Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AND
CHRIST
BT
MOULVI
President,
MUHAMMAD Ahmadiy"x
Lahore,
ALI,
M.A.,
LL.B.
Anjuman-i-Ishaat-i-lalam
India
AUTHOR
OF
AN
English
Translation
of the
Holy
Quran
AHMAD]
"
.N-I-ISHAAT-MSLAM
^
LAHOR% 1921
INDIA
OF
CONTENTS
PAGE
iNTRODUCClQft
...
... ...
[.
MIRACLES
"
1. 2. 3.
4.
General
Remarks
...
17
...
Raising HeaHng
Oth%r
the the
Dead Sick
to
Life
... ...
23
35
... ... ...
Signs
... ... ...
41
II.
SlNLESSNESS
... ... ... ...
48
III.
CIRCUMSTANCES
1.
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
"
Announcement Mother's
of Greatness
Birth
...
76
...
2. 3.
96
...
...
Extraordinary
of Birth
^
occurrences
at
the
time
104
... ... ...
IV.
THE
CALL
...
108
...
...
...
V.
CIRCUMSTANCES
1.
0..
RELATING
TO
DEATH
"
The
T2hA
alleged
Death
Ascent
to
Heaven
...
118
of
Christ
... ...
134
VI.
THE
SECOND
ADVENT
...
147
...
INTRODUCTION
fundamental of Islam
a
ONE
of
the
principles
of the
is
belief in
the fact
prophets
the peace
world,
belief
in
before may
advent and
of the the
Holy
Prophet,
of God
Muhammad,
be
upon
blessings
had
him,
different
Different nations.
prophets
Thus
been
raised
the
great
of
change
Arabia
phet pro-
advent about
over,
of
was,
to
the that
mighty
the
Prophet
of
to
brought
was
day
the the
national
Great
to
give place
order
World-
Prophet,
the the
to
the the
new
which
was
bring about
belief in all
unity
of
whole
human
race.
prophets
of
of
the
averse
the
faith
to
world
of
being
Islam,
the
thus
the
basic
have
principle
Muslims
always
the
been
institute
of the
comparisons
because In
between
various
as
prophets
thef
say,
am
world,
sons, compariwere
odious.
fact, they
to
forbidden
by
lest
the
in
Prophet
the heat
himself,
of
do
on
so
necessarily un-
controversy
may At the be
same
such
be
of
a
said
which
tory derogatime
the
dignity
prophet.
in
the
Holy
Qiy'dn
declares
plain
words
that
there
INTRODUCTION
are
varying degrees of
'
excellence
made
some
even
among
the
prophets :
to
We
'
have
of these
apostles
excel
others
253). (ii.
it is
one
It
must,
however, be
say that
one
borne
in mind
that
an
thing to
which
prophet
not,
and
possesses
excellence
to
another
does
in
quite
another The
derogatory
men
no
prophets
all
perfect
they
raised
doubt
regeneration of
man,
but
according to
were
of the work
with
which
the
race
they
for
entrusted
of capabilities
were
whose
regeneration they
that
we
raised.
up
as
It is in this
therefore, light,
often
take
the
challenge so
given by
the Christians
or
to the
a
comparative
task of the
greatness of Muhammad
is though painful,
Christ,
because Book
which,
wrong
necessary
inferences
The
error
drawn which
from
the sacred
of Islam.
Christian
writers
mit generallycomon
is that
they place
the
not
all reliance
words,
not
to
caring for
appearances,
work
to
actually done
khey
look
reality.With
of and
th6m may
jr-satness be
eulogy which
the
ed heap-
person
may
incrediblywonderful
not
are
of him, befnarrated
in the
done
by him.
Hence
they
always
INTRODUCTION
3 of himself
or
thus,
not
Muhammad,
peace
be
on
him,
so
of
the
on
performed Christianity
founder the other
this
many The
miracles
which
of IsMih
did
not.
a
Holy Qur'an,
toor
hand, adopts
different attitude
not
w"rds
words
miracles,as
of the
words
criterion of greatness.
It
not
speaks
in
the
eulogy
in which
to
speaks of
himself
attention
according
to
the
by drawing
mation, transforIt does
the
mighty
that he
not
brought
in
rare
about
in the world.
speak, except
instances, even
of his great
miratftfes which
are,
all miracles
as
of
with
planting
virtue and
of and
are
supplanting evil
up
men
taking
from
the
depth
of
degradation
raising thvemto
the
highestdignitywhich
And do
,
they
why
serve
are
miracles
purpose
means
not
any but
they
not
the end
the
great end
of the
of regeneration spiritual
reason
the
world.
It is 'for this
that the
Holy Qur'dn
INTRODUCTION
does
not
speak of
nor
the
Holy Prophet
in
ing high-soundon
words,
but
does
it
lay
and
much
stress
speaks again
which
agaip
of the
transformation
so
he
wrou"h,Va
the world in the
unique in
the
on
of history the
of the
article
Koran
Encyclopedia
as
Britannica 'most
the
successful
an
prophets
which
and
and
religious outweighs
stories
', personalities
all the
admission
words
far
high-sounding
narrated
wonderful
in the
Gospels.
however, to-day,
way
out
Christian
to
controversialist of that
bases
think
he has the
on
another
of the
to
He difficulty. other
of superiority
the
Chftst
on
prophets, not
A
on
Gospels,
but
the The
to
Holy Qur'an.
Qur'an which,
the fabrication
on
hand, is denounced
be
of
as
the
other,
claims
position of
the
but quiteinexplicable, it
as
need
not
be
at surprised
matters
far
morf
as
the
religionale
Holy Qur'dn
is said
speaks
of Je'sus Chrisfr in
INTRODUCTION words
of
but
at
the
same
time
it mentions Israelite
him
only one
among
the
Moses
a
ous numer-
prophets who
to
followed
scribes it de-
be*
an
apostle bearing
'
message
limited to children
singlSnation
Israel
'
And
an
apostle to
the
of
48). (iii.
This
description is
cannot
sistently con-
sufficient to show
that in
tfieHoly Qur'"n
a
place him
the other
to positionof superiority
prophets, to
nothing
is
race.
of
the
great
Worldto
Prophet whpse
for
expresslystated
But
be
the
whole
to
see
what
Christian
is unable
a
is, why
should
the
Qur'dn
of
speak of praise?
the
prophet of another
fact, he
and
nation
to
in words
In
is unable
the
differentiate between
in this
spect. re-
Gospels
message
Holy Qur'an
for the
do with may
The and
of
Jesus was
therefore he
;
had
nothing to
of
the message
Muhammad,
be upon
the
blessingsof
world and
God
him,
was
for the
whole of
th^ prophets
it
was
of the
whole
world.
in all the
And
as
in
addition
required%, belief
necessary Now
at
prophets,
therefore it
for it to
the
were
preach respect
of its advent
time
two
of the sacred
INTRODUCTION
personages abhorrence
whose
names
were
by
the
to Israelites,
was
they
belonged. Mary
and her
son was
accused falsely
a.s
of
adultery,
denounced and
as
a
the The
to
offspringof
illicitintercourse
had
to
liar.
Holy Qur'"n
establish the
sweep
away
these
calumnies
who
lay much
Christ and
stress
on
the
words
of
praise
Jesus
in the
Holy Qur'an,
remember
that
two
false
of the allegations
righteouspersons
requireda
the
prophets
a
not
denounced
in such
terms
made
mention
of their virtues
unnecessary.
If,however,
base the
it is inconsistent
in
Christian
Christ
to
as
to
the
Holy Prophet
work of
an
book
which
he
condemns
the
wild
impostor,
are
it is stranger in
still that
out to
a case
statements
often made
are
making
for
Jesus
which
but
not
even
only opposed
the
the
Holy
sacred
to
Qur'dn,
which the
Gospels, the
of scriptures
Christian
arfe
condemn religion,
be of
false,and conclusions
the
drawn
not
from
the
words
INTRODUCTION
are
also belied
by
the
Gospels.
dealingwith
refer both
this
to
question therefore
I shall have
the
Holy Qur'dn
But
as
and
the
Bible,
bility reliadrawn
regards the
the material
is
a
which from
;
can
oe
placed upon
there
these and
two
sources,
world
ence of differwhich
the
the
circumstances
under
Gospels were
to
written and
transmitted
very
make
it necessary
accept their
statements
guardedly.
As
I
need
detain
the
to
reader the
and
very
long.
From
one
end Far
of the
East the
to
world
Morocco
other, from
China
the
Far
in the
Algeria in
of the
West,
to
no
from
scattered
islands
Pacific Ocean
is one,
of AiVica, the
even a
Qur'dn
and
in differing
diacritical
among
are,
point is
the four and
met
with
possession of
one
hundred
millions of Muslims.
There
always
have
in
the
same
Qur'dn is
of possession
one
and
all.
Political dissensions
up
within
quarter
of the
Holy Prophet,
but
ever
voice
A
againstthe purityof
manuscript with
is unknown. the
the text
of the
Holy Qur'ln.
in
slightestvariation
the
text
Even
INTRODUCTION
Dr.
Mingana
due
has
to
been
unable
in
to
show
any
or
but
mistakes
carelessness
copying
'
cription trans-
in his the
Leaves
from
Qur'dns
and
'.
And
script originalmanu-
copies made
of the been third
successor
circulated under of
to
"
the
Holy Prophet
day.
Here is
safely preserved
a
this
opinion of
*
hostile critic :
of Othman
. . .
The
us
recension unaltered
has been
handed
down
to
contending
and
embittered of Othman
factions himself
taking
within
a
quartei of
ever
of Mohamet,
world. them
;
have
since
the
Mohametan
Yet and
but One
Coran
has been
use
current
amongst
same
by
all of the
an
in scripture
to the
present day is
now
fragable irre-
proof that
text
have
before of
the
us
the very
prepared by
There
has
'
command
unfortunate
no
Caliph,
work
is
probably
in
the .world
centuries
other with
so
which
a
remained
twelve
pure
mine.
text
Italics
are
The made
copy
same
author
'
goes
was
on
to
show
by
made
Usman
INTRODUCTION
of the
Holy Prophet
number
to
and
that
Zaid's
of the
edition
was
faithful copy
of the revelations
Holy Prophet,
and the
givinga
of whioh
reasons
for
comes
believing so,
is that
'
conclusion with
the
he
he
we
agrees
the
Coran
verdict" of
to be
as
Von
Hammer
That word
hold
as
surely Mohamet's
the
Mohametans
hold
it to be the word
of God.9
transmission
The in 1859
was
The
the
story of the
authorship and
of
est earliis
a
was
we are
found
manuscript which,
the middle
told,
made
of the fourth
on
century
Sinai
as
after
Jesus
Christ.
Being found
Mount
in the Convent
it is known
the Alexandrinus
is
now
in
-belongs to the
Vatican
fifth century.
to the
are
Another
belongs
these
to
fourth
said to be
three
chief
jnanuscripts. As
auote, not
a
their condition
a com-
I will reliability
but critic,
: ment^Jor of the Bible, the Rev. J. R. Dummelow To begin with, the* writers of the Gospels report
'
in Greek
have
had
some
Sources)
most
sayingsof Jesus
Christ
who
Nor
is it likely
10
INTRODUCTION
that that
these
their
or
their
copyistshad
go
any the
idea
would
beyond
were
early
Churches
*
they themselves
St. Paul.
familiar,
The
same
appliesto
were
His
now letters,
so
valued,
messages
only intended
were
for
the
Churches
who
"
to
which
they
would
addressed.
not
Those
at
first
"
copied them
in
our
regard them
all
sacred
'
sense
of the word.
do
we
Nor
even
find that
scrupulousregard for
the transmission would sometimes
he
which
A
marked
of the
Old
not
Testament. what
to
was
copyist
text,
would the
put In
in the He
but what
trust text
a
thought ought
or
be in it. would
even
he
make
to
accord
the views
of the
school
which of
he
belonged.
Besides
this, an
In the
enormous
number
to
copiesare
and
preserved.
addition
the
versions
quotations from
thousand
are
early Christian
Fathers,
the New
nearlyfour
Testament
Greek
to
manuscriptsof
exist. As
a
known
result the
reliance
can so
be
placedon
documents
which
transmitted
and
and carelessly
with
?
such
Even
tions additheir
by the scribes
oate
authorship
of writing
is absolutely
INTRODUCTION
11
The
as an
first of
the
canonical
Gospels is
St.
the
Gospel according to
But
Matthew,
that that
Apostle.
never
it is certain
Gospel
vvritten hand.
by
The
him.
It
was
written
by
some
unknown
as
given by
above,
in
the commentator,
I have
quoted
written
is that
a
probably
of
'
had
Hebrew
to be
book
logia
'
or
oracles
',
which
is not
met
with 130
a
"
anywhere, except
that
Papias writing in
the
A.D.
with
lation trans-
composition of
of these
"
such
Of
Greek
to
Logia
use,
author
seems
have his
made
such
liberal the
that he
acknowledged
his
obligationsto
"
Apostle by calling
'V
work
according to
Matthew
This have
explanationspeaks
written
a
for itself.
book which
may with
The
certain
in the
anywhere except
rest
Papias.
the least
first
is all
conjecture.
is not
evidence
a
that
copy
nor
of the
Gospel had
any
of it.
conjecture is based
Gospel according
done it
as
to
St. Matthew,
might
have
well
if he had
only the
12
INTRODUCTION
The
next
Gospel is
was
companion
as
followingtestimony
130
recorded
by Papias about
is relied upon
to
in
tho
Gospel
him
Mark
having
(or
he he
or
having been)
remembered did done
not
Peter's
wrote interpreter
(or,all (record) in
that order
Peter
related) though
was
that which
heard
said
Lord
by
Christ.
Him
to ;
For
he neither
the I
nor
followed
but
subsequently,as
who
used
to
Peter
frame
teaching to
meet
not
as
the
mediate (im-
wants
a
making
connected Even if
we
narrative
discourses.'
accept
be said
Gospel of
on
St. Mark
may
have
even
been
based
the
does
oral tradition of
not
was
Peter, but
this evidence
in
our
make
it certain
that the
Gospel
and
hands
actuallywritten
favours
the view
by
St. Mark
that
he
was
only the
of the him.
nucleus
of the
present
Gospel ascribed
St. Luke
too
was
not
of Jesus disciple
to
but
discipleof
the
St. Paul.
there is no
doubt
is that ii.
much
later composition.
14
INTRODUCTION
The
answer
to
this
question
is
that
may
in
all
the
passages passage
be treated
credible surely
to
"
(1) The
be called
none
that shows
'
that
Jesus refused
thou
God'.
me
sinjess:
Why
good
(Mark
? there is
x.
good
but one,
18).
(2) The
passage
that he held
be
that
*
blasphemy against
manner
himself
forgiven:
All
of sin and
:
blasphemy shall
be the
forgiven unto
Holy
Ghost
men
but be
the
bla"phemy against
men
shall
not
forgivenunto
that
no
'.
(Mark
his
and
own
(3) The
and
passage
shows
that
brethren had
that he
they sincerelythought
his friends heard
on
was
And
when hold
of
it, they
went
to
lay
'
him
for
is beside
himself
(Mark
friends
iii. 21).
were
From
his
own
31
it appears
and
that these
mother shows
:
his
brothers.
had of
(4) The
no
passage
that
that
'
Jesus Christ
that
knowledge
hour
of the
unseen
no
Of
day
the
'
and
that
knoweth
one,
net
even
angels in
(5) The
he
heaven, neither
passage uttered Thou
the
son
but
the Father.
cry
that
on
speaks
cross
'
of the
*
of
despair that
the
forsaken
are
me
five
added
miracles
INTRODUCTION
15
which miracles
to
will
be
referred
on,
to
in the nine
discussion
passages
a
on
are
his
said
later the
and
these
be
'
for foundation-pillars
truly scientific
life of It
Jesus.'
would
thus
be
seen
that
on
the
basis
of
the
Christian religionis
uecprd, and
the the
laid
the
most
unreliable
stories of the
miracles
on
wrought and
is based and be the
wonderful
of the
deeds
done,
of
which
doctrine
Divinity
all
Jesus
can
Christ
of his
superiorityto
received with
mortals,
therefore
only
ever, how-
caution.
mere
It must,
that
of Jesus superiority
mortal
another
not
of Islam, does
bring us
whit
nearer
unless religion
nature
or
possessed
which
no
Divine
mortal
has followed
ever
done.
Christian down
religion had
the
the
by
eadicr
was a
prophets, the
greater
man
Jesus Christ
human
than
any
that i"eing
to
ever
lived,would
have done
so
good
the
cause
of
but Christianity, of
men
long as
the
atonement
of the
the central
a
sins
by
Divine
person
doctrine
of that his
religion, nothing
other
clear
proof that
to superiority
16
INTRODUCTION
mortals
be of
lay
any
use
in
being
to
Divine
and It
above is in this
mortal
can
its the
of
cause.
light
that
discussion
of
relative the
merits
of
Christianity
of their
and
Isl"m,
can
or
relative
greatness
seeker finds
founders,
But
as
really
help
after itself
truth.
to
Christian with
controversy
unable
various
cope
this
question,
are
will
take
the
points
as
they
I
raised Christian
by
Christian
sialists. controver-
take their
the
case
as
presented
tract
in
the
the
of
pamphlets,
small
issued under
by
Missionary Haqdiq-i-(jur'dn,
to
Society
or
at
Ludhiana,
the
which
of
claims
the
based
Qttr'dnic
truths
*
have
'
been
only
all
'
on
the
Qur'anic
reports
broadcast
Muslim and
statements
avoiding
wnich has
unreliable circulated of
stories in India
', and,
been the
and,
all
through
Christian
pages
World,
in
and,
Muslim
:ountries.
1.
MIRACLES.
1.
G'ENERAL
are
REMARKS. stories
in
The
Gospels
full of the
of the
as
miracles
wrojught by Jesus
else, is thought
Even
to
Christ
lie the
and
them,
in
nothing Divinity.
a
argument
of his
the
:
central
.
fact
did
in the
not
Christian from
among
religion is
the
miracle the
if
JesuS
rise
dead,
Christian
preaching
moral
of
Christianity
and
is in vain.
Religious duties,
do
not
teachings
the
spiritual awakening
miracles rise .from
do
occupy
The
place
are
which
to
are
in the their
Gospels.
dead of
made sick
are
graves, is turned
multitudes
into
the
healed,
out,
and
water
wine,
cast
other
sake
wonderful
of
done.
Suppose
of the of this
argument
;
this the
Gospels
on
true literally
what
was
the
The
who
in
a
witnessed
miracles? needed*
message
to
prophet's
the truth mind
assure
people
the
of
and
a
to
convince of
ordinary
powers
that
must
being
be
possessor
in
extraordinary
The
he
followed
a
spiritualmatters.
bringing about
is
of
moral
2
and
spiritual transformation
admittedly
18
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
the
as a
real
needed
help
the
attainment
may
of
that upon
object.
as
The
means
former
to
an
be
looked
end
the
The
end, the
latter is the
,
itself.
best evidence
of miracles
and
thus
they produce,
us
the most
important question
therefore is that
recorded How
miracles result ?
the
was
Gospels, what
the
success
was
the in
great
a
he One
attained
bringingabout
us
transformation ?
followed
ah Now
not
a
Gospel
tells
that
Jesus
who
was
by multitudes
of sick
says that
ments state-
persons
many
were
were
healed; another
if either of
healed.
these
were
true,
single person
should
not
should
have
have
been in
who
believed who
saw
Jesus.
It is inconceivable deeds
as
that
those
such should
extraordinary
have
done
a
by Jesus
Christ the
rejectedhim
and
liar.
They
saw
sick healed
the
in him
dead
as
raised
if not
a
tts"life and
yet they
wrought! And
that
were
how
strange that
heale*d do
not
tbe great
to
multitudes
been that
seem
have
believers in faith
was a
for if even
these
mifltitudes had
MIRACLES
19
he
would
have
had
more
at following
the
he
time
of his
crucifixion far
and
numerous
than
had, actually
But
largeto sufficiently
we
yvhat do
not
find ?
as
The
is poor,
only
regards number,
From he chose
were
regards
that
on
its oharacter.
among twelve
to
followed
twelve work
him
to sit
thrones, v;ho
after the
with showed
the
a
Master,
of
and
strange weakness
harshly by
curse
the he
enemies, and
not
a
even
to hesitating
was
when
thought
The
one
that
curse
:the durst
only
not
means
of
escape.
others
even
approach Jesus,while
out
to
of the chosen
an
ones
turned
be
traitor.
them
to
On
pray
earlier occasion
for
when them
Jesus asked
him, he found
them
on
had
was
for whom
ever
having
the
faith.
Who
miraculous
made
was
an
deeds
of
Jesus, if they
The
t
were
done,
impression?
to
mere
fact that
Jesus
worth
on
unable
bring about
to
any
transformation
the name,
and
or
make
a
any
impression either
his the
friends
foes, is
stories of miracles
were
afterwards.
20 The
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
poorness
of
the
result the
attained stories of
by Jesus
miracles
Christ
becomes
notwithstandingall
the
more
prominent when
compared with
the wonderful
results attained
Prophet
had before
that
appeared
him
a
in Arabia.
Holy
had
phet pronever
before
nation
which
been
had
guided
to
truth, among
whom
no
prophet
whose
at
reformation had
both
the
Jews
and
the Christians
proved
utter
failure.
This
nation
had,
moral
both
as
regards
sunk
civilization and
calibre, been
and
depth
of the
of
degradation,
had
for centuries
on
the
reformers
a
fallen
of
a
deaf
a
ears.
Yet
within
less than
was
quarter
century
The
wonderful
brought
about.
old
evils
disappeared, and
love
the
ignorance and
of
given place to
From
knowledge
of
a
learning.
disunited the
name
elements of
a
people who
sprung onward
did not
deserve
nation
had
u]4
living and
united the
and
nation
before whose
march
were
in the world
greatest nations
whose
of the
world
powerless
fed the world
civilizationand
centuries. But
knowledge
for
was
long
ttfismaterial
advancement
a
only the
result of
moral
and
22
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
Scribes and
we
the Pharisees
a
would
see
sign
from
But
he
answered
and
said
unto
them,
after
evil and
and
adulterous
shall
no
seeketh generation
sign ;
the
there
to
it,but
sign
we
of the have
one
prophet
a
Here
plain
show
any
sign except by
some
the
sign of
Jonas, which
as
is understood
commentators
meaning
the
sign of preaching, by
grave
others
as
as
remaining in the
was)
worked
Pharisees for three
(alive of
three how how In
course,
Jonas Jesus
the
days
and
nights.
was
was
If
such
great woaders,
for
a
it that it that
to
asked
to
sign and
Jesus
their
refused
show
any
to
sign.
answer
demand,
he
ought
have
reierred
to
the
testimony
fact,the
tioners ques-
of the thousands
masses
that had
him should evidence.
been
have
healed
; in
around
silenced
no
the
by happened.
asked sick
'
their The
But
such the
thing
sees Phari-
commentators
say that
for
they
too
were
accustomed.9
If dt
was
indeed
it is clear that
Jesus' healingof
And ?
to do
the sick
not
nothing extraordinary.
to
why
did
Jesus refer
his
Again, Mark
tells us
Jesus was
unable
MIRACLES
23
any
mighty work
4
in
Nazareth,
he could
save
healing a
do
no a
few
sick persons
And
there
mighty
few sick
work,
save
that he healed
woik
upon
too
folk, and
to inability
This
shows
Jesus'
sick
These
beinglooked
statements
upon
are
very clear
ordinaryoccurrence.
evidence that the
stories
of
or
wonderful
at
works
were
invented
wards, after-
least
there
is much
exaggeration in
them.
2. The
RAISING
THE
DEAD
TO
LIFE
to
mightiestwork
the dead
to
of
Jesus
is said
be
the
are
raisingof
and life,
it is in
this, we
met
with.
is the argument
"
Christ's
raisingthe
on
dead
basis
to
life is admitted
the
by
and
man
the Muslims
the
to
of
Holy Qur'dn,
the power
raisingthe
and
in
dead
life is
beyond
of
. .
only an
Being.
And
this attribute
Divinity no
other
mortal
what
Let
the
us
Holy Qur'dn
first
says,
we
shall the
see
later made
closelyconsider
sacred
claim
scriptures.
24
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
The
argument
is that
the
Jesus
to
a man
is
Divine This
person
because could
no
he raised
dead
life.
argument
only be
advanced had
by
ever
who
believed that
to
other
mortal
raised
the dead It
life.
But
the
Bible
of
contains
to
instances
and life, this
other mortals
even
the dead
therefore
quite illogical ; or
raised the
dead him. died Elisha when
he
was
Divine had
are
because
as
life, Elisha
2
much
told that
of
a
divinity in
child
sure
*
In and
came
Kings iv, we
had
had when
hic death in
was :
"
been
well made
And
Elisha
was
come
into
the
house,
his bed. them
the his
dead, and
shut the
laid upon
the Lord. door
.
.
in therefore, and
upon
.
twain, and
child sneezed
'
prayed
seven
unto
and
times, and
the child
opened
eyes
Elijah also
'
dead
tp life.
And
he cried unto
said, O
Lord,
?
my
also
brought
evil upon
the widow
son
. .
with
I pray
into him
again.
and the
And
the
voice of
Elijah;
MIRACLES
25
came
into him
again and he
revived
'
Kings
Thus
xvii. 19-22).
the
Bible
to
does
not
give
the
one
to
Jesus
of
any
exclusive the
power dead of
claim
to
on divinity
score
raising
life,
indeed, in
dead his
to
raising the
even
life was
dry bones
a
after
man
a
the
came
dead
And
.
.
pass the
man
as
they
were
burying
man
they
when of
cast
man
into the
was
sepulchre
and
of
Elisha
the
the
touched
up
on
Elisha, he
and
stood
his
is sometimes
asserted
own
that while
Jesus wrought
in the other
the miracles
by
his
power
prophets,it was
the
God
-
who
worked
the miracles
distinction
case
through
does
too not
prophets.
of much God who
This
fantastic
prove
was
of
men
Jesus
of
a
it
'Ye
Israel, hear
man
these
of
words;
among
Jesus of
you God
Nazareth,
approved
and of you
'
God
by
did
and miraclets
wonders midst
signs, which
(Acts ii. 22).
by
him
in the
It is very
probable that
dead of
to
the stories of
Elijah
and
Elisha
raisingthe
life
desire in the
minds
the
followers erirly
Jesus
26
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
Christ There
to
are
ascribe
similar
traces
deeds
to
their Master.
the
clear
of
Mark
this in
and about
narratives
narrate
themselves. of raising
Matthew,
the ruler's
as
the
daughter
'
Matthew dead
but
quotes Jesus
'
saying:
The
The
maid
sleepeth (Ix.24).
but their presence
the
nature
others
omit
these
words,
in Matthew miracle.
of
not
this
that
John
does
speak of
a
this
miracle
is not
Lazarus
all but
to
mentions
the had
How
instead
miracle
which
known
after he
for the
a
four
days (xi.38-44).
and
did it
no
happen
one Synoptists,
all,
how
had
was
it that
knDwledge
The
of raising
that
the ruler's
daughter?
inference
is clear
the made
an
his doubts he if
to
about
raising
some
daughter,and
read
as
instead it
were
symbolical story
occurrence.
actual
In
addition
a
these
two
miracles,
the
Luke
alone mentions
son
third case,
the
of raising
is
widow's
at
Nain
(vii.*1-17), which
nor Synoptists
known
to
to
John,
the
height
of
absurdity
wonderful
stories
MIRACLES
27
carried
not
the
earlyChristian
the
writers.
Matthew
of the
was
satisfied with
single miracle
makes into
*
raising the
dead rise
as
he therefore
of the
as
graveyaid Jand
up
walk
Jerusalem
behold
Jesus gave
the
rent
ghost :
And from
the
veil of
thejtemple was
;
in twain
the bottom
rent ;
and
the earth
were
did
quake, and
;
and
opened
and
came
many
out
bodies
of the
of
j:hesaints
slept arose,
and
'
and
went
graves
into the
holy
This
many
(xxvii.51-53).
:
passes
not
all
Pagination
details
as as
only the
to
evangelist does
give
had
case
the
on
what into is
they
walked
city;
as
in
to
the add
of
Lazarus,
man
the writer
came
careful enough
bound face
to
was
and
clothes and
napkin
an
loose
had
to
given by Jesus
of these saints
at to
Probably
the grave
dollies
who
rate
for
centuries, or
any
for
preserved intact
Not
fo
assist in the
tators commen-
performance of
have the
the miracle.
courage
all the
read
this
the
wonderful
story
have
following
28
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
comment
by
seems
the
to
Rev.
J.
R.
Dummelow:
'This of the
incident
truth the
be
is involved
on
Resurrection
saims,
in
that
Easter
sense
be said
certain
to
lies the
dead
to
about
all the
miracles
in
of
Jesus talked
was
'
parables,
symbolical language
the dead And
useH
by
him
freely.
Let
bury their
'
dead
said he
say
(Matt. viii.
unto
on
22).
He
sent
again
Verily, verily,I
word and
you,
that heareth
me,
my
believeth
him
that
come
hath
into condemnation,
I Verily,verily, say
life.
you,
The shall
is
coming,
voice
.
now
son
is,when
of God
at
are
:
the
and
dead
the
they that
the
hear
shall live.
is
not
this ; for
hour
coming
in
which
and
in the graves
shall hear
his voice
forth.' Nov.
by
the
the dead,
even
by
meint
spiritually dead,
meant
was
in sin, and
by life is
figurative language
to
a
by
the
Jews.
According
Jewish
termed
tradition, 'the
30
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
reason
ye, because
ye
have
no
bread
Perceive ye your
ye
not
yet, neither
?
understand
eyes
see
? Have
ye
not
heart
hardened
Having
'
(Mark viii.
14-17).
Indeed
we
find the
themselves disciples
much
to
ing complain-
of his
too resorting
to pleadingtheir inability
follow
Herein
dead
lies
the solution
Next
we
of the stories of
come
to life.
to
what the
Holy
Qur'dn
says
about the
the
of raising
dead
life. To
say that
Holy
Qur'dn
dead
It
raising the
life
betrays
as
sheer
ignorance
the
of its contents.
speaks
dead
to
clearly of
Thus
Holy
*
Prophet raisingthe
you who
life.
it says and
believe !
answer
His
when Apostle
he calls you to that which The mistake between arises the from
givesyou
the
life'
24). (viii.
invidious
so
distinction made
when the
prophetsof God,
that
raisingthe
the in the
to
be
dead
ignorance,but
dead
to
when
it
life, the
words
to
looked
upon who
were mean-
as
meaning the
dead
back 'bringing
life of those
not
physically.Why
should
the
same
MIRACLES
I
31
ing be
As
to
attached
to the
same
words
in
both
? places
what
that
It
meaning
is, the
Holy
Qur'dn
and
explainsitself.
again and
means
again
It
the
to
speaks of spiritual.
this
in
raising them
T
life and
the
to
life
will
give
has
few
examples
show
this, as
It says We
point
one
been
'
much
misunderstood.
was
place :
to
Is he who
made
dead, then
a
raised
he is
for him
light by
whose whence
we
which
the
in
'
people,like
utter
him
likeness
he
cannot
of
one
forth ?
raised
(vi- 123).
have
the
dead this
man
to
life in
not
words,
yet
by
is meant description
whose
soul has
departed
of
from, and
but
one
been
whose
brought
death
back
and
'
body
both
clay,
spiritual.
make
place we
hear,
nor
have
make
Surely you
the deaf
to
do not
hear, when
Mark the
they
go
back
'
combination
are
here
deaf.
The
They
both
placed in
make
the
same
category.
when
Prophet
stay
sense
cannot
them
hear
they
do
not
to
go back elsewhere
retreating. In the
'
same
it the
Neithe-
are
the whom
and living He
alike.
SurelyAlldh
makes
pleases
32
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
cannot
make
those
Hera
in
hear
it is
who
not
are
in
graves
(xxxv. 22).
who
rest
are
only the
Yet the the
dead, but
dead bodies
are
those that
the
graves.
in their coffins
Nor
are
beneath
to
earth
as
not
meant.
che words
cannot
be taken
to
meaning
who is
that
are
the
Prophet
give life
\Vhat
as a mere
those
in spiritually this
do
the
grave?
is
implied
mortal
only
not
that what
the
was
Prophet
almost
were
could
impossible,
:
the
it
givingof
was
life to those
of
who
the
hand
Allah such
working
a
Prophet
that would
bring about
from
mighty change.
the
as
It is clear
Holy Qur'an
dead
to
speaks of
to
the
prophets
raising the
and
sense
spirituallife
that it
which of the
as
speaks
Christ
more
Holy Prophet
dead
to
and
Jesus
the
raisingthe
becomes
clear when
that
according
raised
to to
the
actuallybe
and
life
to
the
day of Judgment
Great
'
their
return
clearest words.
the time of
Thus
the
that
souls
die those
at
their
death, and
then
He
not,
on
during
their
sleep;
withholds
MIRACLES
33
whom
the
He
has
back
passed the
till ai
a
decree
of death
and
sends 42).
others
verse
appointed time'
(xxxix. the
This
affords
not
conclusive
the
proof that
return to
Holy
this the
and
same
*
Qur'an
world
decree under
does
admit who is
are
life in Once
of of
no
those death
actually dead.
the
passed,
soul is withheld
back. The
:
Circumstances
is it sent in the
one
is principle
when
me
affirmed overtakes
following verses
of them,
he says
Until
Send
death
back, my
in that word
Lord,
which that
send
I have
me
do
good
a mere
left.
rnd
By
no
means
! it is
he
speaks,
are
against
'
them
is
day they
raised
possiblewords
the
to
who
state
passed through
third
door
go
of
back
death
into
into
the
of barzakh
state.
is allowed
verse
the
previous
*
may
town
'
also which
be We
A last
^quoted :
And
it is
binding! on
not
destroy that
few
verse
they shall
comment
return
(xxi. 95).
to
words
of
a
may
be
added
this
from
saying
of
the
Holy- Prophet.
The
Ibn-i-
is recorded the
injNisai
and
of
collections slain in
a
of
reports.
with the
battle
of
The
Holy
Prophet
34
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
one
day
'
saw
Jabir dejected.
the
What
makes
of
you
dejected
sorrowful
asked
affectionate
*
Teacher
died and
his-
companion.
a
'
My father
and
a
he has
'
large family
heavy debt
the
met
'
.
was.
reply.
May
I not that
give you
your
good
news
of
from
great favour
'
father
.
with
God
said
servant
the
Holy Piophet
a
saidr
My
! express Lord
!
wish
me
and
so
said, My
give
life
that I may
once more.
fight
The
in
Thy
cause
again and
forth from
not
be slain
word
has
gone
that
they
shall
come
return.'
to
pious fightthe
'
"
wish
of
to
back
life and
enemies that
had
only one
they
return', these
words
as
concluding
Similar
on
of the
to
have
quoted last.
evidence
verse
the
this
is met
are
*
with
Muslim^
where
the
the martyrs
same
are
generally spoken
What
rrure
of in almost desire'?
more
do
you
'
they
may
by
for,
the
our
Almighty.
Lc~d' is the
'
What
we
reply.
Lord,
The
we
questionis repeated
desire that
we
and
they
send
say
us
Our
to
that Thou
may
shouldst
back
the world
And
fightagain
in
Thy
cause
'.
what
MIRACLES
35
is the
replyto
of
a
this
holy
"
wish
to
at
time
ranks
when
the
addition
was
*
singl
as
person
the
of Islam favour ?
looked
upon that
can
the
greatest Divine
not
I have
written world
they shall
the
return.9
Nothing
of the
return
in the
subvert
once
clear
dictum
Holy Qur'an
to
that those
; and
dead
shall not
to
the return
life shall
only
take
place on
the great
day
of Resurrection.
3.
HEALING
THE
SICK
Although Jesus'miracles
a
of
healingdo
of
not
occupy
even
very
high place in
the great
and
miracles,not
deeds which
among
man
may had
most
of these
or
stories
in stand
tion. exaggeraon
Here
same
Elijah
him.
v.
and
Elisha
the of
to
a
footing with
Elisha
healed
restored
Naaman eyes
leprosy (2 Kings
whole
1-14;, and
were
people
'
who when
first made
blind
to
miracu.
: lously
And
they came
down
him, Elisha
this
smote
prayed
I pray with And
unto
said, Smite
And the word he
people,
them
.
thee, with
blindness it
came
blindness.
according to
to
of Elisha.
come
pass,
when
they
were
into
36
MOHAMMAD
AND
"
HRIST
said,Lord,
may
saw
open And
of
that
they
see.
'
Lord
opened
20). Old
they
For
other
mighty
2
works
by
the
Testament
;
prophets, see
Kings
17, 40, 44
Ezk.
Joshua
great miracles
to the
of
healing the
are
sick
in the
had
Old the
to
prophets,as they
have
them.
Testament,
halo of
they
would
retained
But when
at
we
least
come
dignity
about
Testament
very
common
accused
the
by
help
Pharisees
that he cast
of Beelzebub,
cast
out
'
Jesus
answered whom
if I
bub by Beelzecast
by devils,
(Matt
a
do
children xi.
them
out
xii. 27 ;
Luke
19).
Here of who
therefore is
plain admission
the
to
Jesus
were
that
even
of disciples
Pharisees
opposed
Jesus Christ
'.ould work
the
miracles
writers
are
of
of the
Gosples
man
would
have
not
as
i.
Again
we
told
that the
*
who
did
follow
Jesus was
those
very
working
days
name,
:
same
miracles
we saw
Jesus
in
Master,
one
in
thy
38
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
but
even
then the
same
the
of difficulty
as
the
healing-pool
'
having
power
the
son
of God
is not
surmounted.
These little anecdotes force out who these recorded
by the
Gospels
of the argument
read
as
of miracles.
dare
even
Any
not
Christian
has
the
Gospels
of
speak
truth his
of
miracles
as a
evidence
say
the
of Christ
prophet, to
is woise,
nothing
of
divinity. Bat
show
what
the
Gospel
statements
one
clear tried
not
has evangelist
I
enrich
go
the
dry details of
details,but
conclusion
would
refer
a
here
into
to
instead
at
'
the
reader
the
by
The
Christian conclusion
critic in the
is
Encyclopaedia
that
even
inevitable in
any
the
case
one
whose evangelist
less of the
story
particular
that of
on
involves
supernaturalthan
far from
being entitled
of
claim the
implied acceptance
same
his
narrative.
who
come
Just in
after
degree in
gone
which
those
him
have
beyond
may
him, it is
have
gone
conceivable easily
that he
went
himself
beyond
'
those
at
who
before
him.'
And
again :
how the
It
is not
wonder-
MIRACLES
39
ful
deed
or
deeds
wrought
should
by
him
which
him
they
with
regarded as miracles
every other kind
have
credited power
of
the
miraculous
modern
are
without
as distinguishing
mind
does, between
to
those
miracles
and
which
amenable
are
psychical
It
influences necessary
all have
those
which
not.
cure
is also
to bear
in mind
that the
may
after
been
only temporary.'
co
(Art. Gospels).
of
In addition
the influence
exaggeration on
was
of
the
spiritualfor
in the
the
physical,as
on
have
already shown
to relating
discussion
the dead
the life.
miracles
This
the
of raising
to
is
clearlyindicated by
to
in
which
'
the The
sage mes-
John
their
the
Baptist
conveyed
lame
blind
receive
are
and sight,
walk, the
are
lepers
raised
them/
out
a
cleansed,and
the poor
up, and
have
the
of
'
Gospel preached to
Jesus failed
kind
to turn not
And
when
the dLc'oles
:
devil,Jesus remarked
prayer and and
'
This
goeth
\
but
by
It is
by
to
prayer
fasting that
of men,
is attained
are
drive devils
of
devils out
which
man.
these clearly
not
the
affect the
spiritand
the
physique
40
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
The
light cast
clears
away
upon
this
subject by
On three of
as a
the
Holjr
Qur'an
all doubts'an is
different
spoken
In
Healing;
one
57, xvii.
names
82
and
xli. 44.
fact, this is
is known.
of
the
by
which
name
the
is
Holy
a
Book
The
adoption of this
that of
a
fact. significant
It shows
the
prophets 01
removal
ara
God
is
different
And
from
and
the
of
the in
physical'
deaf
and
again
the
are
again
and but
blind
not
the
Holy by
:
Qur'an
whom
*
these is
Jesus
supposed
have
him
followed he healed
And
followed
all'
Nay,
the
Holy Qur'an
and
itself
:
tells us
*
by the olind
with which with with
the
deaf, etcnot
They
have and
hearts
they do
which which
they have
have
'
eyes
ears
they do
see,
and
'
they
they
not
do
hear that
(vii. 179).
For
surely "'t is
are
the
eyes
are
are
the hearts
which
in
the breasts
in the
46). (xxii.
but
statements
abound
and
Holy Qur'an,
of the clearness
here
conclusiveness
not
of what
instances.
quoted
I need
multiply
is left obscure
by
the
Gospels is
thus
made
clear
by
the
Holy Qur'dn,
MIRACLES
41
it is in this
that light
the
Holy
Book
speaks of
of
healing Jesus
effected Christ is
by the
one.
prophets of God,
4.
OTHER the
SIGNS.
Having
miracles of
disposed of
chief
points
in and
on
healing of
other
need
to to
dwell him.
water
wonderful
attributed of
turning
recorded
an clearly
by
St.
John
as
\ is very
first miracle.
not
behove
as
prophet
is said A
no
of God have
comes
make
at
a
people
tne
drunkards
Jesus
Cana.
to
done
as
marriage feast
of
any
at
prophet
one can
benefactor
have
done
or
humanity, good
to
and
be
said
to
fellow-
men
who
helps,by
miracle the
two
otherwise, in making
we
are
men
drunkards.
to
Bjf
Qur'an,
Jesus
Christ
and
the
of
say
creating life.
a
And
it is
sary neces-
few
go
words
to
about
Before how
we
the
Qur'?n,
lend
see,
however,
claims.
far the
Gospels
colour
to
these
42
Now
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
as
regards
not
we
the
knowledge
the
of the unseen, On
the the
Gospels do
other hand,
and
furnish
are
l^kstevidence.
id
'
to plainly
no
But
not
of that
the
day
that hour
are
knoweth
i^ian,
no,
angels
the* the
which
Father1
unseen
in
heaven,
*
neither
The
the
son,
but
(Mark
is here
xiii. 32).
knowledge
Some
of
*
clearlydisclaimed.
is revealed
the
case
Knowledge
but
of the future
to
the of
prophets of God,
Jesus
to
even
unfortunately in knowledge
true
the
slight
prove
own
that
was
disclosed
the
him
He
did not
according coming
to
Gospels.
foretells his
*
second
the
even
son
in
""he
following words
of the
For
as
lightningcometh
unto
out
so
east, and
shineth of the
the west
be.
coming
carcase
of
man
For
the
is,
there
will
the
commentators
Gospels have
We
are
been
at
great
that
pains to explainthis.
by
the
carcase
is meant
the
s^ful
man
and
by
the
of the
to
the
of plural
the second
;
leads evidently
opposite
it is very
conclusion awkward be
but
that the
to
sinners
should
on
a
likened
the
of
the
:
vultures
carcrse.
And
then
told
MIRACLES
43
Immediately
shall the
sun
after the
tribulation the
of those
moon
days
be darkened, and
shall not
heaven
Son
th"
stars
and
then
shall appear
. . .
sign of the
say
unto
of
man
in
heaven, shall
not
VerilyI
pass,
you,
this
be
generation
fulfilled however of these
'
till all
these
things
(Matt.
xxiv.
27-34).
That
generation
the truth The shall claim
unseen.
passed
words
away
without
many
more
witnessing
have
and
followed.
the
words
on
of the
the
Gospel
be the
Christian
to
Jesus
knowledge
argument,
nor
of
the
Blind
is it shaken
cannot
a
by
any in
argument;
the
critical that
reader
made
find mistake
explanation except
Jesus
interpretingthe prophecy.
to
I say his
this in deference
own
followers
to
go
far
to
4
beyond
that and
declare The
"the
"
the Rev.
mistake Dummelow
answer
be
due
:
Jesus' ignorance.
considers
most
says
as
Plumptre
and
in
boldest and
the
truest
reverend?1,
finds the
tion explanahour
Christ's xiii.32).
ignorance of that
Even of if we
assume,
we
day and
with
are
{Mark
Plumptre,
no nearer
complete
a
ignorance
;
solution
for if he
know
the
date, he
44
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
would
merits
not
attempt
the
who
to
fix
it'
would
With
be
a
state*
in
Gospels,
would
he
bold
that
Christian
the to proclliijn of
Jesus
had
knowledge
had
thfe unseen.
is ascribed
to
if the
Holy Qur'an
not
seem
said what
a
it,it does
the
for befitting
Christian
to
give
lie to
"
his
own
sacred
he
and scriptures
to
produce
the
Qur'an
which of
believes
be
an
imposture, in support
sa"s
as
his statements.
:
What
he
to
Muslim
is
a
this
You
must
accept
Jesus
says
being above
mortal the
because
the
Qur'an
wlien
he had
knowledge of
as
unseen, must
and
you
have
accepted him
on
such, you
believe in the
Gospels and,
no
their of the
knowledge
queer ?
Could
logicever
be
more
As
it nowhere
speaks of
unseen.
Jesus Christ
All
what
that
you
it says
And
I you
inform
you
store not
of in
say
should
'
and
wh^c
Here
ate
should
does
your that
Peter
houses he knows
(iii. 48).
what
Jesus
last
John
evening and
what
which
would
be childish,but
eat
that
people
store,
what
they should
was
and
what
they should
did when
anc1 this
'
indeed
up
what
Jesus
he
said
Lay
not
for
yourselves
46
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
that
what
is created
became
of
confused
all
to
them
He
? is
Say: Allah
the One,
is
as
is the Creator
things
This
and
the
Supreme' (xii
the
16).
argument
as
much person
againstthe
or
divini y of
Jesus
of
any
tion crea-
other
thing,and
theory
to
that the
the
of certain
things is ascribed
stand for
a
Jesus by
Holy
Qur'"n
This
cannot
moment
agr.iustthis
to two
misunderstanding
the word
is
due
different
of significances
khalq, the
or being,measuring, proportioning,
the
measure
or
is creating. significance
agree
to
on
the
Arabic
this
for
I facility
refer the
The
Lane's
Arabic-English
i.i its
Lexicon.
is
used extensively
primary significance
quotes
means
Arabic
literature, and
Thus
Lane
several
he
sured mea-
instances.
or
khalaq
al-adim-a
proportioned the
he
hide, khalaq
measure
an-na'l-a
means,
determined
It is in this word
the
sense
of the sandal,
and
so
on.
khalq
as
Jesus in
iii. 48,
even
Lane
accepts the
for interpretation,
thus
inni
akhluq-u-lakum
measure moreover
1 will make
according to
of the
its proper
for you.9
say
The
commentators
Holy Qur'"n
MIRACLES
47
that
the
form
thus
proportioned
the
did
not
actually
quoted
tary momen-
turn
into
bird
see
remark
of
Wahb
in
the
Ruh
ul-ma'dni,
and
that
it
was
simply
dust
sight
The
the
thing
at
turned
into
immediately.
the form
performance
was
any
rate,
is
if
really
of
bird
made
by
Jesus,
whose
far
inferior
to
the
grand
serpent.
Christ
miracle
^.f
Moses
staff
turned
into
But
it
must
be
borne
in
mind
that
Jesus
spoke
than
in
more
in
parables
and
and
metaphoric
this
case
language
too
plain
meant
words,
in
what
he
really birds,
the
a
was
not
the
making
had
of
the
figures
to
of
performance
of
a
which
nothing
the
do
with
work
prophet,
but
breathing
make
of
spirit
soar
into
his
followers
which
should
them
like
birds
in
the
higher
spiritual
regions.
ii.
Next
SINLES
;NESS is the
to
miracles, sinlessness
of
a
most
important
greatness
Christian
ot
or
argument
Christian
In
on
relating to
very
the
of
Jesus
Christ. laid
fact, the
the
basis
of the
religion is
Christ. other
cases
exclusive
was
sinlessness
not
Jesus
if any
If person
Jesus
was
Christ sinless
as
sinless
ar
well
Jesus,
to
in
both
the
Christian
religion
falls
the
ground.
and
The
difference
forner
between
Christianity
that latter every teaches
Isldm
teaches
the
human that
to
child
every
sinful, while
child is born it
human
sinless.
not
to
According
avail
in
is
a man
the
former
to
therefore
and
would
to
try
of
be
good
and
perfect and
;
walk sin
can
the
ways in
truth
righteousness
and
man
for
inherent be
human
nature
therefore the
Son
o*
only
saved view
to
by the redemption
is be
so
of
God.
not
This
abhorrent
at
it does That
require
is
refuted
or
great length.
is inherent
man
born is
to
sinful,
take No
to
that lowest
nature
the
possible
could
new
human
nature.
greater
say
insult
the
be
humanity
a
than
that
born
child
sinful
being.
SINLESSNESS
49
Yet
on
this is based
dies before
can
the
Christian
doctrine
that
the
child that
it is
baptized shall
burn
to God
created
if man
and sinful,
it is the
sin is therefore
of
inherent in human
virtue
nature,
to
height
tell him
to
absurdity to preach
to
him
iind
to
shun
every
amounts
nature.
him telling
a
that he should
could in
never
against his
have been of
Such
doctrine who
*
conceived
by
him
:
believed
the
innocence
and
Suffer
unto
'
little children
me,
forbid is
the
come
for
of
such Thus
kingdom
himself
of
heaven
the
(Matt. xix.
14).
taught
sanctity of childhood.
may peace and
every that
child
a
he is
his birth
or a
and
it is his parents
or a
that make
And
1
Je^
Christian
Magian
'.
:
the
set
"
Holy
your
nature
Qur'"n
face
says
Then
state
the
men
made
by
is the
Alldh
in
which
He
has
made Thus
that
.
. .
in
Isl"m
human
a
nature
raised
to
the
highest dignityby
plain declaration
of its
purity
50
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
while
in of
to
the
depth
degradation by
sinfulness, againstwhich
to go.
This
low
view
of human
which
forms
the
sooner
foundation-stone
or
of the Christian
must, religion
later,be abandoned
does Isl"m
start nature
by
on
Not
only
sinlessness
the
firm
of human
that
and
ground
every
human
born
quite innocent,
and
In
but
it goes
up
further
and
givesrules
sinlessness. prayer he
to keep regulations
that inherent
the
very
first prayer
which
is
is
repeated five
to
times
day by
Muslim,
far
taught
aspire to sinlessness
eminence great spiritual the
; nay
beyond
arose
that,
the
to the
to which
prophets and
the
truthful of
ones
who Thus
were
the
:
greatest benefactors
'
humanity.
it says
upon
Guide
us
on
of those
whom
Thou
hast between
-favours.'
prayer
The
and
chief
the in
distinction
Lord's
Muslim is
prayer
of the Christians
that this,
while
wrongs
the Lord's
prayer
done, in the
to
a
Muslim
wrong
is
taught to aspire
all,where
not
place where
done
at
only evil
is shunned
SINLESSNESS
51
done.
The
former
asxs
for
forgivenessof sins,the
for the
doing of good.
Thus
if, on
the
one
aa
on
id, Islam
elevates the
its
dignity
tions aspira-
of human
to be
nature,
the
to
highestpossible.
this fundamental Islam
difference between
the of
that religions of
teaches
doctrine of
the sinlessness
prophets
abhorrent
God,
while
that such
inculcates Christianity
all the
a
doctrine
owes
righteousmen
debt of
to whom
humanity
heavy
gratitudewere
than
a
mortal, was
be borne of
sinless. that
Now,
mere
in mind
proof
greatness.
Sinlessness
is an
of evil which
man
inferior
progress the
measure
of
to the
doing of good,
a
of
good which
We he
never
man
does
depends.
simply because
it is the
has done
which he
body;
nay,
good
us
to
humanity
which
entitles
The
to
place him
of
above
the
ordinarylevel.
on
question
Christians
fore, theresinlessness,
so
which of
very
the
minor
lay
much
stress,
the
real
is
one
question is which
prophet did
greatest
amount
52 of
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
good
to
humanity.
There!
may of
be, nay,
men
there have
any
have
been, hundreds
of thousands
who
to
lives without
have
djirfg any
beer*
not
a
harm in
they
in
may
only
placed
do
any
stances circumor
which
they could
harm,
or
they
in
may
have world
chosen
hermit,
living
the
they
temptations.
may
not
Therefore
even
sometimes conduct
he deserve for
respect
; at
other in
no
times
case
his does
may
to
great benefactor
do harm
one
of And
humanity
merely avoiding
of
to
to
it.
humanity,
of
who
good
to
'
fellowmercy
is the great
Prophet
He
who
for the
nations'.
freed
it is who of
cause
away
with
demon
who idolatry,
mighty
befriended
of the
orphans,
established the
who did
race
principle
with all
equality of
away
and
race,
who
race,
breathed
who and
new
of spirit
union the
made
who
was
knowledge
a source
take
place of ignorance,
in
a
of
to humanity blessings
thousand other
ways.
54
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
temple, or
Cast
platform
:
as
some
would
have
it
down thyself
for it is written, He
thee ;
at
shall
in time
give
their
thou
his
and
any
shall bear
thee
up! lest
'
foot made
*
againsta
stone
The
by placing him
all the them
was
high mountain
the world
'
which
kingdoms
shown
if thou
of
to
glory
I
of will
'
him
'
All
things
give thee,
w'U
fall down
was no
worship me
the
This
last
doubt
words, significant
and said him
'
Thou shalt
shalt
thou
worship
'
thy God,
cannot
only
serve
be up
of his
followers
who
have and
given themselves
the service of
to the
worship
of Mammon
temporal glory to
at
obtain
we
the self-same
an
kingdoms.
which
Here
any
rate
have
settles
not
absolute
purityaccording
make
He him
more
the
Gospels
as
Devil could
human which but from here
to suggestions
him
to any
being.
enabled
had
to
ii.deed the
overcome
spiritual strength
the
temptations,
been
It
if he had
even
of it, he
would the
have Devil.
free
may
the
suggestions of
way
be
pointedout only by
of contrast
that the
SINLESSNESS
55
tha
reports both
reached that
speak of
the
having
the
higheststage
even
where perfection
evil
Devil
could not
make
an
suggestion to
him, and
authentic
Holy
submissive
that has
his actual
me
words
being :
so
Except
that
he
has helped
to
me
against him
What
is
more
important than
a
this,three
of
of the
Gospels contain
plain denial
quote
gone and the
by
:
Jesus
*
himself.
when
one
I
was
words
And
he
there asked
I may
came
running
kneeled
him,
and
him,
Good
Master,
life ?
me
what And
shall I do
that
unto
inherit
eternal
Jesus
? there
x.
said is
none
him,
but
here
why
one,
good
good
Now
is, God*
as
(Mark
17, 18).
and
Jesus is accosted
no
good
master
if he had from
taken
it the
objection,no
body
he
could
have
to
drawn be
conclusion that
claimed
the
man
sinless.
But
he
immediately rebukes
for
have he
for
only One9
taken
that is God,
is
good.
objectionto
himself
the
use
of the word
good
believed
sinless ?
Nobody
can
tell ;
56
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
yet
even
so
modern makes
commei
tator
as
J. R.
*
Dummelow
cannot
some
the he
was
on
bold
not
assertion
mean
reason
that
or
other
the
occasion
was
refused
the
title '.
What
that
being good
even
he should
stillrefuse to be called
good
be
give an
no
argument
has
ever
why
been
he
or
could shall
not
ever
called
good,
body
two
omitted.
The
the
to
'
explanation is that
in
the
'
title
was
good
in
which
and
it
was
offered He would
A
unequal
him
his
in
mer'ts the
sense
called
good
any
in Rabbi
have bold
in
called
eminent
He
sense
was
good
very
suggestion !
the
something
of that
word But
more
than
good
ordinary
to
and
therefore
he
in
refused
be called
good
is this argument
conformity with
himself ?
Had
the argument
Jesus given
have
argument,
such
an
explanation
could
been
invented, but
it is very
invent
one
when
to
argument
and
to
bold
opposed
which it his
it.
Jesus* argument
be be
is that
any
to
good is a
God,
;
word
cannot cannot
applied
to
but him
and
hence
words
applied even
in other
S1NLESSNESS
57
to
merits and
But The human
we are
ire
unequal
the word
good.
other
:"n explanati
equally ludicrous
'
The
the
nature
of Christ,
whole
of his
'.
sense
This if
;
explanation would
doubt
have
as
been
a mere
reasonable
mortal
Jesus Christ
in that
is
none
were
sense
looked
have but
upon
it would
fitted in
one
with
for
there
was
good
that
is God.
person,
Jesus
he
himself
to
God,
Divine
in the
could
sense,
refuse
at
be
called good
same
the
reason
absolute
that
giving
was
the
time
only
God
good.
afford such doctrine
was
In and
fact, the
conclusive
words
quoted above
sinlessness of
attempt
made
to
one
earlyto tamper
words, but
Thus
is the
a
Gospels and
made
change
in
only
in
in
same
Matthew,
as
while the
a
the
Authorized
Version Revised
other
Gospels,
and
the
Version
of
introduces
change
'
puts
askest
the
thou
reply
me
Jesus in these
words
Why
?
concerning that
is
which
is
good
One
there is who
to have
good.'
Little
in
seems judiciousness
been
exercised
making
this
change,
for the
reply is
58
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
very
awkward
him
as
in
to
the
man
asked
what he
good
'
he
should
do
to
have
me
eternal
and life,
says:
Why
.
askest
This
answer
thou
means
is good/ have
should
asked
somebody
is
other
that
good,
or
asked
Jesus
not
concerning that
which
was
which
That
to
not
that
is
evil.
made
was
however
awkv/ard,
that
The
clear
conclusion
fact.
Jesus
Rev.
is sinless,
admitted
Tlie true author
J.
R.
Dummelow Mark
an
says: Luke.
version
is
that clearly
of
and
The
of Matthew
(or perhaps
reason
earlyscribe,for
that and
the
there
is considerable of Matthew
text
for
thinking
with Mark
originaltext
altered
agreed
Luke)
the
to slightly,
Christ denied
away
good.'
were
The
an
do in
with
way
the of
which
obstacle
the
sinlessness of
a
Jesus
may
act
be looked
by
some
as
was
piouscne,
no
but the
one
of
altering Holy
the
Holy writ
doubt
for which
the
the Christians.
not to
allow
us
to
attribute
we
at least absolute
Jesus Christ,
will
SINLESSNESS
59
now
see
whether
God
they allow
sinful.
The may
us
to
call the
other
prophets of
from
'
following references
first be considered.
his
the
was
Old
a
Testament
Noah
just man
and
in perfect
generations,
To be
:
'
and
Noah
with said
:
God*
'
Abraham thou
'
Walk
and
perfect1 (Gen.
shalt be
Moses
he said
Thou
Derfect
Can
the Lord
thy
God
it be
supposed
prophets perfect
were
sinful
their ask
and
walking
us
Does
even
as
not
Jesus himself
Father And which
does
to
be is
perfect
'
your
is in heaven
perfect (Matt.
the
were
v.
48).
what
mean
of perfection
righteous servants
sincere
in
of God
heart,
and
unblamable
life, innocent
in
and
to
harmless,
others.
sinless. In A
imitating God
doing good
more
fact,
man
than God
the
sightof
is not
only sinless
David
are
also
of
the
the
doer
of immense
ones
good.
'
thus
the
speaks
holy
rf God
Blessed
perfectin
Blessed seek him
are
the way
who that
walk
in the law
they
with
keep
whole
in his
the
walk
They
also do
they iniquity,
ways
60
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST'
And
again :
and his
'
'
The
mouth
of the
talketh his
righteousspeaketh
of
wisdom,
law of
judgment.
none
The
heart;
of his steps
shall slide
speaks of
prophets and
the
righteous ones
clear
words, the
Gospels
is borne
to
also the in
give
similar
evidence.
Testimony
and
'
sinlessness of Zacharias
the
his
wife
Elizabeth both
following
words
And
they were
blameless
in
all the
commandments
*
ordinances If the
on
of
the of
Lord
(I uke.
doctrine
the
Jesus
be based
solitary
of
St.
John,
clear
which
of
about
you
convinceth and
a
'
of
sin,'the
that
words
Zacharias
Elizabeth firmer
they were
blameless
foundation
claim
man
Jesus
of
only
but
no a
is that may be
can
accuse
sin,
of God him
though
of
a
human the
being may
other
is
accuse
sin. calls
On
hand,
whom
God
himself
blameless
reason
nothing
the
if not born in
sinless. of
the
even
It is for this
two
as
that is
child
of
these
sinless
parents
4
spoken
the
Gospels
from
being
filled with
Holy
Ghost
his mother's
62
not because
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
it considers of him
his nature
to
as
be Divine, for
it
plainlyspeaks
a
elsewhere
nothing
abused The
pure
more
than
as
his enemies
him
being
God
of
illicit intercourse.
case means
'spirit soul,one
from
who
God
in this
the
only a
an
is not
offspringof
illegalconnection.
of
and Jesus purity,
soul
to
have
come
from there
Him,
vas
as
meaning
that it
pure
as
soul,and
Devil in him
the
Jews said
when
illegitimate.
As
His
regards the
us^
of the
word
Kalimatu-hu,
i.e.
meaning
in this
a
simply
is that he
to
was
born
word
according to
which
was
prophecy, according
to
'
the
Mary,
as
the
When
the
angels said, O
news
gives you
good
name
with
word
Him
is the
Messiah, Jesus
of
Mary'
It
(iv. 44).
b^
seen
would, however,
referred
to
that the
no
use
of both
us
the words
to draw
not
above that
'
by
means
entitles sinless.
made
the conclusion
of and Adam
:
Jesus was
I
Is it
him
said
So
when him
have
complete
^breathed into
of
My (ruh, i.e.)
S1NLESSNESS
63
'
And
the
same
spirit that
into
every
one
is
of
Adam And
is breathed He
He
his children
from
extract
began
made
mean
the his
creation of
progeny
man
dust.
Then held
of Then
an
in
estimation. breathed
He
rtiade
complete
made
and
into him
and
of His
and
spmt
for you
the
ears
the eyes
(xxxii. 9).
which
In both teaches
cases
it is the false
doctrine
man
that is refuted in
man
coming from
nature
God.
pure
by
and
so
is the soul
pure
source,
because the
from
is not
no
God,
fountain-head
inborn
in the
soul ; in other
words, there
man
is is
such
thing as
originalsin.
from
Adam
Every
that
born
pure.
in this world, It is
downwards,
is born
only by
God
deeds
his
evil deeds
that he makes
the pure
is pure
;
of gift
impure. By
he may
nature
every
man
by his
no one
become
impure.
And
therefore
sinless.
to
is sinless
is true
simply because
of
he is born wrong
The
same
Jesus, and it is
from
'.
simply
being
soul is
spiritfrom
God
Every human
not
carry
us
64
MOHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
farther than
he retains
that
he is born
sinless.
more
To
show
that
sinlessness, something
be
is needed.
Similarly,Jesus cannot
because he
was
born
a
Divine
word word
*
prophecy.
God
God.
sea were
As
creature
of of
creature
God
on
is this
*
Qur'an is
ink for the
very
If the
*
words
of
my
Lords
the words
to
the
sea
would Lord
surely be
are
consumed
before
we
'
of my
exhausted, though
sea
were
bring the
And
to
add
thereto makes
(xviii. 109).
that
the
context
it clear the
by
the
:
of God is
is
the
meant
only
and
creation
of God
is AlUh's And
What
Jn
heavens
the earth
surelyAllah
were
is the
tree to
every
that is in the
into pens
seven more
and
seas come
the'sea
to
would
not
end
Neither but
as a
your
creation
;
your
raisingis anything
is Hearing,Seeing
no
'
soul single
Allah surely
(xxxi. 26~8).
in the
distinction
a
claim to
by being called
considered
word
of God.
The
real
question t
"
be
is, what
does
SINLESSNESS
65
the
Holy Qur'an
that
say
of his
conduct
in
life ?
?
Does
Does it
it say say in
he led
prophets
No such
did not
lead
distinction
is met
anywhere
is
of the
of and
Holy
Jesus
He
Book.
is
All that
'
said
of
to
this
not
And
me
dutiful
mother,
'
has
made
insolent, unblessed
these words
(xix. 32).
him of
The
the
Holy Qur'an
in
only clears
his
mother
in
which
the in terms the
implied
But
in
it
narrated
Gospels.
of
even
prophets
of
higher
'
it says him
John,
while
Baptist :
a
And
granted
wisdom Us and
yet
he
child, and
was one
tenderness
from
and purity,
who
guarded againstevil,and
he
was
dutiful
'
to
not
we
insolent, disobedient
are
(xix. 12-14).
here
plainly
told
not
not
disobedient,
he is
to
committed
sin, and
not
thus
plainly
Jesus
sinless,
Is it not
an
epithet
wonderful
applied
the
that
Holy Qur'an
yet while
other it
it ?
John
one
and
of the
says
5
that he he
was
sinless,of the
iusolent
only
that
not
to his mother
66
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
Why
Does
not
does it not
as
being sinless
this omission
imply
as a
Holy Qur'an
person
did
at
look
The
upon
Jesus
Not
all.
truth
is that in such
what
says
of
one
prophet
It is
matters
of all prophets.
be
sinless,'
But.it
and
not
while has
the chosen
other
not
sinless.
case,
John
type
in
this
Jesus, because
gone
so
the followers
to
of
Jesus had
already
head, Godthat
same
far
as
raise him
warn
to the
of dignity
error
and it does
it is to
not
them
.
againsttheir
in the
commendatory
The pages
of
John's.
teem
of the
Abraham
Holy Qur'an
is called
with
most
examples.
one,
siddiq or
but that
Jesus
he
is not
so
called.
'
Again of
is said
was
granted
in the
*
direction of other
was
', but
of such
words
case
'
prophets
imply
that
direction
*
not
granted to
down upon
it is said
And
I cast
and
that you
might be brought
other
before My
prophets
from
about God any
had
equally love
down have
upon
not
them
used
though similar
of them
words
been
anywhere
in l-ne
Holy Qur'an.
It calls David
SINLESSNESS
67
awwdb,
without
or
one
turning
to
God other
again
and
again,
did
not
meaning
to
that the
so.
prophets
treats
deserve
be
one
cahed
In
fact, it
it
all the
one
prophets as
them that
as
speaks of
of
means
such
met
with
prophets.
words and do
To
*
apostles!
eat
of the what
good things
do. And and
good
surely I
know
you
surely
I
am
community
is
one
community
Hence
your
(xxiii.51, 52).
sinlessness did
not
it is that
as a
it
speaks
*
of the
send
prophets
you
no
whole
We
before
any
apostlebut
but
We
revealed
serve
to him
God The
Me,
Me.
to
they
a
say,
;
Benificent be do
to
to
taken
Himself
son
glory
;
Him.
Nay
they are
in
honoured and
servants
they
not
precede
Him
speech
do
only according
'
His
commandment
in word
nor
they
act
(xxi. 25-7).
Thus
neither
in deed
do
the
prophets
trespass the
Divine
limits, and
to
proof
that
are
according
the
Holy Qur'an
sinless.
The
Christian
againstthis allegation
Muhammad
is that while
to
the
Holy Prophet
is commanded
68
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
have
recourse
to
istighfdr,Jesus
show that
is
not
so
manded. com-
Does
it not
the
to
Holy Qur'an
accords
same
distinctive treatment*
is made in this
are
Jesus ?
Noah,
The
mistake
"as".
Hud,
of
Salih, Shuaib
as
and
others
that
these
prophets were
were
sinless while
the others
not
regarded
such
On
can
grounds, no
various
It
distinction
Nor
prophets.
on
does
istighfdr imply
sinfulness.
denotes,
word
the other
which
according signifies,,
a
Raghib,
will
the it
covering of
thing
with
that
which
protect
to
from
best
dirt.
Therefore
on
istighfdr,according
the
authority
the
the
simply
seeking of
covering
as
or
protection, a
as
a
well
tion protec-
sins.
Lane
also
explains istaghfara
meaning pardon.
he
sought of God
covering or forgiveness
of the commentators of
or
Qastalani, one
says
Bukharee,
it is either
ghafr
man
mea^ns
between
and
It will
between
seen
and
idea
its of
punishment.
protection or
and
thus
is the
be
that
covering
dominant
in
ghafr
and istighfdi,
these words
therefore
70
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
God.
in Istighfdr
this
sense
is the
man
oest
means
of
in
one
to attaining
sinlessness. the
The
who
trusts
his
is
own
strengthin
to
sure
fall ; therefore
righteous
servants
of
God
Divine in
Allah, and
there
under
safe. perfectly
a man
Istighfdr
to
this
really makes
of
th.e
the
spiritual progress,
who
to
therefore
God
to
some
stage
have
are
prophets
mentioned
are
as
to istighfdr, at resorting
angels
them.
spoken
in
of
as
Thus the
xl. 7, the
shown
praying for
1
righteous in
to
followingwords
turn to
Grant
protection
those in
Thee
follow
Thy
way
', where
Now
must
the original
ighfiris
Jesus
'
used.
all the
prophets of God,
in
among
them,
way
be included this
verse
those
follow
Thy
', and
not
therefore
to
shows
that
is istighfdr
only
resorted
by
the God
eous rightfor
themselves
their sake. And
but also
in the
as
by
case
the
angels of
of
is mentioned
his birth in similar
praying for
'
long before
named it
words
And and
Mary
and
I commend
her
her
into offspring
SINLESSNESS
71
Thy
where
protectionfrom
Pdzah is used
the
accursed
devil
'
(iii. 35),
instead of
of both
Before necessary
words
being the
this
leaving
to
subject,however,
one more
it
seems
throw
lighton
the
point.
It is
to
sometimes
do
said that
Prophet
which
is commanded
sin.
istighfdrfor
were
his zanb
to
means
Even
if sin
taken
be
the
meaning
he should
as a
of zanb,
seek human
the
would significance
be
that
to
Divine
protectionfrom
he
was
the zanb
But
which is
a
being
a
liable. wide
zanb really
term
conveying
very
a
does that
and
not
always indicate
is the originally
to every
im-
sin.
Raghib
tail
zanb
it is
is
taking the
act
of
thing,
applied
of which
the consequence
disagreeable or
means,
a
wholesome.
a
According
a
to
Lane, zanb
to
sint
in
crime,
fault.
It is said
or
differ from
ism
being
either
committed
through
adverte in;
is
intentional particularly
see
Lane's
Lexicon
seen
has
quoted authorities.
a
It
will thus be
a
that za-ib is
word
which
carries well
very
wide
and significance,
to
as perversity
is
as applicable
to
to
inattention,and
of which the
even
defects and be
fections imper-
resu't
may
disagreeable;
72 and it is
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
the
use
of this word
all shades
in the of
appliedto
shortcomings, from
the wicked
to nature cannot
grossest transgressions of
defects
and
even
those from
imperfections of
the most accordance
human
which is
mortal perfect
be free,
In the
quite
in
with
word
the
sin
lexicons.
is therefore the word
by
no
the
of zanb, equivalent
and
fault
makes
the nearest
sre
approach
told
to
its w:de
significance.
We
sometimes
Christian by ;rresponsible
Holy Prophet
and
the
Muhammad that he is
worshipped
idols
an
in
his childhood
therefore called
This is
a
erring
one
in
Holy
Qur'an.
the least cal historito
statement
for which
there is not
sure
evidence.
On
the other
hand, there is
Syria
of his
for
idol-worship,
that
when
'
two
idols !
named
never
before him, he
hated
cried out
By Alldh
which
I have
anything with
them.
the hatred
I entertain towards
anecdotes
are
related
by
Talib, whose
ties great affection for the Prophet, for the great qualiwhich of
the he found in him, withstood the
on,
opposition
when the
whole
of
his
nation
later
SINLESSNESS
73
to
Quraish rose
afford
up
againsthim
of his
man,
and
of
these
idol-
strong
evidence
abhorrence
worship and
brother may Abbas
everytningmean.
that the he
never
Abu found
God
Talib
told his
Muhammad,
be upon
peace
and
of blessings
ever
him,
did he
witness
term
in him
ness derisive-
ignorance (a general
nor
for
bad^
did he
~ver
go Not
out
with
children
was
part in their
mean
or
sports.
ever
only
in
there
low
witnessed
him, but
met
honesty,
with in the
one,
veracityand
him
to
so
other
great
name
extent
that
he
earned
honest
honourable
among The
of
Al-Amin,
i.e. the
his
compatriots.
nowhere
Holy Qur'an
On
describes
him
as
*
one
erring.
hand, it says
nor
: plainly
Your
companion
The Lane word tells
did he
deviate
'
(liii. 2).
doll
us
does
erring.
ddll
that form
the verb
of which
is
he signifies
perplexed
and
It
word
is
this
which significance
in xciii. 7, have
an
as
conveyed by
ddll
the
context statements
clearly shows.
'
There
not
we
first three
Did
He
orphan
to see
and the
give you
shelter ?
And
unable
74
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
way
you
and
to
show
it ?
from
And
find you
Anr*
i i want
and
make
be free
want.'
corresponding to
in the
'
each
same
of these
statements
and respectively
three
not not
: injunctions
order, we
as
have
then
fore ThereAnd
as
for the
him who
orphan, do
asks, do
of your
oppress chide
announce
as
for
him.
Lord, do
as
This
we
it clear that
Holy
Prophet
first
orphan,
be
oppressed.
the
in
the
third
as
have whom
Holy Prophet
Divine favour
described
made free
being
want, should
in want
of he
accordingly
announce
the
third
injunction is that
to
these makes
favours
the world.
This
ment state-
arrangement
and with each
it certain
the second
other.
injunctionmust
Now
one
correspond
the
injunction is
about
a
clear.
should says in
a
It says
not
that
who
thing
be
chid, while
was
second
statement
that the
certain
Prophet
state.
found
The
between
was
the two
state
makes
one
the
state
the
of
who
the consequence
is that he is guided
aright. Thus
SINLESSNESS
75
the
fact
stated
i:
that
the
Holy
Prophet,
state,
to
was
finding
anxious
those
around
him
xi
degenerate
unable
to
reform
them,
in
but
was
find
out
the
path
the
by
walking
which
he
could
bring guided
in
about
regeneration,
that
and
it
was
God
who
him
into
path.
but
as
Allah
found
the
Prophet
to
quest
a
of
the
way,
he
was
unable
chalk
out
way
for
himself,
He
guided explains
did
We
him
by
itself
Divine
light.
it
And
the
Holy
And
Qur'an
thus
when
says
elsewhere
reveal
to
you
an
inspired
what
Book
by
Book
Our
command
you
did
not
know
the
was,
nor
what
the
faith
was,
but
We
made
it
light
servants.'
guiding
thereby
whom
We
please
of
Our
III.
CIRCUMSTANCES
BIRTH
RELATING
TO
1.
OF
BIRTH
The
next
with
and
the
the
circumstances
relating
Muhammad. is
the
Jesus
Holy
among
Prophet
these
of
ground
cement announ'
occupied
The
by
the
birth.
nature
argument birth
news
runs
The
miraculous
from
the
of the
The
of
Christ
of
it
was
is evident
Qur'an.
good
As
so
given
birth
to
Mary
Hazrat the
through
Muhammad
Gabriel.
is not
against this
much
as
the
of
in
nor
mentioned
Qur'an.
His
birth Therefore
was
neither
in respect
miraculous,
extraordinary.
son
of birth, Christ,
of
Mary
is
superior
to
Muhammad.'
This
That
argument
the birth of
news
consists
Christ of
K was
of
was
two
parts;
viz.:
and
1. 2. Let
miraculous,
that
us
the
good
the
not
given
is meant
at
to
Mary.
by
has
take
first
part.
What
lous miracuany
verse
has of
the
been
explained
been
all, nor
The
Holy
Qur'an
as
quoted.
been
Holy
like
Book
speaks of
Jesus
having
born
ordinary
78
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
neither record
is there
any
saying
such
an
of the
as?
Holy
Prophet on
Nor is it
a
containing
on
are
jrtion.
point
There the
We
which
some
the
who
whole
answer
Muslim
the above
world
agrees.
questionin
affirmative.
Even
negative ;
will take
others
who
do
latter
so
in the
view.
first the
to
if
we
suppose
Jesus
of
a
have
been
born
without
the intervention
male
to
no
ground
who
consider
those
phets pro-
while in
human
work The
an
were
born
the
of nature. conceive of
a man
ordinary
abnormal him
cannot
how
condition
the
birth
course
makes
superior to
others. the
Of
if it is to be
and
believed that
only like
atonement
the
trinity,
question cannot
as an
be asked, but
case
if it is put forward be
argument, the
must
argued
and
it must
be
explained what
which
not
men
Divine
of
attributes
nature
born
ordinary course
natural outcome
as
could
possess,
I
the
abnormality.
from
a
call it
only
Muslim's
point of view
had
the
place
parent,
of
and
because who
was
it could
not
neither
the
miracle
Jesus
yet
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
79
born, nor
and who
that
had
of
not
Mary
Neen
who raised A
was
not
prophetess regeneration
is
an
for the
miracle
the
moreover
which
to
takes
pla~e
before
public, and
;
it is
needed
elements
and satisfy
are
convince
in this
others
case.
these
body anyhad
How that
in the
possiblyknow
without
she
serv^as
Mary
with thus
a
conceived
intercourse
him
male
ordinarily, extra-
being ?
conceived
a
miracle accept
rot
for
her
alone.
And
who
statement
a
in this matter
when
produce
single
witness
it could
Nay, instead
and satisfying
convincing,
as
only raise
further
of
serious
doubts
to the
not
truth of the
prophethood
Jesus. There
does
miracle
of which
no
one
could
at
all
a
have
direct information.
was,
Mary's husband,
just man,
'
according to
the
Gospel, determined
account
to
put her
away
on privately/refraining
'
of
pity on
her
public example
saw
been
in
afterwards, and
vision which and
it
was
the
and
the the
conception, conception,
therefore
vision,
80
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
served
the
purpose
of
did
miracle
not
see
in his
case.
But
there
was
no
miracle
for them.
alleged
only
an
therefore
condition,and
it
was
if it
reallytook
place
in
onl^ a sign
into the
and
that
prophethood would
great
now
shift to the
Abraham's made.
cf liu?^
descendants
Call
with
whom
we
the^covenant was
may,
woman
it what
world of
man
a only througji
and
not
the
union
and
woman
"
is
no
evidence
of excellence. entitle
to
If this
a
peculiar way
to
of advent
person
^\dam superiority,
be held far
be
the most
excellent human
he
being,and
came
superiorto
the
was
Jesus Christ,because
agency
into
life without
even
of
either
parent.
Nay,
Eve
came
was
because
"
she too
rate
was
into
made
same
manner
at
any
she
the man,
woman,
so
while
Jefcus Christ
the be
man
made
from
and
must
as
is
superior to the
Christ. of Gen. And
Eve
superiorto
the most
wonderful
of all is Melchisedec
xiv,
:
whose
was priesthood
recognizedeven
by Abraham
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
81
'
For
most
this Melchisedec,
king
met
of
Salem, priestof
the from
High God,
of slaughter
who the
returning
him
. . .
the
kings and
mother,
without
father, without
descent,
of
end
;
life,
a
the
Son
of
God
abideth
vii. 1-3).
tfiat without
*
father
in the
'
means
that
and
his
that
not
mentioned
Bible
*"**""""***,
end
when
to
of he
life
was
the Bible he
to
does
not not
say
when
also
died, is
only
play
with
Paul
Son
words,
says
that clearly
At any
he
rate
was
made
like and of
unto
the
of God.1
must
Ad^m, Eve,
as
Melchisedec
a
be
recognized
excellence father
possessors
far
greater
degree of
without If we,
a
than
Jesus
Christ
if being born
is any
go
to
of greatness. of the
however,
question
we
nowhere
speaks of Jesus
is the
having
statement
no
been
conceived
miraculously, nor
in it that
clear
anywhere
In the
contained
Jesus had
sive concluor
father.
statement
absence
of any
and
either from
in the the
Holy Qur'an
in
are
the left
reports narrated
6
Holy Prophet, we
82
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
to
certain
inferences
from
that
stress
certain
I
words
now
of
the
shall
discuss the
briefly. The
that
to
greatest
is' laid
a son was
on
point
when
the she
son
good
news
of
'
announced
! How
not
so
Mary,
a
ejaculated:
born
to
me
My
man
Lord has
'
shall
there be
me.' creates
and
touched
;
And
the He
reply
tnereto
is
Even
Alldh
a
what
He
pleases ;
says
to
when
He
has decreed
it is
'
matter,
The
only
it,Be, and
this
(iji.46).
answer
ceive con-
inference
a
drawn
was
from
question and
she
her. would Now
is that
promise
a man
given
ever
that
without
touching
For when
this
news
'
inference
was
is not
correct. to
similar cried
to
me
announced
Zacharias, he
be
a son
out
My
old is
Lord, how
age has
shall there
born
me
and
already
And
He
come
upon
and
*
my
so same
wife
barren.1
does what
the
replythereto
is :
Even
; Alldh
39). pleases*(iii.
to
The
word
Kazdlika
had
*
is used
ordained
'
impress the
thus and
case
been
so
must
place.
As
even son
does
signifythat
wife of
to
would
in
spite of Zacharias'
same
remaining barren,
Mary does
her in
not
the
word
son
in the
case
would
man
be born
not
spite of
that
shall
have
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
83
touched
are
her.
The
to
words
'
'
even
so
in both
cases
introduced
emphasize
the
assurance
given
to
make
it known
all
means.
that what
%
has been
place by
The
view
to
not
lend
any
support
to
a
to the
of
mother Mary'fs
devote
vow
her
Divine
service
impliedanything like
the
vow
'
of celibacy,
for while
%
nuking
'
she
And
speaks in clear
I commend
'
words
$f her
words in and
Mary's children
her
gjtd
The
offspringinto Thy
'
her
'
Mary's
should
in
mother marry
spiteof
have
knew
children
like any
conclusion
which
ui
fact upsets
the
whole
theory of
the miraculous
conception is corroborated
by
as
what
is stated
in the
Gospels.
The
life of
be
a
Mary
depictedthere
her
and
clearlyshows
in
In
her to
woman
husband wife.
'
the
ordinary relations
first
the very
chapter
from
of
read
as
Then
the
sleepdid
and she and
the
angel
bidden
her not
'
him,
till
him
brought forth
first-born
(vv. 24
25).
Joseph
knew
her not
brought
84
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
forth
shows
is too
clear to
need
means
any
comment
it clearly
that
Jesus, Joseph
Other
not statements
and
Mary
in the
lived
as
husband
and
wife.
that and of
:
and
Mary
live
as
husband
a
wife, but
Blessed with
and
to
number
sisters of
the
stood
Jesus
Christ
When
he
and
yet
his him.
and
people,
witbf^A
unto
behold
his
mother
desiringto
him, Behold
without
'
'
speak thy
with
one
said
mother
thy
And
brethren
a
stand
on
little further
own
And
into his in
country,
much hath
?
he
taught
them
in their synagogue,
so
that this
they were
man
said, whence
this
this the
these
?
mighty
Is not
works
Is not
carpenter'sson
and
called
and
Mary
and
'
his brethren,
? And
James
Joseph
Simon
Judas
(Matt.
called
his
sisters, are
And
in
they
Luke
not
us
? is
xiii. 54-6).
Jesus
Mary's
'
not
her
only
son,
she
had
other did
only
and
Mary they
together
many
as
husband
wife
that
other children
besides
Jesus Christ,and
86
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
woman'
the
(Job.xxv.
4).
Such
the
to
sacred
cannot
of scriptures be
of
Mary
and
raised
the
dignityof Godhead
them
of Mary.
celebrated
name
where
the mother
is the
more
of
the
that her
being a sacred
her
to
son
righteous woman,
not
is (fcjuea
of
Joseph, an
character
ordinary carpenter,
even
whose
no
sanctity of
witness. Much
the
Gospels
bear
stress
is sometimes
laid
on
Holy Qur'an
against Mary.
would
not
refers
to
the
calumnies
that had such
Jews
It is asserted
calumnies
a
have of
existed if Mary
had
husband
at the time
givingbirth
That
to
is very
far-fetched.
Mary
the
husband
is
shown
is
6
by
the
Gospels where
In
of Jesus life-story
recorded.
the
son/
Gospels
4
too
Jesus
the
is called
the
carpenter's
to
Therefore
must
calumnies
thing some-
referred
in the
Holy Qur'an
the relations
other than
who
were
of
Joseph
wife.
Mary
truth
known
to be husband
and
is that
the
Jews,
in order
to
denounce
both
Mary
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
87
and
her son,
her of
and adultery,
it
is to this accusation
Holy Qur'an
Book
refers and
Holy
defends
woman
Mary.
could
an that*only
unmarried
be accused The
question of
birth
second of
the
being
thus
to the
part of the
the
news on
good
news
Mary
while
be
announced
man
to
the
drowning
would
men
such do
straws
as
sensible
Is it true
to
a
the birth of of
child
the is
parent
by
way
prophecy,
and qualities
becomes
to
a
the possessor
of great others
dignity to which
of fathers and
are
not
raised ?
If so, thousands
see
mothers
visions
as
to
children
would
be of
equal rank
more
with
Jesus
as
perhaps Jesus
is
they
the
would
to
than
are
mortal
we
believed
what
news
to
think of birth
John
was
of
his
whose
announced
comes
propheticallyto
the birth of
father, and
who
first when
88 in the
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
only
Holy Qur'an
even
but
also
can
in
the
Gospels. equality
John
over,
claim
with, if not
For
a son
precedence
or
Jesus.
to
or see a
the mother
to
vision is the
that
most
born
him
the
her
ordinarything ,and
greatness of the
in itself show
is ntft
least evidence
a
of
the
not
offspring.Such
the child
vision Advent
_
does
that
whose
some
has^een
."
foretold would
the world.
a
accomplish
the
On
other
hafid, when
another
prophet
a
is foretold
through
the
to
prophet, there
ance appear-
is
clear
suggestion that
announced
prophet whose
the world
long before
is
of
some
great and
fact
mighty excellence,
told it is
as
is in
beforehand Hence
that
it the
not
great
Book
day.
that
of Wisdom
seen
it is,does
vision
by
the
is
am
Holy beyond
Prophet's
all doubt of my
mother, though
that she mother
'
it historically
a
saw
such
vision words
'
the vision
being
but it
the
of
the
Holy
on
Prophet
the
phecies pro-
himself
speaking of
as
Holy Prophet
as
met
with
in
the
previous scriptures or
it has in
made Meccan
by
the
previousprophets. Thus
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
89
revelation
And
most
surely the
'
same
is in
the it is
of scriptures
the ancients
asserted clearly
that
are
of prophecies
met
of the
ancient in And
Holy Prophet
To be
with
scriptures.This
a more
is stated
tone
a
stillmore
emphatic
in "a later
covenant
through
given
comes
prophets :
book and
certajnly what*
1
an
have
you
to
wisdom-Aftey
that which
you
must
is
Apostle
yofl, you
He in
verifying
and
and
with
him.
must
:
believe in him
Do
you
aid
said
affirm
accept
We do
My
compact
'
this This
matter
verse
They
said in
phets pro-
affirm
(iii.80).
lays down
and
strongest words
the advent
an
of
World-
Prophet
to
obligation upon
he-orf his part had gone
followers
belief
Here
requireda
him.
prophets that
have
not
one
before the
woman,
mother of
the
of
the of
child, who
our
receives
the
good
the
news
advent
Holy
Prophet, but
best
minds
in all the
of the
nations
of the
human
whole
whenever
and
news,
wherever the
they
mighty
would
lived, received
announcement,
the
cheering
of the world
90
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
not
live
each other
looking always
united that
in he phets. pro-
to different
the would
World-
to testify
alf the
previous
all the
Turn
of
sacred
One
will find
a require*
only
Qur'an, which
belief .in
over*
previous revelations,
and
read
the
will
find
only
who
One
Mafi, the
his
Holy
Prophet
to
Muhammad,
all the
required
tte world. that God
followers the
accept
prophets of
Thus
Holy Qur'an
may
shows and
Great
unmistakably
the
Muhammad,
be whom
upon
peace
was
blessingsof Prophet,
about in
him,
the all
the
all
prophets
the
the
prophesied, and
hopes
of the whole
even
as we
whom
centred
And
not
us
great
world.
only
to
Holy
same
Qur'an but
conclusion,
the heavens
the read
Bible
leads
the
*
in Acts
iii.21-22 the
Whom of
the
must
receive
until God
time
restitution
of all
things, which
spoken by
the world
the mouth
of all his
For
began. prophet
of your
Moses
unto
fathers,a
unto
shall the
Lord
your
unto
raise up him
you
brethren, like
shall ye hear
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
91
in
all
things
whatsoever think
he that
shall say
the
unto
you/
The
Christians
prophet spoken of
here is
statement
Jesus Christ,
is that the
but the
Prophet
the
promisedone
and
the
else.
whom and the
one,
they
the
down
with
'
them
These
in the
Torah of
same,
Gospel
Qur'an
are
'
(vii. 157).
words
the
Holy
phet pro-
affirm that
met
of prophecies
with
both
no
in doubt and
*he
a
Torah
bold
and
the
Gospel, and
the when followers
they
of
are
challenge to
more so
Moses in
Christ, the
the
it is borne mouth
or
mind* that
one
challenge is put
read
of
who
never
either
the
of Moses is
the
Gospels,of
the Ummi
prophet,
of the
he
plainlycalled here,
who the did That
the
not
resident
know
reading or
the
one
both
Torah
and
Gospel
and the
prophecy
of the
that
advent
of
and prophet,
that peace
two
Prophet
and the
is
no
other
than God
Muhammad,
be
upon
may
are
blessingsof
him,
very
made
by
the
Holy
Qur'an, and
conclusive
92
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
evidence
afforded
is
one
by
of
them
of the truth
of the
Holy
the
Prophet
world The them
unto
the
greatest miracles
that
has
ever
witnessed.
of Moses
runs
prophecy
up
a
thus
'
will raise
prophet from
among
their words of in
brethren his
like
'
thee
mouth
(Deut.
until it
we
xviii. 18).
come
year?
pass
and
^'~
away
find
to
of Tesus 'Christ
words
again recorded
of
that
not
J:he*Promised
yet
to
*
Prophet
appearance.
a
Deuteronomy
hud
made
a
hu
be
prophet
he
and
but
;
confessed, I
what
not.
am
not
and
And
they asked
he
him
am
then
Art
? thou
Art
thou
Elias ?
saith,I
that
prophet ?
And
We
he answered,
know
No
'
(John
i. 20-21).
a
Jews expected
if he been
was
Messiah, and
We the their
'
hence further
they
that would
John
had
Christ. that
know
they
come
told and
prophet
second whom
must
Elias
again
hence
question. they
be
a
But
who
is ''that prophet
?
about
ask
in
Evidently it
to
prophet
was
been
promised
them, and
Deut. xviii.
such 18.
of
This
94
'
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
And
I will
pray
the
,
Fathet that
he
and
may
He
abide
shall
with
give
you
you for
another
'
Comforter,
ever
(John
:
xiv. 16-17).
And
'
Again
It Is away
expedient for
you
that I go away
will not
come
for if I
'
go
not
the Comfort0r
unto
you
(John
And
'
again :
when
Howbeit
he
he, the
you
Spirit of fWth,
'
is
come,
will
guide
(John
xvi.
13).
other
This
was
to
guide
men
no
other
than
the Promised
the
Prophet
of Deuteronomy,
may
no
other than
and
Holy
Prophet Muhammad,
God be upon
vanished
peace
the
of blessings
advent and
was
with
whose
falsehood
(xvii.81), the
with whom
greatest
religion
brought
The
two
to
perfection.9
prophecy
one
prophecies, the
of
of
Moses
and
the
world
falsehood
good
;
news
The
Truth
is
a
has
come
and
'
the
vanished
surely
falsehood
"
"
vanishing thing
I and chosen
80). (xvii.
you your
This favour
day have
on
for perfected
My
you
for you
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
95
of the appearance be
the last be
a
of another
the
Comforter
world
*
who whose
should
Law
Prophet of
and
should
are
a
perfect Law,
guiding
to
magnificent testimony
the
greatness of the
the
Holy
draws
Prophet Muhammad,
attention
to these
and
Holy Qur'an
twojpropheciesin particular.
Prophet's likeness
to you
sent
an
an
Moses bearer
We Stteejy
to
have
you,
sent
as
Apostle,
apostle
that the
news
-^1 witness
'
We
to
Pharaoh
"nd
was
Holy Prophet
was
whose
good
son
given by Jesus :
O children
to
And
when
Jesus
am
of
Mary
said:
of Israel
surely I
the
apostle
me
of All"h
you,
that verifying
which
news
is before
of
an
Apostle
after
his
name
It must known
be remembered
that the
by
both
the
names
Muhammad
names
Ahmad
from
him very
his very
childhood, both
It would
beinggiven to
seen
at his birth.
thus be
that it is
of
poor and
argument
of his
may
of
tke
greatness
the
Jesus
Christ
superiorityto
peace and the
Holy Prophet
God
Muhammad,
upon
of blessings
wras
be
to
announced
his mother
vision.
96
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
The
Holy
Prophet alone, of
the
all the
prophets
distinction
of of
unimaginably high
of the
having
come
in fulfilment
the world and
prophets of
having mentioned
mighty argument
above
of his
greatness and
very
superiority
omits the
all, the
Holy QiVan
wisely
matter
mention
of his mother's
in
vision,a
with
of
eat
secondary
wliich
importance
it had
comparison
the 5*
news
announced.
2.
MOTHER'S
GREATNESS
Another thus:
"
argumo-nt
in the
same
connection
runs
'
The
Qur'an itself n^
the mother
mentioned
the excellence
the
women
of the
Mary,
world
of Christ, above
of
and
has
given
her the
But the
title of
very
to not
Siddiqah
name
Muhammad's
mother
some
is not
do
be met hold
Qur'an
believer.
son
and
From
it appears, than
Christ, the
Muhammad.' Because
must
of
Mary, is greater
the
a
mother
is
man,
great
in
woman,
her words
son
also be
great
such But
simple
did
is
the
logicof
the writer !
how
the
mother
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
97
become
woman
great if her
? And
mother
again
was
not
great
continue human
this to
race:
parent of the
great
^3
she
be
at
least
as
argument,
that
only imparts
Jesus and
Eve
as
his and
and brothers
her
as
"
sisters, but
the
logic
race
makes
"
offspring Jesus
whole
ft?Jbe
great
a
Christ
r^J
the
question for
Christian
'
however
is,
'
Gospels
say
From
about
his what
as an
the
mother of
of God
aricl her
truth
greatness.
point
is
view,
the
is in the
cannot
Gospels
be
and
statement
an
used
argument
her
adversary.
If the
as
Gospels give
place of honour
the
to
they
a
treat
her
ordinary
shelter the
one
woman,
it is
the say
for illogical
Christian
Now
to
seek do
in
Qur'anic
?
statements.
what
*
Gospels
said
Then
unto
him,
Behold,
thy mother
and
thy
brethren
But
stand
he
with that
my
thee. told
answered
is my he
said
? And
unto
him
are
him, Who
And
who
brethren? his
7
stretched
forth
my
his
hand
toward
and disciples,
said, Behold
mother
98
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
and of my
my
! For
whosoever
shall do
same
the wilt
which
is in heaven, the
mother'
is my
brother
This almost
sister and
incident
the
same
is recorded
by
in synoptists
and Luke
words,
Mark
iii.31-35 of Luke
are
concluding
and my and
words
running
which
this
My
mother word
brethren
do it '.
those
the
of God
)Vhat
that
does
The
conclusion
is inevitable
the
Gospels,Jesus'mother
Even
did not
an
believe in his-
message.
if she had
woman
been
ordinary believer
the Christians
and
to
not
the great
which have
is
try
in
make
spoken of
my mother?
her
these
insulting words:
without
go
come
Who
She
stood
neither word had
to
speak yvithJesus,
to
but
Jesus did
he send her she
out
meet
her,
nor
did
to
in and believer
sit with
in
the
disciples. If
at
been
taken
were
her
place with
with disciples,
sitting there
But
company.
to
learn
something from
her
to
the
Master.
Jesus considers
Not
be
unworthy
he
of that
plainly
his brethren
those
heavenly father
and did it,and
to
those
that heard
the word
of God
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
99
leave
as
no
doubt
on
the
point,pointed to
the
disciples
answering
mother
that
the
to
the
and
another
occasion
Jesus
is said
what
have
addressed
do
his mother
thee' of
thus
Woman,
The
have
I to
with
(John
ii. 4).
representing
which
in
no
Mary
make the doubt
great
woman
describe
was
her in words
even a
it probableJhat she
messr^e
not
believer
was
of
this view
taken
on
by
of the
Gospels.
The
Jews,
sorts
of all
as
against her
fallen
woman.
depicted
As it
was
her
one
character of the
that
of the and
objectsof
Qur'an
women,
to
righteousmen
among the bound
was
Mary
and
her
son
were
the
most,
if not
most,
reviled
of
all
was
holy
to
personages
Qur'an
defend
the
them.
Jews
women
said that
Mary
among the
most
degraded
of her time
was
Holy
of
Qur'an tells us
her
'
that she
a
the greatest
woman.
woman
chastS
Thus
!
it says:
And
angels said,
and
Mary
surely Allah
chosen
you
has above
wo
purifiedyou
of
and
'
the
the
world how
(iii. 41).
the
The
rds
being a reproductionof
angels then
100
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
addressed
Mary
of
show
that
over
what the
women
was
impliedwas
of her time,
ages. have
a
Mary
the
women
and
we
Only
few
similar
descriptionof
of Abraham Alldh chose of
above
and
the
descendants
'
and
the descendants
and Noah
of Amran
and the
Surely
Adam
ants descend-
Abraham
world'
and
the
descendants of Amfan
*
the
(iii. 32).
'dlamin
are
Exactly
used be
tl*e
as
same
words
case
istifdand
of Mary.
fiere
in the
Can
it then
all
peopleabove
chosen above
Adam
chosen
were
world, Noah
above
the world, the descendants above the world, the above the the
women
of Abraham
chosen
were
descendants
of Amran
was
chosen above
world, and
lastly Mary
Every
chosen
can see
one
that if we
put upon
a
the wide
the passage tory contradic-
which interpretation
Christian
the whole limit the
puts upon
becomes
speakingof Mary,
in itself. But
to
if we
meaning of *dlam{n
the
was
the world
as
existing then,
to
people of
the
Adam
was
the greatest
man
of his
time; Noah
the
greatest
of
102
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
title of
it to
the above
Mary, Holy
gives it to
every
as
true
follower of
Prophet Muhamma$,
And
shown the
by
the
quotation.
siddlqah
was
title of
'Ayesha, the
the
wife of of
the
enjoys
a
distinction
being a siddlqah
not
such
high
part
when
only 'become
e^en
used
As mother
alone, it stands
to
was
the
an
assertion
the
Holy
Proph^Ts
to note
unbeliever, it is sufficient
he
the
was
that
she
was
died
when
to
old, while he
when he
was
called
office of How
prophet
she
fortyyears
be
an
of age.
could
then
was
be said to
an
unbeliever
he
was
? Our
Holy Prophet
orphan
when
birth, and
Therefore
a
lost his
mother
yet
boy.
of
he
nor
enjoyed
the other
in
neither
tender of
a
caresses
mother,
loving
hand,
father.
up
Jesus by
of
a
Christ, on
the
was
brought
righteous mother
nation and in which did
all the
sacred
traditions in
abundance,
in the Arab
yet he
attain to that
to
eminence
an
perfectionof
attained
morals the
which
orphan
human
without
help of
any
^hand.
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
103
Jesushad
to
mother
instruct him
look after
may had peace
him, but
and
the
Holy
Prophet Muhammad,
of
the
and
blessings
yet the
God
him,
met
neither;
in the
treasures
would
with
Holy Qur'an
He how
was
be
in
the
Gospels.
to
placed
circumstances
show hand
the
chastening efrbeted
all
by the
Divine
the
surpasses
chastetyng,
up
as mi
Therefore
Prophet's
his greatness
being
shine
brought
all the But
see
orphan
makes
more
if the share
live
to
and in
great transformation
is not
he
brought
about
altogether
-silent with of
the
her.
Nay,
it
parents
the
grandfathers and
'
grandmothers
on
well. the
up,
Thus
it
says
And
rely
you
the
you
Mighty,
stand
Merciful,
and your
Who
sees
when
turning
before
among
those
Who
prostrate
What
themselves is meant
All"h* among
(xxvi. 217-219).
those
'
by
turning
says, it
who
prostrate?
from
Ibn-i-Abbas
to
son
means
the
turning
mother
father
in
brought
him
and
forth.
the
Prophet's parents
grand-
104
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
parents
God.
were
all among
verse
those
who
not
were
obedient
to
This
therefore
only speaksof
the
as
of his
grandparents
this ^honour
well, while
according to
attained
the Bible
was
not certainly
some
of
we
his do
grandparents it does
not
as
credit
such
statements
them
13.
EXTRAORDINARY
TIMpOF
OCCURRENCES
BIRTH.
AT
THE
The
a
third argument
in this connection
I may,
deals with
say
next
a
very
unimportant
about
matter.
however,
up
few
words
it before
taking
the
question.
were
It is asserted
that
rences extraordinaryoccur-
noticed
at
the birth of
Jesus and
:
not
at
Holy Prophet
Muhammad
at
the birth
withered
palm-tree became
and
to
gave comfort
Mary
as
is mentioned But
or
in the second
at
section
Hazrat
of the
chapter Mary.
no
the
birth of
Muhammad,
;
miracle
no
extraordinary
is met
happening occurred
and
proof of miracles
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
105
with
in the
son
Qur'an
therefore the
son
of
Mary excels
the
of A'manah.'
a
It is
of any
fact
does
at
not
speak
birth of but
miracle An due
taken
place
the
Jesus.
that
very
was
angel
to
doubt
comforted
to
Mary,
her
giving birth
It
the child
in
to
'
under
awkward
circumstances.
was
an
inn, but
him in
there
*
being no
pfaceinside
'
she had
wrap
a
swaddling
f he
clothes
and
not
lay
him
in
manger/
details but time
a
mention
these
at
from
a
that
Mary
was
the of
on
journey
of
a
and
enjoy the'comforts
stood in need
to
home
deed, in-
or
helper.
and
of
comfort
it is in
at
fact
to her
great
distress
the
time
Holy angel.
Qur'an speaks
As
of the
comfort
tree
given by
becoming
green says
and
so.
the All
fountain
thctt it says
'
And
the throes
of
the
childbirthcompelled
trunk
to
her
. .
to
betake
Then Grieve
a
herself
voice not,
to
of
palm-tree.
beneath
a
called
out
her from
has made
her
to
surely your
you, and
Lord shake
stream
flow beneath
towards
on
you you
the trunk
of
the
fresh
ripe
106
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
dates, so
23-26).
These
eat
and
drink
and
refresh the
'
eye
(xix.
verses
show
that the
palm-tree
was
there
and already
to
the voice
only directed
get both
of
Mary's attention
food and
water
the
without
going far
on
in search
ripedates
the
palm-treeto which
fresh
water
in
we
stream
beneath
a
Even
if
suppose for
a
that there
woman,
was
miracle
food providing
it dwarfs
was
into shown
on
cance insignifiat
before the
birth of the
peace.
terms
'
the be
whom
in
The
:
this
clear
Have
you
not
considered
of the
how
your ?
Lord Did
He
dealt
not
with
cause
the possessors
elephant
their
prey
war
to end
in confusion birds
in
and
send
down
to
upon
them
flocks
casting them
them like
against hard
straw
stones;
'
sp
He
rendered
eaten
up
(cv.) is
to
The of
reference here
the
memorable Christian
invasion
Mecca
by Abraha,
of the
the
viceroy
at
Yemen,
was
object
to
destroy the
to
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
BIRTH
107
religiousenthusiasm,
San'aa where
as
well
a
as
the
Arab
trade, to
he had
built
army
magnificent cathedral
is known in Arabia
as
This
^
the or fil,
possessors
of the in
elephant,
it. When march
because the
from
of the presence
army
was
of
elephants
some
huge
only
three
days
Mecca,
Abdul
Holy
prayed
unable Prophet,"
to
defend
O Lord
to
the
!
Ka'ba, thus
Thine
over
own
God
'
Defend,
the
House, and
Ka'ba.'
A
suffer not
virulent
cross
triumph
or some
the
other
treated re-
form in and
of
small-pox
pestilencebroke
out
Abrahams
army
and
which Ka'ba
in confusion
dismay
from
the
was
thus the
of
historyshows
of the Christian
pened hap-
570
of the birth of
our
Holy Prophet.
was
This
the
mighty sign
birth of
our
which
shown
to
the
can significance
on a
be attached and
water
Mary's findingdates
a
palm-tree
with the the
in
stream
at
when
the
compared
advent
wonderful
sign shown
This other with
of
Holy
Prophet.
numerous
is related in the
signs that
took
his birth
ate
met
in the
Reports.
IV.
THE
CALL of is
are
The
even
next
argument
of the than
superiority
the
first
Jesus
We
more
interesting
three.
told
*
:"
Christ's
speaking' in
and the
cradle
and in
being
granted
is
a
the
clear
book
and
prophethood
argument
As
infancy,
of his
very
conclusive
excellence
above
all other
claimed
at to
prophets.
be the
recipient
when
time
age
passing
youth
had
no
attained
to
old
and
there
probably experience.
remained
deficiency
Christ
Is in dumb
in
his
worldly
to
Therefore
is
there
superior
a
him/
child
? And
a
in
the
answer
world
is
that
clear
does
;
not
speak
but
a
the
The the
none
Holy
in
age
Qur'an
cradle And and he
mentions
Jesus
with his
to
*
speaking speaking
the
child old
in the
the
'
along
shall
of
speak
age
people
when
The
cradle
when
must
of old
be
(iii.45).
to
same
importance
can
attached
to
mean
both.
If the be
course
words
be in
construed
him
to
that
age,
it shall then
miraculous
we are
speak
in
in
old
of
justified
taking
his
110
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
an
advanced
not
age
to
is the result of
and
due
source.
the inner
Now
call which
Divine
this is the
regrettable Objections
aspect
are
of
the
Christian Isldm
controversy.
so
advanced
against
not
even
of
Christian
to
religion. When
When
message ?
called
Aaron
prophethood ?
did
Was
the
one
same
worldly experience in
ask,
message when
Nay.
the
may
did
Christ
to
receive
Divine of the
according
?
the
was
scriptures
of
Christians
he
was
What
Jesus
How
unto
a
baptizedby John
when
saw
'
the
were
Baptist? opened
he he
the
heavens God
'
and and
the
descending like
Did it
the
lightingupon
when ? he
happen
advanced
us
in
infancy, or
of
attained
thirtyyears
at
If the
Gospels
is it
tell
that he
a
called
to
thirty years,
befittingfor
Christian
to
of the
Holy Qur'an
when
as
make
Jesus receive
old and then
message
not
yet
quite a day
call this
the
proof of
mad, Muham-
the
Holy
the
Prophet
message
received
at
forty?
THE
CALL
111
Such the
weapons
meaner
should
be
aim
use
at
advantages
of
a
in
the hands
religiousman
whose
object
is to
now
Holy Qur'an
says.
After
speaking
of the
on
Holy Qur'an
'"He Allah.
goes
to
am
servant
of
a
He
has And
given me
He
the book
made
me
and
made
me
prophet.
may
has has
blessed
on me
wherever
prayer
be, and
so
He
enjoined
'
and
poor-rate
The
of the
a man
long as
I live
verse
words
of this
words
exist
to
me an
of advanced
age
that there
infant:
He
has
given
me
the book
and
made could
prophet.' Supposing
given
a
that
prophethood
to
an
be
not
in
some
inexplicablemanner
could
infant
day
the book
be
given to him
are
The
givingof
the book he
means
that there
How
certain
an
teachings which
infant
a
inculcates.
could
day
to
that he
This
had
been
teachinghis
mean
doctrines had
people.
would
came
that he
been
cannot
even teaching
before he
the
words
into existence.
We
put upon
of the
Holy Qur'an
112
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
an
which interpretation
sense.
is
by rejected
that the
the merest
common
The
words
follow, however,
a
make
still
more
ludicrous
was
suppositionthat
A He
new-born
on me
infant and
speaking :
so
has
enjoined
praye/
poor-rate
long as
and
shows
rate
.to injunction
pray
the poorthat
as
Jesus obey
out
so
to
can
carry
long
he
brain
entertain the
hours
conception
could
more
that
carry than On
an
infant born
out
only
twelve
say
before and
on
the
to
to injunction
prayers,
that,
the
pay
what he
was
'swaddling clothes'
up
at
which other
wrapped
on
property
it is
which
he
even
the
poor-rate, and
he
was
doubtful
up,
so
wrapped
that he
might
not
move
his limbs
could freely,
pay the
be
called
his property
on
which
he should
poor-rate.
The The
case
is too could
are
clear to
not
need
further
comment.
a
words
be the
words of
a
of
man
infant.
These
the
words
doctrines which
teaching,who
to
going about
I
from
says
place
another
"
'wherever
go'
"
,who
THE
CALL
113
his
prayers
on
regularly,and
which therefore he
pays
who the
has
got his
own
property
words
were
poor-rate.
The
spoken
to
after
Jesus began
The
teaching
argument
conclusion birth
verses
the
in
people.
of
only
other
given
support
verses
the
is that the
previous
of
speak of the
words of the the
and
childhood
Jesus.
could
were
If the
under
discussion
possibly bear
by
could
a
uttered
new-born
of the context
be
brought
the make
that in
forth to support
words them the
cannot
interpretation.But
the
context
cannot
what
bear,
And the
even
bear.
case
it should
be borne the
in mind
of
histories of
former
prophets
narrated
us
in the
Holy Qur'an,
Holy
the context
not
cannot
help
the
much,
for the
Qur'an does
relate often
whole
story from
omits
the
as
purpose
an
for which
the
the
story
is
Take
example
Baptist which
and he
to
is related
immediately
prays
the
son,
Zacharias
news
the How
good
that
a son
will be
my
born is
shall I have
answer
and
wife
. .
barjen
8
The
is :
'So
shall it be
114
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
I created you
asks three for
a
before when
you
were
nothing.'
to
'
He
sign and
The
to
speak
:
peoplefor
he went
days.
is
his
obeyed
So
forth to his
people from
to
he
made
known
and
them
that
O
they
John
We
should
! take
glorify
hold
Allah the
morning
book with while
evening.
of
him the be
strength,
yet
a
and
granted
If
wisdom
child'
(xix.11, 12).
reasoning
followed
that
not
even
followed
in the story of
Jesus
be
were
to
would
inevitable
had
days
of Zacharias' the be
silence
John
cannot
we
Baptistwas
there
with this
book.
But
we
in drawing justified
conclusion
in
a
for
know
course
that
happen
receive
the
natural
must
before
and
he the of
should
book
has
have
happened,
the
Holy
that.
Qur'an
only left
in the
case
out
mention
of
being conceived
and
and
also mentioned,
to
this
is followed
by
brief reference
his
out
incidents
being left
the
in
the
case
of
John.
There
is not
the
evidence slightest
nature
in the
were
Holy
Qur'an that
in the
case
ordinarylaws of
relaxed
of
Jesus.
THE
CALL
115
According
age he
to
the
is the
of the moral
completion of
and maturity
man
Until when
attains
his
AH
a
reaches
raised
at
fortyyears
the age
'
(xlvi.15).
and forty,
prophets
seems
are
of
mistake
in the
to have
been
made
by
the Christians
been Thus
case
of when
Jesus who
he
on
is said to have
thirty years
there the is
no
old
received
the
even score
the
of
call.
age
difference God
between
one*
prophetsof
and
supposingthat
another show does
prophetwas
age
and thirty
at the
of
forty,this
one
or
difference
not
the
of superiority
shows
the
of the inferiority
other.
What
the
greatness of the
Holy Prophet
of
Muhammad,
his life were
as
an
lasting ever-
testimony
lacking in
the
case
his
truth,
circumstance
of all other
prophets including
was
Jesus Christ.
humanity
received hours
the
So
deeply
rooted
the welfare
even
of
in the
before he
the best
great Divine
spent
of his life in
reason
givingrelief to
his
most
the poor.
It
was
that
intimate the
companion,
wife
Khadijah, made
news
following remarks
call :
the receiving
of the Divine
By"
no
means
Alldh
will
not
bring you
to
116
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
disgrace,for
you
earn
you
do
keep
the
ties of
kinship,and
and you do
do
bear
the
burden
are
of the
weak,
penniless.,and you
do honour
distress
'
do
(Bukharee).
Could than
to
anybody
And
conceive
nobler
object of life
was
that ?
yet this
was
before he
The
raised
of
the
dignityof prophethood.
thus
forty years
and claim
spent,
to
not
in
worjdly experience,
the weak the The
same
the could
poor,
tfche for
distressed.
make
Jesus
life
from if he work
was
or
otfler
prophet.
to
Holy Prophet's
of
devoted childhood
the
to
service
humanity
and
his very
was
the
was
last moment,
called at
a
forty,he
doing
that.
of
prophet long
before
reformers
and the
of the
world, Muhammad,
God be upon
not
a
blessingsof
him,
minute
spent
for any
and
service of
from his
humanity,
childhood
he
prophet in fact
not
though
he did
receive the
forty.
which
circumstance
singleshim
out
the
prophetsof
the world
V.
CIRCUMSTANCES
DEATH
RELATING
TO
1.
THE
ALLEGED
ASCENT
TO
HEAVEN
Another
thus
:
argument
of
Christ's
superiority
runs
the
Qur'an
wished
to
it
is
manifest
that
wh^n
came
enemies
from
to
seize
Christ,
him
up
angels
this
him
heaven
heaven
"dnd
and
took
thus
But
with
body
from
rounded sur-
clay
God
guarded
the neither
wretched
unbelievers. Muhammad
in
when
Mecca,
nor was
came
an
angel
;
to
save
him,
he
up
to
heaven
a
but
like
ordinary
hidden
men
walked the
through sight,
to
thorny
desert,
in
a
from
cave,
enemy's
take took
a
shelter
dark the
then
at
flying from
Medina.
?
. . .
there it not
refuge with
Helpers
and
Is These
difference
it clear
appears
of heaven
that
earth is
facts
make
It
Christ the
superior
to
Muhammad.'
from
above of
quotation
the
that
the
or
writer
is either
quite ignorant
Holy
Book
Qur'an,
as
intentionally misrepresents
the
Holy
tg
the
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
119
supposed
claims that
not
ascent
case
of
is
Jesus
more
to
heaven.
That
for while
the
he does
are
latter is the
probable;
from
while
it is manifest
the
such
Qur'an,he
be found.
quote
single verse
quotations
they could
a
It is
fact
that there
is not when
single
Christ
verse
in
the
Holy
to
Qujr'an statingthat
arrested
was
was
about
or
be
angels came
up
to
t
down heaven
even
from
with
heaven this
that he
of
taken
body
clay.
to the
While
there down
even
is not of
the
the remotest
is
hint
a
coming
angels which
merely
with
going up
to
hewen the
body
the
of
clay,notwithstanding
what
majority of
in the
Muslims
believe,is nowhere
What is wonderful does this
not
mentioned
is not
Holy
Qur'an. Holy
heaven
however
that the
Qur'an
with
body of clay,but
the necessary
the
If
Gospels fail to
such
an
furnish
testimony.
was
incident
took really
it place,
the most it
important event
have been
not
and
ought
to
only recorded
but should
unanimously by
further have
presence
Gospel writers
to have
been
taken for
a
placein
miracle
the
loses But
of
large crowds
if it is not
we
of
men,
performed publicly.
what
have
got ?
120
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
Matthew
St.
not
is
quitesilent
as
to
to heave Jesus'rising
John
know
is also silent.
Two
of the four
Gospels do
ascent to
on
anything
This
about
the
supposed
serious
heaven.
omission
casts
very
ascent
doubt
of allegation
was
to heaven
; for
place,it
the
most
important
a
event
of
more Jesus'life,
important than
far
more
thousand
miracles the
of
important than
crucifixion
and
the
post-crucjfixion appearances,
omit it.
""
What
says
'
have
Gospels
to say ?
Luke
And
was
'
it
came
to
pass,
while and
he
blessed
them,
up
he
parted from
(Luke
them,
carried
into
heaven A there
xxiv. 51).
strange miracle
to
this !
scene.
Not
single Jew
even
was
witness
were
the
Not
all
up
the into
believers
heaven about
present.
the
Jesus was
carried
frustrate the
was
If there
a
was really
ascent, how
eleven
single
of
person
except the
saw
whole
Jerusalem could
would
all have
on
have
easilywitnessed
believers
was
it and
people
The
so
become
immediately.
kept
secret, and
matter,
the
other hand,
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
121
great
was news
the secrecy
of it.
that
Does
not
even
the
believers
got any
the
up
was
it not
show
that clearly
parting was
into
about Brought
some
not
by Jesus going
manner
hearen, but by
other It
was
which
it
necessary
was
to conceal.
a clearly flight
which
n^ws
to
be
kept secret,
for
if the
slightest
have
of it had in great
events
been
the
danger.
And in the
thus
Jesus,according to
fled
narrated
Gospels,
use
secretly,
this
is the
Luke
is narrated
by
into
are
chapter is established
words later
'
conclusively
up
we
by
told
the
and
carried
heaven
are
a really
by J. R.
that
'
Dummelow
a
on
the these
Bible
words.9
few
if two
ancient
authorities
omit
Thus
of
the
and
do
not
give it
placein
their record
are
of the third,which
the
are theory,
upon
the basis of
tion narra-
not
merely
are
of
place in the
met
of events,
ancient
but
actuallynot
with
in
manuscripts,
of the
the Gospelsbeing thus against
ascent
"Three
122
to
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
heaven, the
story
the
the
as
fourth
need
not
detain
us
long.
The In that
were none
related in Mark
is stillmore this
incredible.
we
concluding chapter of
women
Gospel
the
find
who
a
went
man
early to
clad in
sepulchre
told
by
young
white, apparently
'
Jesus himself, to
tell his
disciples
Galilee
'
and
that he
goeth
the the
before
you
into
verse
(Mark
same was
17), while
nineteenth
of the that
'
chapter gives
received of God.'
up
unexpected
and
news
on
he
into
heaven
sat
the
right
of this
hand
In the first
%
place,the
'
writer
passage
describes
'
the
'
being
the he
was
'
received
up
into
'
heaven
two
and
sitting
on
right hand
an
of God
as
incidents of which
of Luke
'
eye-witness. The
safer,because
him
words
carried
up
are
they
only saw
seems
being carried
to
But
the narrator
in Mark with up
have
saw
gone
up
to heaven
'
along
received
Jesus,where
into heaven
can
he and
that the
Jesus
was
sat on
righthand
such
of God/
Whp
the
think of
on relying
and testimony,
acceptingon
of rising
verse
its basis
a
man
such
an
extraordinary thingas
to heaven
clearlycontradicts
seventh
of the
same
chapter. The
tells us
that
Jesus intended
to go to Galilee
;"the
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
12J
nineteenth
tells
us
that
he
went
are
up
to
heaven.
with
Apparently the
each
But
two
statements
inconsistent
other.
what
are
is more,
shown
the
concluding
twelve
verses
of Mark
by
thus
verse
recent
to investigation
be
an
and interpolation,
which
states
'
Jesus
'
was
received
into the
heaven
must
to
and rejectedaltogether,
last
testimony
vanishes
agcent of
Jesus
to
heaven
thus
verses
last twelve
of the sixteenth
St. Mark. of the
are
admittedly^not by
the
commentator
says
:
Dummelow,
Internal evidence
that
to points definitely
verses
are
the
clusion con-
not
by
St.
Mark.
a
For
(1)the
true
conclusion
tained concertainly
Galilean
this
appearance does
not.
xvi.
7, cp"
that St*
xiv.
28),and
bare
styleis
of
quiteunlike
detail. and
Mark's section
never
usual
of
graphic
words
(3) The
contains used
expressions
an
by
St. Mark.
(4) Mark
is not
continuous
the
124
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
of
(xvi.9)
as
if she had
not
been
alluded
mentioned
to
before,
(xv. 47 ;
although
xvi. 1).'
This
she has
just been
twice
settles
verses
the
matter
are
conclusively.The
not
a
last
twelve
of Mark
one
manuscript, and
a
uncial
different termination.
we
Instead
verses
'
have
there
And
the
things that
had
been
commanded
the
companions
also sent
west
of Peter.
Jesus himself
even
forth
by
and
them
from
unto
the
the
holy
salvation.1
How The did these is
:
twelve
verses
find
place
the
here ?
same
account
as interesting
given by
commentator
'
The and
Gospel
of St.
first extensive
as life,
authoritative
of
our
Lord's
distinguished from
His
discourses, attained
considerable
in
at
its
the
west
and
afterwards with is
now an
At the Galilean
time
it concluded which
account
of the
be found
appearance,
only to
The
in St. Matthew
subsequent
126 On
ascent
as
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
the
to
other
hand, the
he must
Bible
records
Elijah's
regarded
heaven, and
therefore be
a
much
Christian's
point of
view.
'And
Elijah
(2
so
went
up"
by
wind whirl-
into
ascent
to
heaven' is
was
*
Kings
that
ii. 11).
Elijah's
to
heaven it
even
clear
according
another of
the
Bible
record who
witnessed
took the
by
mantle
prophet
that
Elisha
Elijah
fell from
who took
'
him.'
Another
walked
him'
on
with
God
v.
and
he This
was was
not
; for
Go(*
the
(Gen.
which
24).
indeed
material
ascension
was
built up
zealots
the
who
theory of Jesus'
were
by Christian
to
eager
to
ascribe
with
their hero
whatever
in others. the
Does
the
in
theoryof Jesus'
the
least.
bodily ascent
once
heaven Book
Not
Not taken
does
to
the
Holy
It
Jesus was
up
heaven.
speaks
exaltation
ascent
in the presence
of God,
never
of his
with the
body, and
with
to mean
mentions
the heaven
has
in
connection
his
rafa1 which
ascent.
on
wrongly
been
supposed
the
The
two
Holy Qur'an
occasions.
I will
cawse
speaks of
the third
rafa9 of Jesus
have
'
In
chapter we
Jesus !
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
127
'
you And
sure
to
die and
exalt you
*
in
My
(iii. 54)
not
'
in the
; nay,
fourth Allah
And
they
him
for
exalted
in His
I
presence rendered
the
(iv.
the
157, 1"8). In
word
"oth places
himself
have
great
mentator com-
when
commenting
in
on
iii.
54,
Rafa* here
is the
exalting
direction.'
to
degree and
There
in
some
exists
of the
a
misunderstanding as
rafa?
which
means
the
meaning
word
both, the
of
a
raising of
(see
thing,and
the exaltation
person
Lane's,
the
is
Lexicon). Arabic-English
when significance the
The
is always Jatter
a
rafa* of
person
by
this is
God
spoken of
is afforded
and
testimony on
Ar-Rdfi*
which
point
one
by
of
that
the
names
of God.
'
All
Arabic
Lexicons of the
agree
Ar-Rdfi9
means
the
Exalter
believer
by
'
prospering him
and
of his saints
by teaching them
Therefore
to
a
when
person,
spoken
of
as
granting rafa?
the words
the only
He has
that significance
convey
not
is that
He
a
granted him
up
and exaltation,
a
that
has
raised him
one.
bodilyfrom
and
lower
the
level to
higher Holy
The
Holy Qur'an
full of
sayings of
the true
the
are Projphet
examples of
meaning of
128
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
not
single example
literature
means
is to
in
be
met
in the whole of
a man
Arabic
which
the
up
rafa*
by
we
God
raisinghim
32,
*
bodily.
exalted
where
Thus
some
have
in xliii.
And in
Mfe
have
of them the
above
we
others
degrees
Again
in
original
xii. 76,
are
*
have
exalt
rafa'nd.
in
in vi. 84
and
We
dignity whom
We that
please.' These
the
general statements
person
not
showing
means
rafa' of
by
God
his
him raising
up
in
body.
significance were
Divine
acceptable
law should been
circumstances, the
that
the
righteous should
the earth
to
all have
some
translated
bodily
from
higher
region.
Two 176 thus
concrete
examples
of
a
also
be
speaks
been
person
to
rejects the
'
after it has
brought
And
if We
We pleased
but he
would
have certainly
the
exalted
him
clung to
earth
and
followed
in
desire.'
agree
as
explaining
exaltation.
as
rafa*
Thus
'
in
above
verse
meaning
exaltingto
as
place of the
him
enter
exalting
so
to
make
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
129
accepts
the
similar
the
i.e. interpretation,
'
exaltation to
place of
the word
conveys^a
rafa9used
says
And
rafa*
is
these
the exaltation
the exaltation the world
and
rank the
in
presence, excellences
renown.'
and
of All
greatness
in
a
exaltation
good
this shows
person
means
by God
in the but
language
exaltation.
9
Holy Qur'an
nothing
The
other the
example
is that says
of
'
Enoch.
Speaking
Idris
man, state
a
'
of him
in
4n(* mention
a
the
Book;
and
he
was
truthful
an
prophet ;
exalted
him
to
elevated
same
this case,
to
a
the
standing misunderthat in it is to
arisen
certain the
says
degree as
reason
of with
Jesus Christ,and
in what
on
of
the
Bible has
of that been
very
prophet. quoted
clear
even
as
24,
this
point
already
are
though
the
words
there
up
not
alive to
were
heaven, but
influenced xi. 5,
we
Testament
writers
by
the
:
in Heb. that
have
not
By
was
translated
not
he should God
see
was
found
because
had
"9
130
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
translated him.'
Some
commentators
of the
same
Holy
Qur'an
were
also influenced
by the
idea, and
words
as
above
meaning
But the
Enoch's
more
being
learned
taken among
up
them
plainly
Israelite stories
as
ascribed
these
ideas
to
the influence
says
to
of the
of the heaven
are
Thus story-tellers.
of Enoch's
Ibn-i-Kasir
up
being taken
alive
*
met
with
in
some
commentaries
Ka'b
These
some
among
are
the
acceptable/ un-
and
of these
a
Fat-h-ul-Baydn gives
are
similar
judgment
Ka'b the used
'
There
the The
to
narrate.'
ul
Ma'dni
to
gives
(
exaltation
nearness*
to
the
Hasan
exaltation
I
paradise. The
cludes con-
which
have
already quoted
in
of this
point
the
following
the
for dignity,
And
this
rafa* must
be in respect of
greatness of rank
that is
a
and
the exaltation of
praiseworthything,and
a
the
merely being
to uplifted
The
misunderstanding
the
of Enoch
arose
very in
misunderstanding
and any
one
the
case
of
Jesus Christ,
who
considers
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
131
the
matter
mi
in the critically
error as
latter
more
case
can
as
easily
get
t 6f the
the
critical
tators commen-
have
misunderstanding with
prevailingJewish
the ideas of
some or
respect*
Christian
to
Certain
influenced
stories
and
commentators
word
in
rafa\
the
In
fact, the
but
of the
word,
not
only
Holy Qur'an
and the
also in the
of the
Prophet
whole
literature, instance,
the settles
every
meaning
is
conclusively.For
to pray
Muslim
taught
while
'
between sitting O
the two
me
praye*
on
Alldh ! grant
and
protection and
grant
me
mercy
me
guide
'
. .
me
and
sustenance
and
exalt
me
Now
this prayer
would be
a
for
rafa\
or
exaltation, by
prayer
to
every
Muslim
meaningless
if it
a
were
supposed
meant
that
God's
granting rafa'
to
some
man
his
bodily
the
translation
upper
to
day,
not
the
prayer
sense.
singleMuslim
are
has many
been
accepted
the the
in this
Again, there
sayingsof
in which
Holy
word
Whoever
'
humbles
; and
himself
in
one
for God's
we
sake, God
the words
:
him exalts
report
have
132
'
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
Whoever
makes
himself
humble
for God's
sake,
of
God
a
exalts him
to the
seventh
heaven
by
means
chain
in the
both
cases.
Notwithstanding
a
words
apparently indicating
one
bodily translation, no
the meek
to
has
ever
supposed that
ever
and the
the
humble
heaven. The
are
raised
in
body
seventh
above
examples
are
fact
in rank
degree and
not
bodily translation.
the very
to
And
words exalt
used you
about in
I will
cause
die and
My
', where
therefore
verse
:
the
exaltation
be
follows
in him
death, and
rank.
not
only
i
exaltation
killed in
as
In
other
;
And
they
him in
on
for
nay,
Alldh is
;
exalted
His
contrast
cross
presence with
was
', the
exaltation
the
as
brought
for death
a man
on killing
cross
the
looked
a
upon
subjecting
held
to
to
abasement,
accursed Thus
such
and says the
person
being
out
have
been
driven
'
of
Divine
presence.
us
Paul
of
Christ has
redeemed
a cusse
from
us :
the
curse
for
one
that
134
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
their
hands
on
him,
to
a
and
Divine
protectionwas
always with
with
him
far greater
Jesus Christ.
2. THE take DEATH the next
CHRIST
OF
We
will
now
argument
of Christ's
superiority:
'
It
is
one
of
the
admissions
to
made
by
Islam
Christ is alive up
this
this
time
in the
heavens
body
of
clay, and
that the of
notwithstanding^
needs of
a
body
not
he is free from
mortal,
i.e. does
and
stand-in
a
need
eating and
he fulfils the
ever was.
drinking,
(Divine)
in
spiteof being
mortal
as
attribute of
being
"
now
he
As
against
in
this, it is written
the
shall
thus
of the
children
of Adam
Qur'an
you
Therein from We
shall you
it shall you
not
live and
be
therein
And
die and
"
raised/1
elsewhere
Have
made
to draw
togetherto
is written make
not to
itself the
and living
Again
it
praphets :
And
We
did not
them
not
and
they
were
abide/
that
i.e. We
made
to
such
ever
bodies without
can
they
and
should
be
able
eating
drinking. Therefore
wlio
live without
eatingand drinkingnotwithstanding
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
135
mortal
body
is
unique and
this
have from
to
be
admitted
t*vo
as
being wrong.
years
about
is alive
heavens
one
without
the
drink the
cannot
of
apostles and
prophets
life
possess is
these
attributes, is it
and
not
manifest
that
Christ
superiorto
by
far
greater than
hi?'
If Christ's
bodily ascent
to
heaven
turns
out
to
be
of the Christians
innocently
fate.
As
fact
by
some
Muslim
meets
commentators,
same
his
being alive
in heaven
the
made
been
a
clear
;
already
it
speaks
of
bodily ascent
The the
only
speaks of
above does is
not
his
aware
writer
quoted
Holy Qur'an
of
contain
in the
evidence slightest
Jesus'
being alive
heavens, and
therefore
he takes Now
of
Islam.
admission
the
of Isldm
which
is believed
even
by
one
portion of by
a
Muslim
a
world,
grave
if the
belief is held
is majority,
can
Nothing
be said to have
136
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
by IsUm
or
that is not
admitted
the
in the
Holy Qur'an
But
trustworthy sayings of
Holy Prophet.
Reports
do
not
singlewoad
among
to
Jesus' being
Muslims
alive
in
the
heavens, and
been dead.
men
the have of
there
have
always
was
who
name
held
that
Jesus Christ
of the
The
Malik, one
the
by recognized
here.
"
Ahl-i-Sunnat
be
mentioned
The
yi the
Majma'ul
Bihdr,
when
t
plain
word
words hakam
Aqfi Malik
that
Ikmdl
(i.e. Jesus
a
SimilarlyIkmdl
of the Sahih
al-Mu'lam,
admits
Muslim,
that
in the
believed
of
contain
singleword
On The
showing
Christ
is alive in the
heavens. death.
following verses
i
can
bear
no
other
: significance
'
And
when
AllAh
Jesus, Son
and
my
of
Mary
for two
! did you
say to men,
me
mother
4o
he will say,
Glory be
say
Thee, it did
befit
me
that I should
wfcat I
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
137
to
had
no
right to
"ve what
say Thou
...
I did
didst
not
me
say
them
aught
serve
enjoin
;
with, That
I
was a
All"h,my
of tbem
and
witness when
long
as
I
to
was
among
them, but
wert
Thou
over
didst
cause
me
die, Thou
art
the of all
Watcher
them,
and
Thou
witness
words
afford
conclusive
Christ
were
testimony that
not
teachings of Jesus
"
corrupted
Thou didst
the
too
words
clear to
when
to
die
being
allow any
other is used
interpretation.The
here carries the
word
tawaffi which
this is also
noted
the
interpretationof Ibn-i-Abbas
There is
no room
as
in the Bukharee.
for
the
slightestdoubt
on
here, while
a
further
light is thrown
in the used
are
this
point by
report recorded
the very
Bukharee,
ing concern-
according to which
himself
into the
Holy Prophet
words which
is
the
here
to
put
have
mouth
of
Jesus; He
on
reported
said (see
chapter on
the commentary
of Al-i-Imran)
the
day of resurrection
gone
that he would
thereon
say
was
a
what
the
righteous
so
witness
of them
138
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
long
cause
as
me
was
among
them, but
wert
when
Thou
didst
to
die, Thou
the Watcher
ovef
the^
it
This
was
report is another
in the
one case
conclusive
testimony that
of
in J"esus,"and
Holy Prophet,that
with them what in the the
their
respectivefollowers
This says is also
'
went
in
accordance
I
was
Gospel
world,
I
While
in
are
with
'
kept
them
Thy
other
name
There
the death
reports also
Christ. is
of
Jesus
According
of said
:
Praphet
reported to have
Had
Moses
and them
Jesus been
but that
have
availed
to
one
they should
are
me.'
According
lived such hold for clear
another
hundred
still we
and
told
Jesus
twenty
us,
years.' With
a
it is the
mistake
to
that the
and
sayings of
the
Holy
in the
heavens,
to
the
his re-appearance
same manner as
which
must
be
interpreted
in the
the
prophecy
of the reappearance
no
of
Elijah
was
interpreted by
less
an
of the
person
named
butf of
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
139
some
body
else who
more
should
appear
on.
in
his
and spirit
pOfcWer,'but
of this later
to
If any
from tke
inference as
wctrds,
him
'
Jesus'being
they did
on
alive is drawn
kill him,
'
And
not
nor
did
it
they put
only
a
to death
the
cross
(iv.157),
If it is years
meet
can
be drawn person
was
of
logic.
thousand
not
related of
ago
two
that he his
not
on
killed
that he did
is there
a sane
with
yi
death
the would
cross,
person
who
draw
from
But
is still alive ?
be
to
asked,
what
what
does
the
to
Holy Qur'an
? The
answer
then
to
happened
been
him
this has in
to
already
clearest
given ;
the
Holy
Book caused
states
the die
a
him
natural
death
on
And
or
negativingJesus1
on
it goes by killing,
made
to
'
say,
or
'
But
the
same
matter
dubious
to
them/
the But
to
words made
may
to
be
interpretedas meaning,
(one
he
was
resemble
dying
on
the cross)
same
them/
Both
interpretations carry
enemies
cross
the
significance,
had
thought they
he
was
put him
to
the
we
while
to
actuallyleft
we
alive.
when
go
the
Gospels
find
ample
140
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
It appears
from the
the
Gospels
cross,
that
Jesus escaped
though
"ie
was
with
his
as
even
life from
a
and
wepe
dead
then
man,
yet there
the
circumstances
his* death*
made
people doubt
never
been
on
contended seriously
cross
that
Jesus
so
remained short
the
for
was
very
short
time,
that
indeed
that of
man
it
impossible
death
a
the
tardy method
should further
crucified taken
kill
a
putting to
within such
we
by crucifixion
interval.
"
short
As meg
proof
down.
of
this
find that
were
the
two
along
with
Jesus
still alive
when
of the other of
two
but
was
pensed dis-
Thirdly, the
rushed
out
side
was
of
a
which
34).
Fourthly, when
Pilate
told
xv.
that
Jesus
44).
Fifthly,
Jesus was
was
not
buried
into
stone
xx.
spaciousroom
hewn
rock, a
41 ;
(John xix.
visited
on
1).
Sixthly,when
the
stone
the
wat
the
third
day,
to have
been
removed
from
its mouth
(John
142
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
it is also devoid
that
on
of truth.
a
In fact when
it is shown
d basi"
Jesus died
the
natural
suppositionof
It
ground.
the
however, is,
the
Gospels and
need there
Jesus as
In how
standing in
the
of food
are
ordinary
incidents
mortals.
Gospels
many
showing
'
In the first
place,
*
when
was
he had
forty days
an
and
'
forty nights, he
(Matt.
iv. 2).
aftersuch
hungered
With
^a
clear statement
to
in the
to prove
Jesus possessed
in need of food.
unique
Another
body
did not
stand
incident
: frailty
'
shows
And
on
the morrow, he
was
when
:
they
And
were
come
a
from
Bethany,
afar find off
hungry
he
seeing
if he
fig-tree
he
to
having leaves,
came,
haply
came
might
it he
when
found
not
man
time
of
figs was
yet.
eat
Jesus
it,No said^unto
'
for
ever
(Mark
xi.
12-14).
To
not
curse a
tree
for
not
it
was
the
time
for it to
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
143
extraordinarything
And if ja response
to
that
that
sensible
God the
more
person
too
can
do.
so
curse
proved
he made is
to fig-tree
wither
still
extraordinary.
if distinguished,
Can
Jesus Christ
is to be
be
the
Gospel
a
record
man
believed
true, from
ascribes
curses
the
his ?
action of
own
who another
blinded and
by
anger
fault
it not
ran
to
forthwith
him
Was he
to
by hunger,
it was
ing commentnot
it while
says
not
the time
on
of
this
or
figs. J. R.
incident
was Jesjjis
really
ment com-
hungry
expected to
'. figs
A in
came
strange
the
to
Gospels
the tree
!
hungry and
he
that
he
haply
we are
And
was
then
that
and
this
not
man.
miracle
upon
a
of wrath
man
wrought
upon
tree
to
give
proof of
is, what
But
the
question
as
testimony
does
the
incident
afford
as
to not
overcome
by hunger
what time
anger
the
the
of
then
tree
being so
for not
we
over-
cyme fruit
by
out
that he cursed
season.
bearing
of
a
of
What
would
think
144
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
man
or
Northern
or
India
in
running
spring
fcfr not
to
mango
tree
in
mid-winter
tha
season
and
then
cursing the
on
mango
tree
it.
other instances
Even
showing
how
Jesus felt
the in
hungry
at times.
when
dead,
of
accordingto
food. when
'
Christian
you the any
he belief,
meat
'
need
Have
met
?
'
was
his
first query
gave him
a
he
apostles.
of
an
And
they
pieceof
honeycomb.
'
And
he
before show
them
Gospels then
even
Jesus as standing in
among
after
risingfrom
over
follyto
to
turn out
the for
to
leaves
Holy
Qur'an
food.
make
case
If,however,
we
turn
Holy Qur'an, we
the
make
were
find it not
among
mortal them
not
same
And
We and
and in
did not
they
making
to
abide,
but
going
further
the
statement
about
*
Jesus
Christ
son
particular.Thus
Mary,
is but
an
it says
The
Messiah,
of
Apostle; apostlesbefore
away
; and
him
a
have truthful
indeed
woman
passed
;
his mother
to eat
was
'
th^y
both used
food
(v. 75).
Why
should
Jesus
CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING
TO
DEATH
145
be
specially mentioned
wftich could
not
as
possessing a
food made
mortal
when ?
a
body
live without
general
answer
statement
had
no
already been
My
is,to teave
to
should is more,
an
try
make
Jesus an
exception.
is mentioned
away
But here
what
as
ment arguThe
passing
an
like other
apostles.
only
him
away
passed
die like
ajvay
hence mortal
he
too
must
pass
to
a"d
other
apostles;
and that
make
he food
conclusive, it is added
ate
both
eats
food, because
but
must
"5ne who
grow
to
cannot
certain
takes
the
place of growth.
in the
momentary
body,
the
mortal the
body is
statement
subject,requiresfood,
that
therefore
is
a
Jesus required
food
argument
reason
This
why
in the
Holy
Qur'an mentions
old age.
a
Jesus' speaking
cradle and
he
It is
in
no
merely
way
to
point
out
that the
a
possessed
body
from differing
ordinary mortal
body.
His
is that of of he
baBy
followingthe
of
growth begins
he attains to the
10
prime
manhood,
146
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
to
decline
and
the
signs
age
of
decrepitude
must
appear
in
the
hoary
followed
head
of
old
which
of
necessity
be
by
death.
VI.
THE
SECOND
ADVENT
The
second
advent of
of
Jesus
is
considered
as
to
be
another
with the
proof Holy
Christ's
greatness
compared
peace
Prophet
of
:
"
Muhammad,
be
upon him
;
may
and
the
is
'
blessings
argued
thus
God
and
the
matter
It is admitted the
by
the
Muslims
the
that
some
time
fore be-
day of Judgment,
and the
Antichrist, the
unbtlief
to
greatest
seducer
will
make
spreader of
and
and
irreligion,
him
and
to to
appearance,
destroy
of the the
bring
the
the
back
the
way
corrupt
and
to
followers establish
from
was
Muhammad
right
Messiah
right religion,
heaven.
...
will
descend
If,
last
it not and the
therefore, Muhammad
ages and the that this last he
the
Prophet
why
his
was
of
was
the
of the
should
prophets,
rise
?
destined
remove
from
grave it that
last
tribulation
was
Why
promised
the final It is
a
entrusted
with
the
work
'
of
?
of
irreligion and
corruption
that
return
misunderstanding anywhere
That
of the
the
to
come
Holy
life of
after
Qur'an
speaks
Christ.
Jesvy*
Jesus
Christ
will
148
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
the
the
reverse
of what "t
the
Holy Qur'an
says
And
when
Jesus,son
the
*s
Mary
said, O children
of Alldh
to
of Israel !
surelyfram
which
apostle
me
an
you,
before
of
the
Torah
who
giving
come
the
good
me,
news name
of
Apostle
Ahuud'
will
after is
a
his
being
ment, state-
(hd. 6).
and it is rather that
This
very that in
clear
strange
the
spite of
will
must
the
express
words
come
corw
Holy Prophet.
successors
of the
'
Holy
has
Holy Qur'an
of you
is very
clear
Alldh do
to those
who
believe and
them
good
in
that the
He
will most
as
make certainly
successors
earth
He
made The
successors
those
before
in the
to
them*
(xxiv.55).
words
plainest
the
that
successors
raised and
Holy
Prophet from
of
an
among
the Muslims,
36 a
the
to
coming
Holy
cannot
Israelite
prophet
successor
the
Jesus Christ
of
the
of
the
successors
Holy
Prophet.
Another very
clear
as
testimony
a
against
among,
t%ethe
advent
of
Jesus Christ
reformer
150
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
purifierand
process
verse
teacher
to
of
the
one
continuing
thus
does
not
to
the
day of judgment.
any
rocm
leave
at
all for
become
the
people. Least
we are
of all can
himself did
the Torah
teach him
and the
the book
Holy
Prophet Muhammad
and says, teacher
of
Holy Qur'ar
and
being a prophet,
God. If
taught
purified
to
directlyby
world, the
therefore
comes
this
tion purificawould be
be the
by
the
Holy Prophet
after his
Muhammad
interceptedand
appearance, may
Jesus
the
and
not
Muhammad,
be
upon
of blessings Muslims
God and
as
him, who
them the
purify
and the
teach
wisdom.
the clear
But words
in the face of
Jesus Christ
among
In
cannot
appear
reformer
the
Muslims.
fact,the
of prophethood finality
of the
the
Holy
Prophet Muhammad,
God be upon
may
of blessings
him, which
is one
of the
THE
SECOND
ADVENT
151
ba.Jc doctrines
of
the
religionof
Isldm
is
wholly
of any the appearance or reappearance Ofjposed^o The Holy Qur'an teaches us in prophet after him.
pljdn words
in perfection
Fthat prophethood
the
person
was
brought
Founder
to
of the attached
Holy
to
of
a
Islim, and
the
work
the
office of
prophet
him
no
was
completed
therefore
as
in the
no
revelation remained
an
granted to
to
and
work be he
be done,
a
prophet was
one.
needed,
old appear
prophet or
if there
was
new
any
work
not
the
least work
to
one
which
be done,
comes,
could be done
there is
no
only by
need
prophet,remains
prophet, and
in
of
if But
there is
no
place for
him
Islam.
it may
be
do the most
sayings
of the of
Holy Prophet
of
prophecies of
is
no
the advent
Jesus,son
Mary,
the
if there
work the
for
prophet according to
? The
Holy Qur'an
be the
fact is that
a manner
only
in interpreted
such
not
to
contradict
and fore thereson
plainteachingsof
the
the the
Holy Qur'an,
advent such
a
prophecy
be
of
of
m
Jesus
annef
as
of
Mary
must
in interpreted the
to be
consistent
with
doctrine
of
the
finalityof
prophethood in
the
Holy prophet
Muhammad.
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
truth of
is that
Christ
the
prophecy
not
of the
seco*-
Jesus
could
in
have
even
meant
his
personalre-appearance
not
the world
if It had
dor"at-
been
opposed
to
the
fundamental
Isldmic
may
was
of blessings
him,
prophets of
the
the
world, and
this is
point on
Gospels,which light.
to
also contain
A
this
at
prophecy,
rate
Christian
any
has
expect the
The whirlwind does
not
personal second
tells
us
coming
'
Jesus Christ.
up The
Bible
that
'
Elijah
went
by
into
rest
heaven
(2
In
matter
there.
revealed
are as
book
in the Old
Testament
tion collecof
told certainly
'
of the re-appearance
I will send
Elijah in
the
Behold
you
Elijah
and Thus gone
prophet
day
the
coming
of
the
great
dreadful
the
to
Lord1
according Elijah,
up
the
Bible
only
into
further
made
necessary
that he
should
Such
back the
before Christ
the
was
faith of
whole and
Israelite
nation
at
the
advent
of Christ
based
on
c
words
of their sacred
scriptures.
confronted
of the first
questionswhich
the
THE
SECOND
ADVENT
153
chims
where
of
was
Jesus Christ
Elijah ?
then
?
'
was,
as
it should
have
been,
him,
must
And
his
asked disciples
saying, why
f rst copie
'
say
Elias
existed about
would
no
prophecy
told his Elias
no
in the mind
of
Jesus,he
was
have
at
such
prophecy, that
back.
was
"
died
and
he would
never
come
But and
'
admitted
was
that
the
that
prophecy
Elias
unto
true
come.
that
it
necessary
should
And
Jesus
answered
come,
and
said
and Elias
restore
all
things.
But
say
unto
you^hat
is
come
him
done
unto
whatsoever of
man
they listed.
suffer
of them.
Then
them
disciples John
the
understood
'
that
he
spoke
unto
of
How
disciples
advent
was
to
know
prophecy
of
Elias
before
appearance
of the
Messiah
fulfilled by the
of him
Because
John
it had
And
he
shall go before
'
in the do It
power
of Elias
(Luke i. 17).
above received
he would
What sbow
?
circumstances
narrated
written
been
intojieavenand there
was
prophecy that
154
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
come
of Christ.
that the
questionwr.o
of the
put
Christ
and
he said been
prophec"
advent of
of Elias the in
had
John
come
Baptist.
the
The
that
Johr
The
had
and spirit
is
power
of Elias.
of significance
"
this
conclusivelythis
person is
that when
spoken
of, it is not
but and and the
personalre-appearance
of
some
appearance Such
one
in his
spirit
power.
it is
or
is the verdict
Jesus Christ,
who No follows
conclusive
againstevery
as a
Christ in the
accepts
can
him
go
prophet.
Christian
to
world
same
against it,and
he is bound
put the
of
interpretation upon
as
the second
advent
Jesus Christ
Jesus
There
two
Christ
put upon
the
the second
advent
of Elias. between
is not
cases.
ence differslightest
the
If,however, there
escape
is
no
room
for
Christian
a
to
arrived
at
above,
of
one
is he
equally
considers
latter record the Old
can
by
be
a
the
judgment
prophet
of God. conclusion
All
the
the
say
is that
is not and
the
double
testimony of gives
hi.n
n^j
New
Testaments
suppositionin
this
particular
THE
SECOND
ADVENT
155
catfe.
It cannot
ag*to
be
denied
advent
was
phecy pro-
the second
it is equally
that the'
ceitain
question was
that Elias Moreover
as
put
to
Jesus ;
never
and
himself
a
came
world.
corruption against
the the work
like the of
a
this in
Gospels, going
not
it does been
claims of Jesus,could
Christian, and
was
have it is
sure
therefore and
that
answer.
question
Nor had in
put
to
Jesus
a
he gave
this the
there
been
corruption in
Old
Testament been
so,
if it had
Jesus
have
admitted
so
prophecy.
this the
being
clear
against corruption on
is
as
point,a particular
decision him of Christ
Muslim
as a
much
bound
by
admit
to be
righteous.
consideration
a
shows
even
more
clearly
decision
Muslim's
point
assumes
of
a
view, the
greater importance.
Elias
nonobjectionif
are
himself
reappeared, there
those referred
other
above
grave in the
difficulties
besides
to
personal place,
re-appearance
of
Jesus
Christ.
In the add
first
the words
imam
wiamukum
is your
156
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
from
sive
among
yourselves. These
his
words
are
against
appears
being
the
an
Israelite.
The
Messiah
that
among
not
an
Muslims
must
be
an
one
of
themselves,
or a
outsider,no
prophet but
most
irn^/n
trustworthy
and in
Bukharee
the Promised
Messiah,
differently.
reports, the Israelite prophet is described
ahmar,
ja'd,
white
complexion
narrated
in
and
others
that
the
chapter the
is to appear
among
at the time
of
Antichrist
white colour
is described mixed
with
ddam,
and
ul
sabit, i.e. of
black Bada
having
khalq).
lank Now
hair
(see Bukharee,
two
chapter
these
conclusively that
among
Messiah
men
that
must
appear
the Muslims
from
the
Israelite prophet,and
was
the
aware
Muhammad
not
only himself
to
made
it known
his
followers
by giving the
two
r
descriptions.
In
fact,even
if it
were
possiblefor Jesus
Christ
158
MUHAMMAD
AND
CHRIST
done
only by
and
follower therefore
a
of
the
Holy Prophet
a
Muhammad,
Mujaddid,
reformer of
was
promised to
every
the Muslims
was
at
the commencement
with
it It
century,
of
entrusted
the
Mujaddid
who
was
called in the
but
name
Messiah
he
not
only
first
appeared
Messiah,
with says
As
spiritand
corrected
a
of the
also of
connected
as
the
:
former
Messiah,
he
himself
God
has
given
me
people.
I have
therefore
been
named
of Mary.
And his
he
has
in
fact
broken
to
the the
cross, most
this
being
chief
work
according
authentic
reports, because
the death
from
the
Gospels that
the cross,
as
placeon
the
has been
nineteen
wrongly supposed by
centuries, but
he died
the
a
Christians
for
that
wounds,
lived to
natural death
old
was
ripe
age
4
of 120
report
of his
expressly says.
'
It
through
was
blood
cross
purchased: preaching
xv. never
'And
vain, and
Christ
(1 Cor.
and he
?4).
*.
the
cross
rose
THE
SECOND
ADVENT
159
from
the
dead:
the
preaching
vain and
of
the
Christian
is also his
on
Missionary
faitn.
The
is therefore
vain
Christian
on
laid religion
the
cross
t^e death
of Christ these
and
subsequent proved
to
rising ;
be
both
statements
on
have
utterly wrong
the foundation
the the
testimony afforded
with
to
by
the
whole
superstructure
falls
the
ground.
PRINTED
AT
THE
S.P.C.K,
PRESS,
MADRAS
"
1921
CH321