Answer
Salam Dear Ali,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
In fact, it is not really accurate to think that Allah “fooled” all the onlookers (of the crucifixion) or the later generations. The Quran does not say so. Please read the actual verse, which says what means:
{That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of Allah”; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise} (An-Nisaa’ 4:157-158)
Allah describes here what actually happened; that the events were such that many people thought Jesus had been crucified, though the fact was that Allah had raised him to Himself.
Even if they had been of the thinking that Jesus was crucified, this does not logically lead one to conclude that Jesus should be worshiped, especially since this was contradictory to Jesus’ message from God. This came later with Paul and his teachings of the trinity.
Your question is why Allah allowed such a thing to happen.
The answer is that Allah knew of the misunderstanding of the people. But at the same time, we need to remember that Allah created us humans as free beings. He endowed us with reason, imagination, and other intellectual faculties. It is up to us to make use of these God-given gifts to understand everything in the proper perspective.
If Allah were to force everyone to accept the truth, He would be denying them the freedom of choice and action. In which case, all of us would be mere automatons.
Please read the Quranic verse that says what means:
{We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of our creation.} (Al-Israa’ 17:70)
The {special favors} God has given mankind include our rational faculties; and it is to the credit of Islam that it teaches Muslims to use reason even in matters of faith. Allah in the Noble Quran compares those people who do not use their rationality to cattle:
{[…] they have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided […]} (Al-A`raf 7:179)
This means that we humans should use our God-given faculties to look for the truth and follow it. As we are the best of God’s creatures endowed with free will, there is no meaning in saying that God should have compulsorily made all people to accept the truth and follow it. That would be asking God to make us unthinking and irresponsible like cattle.
And Allah knows best.
I hope this answer is fulfilling and in case you have more queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us again.
Thank you and please stay in touch.
Salam.
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