Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 261
261 the word kama has been used in Surah Nur as well. This clearly demonstrates that there is a complete likeness and similarity between the Mosaic dispensation and the community of Muhammad sa. The line of successors who were raised in the Mosaic dispensation came to an end with Jesus, peace be upon him, who came in the fourteenth century after Moses, peace be upon him. In view of the like- ness that has just been mentioned, it is necessary, at the very least, for a succes- sor of the same nature and strength to be raised within the ummah also in the fourteenth century, who would be the likeness of the Messiah, and who would possess a similar heart and reflect his nature. Hence, even if Allah the Exalted had not furnished other testimonies and support in favour of this fact, as both these dispensations have been likened to one another, it would naturally follow that a spiritual manifestation of Jesus as emerge in the ummah of the Holy Prophet sa in the fourteenth century. Otherwise, this would, God forbid, establish an imper- fection and flaw in the aforementioned likeness of the Holy Prophet sa. However, Allah the Exalted not only attested to the truth of this likeness and furnished it support, but also established that the likeness of Moses as was greater than Moses as himself and all the other Prophets, peace be upon them. The Purpose of the Advent of the Promised Messiah Just as the Messiah, peace be upon him, did not bring a new law, but rather came to fulfil the Torah, in the same manner, the Messiah who belonged to the dis- pensation of Muhammad sa did not bring a new law; rather, he came to revive the Holy Quran and to perfect the propagation of guidance. In relation to the perfection of the propagation of guidance, it ought to be remembered that there are two aspects of the completion of God’s favour and the perfection of religion bestowed upon the Holy Prophet sa : firstly, there is the per- fection of guidance; secondly, there is the perfection of the propagation of that guidance. The perfection of guidance took place in every respect during the first advent of the Holy Prophet sa and the perfection of the propagation of guidance took place during his second coming. For in Surah Jumu’ah, the verse 1 ْ ْنَ مِنْهُم ی ِ ٰاخَر (And among others from among them) instructs that another community be pre- pared through the grace and teaching of the Holy Prophet sa. This verse evidently establishes that there would be a second coming of the Holy Prophet sa , and this advent would be in the form of a spiritual manifestation, which is taking place at 1 al-Jumu’ah, 62:4 p. 239