The Light of the Holy Qur'an — Page 41
Fo o T N o T e F r o M PAG e 25 Fo o T N o T e F r o M PAG e 25 41 of the age. His anthology of verse is held in high regard and has recently been printed and published widely with great care and elegance by a Christian group in Beirut and has also come to this country. This anthology contains many a verse as a reminder of that age which shows the internal state of the Christians of those times. Among those verses is the following: ُ لْتُه َّ ِبَان َ الشَّبَاب ُ و َ رُبَّمَا عَل بِالْغَانِیَات ِ وَبِالشَّرَاب ِ الَْصْھَب Meaning that, youth departed from me and to arrest its departure I oftentimes resorted to the ruse of keeping myself occupied with beautiful women and red wine. Now, this verse clearly shows that this person, despite being advanced in years and being called an eminent Christian sage, indulged in the evil practice of fornica- tion. What is even more shameful is that he did not abstain from his evil conduct in spite of his advancing years; and that was not all, he was also a chronic alcoholic. Those who have studied the life of al-Akh t al are well aware that among the Christians of the time, it was as if he stood out as one of a kind in terms of prestige, knowledge, and excellence. It is clear from his writings that not only did he versify the thinking which he had acquired from the doctrine of Atonement, but he also enjoyed the status of priests. It is believed that he would regularly visit all the churches that he has mentioned in his writings in his capacity as a leading priest and all the people followed in his footsteps. Is it not proof enough of his being unique among the Christians of that age that from among millions of Christian laymen and priests of those times he is the only one whose memorial was found in this age, hav- ing survived the passage of thirteen hundred years? Indeed, it is