Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 136
? 136 their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely He is the Most Forgiving, the Merciful. ’ 1 He is the sole Master and Creator of all men. He may forgive whom He likes and may punish when the punishment would ben- efit the culprit. [Read the parable of the householder who hired men, and who, in the end, said (Matt 20:15): ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?’ The master has, therefore, the right to forgive his servants also. ] When a sinner falls down and puts his forehead on the thresh- old of the Most Compassionate God and repents and prays with a broken heart and streaming eyes, with the determination that he will never commit sin again; then God, who is more compassion- ate than either mother or father, moved with compassion, comes to his rescue and forgives his sins. This is the way by which sin can justly be forgiven. Have you not read the parable of a certain king who took account of his servant who owed him ten thousand talents? But the servant fell down and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ’ Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosened him, and forgave him the debt. , (a) 1. The Holy Quran, 39:54 (a) She answered that she had read it, ‘but it must have cost him a good deal of sacrifice. That enormous amount of capital. ’ I replied, ‘Think, if a man can write off a debt despite the enormous cost, then how much more possible will it be for Omnipotent, All-Possessing God to forgive while it does not cost Him anything? The parable shows that repent- ance and supplication is the true way for obtaining forgiveness. But you believe that God, without shedding the blood of an innocent, or in oth- er words by committing suicide, could not be justified in forgiving sins. ’