Ahmadiyyat or Qadianism! Islam or Apostasy? — Page 147
heaven, still maintain that this expression when used in relation to the son of Mary, signifies his exaltation in degree and in praise and not in place or direction. 54. It would hence not be incorrect to assert that the expressions raf or rafa employed in these verses of the Holy Quran refer to Jesus's spiritual exaltation and not his physical ascension as is incorrectly assumed by the opponents of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. It is regretted however, that the critics of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community take exception when it employs the correct significance of the Arabic expression rafa to suggest that the Jews merely follow a conjecture in believing that they had killed the Messiah since the Holy Quran declares quite categorically: 'On the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself. ' 55. It is interesting to note that this expression rafa on the basis of which the critics of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community argue Jesus's physical ascension to heaven occurs in the Holy Quran on several occasions. And not in one of these instances does it signify physical hoisting of any material entity. . It is for instance stated in relation to another beloved apostle of God. Almighty: 'And recite to them the account of Idris, as mentioned in the Book. He was indeed a righteous man and a Prophet. And We exalted him to an elevated place. '56. In his English translation of the Holy Quran, Abdullah Yusuf Ali renders this Quranic verse of the Holy Quran to suggest that God raised. Idris. 57 Now, if one was to assume that this raising of Christ as stated in the Quranic verse 4. 159 suggests his physical hoisting to heaven, then 54. Razi, Imam Fakhr al Din: Tafsir al Kabir 55. Al Quran: 4. 159 56. Al Quran: 19: 57/58 57. The Holy Quran: Text, Translation and commentary by Abdullah Yusu Ali: S xix. v 57: pg 779 148