The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 374
Essence of Islam-III 374 the verse: لا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْم 245 then, within one year, you will be so sorely affected by the consequences of this impertinence that it will be a sign for others. I therefore request you, that if you are not inclined to hold a debate, then at least try to seek a decision in the manner I have suggested so that those who go on calling for a sign may be shown a sign by God Almighty. He has power to do all that He wills. And our last pronouncement is: All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. 246 [Majmu'ah Ishtihārāt, vol. 1, pp. 241-249]. I have written to him several times that I do not question any of his beliefs, except that I do not believe, as he does, that Jesus (peace be upon him) is still physically alive. I believe, both as a doctrine and as a fact, that Jesus as died a natural death, and why should I not believe so, because in His Mighty Book, the Holy Qur'ān, my. Lord and Master has mentioned him among the dead and there is no mention at all of the extraordinary phenomenon of him being physically alive or of his expected return to earth. The Holy Qur'an concludes merely with the announcement of his death. Therefore if my statement is vain, false and blasphemous, then he should come and debate the matter with me. If he succeeds in establishing the continuation of the physical life of Jesus (peace be on him) from the Holy Qur'an and the Aḥādīth I shall discard my belief and shall burn all my books that deal with 245 Follow not that of which thou hast no knowledge. '-Bani Isrā'il, 17:37. [Publisher] 246 The reference is to Maulavi Nadhir Hussain of Delhi. [Publisher]