Malfuzat - Volume IV — Page 259
259 Malfuzat – Volume IV have fallen so far that they proclaim a helpless man as being God. Certain words serve as a trial. Since Allah the Exalted desired to test the Christians, this term became established among the Prophets as recorded in their scriptures. However, since God is All-Wise and All-Knowing, He had already given wider currency to the word ‘father’ from before. However, it was a misfor - tune of the Christians that when the Messiah used this word, they understood it in the literal sense and misunderstood. The Messiah said that it is written in your books that you are God, and in doing so, he sought to dispel polytheistic beliefs and help them understand, but the foolish did not care; despite this teaching they declared him to be the son of God. The Jews were also faced with a similar trial. Since they were a troublesome people, on their request, Manna 1 and Salwa 2 was sent down upon them. This was a precursor to the plague. Since Allah the Exalted knew that they will transgress and plague was the punishment destined for them, the relevant causes arose as well. Once again, I return to my actual objective and say that for the establish - ment of true divine Unity, it is necessary for one to fully partake of love for God Almighty. This love cannot be established until one is complete in the practical aspect. Mere verbal declarations prove nothing. If a person continuously repeats the word ‘sweet’, this would never replace the actual taste of sweetness. Similarly, if a person who verbally declares and proclaims their friendship for someone, turns away from lending their help and support when the time calls for it, they would not be considered a true friend. In the same way, if the Unity of God is professed only in words and love is expressed in the verbal sense alone, this is of no benefit whatsoever. In fact, this aspect of the teaching requires practical 1 Mann means a favour or gift; anything obtained without trouble or difficulty; honey or dew (Aqrab). The Manna has also been referred to in a saying of the Holy Prophet as: ‘The truffle is one of the things included in the Manna’ (Bukhari). See also Lane under ‘Turanjabin. ’ (Refer to the Holy Quran with English Translation and Short Commentary, Malik Ghulam Farid, note no. 98 under al-Baqarah 2:58, Islam International Publications) [Publisher] 2 Salwa is (1) a whitish bird resembling a quail and found in some parts of Arabia and the neighbouring countries; (2) whatever renders a person contented and happy; honey (Aqrab). The sending down of Manna and Salwa has been mentioned at three places in the Quran, in the present verse and in vv․ 2:58 and 7:161, and at all these three places the fact has been followed by the injunction: ‘Eat of the good things that We have provided for you. ’ This shows that whereas the food which was provided to the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai was wholesome, palatable and of good taste, it consisted not of one but of several things; Manna (truffle) and Salwa (quails) forming the major part of them. See Exodus, 16: 13-15. (Refer to the Holy Quran with English Translation and Short Commentary, Malik Ghulam Farid, note no. 99 under al-Baqarah 2:58, Islam International Publications) [Publisher] p. 523