The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 372
372. Essence of Islam-III ion and a new doctrine which are altogether opposed to the teachings of God and the Holy Prophets and are obviously false, since, according to you, the Holy Qur'ān and the Aḥādīth proclaim that Jesus (peace be upon him) was raised bodily to heaven and will descend on earth some later time, and that the notion that he had died a natural death is opposed to the clear authority of the Holy. Qur'an and Ḥadīth. As you have, in your affirmations, described my claim as opposed to the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith, as a consequence of which thousands of Muslims have been deeply agitated against me, it is incumbent upon you to settle with me whether in holding such a view I have departed from the authority of the Qur'ān and Hadith, or whether you are guilty of such departure in professing the opposite view. . . . . If, in a meeting held for the purpose, you refute my arguments, which I shall set forth from the Holy Qur'ān and from the true Aḥādīth, and present better arguments from these two sources in support of the doctrine that Jesus son of Mary was raised bodily up to heaven and continues there alive, I shall repent at your hand and burn all my books which deal with this question and which are in my possession. I shall publish my recantation publicly. . May the curse of Allah be upon him who conceals in his heart that which is opposed to what he professes with his tongue. But keep in mind that if you are vanquished and fail to cite a conclusive verse or authentic Ḥadīth in support of the doctrine that you profess, you will also have to publicly withdraw from your false belief. Allah loves those who repent. . Dear Sir! I put you under oath in the name of God, the. Holy and Glorious, Who created you and has bestowed countless favours upon you, that if you truly believe that