The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 297
Dhulqarnain 297 'When Dhulqarnain (who is the Promised Messiah), is furnished with all the means, he will follow a certain path, (i. e. , he will resolve to reform the people of the. West). He will find that the sun of truth and righteousness has set in a muddy pool, near which he will find a people in the darkness. (These are the Christians of the. West who will be steeped in darkness; they will have no sun to get light from, nor will they have clean water to drink, i. e. , both in practice and doctrine they will be in a terrible state; they will be bereft of spiritual light and spiritual water. ) Then We shall say to Dhulqarnain (the. Promised Messiah): It is up to you either to punish them or to treat them with kindness. Dhulqarnain (the Promised Messiah) will say: We only desire the wrongdoers to be punished. They will be punished in this life (through our supplications), and will suffer severe torment in the hereafter. But he who does not deny the truth and does good deeds will have his reward. He will be required only to do what can be done with facility and ease. '. In short, these verses contain a prophecy that the Promised Messiah will appear at a time when the people of the. West will be steeped in darkness. The sun of truth will completely disappear from their eyes and will set in a dirty, stinking pool, (i. e. , instead of truth, they will be infested with foul beliefs and deeds). That will be the water they will drink. They will have no light whatsoever and will wallow in darkness. This exactly is the condition of the Christian faith today, as described by the Holy. Qur'an, and the great centre of Christianity is also in the. Western countries. Then God Almighty says: ثمَّ اتْبَعَ سَبَباه حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَظْلَمُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُمْ مِّن دُونِهَا ثران كَذلِكَ ، وَ قَدْ أَحَطنا