The Light of the Holy Qur'an — Page 113
T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH 113 However, it seems from your own admission that such is not the teaching of the Gospel, and the verdict according to the Gospel is that if a Christian does not give testimony of the Christian reli- gion with his tongue in the face of overwhelming torture, then he will forever become accursed, and the Gospel shall no longer accommodate him among its community, and there is no restitu- tion for him. Bravo! Bravo! Today you have set the seal with your own hand that the Gospel you hold in your hand is a false Gospel. Be that as it may, you still won’t be spared my strike, for you should either refute what I am going to write below, or else—should you have any semblance of dignity— renounce the Christian Religion. The objection is that if, according to you, that teaching can- not be from God which promises forgiveness, and does not deny the mercy of God to a person who has hidden his faith—albeit upon the condition that he should repent, do good deeds, and show steadfastness and perseverance—then how far from truth must the teaching of the Gospel be which accepted Peter despite his most abominable misconduct, making a false statement, vehe- ment denial, taking a false oath, cursing the Messiah, and conceal- ing his faith? 1 ٭ Your objection was merely that the Qur’an did not turn away even such people from Islam who verbally reject Islam under some duress, whereas the Gospel has crossed all limits in this regard by taking back into its fold a person who not only con- cealed his faith, but clearly renounced it, and falsely swore that he 1. ٭ l et alone the concealing of testimony or keeping it secret, the c hristians even take back the apostates of the Gospel upon reaffirma- tion of their faith. —Author