The Nazarene Kashmiri Christ — Page 21
21 وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَهُ بِهَا وَلَكِنَّةَ اَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَويه which means, "And if We had pleased, We could have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth and followed his evil inclination". رَفعته. The above mentioned Verse refers to Bal'am. Ba'oor who, it is related lived in the time of Moses. . He is reported to have been a virtuous man, but pride turned his head and he ended in disgrace. The Muslim theologists unanimously agree that he died and perished on the earth. certainly does not mean that Allah pulled and dragged an unwilling person towards the skies and the person like a _ stubborn child clung to the earth. No scholar would translate it this way. Actually what is meant here is, that whatever qualities he was bestowed upon he should have used them righteously so that he could attain nearness to Allah, and be exalted. But instead he became wholly engrossed in worldly affairs and began to follow his evil desires and inclinations and rejected the truth. Both these examples show that the word has been used to convey the meaning. of spiritual exaltation or spiritual ascension and not physical ascension. . Q. Can you quote any tradition of the Holy Prophet in support of your answer?. Ans. . Two examples from the traditions of the Holy. Prophet can be quoted. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says اِذَ تَوَاضَعَ الْعَبْدُ رَفَعَهُ اللهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ بالسلسلة. Kanz-ul-Ammal Vol. 2 Page 25