Reply to a Mockery — Page 6
6 perversity of Maulaw i Sahib’s logic. The truth is, and no one can deny it, that: کَثْرَۃ ُ الَْسْمَاء ِ تَدُل ُّ عَلٰی شَرْف ِ الْمُسَمّٰی وَفَضْلِہٖ. Multiplicity of titles is proof of the high status, nobility, and superiority of the bearer of those titles. ( Tafs i rul- Kh a zin al-Musamm a Lib a bit-T a’ w i l f i Ma‘ a nit-Tanz i l, vol. 1, p. 15, Commentary on S u rah al-F a ti h ah, D a rul- Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, first edition, 1995) The Chief of all Prophets, Muhammad s as , was blessed with the greatest number of titles because: The light of utmost grandeur given to man, that is, the most perfect man, could not be found in the angels, the stars, the moon or the sun. It could not be found in the oceans and rivers of the earth. It was not even to be found in rubies or garnets, emeralds, diamonds or pearls. In short, that light could not be found in any earthly or celes- tial material. It was only to be found in man, that is, in the most perfect man—whose most profound, most perfect, and the highest being is our lord and master, the Chief of Prophets, the Chief of all living beings, Muhammad Mu st af a, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. So that light was given to that [perfect] man and it was also given, in accordance with their respective merit, to those who, to some extent, adorned themselves with his attrib- utes. . And this glory is to be found in its highest, its most