Elucidation of Objectives — Page 8
Tau di h-e-Mar a m 8 never be made to leave it. Would the breach of such a solemn and positive commitment not shatter the credi- bility of all Divine promises? Of a certainty, such a belief will not only unfairly place Jesus in an awkward position, but indulging in such futile exercise will also be disrespectful and derogatory to God Himself. The matter deserves a very keen and close study. Belief in a lesser doctrine of this kind, which can otherwise easily be explained as a metaphor, amounts to a virtual murder of cardinal religious verities. It is in fact a doctrine which is full of faults and is heir to a host of complex problems and difficulties. It provides the opponents with occasion for ridicule. As I have already mentioned elsewhere, the disbelievers of Mecca also wanted the Holy Prophet sa to perform this miracle, namely, that he should ascend to the skies before their very eyes and then come down. The reply they received was: 14 This means that it is against the wisdom and glory of God Almighty to show such palpably obvious miracles in this world of trials, and thus undermine the wisdom and value of belief in the unseen. Now I say to you: How is it possible that something, being against the divine law, should not be permissible for the Holy Propht sa —who is the best of the Prophets— and be 14 "Say, 'Holy is my Lord' ". (The Qur’ a n 17:94) [Translator]