Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 61
61 Teachers now except from among his followers. Any other Law would not supersede the Law and Teaching of the Holy Prophet. Besides, in the Promised Messiah’s time preaching of Islam would be greatly emphasized which would ultimately result in the spread of Islam around the world. When this happens, the universal and everlasting character of Islam will be established beyond doubt. Thus the everlasting Father of the prophecy of Isaiah, therefore, is the Prophet of Islam. The fifth name in the prophecy is Prince of Peace. Prince also means a potential king. This expression can only apply to the Prophet of Islam because the religion that he founded i. e. Islam literally means peace. In no sense of the word can Jesus can be regarded as Prince of Peace. At least one meaning of this expression would be that the person so called has an abundance of the quality called peace. Prince of Peace would, therefore, be a person who has peace in his natural gifts and is able to pass it on to others. There is no evidence of this in the case of Jesus. He never had the power to administer forgiveness to his enemies. True, he preached forgiveness and taught his followers to turn the other cheek. There is however a world of difference between profession and practice. What really matters is practice, not profession. The concept of turning the other cheek 75 is impractical in our daily lives and is inconsistent with human nature. This teaching may have been appropriate in the early days of Christianity to counter excessive brutality among the early converts. Likewise, the Old Testament teaching of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth 76 was also applicable in the early days of Judaism to instill self-confidence in the Jews to enable them to protect their faith, which, at that time, was the prevalent Divine Law. The apparent contradictions in the teachings of the Old and New Testaments are thus consistent if viewed in the chronological context but none is applicable in today’s world due to their impracticality. These apparently changing Biblical teachings when analyzed in this manner also confirm the evolutionary trend in human spiritual development. On the other hand, the Holy Prophet of Islam has left an unparalleled legacy of forgiveness and peace. He and his early followers were subjected to every conceivable brutality. Many among his closest relations and friends were murdered mercilessly. The Prophet’s own person was a witness to these barbarities. He was their target on many different occasions and in many different ways. He had to leave his hometown and seek shelter elsewhere, as had his friends and followers. Almost all of them had to suffer the pangs of separation from their near and dear ones. Some were torn asunder while tied to two camels running in opposite directions. Spears thrust in their private parts killed women. Slaves who believed in him were stripped and dragged on hot sand and gravel in the hot Arabian Desert. They were persecuted and asked to renounce their faith. The bodies of Muslims killed in battle were mutilated. In short, all early Muslims, irrespective of age, sex or physical condition, had to suffer to the utmost and in a variety of ways. At last, according His promise, God made them triumphant. The Holy Prophet reentered Mecca as a victor with ten thousand followers in accordance with Biblical prophecies. The cruel enemy was at his feet, thinking that no punishment was too much for the excesses that they had perpetrated against the Muslims. Yet all that the Prophet said to them was, This day, I forgive you all. 77 The Prophet had the power to avenge the brutalities committed against him and his followers but he chose to forgive