The Light of the Holy Qur'an — Page 121
T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH 121 abhorrence [of sin]. The Gospel does not emphasize at all that sin is a lethal poison and one should create some antidote within oneself as expiation for it. Instead, this interpolated Gospel has accepted the suicide of Jesus Christ to be an adequate substitute for virtuous deeds. How absurd and mistaken a notion this is that no attention is paid to attaining true righteousness! On the contrary, the Gospel actually teaches to become a Christian and do whatever you please, for [the Christian doctrine of ] the Atonement is not a defective method such that any vir- tuous deeds may be needed. Now just think, can there be a more effective means than this to spread evil? The Holy Qur’an, on the other hand, says that you shall not enter that Holy Abode until you have purified yourself, while the Gospel says to commit every evil, for the suicide of Jesus is sufficient for you. Now, pray tell which of these takes sin lightly, the Qur’an or the Gospel? The God of the Qur’an does not proclaim anyone to be right- eous until righteousness takes the place of sinfulness, whereas the Gospel has created total chaos. It has slighted and belittled all the commandments related to righteousness and piety through the Doctrine of Atonement. And now the Christians have no need for them. What a pity, what a pity! How sad, how sad! Your second question is that the teaching regarding Paradise is purely sensual in nature which cannot satisfy a godly person. The Reply: Let it be clear that it is exceedingly self-evident, acceptable to reason, and consistent with the norms of justice that just as at the time of committing crimes or earning goodness or performing righteous deeds in the world, man does not do any- thing with his soul alone but does so both with his soul and his body; in the same way, the reward or punishment should also