Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 227
227 and manifest. Note: After listening to this discourse, Mahdi Hasan responded in the follow- ing terms. Mahdi Hasan: But this is not my question. I am asking why it has been prom- ised in the Hadith that the Messiah son of Mary would appear. Why not just say ‘the likeness of the Messiah’ in clear words? His Holiness as : What response should I give to such a question? The Jews raised similar objections against Jesus, peace be upon him, when they asserted that it was written that Elijah would descend from heaven before the coming of the Messiah. I have a book written by a Jew. In it, he states that if God asks us about our reasons for rejecting the Messiah, we will put the book of Malachi before Him and say: ‘Where is it written here that John would come in the likeness of the Messiah?’ Hence, such objections have been raised in the past as well. No new allegations are being levelled against me. In actuality, this is an allegation on God Almighty Himself. However, if you all ponder, it can easily be understood that this has always been the way of God Almighty. Mahdi Hasan: A proper noun cannot change. His Holiness as : If this is your belief, then I ask you, what do you make of the statement in the Hadith that Satan touches every child that is born, but Satan did not touch the son of Mary? Do you believe, God forbid, that Satan also touched the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? If you hold this belief, then this is very dangerous indeed. This will pose a difficulty for you because you assert that a proper noun cannot be interpreted in a non-literal manner. I, for my part, cannot accept this for even a moment; in fact, I cannot even listen to such a belief. My body trembles when I hear someone say that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was touched by Satan. It is my belief that anyone who holds such a doctrine loses their faith. You ought to fear God. This principle of yours will compel you to accept the belief that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was not free from the touch of Satan. And if you do not hold this belief, then explain this Hadith? p. 207