3.55 – Jesus! Surely I am going to take you and raise you to Myself

This verse is one of just a few verses that touch on the death of ‘Īsā in the Quran and the first in its canonical progression. Its Arabic wording has given trouble to both commentators and translators.

A. J. Droge translates the key Arabic phrase mutawaffīka as “I am going to take you,” adding “in death” in a footnote. A number of translators have rendered the same phrase, “I will cause you to die” (George Sale, Edward Palmer, Muhammad Ali, Sher Ali, Muhammad Asad). Other translators have used expressions like “I will take you” (Arberry, Yusuf Ali, Alan Jones, Sahih International).

The source of confusion is the Arabic verb tawaffā. When it is not used in relation to ‘Īsā in the Quran, this word is almost always translated as having to do with death (e.g., 10.46; 10.104; 12.101; 13.40; 16.28; 40.77). When the word is used in relation to ‘Īsā, however (in 3.55 and 5.117), it is usually translated as “taking.” Because the translation of 3.55 raises such an important truth question for Christians, this commentary will highlight the translation of several verses containing the verb tawaffā further along in the Quran. See also “The Death of Jesus in the Quran”.