by people, and the king put him in charge of the state treasury:
The King said, "Bring him to me straight away! So I may draw him very close to me." When he had spoken with him, he declared, "Today you are trusted, established in our sight!" (Surah Yusuf: 54)
These attributes of the prophets mentioned in the Qur'an will also be observable in Jesus (as). On his second coming to the earth, as a never-changing law of Allah, he will be known for his trustworthiness. Allah will provide His help to him, as He did to all the other prophets and his trustworthiness will be made manifest in due course.
