Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 42
42 HAQIQATUL-WAḤI—THE PHILOSOPHY OF DIVINE REVELATION If by 'consensus' is meant the consensus of the Companions, then it is a false accusation levelled against them. They had no idea whatsoever of this fabricated belief that Ḥaḍrat Īsā would return to this world. Had this been their belief why did they tearfully come to a consensus upon the subject of this verse: 1 مَا مُحَمَّدُ إِلا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ. Meaning that, Muḥammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was only a human Messenger, not God; and all Messengers before him have passed away? Thus, if Haḍrat Īsā had not passed away from this world up until the demise of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and had not been touched by the Angel of Death until that time, then why, upon hearing this verse, did the Companions, Allah be pleased with them, recant the belief, as it were, that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would return to this world? It is common knowledge that this verse was recited by Haḍrat Abu Bakr, Allah be pleased with him, on the day of the demise of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to all the Companions at the Prophet's Mosque, and it was Monday, while the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had not yet been buried, and his blessed body was in Ḥaḍrat ‘Ã’ishah Șiddīqah's home, when, on account of the extreme grief of separation, some of the Companions began to speculate that perhaps the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had not really died, but had gone into hiding and would again come back to this world. Hadrat Abu Bakr, Allah be pleased with him, having perceived the dangerous nature of this trial, immediately summoned all of the Companions. By fortunate coincidence, all of the Companions, may 1. Surah Al-e-Imran, 3:145 [Publisher]