Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 58
58 The prophecy identifies another sign: Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Jesus never attained to any government and, therefore, could never witness its increase. Another sign is: Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever , and even this does not apply to Jesus. These signs apply to the Holy Prophet of Islam. It was he who had to shoulder the responsibilities of State and who, quite against his will, found himself a king. It is an irony of fate that Jesus, who never became king, constantly dreamed of being one. 62, 63, 64 The Holy Prophet was a king; yet he hated being one, and constantly warned his followers against imitating the ways of Kaiser and Chosroes. One name of the Promised One is Wonderful. Jesus admits that the bearer of this name was to come after him. This admission is contained in the parable of the vineyard. 65 A householder planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen. He then sent his servants to collect the fruit, but the husbandmen beat or killed or stoned the servants one by one. He sent more servants, but they also were maltreated like the others. He then sent his son, but the husbandmen killed the son. Having said so much, Jesus asked: "When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen"? And those who heard answered: "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons". But Jesus said again: "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder". That is to say, after the son had been slain, there would be another one sent by God, the one who would prove the head of the corner , and who would seem marvelous in the eyes of Jesus and of all others. The Marvelous One, therefore, would come after the son is slain. It can only be the Holy Prophet of Islam who appeared after Jesus who was put on the Cross. The third name of the Promised One is Counselor. The name applies pre-eminently to the Holy Prophet. A nation turned to him for advice. He, in turn, held regular consultation with his people, and made it obligatory on the State to consult people in all matters of importance. That the Prophet was a much-consulted person is evident from the Quran: 66