Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 854
AL-ISTIFTA' SUPPLEMENT TO ḤAQIQATUL-WAḤI 854 the Signs of great punishment. By Allah, I am amazed at the Muslims who have supported the Christians by stating what is contradictory to the Word of God Almighty; they said that Jesus was physically raised to the heavens and would, at some time in the future, return to the earth. The Christians consider this to be the greatest argument in sup- port of their belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Indeed, they mis- guide so many ignorant people by dint of the same argument in spite of the fact that Jesus is dead and is living among the dead. This is affirmed by a number of arguments set out both in the Holy Quran and Hadith. The Holy Quran speaks of him as dead in a number of places. The Holy Prophets saw him in the Second Heaven during the Night of Mi'raj, residing among the dead along with Prophet Yaḥyā [John]. What can be a greater and more magnificent testimony than this? Yet the igno- rant attack me when they hear it from me. They say that if they had a sword, they would have killed me. Verily, the sword of Allah is sharper than the swords of this group. Have not some of them already seen the strike of His sword during the mubāhalah [with me]? The Holy Quran repeatedly mentions Jesus ['Īsā] to be dead. It also mentions that he was granted refuge on an elevated land of green val- leys and springs of running water. It has been established with a number of other arguments that this was none other than the land of Kashmir, where Jesus' grave has been discovered. This event is also mentioned in the old literature of this country-evidence that cannot be denied. Truth has become manifest, and all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. The people of this country [Kashmir] have testified that the grave is that of an Israelite Prophet who had migrated to this region after he was persecuted by his people, and that this occurred almost as many as 2,000 years ago. In short, there are incontrovertible arguments to prove that Īsā is dead. Only one who does not believe in the categorical argu- ments of the Holy Quran and Hadith can deny this. Had God so willed, He would have granted guidance to such people, but He lets go astray who wishes it and guides who wishes it, and they will all be returned to Him. They follow nothing but conjecture. I do not find them sticking