An Introduction to the Hidden Treasures of Islam — Page 104
104 chagrin and self-reproach and victory turned into defeat, and everyone applauded the readiness and appropriateness of the reply. The curing of such unfortunate ones by Jesus was an assertion made by the New Testament and formed no part of the Promised Messiah as ’s own conviction. In fact, to him, the miracles of Jesus bore an altogether different aspect. It has indeed been claimed by the New Testament that Jesus used to effect the physical cure of such people simply by a touch of his hand and not by medicine, nor by the prayer. And, in the same book, it is written that if the Christians have but a grain of faith, they can perform more wonderful miracles than these. Therefore, it did not lie with the Christians to bring those people to him rather it was he, who was entitled to present such people to them and, therefore, with due acknowledgment of their kindness in collecting them, he presented them to the Christians with the request that in conformity with the teachings of the New Testament, if they had in them faith even as small as a grain of mustard seed, they should place their hands on them and command them to be fully cured. If, however, they failed and could not act up to their own pretensions, then no one could possibly believe in their truth. The rejoinder made a great impression and the Christians were altogether dumbfounded and hastened to change the topic. ( Life of Ahmad by A. R. Dard ra , edition of 2008, pp. 398-399) Specimen of Writing This objection of compulsion can, however, be raised against your scriptures. In Exodus, 4: 21, God said to Moses: I shall harden the heart of Pharaoh. If this heart was hardened its consequence was that he was condemned to hell. Also see Exodus, 7:3; Proverbs, 16:4; Exodus, 10:3 and Deuteronomy, 29:4: God has not bestowed on you minds that may understand and eyes that may see and ears that may hear. Is this not a clear instance of compulsion? Then see Psalms, 148:6: He appointed a decree that cannot be averted. All these references show that your own scriptures are open to the objection