Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 383
2 May 1908 383 No one will be able to prove from the Holy Quran that the word ْ ِّی تَوَف ْ ِّی تَوَف [ tawaffi ] means ‘ascension to heaven with the mortal body’ and not ‘death’. You see, the very same word ْ ِّی تَوَف ْ ِّی تَوَف [ tawaffi ] has been used in the Holy Quran for the Holy Prophet s as : 1 اَّمِا َكَّنَيِرُن َضْعَب ْيِذَّلا ْمُهُدِعَن ْوَا َكَّنَيَّفَوَتَن۠ اَّمِا َكَّنَيِرُن َضْعَب ْيِذَّلا ْمُهُدِعَن ْوَا َكَّنَيَّفَوَتَن۠ And the very same word ْ ِّی تَوَف ْ ِّی تَوَف [ tawaffi ] has been used in regard to the Prophet Joseph as as well: 2 ْيِنَّفَوَت اًمِلْسُم َّو ْيِنْقِحْلَا َنْيِحِلّٰصلاِب ْيِنَّفَوَت اًمِلْسُم َّو ْيِنْقِحْلَا َنْيِحِلّٰصلاِب Now, it is worth pondering that this very word implies death for others, but when it appears with reference to Jesus as , it undergoes such a transformation that it takes on the meaning ‘ascension to heaven with the mortal body’ and not ‘death’. The very first ijma [consensus] that took place among the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, of the Holy Prophet s as was on the issue of the death of Jesus as. Once, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, who is a very devout person, had an opportunity to debate a Bishop on the subject of ‘the Living Messenger’. The detail of this incident is that one Lord Bishop claimed in a large gathering in Lahore that the Messenger of the Muslims did not deserve to be called the Living Prophet (God forbid). The only living Prophet is Jesus as ; the Prophet of the Muslims was buried in Madinah whereas Christ as was alive sitting on the right hand of God. He addressed all the Muslims that they should think for 1. If We make you witness a part of what We promised them or cause you to die before that ( S u rah Y u nus, 10:47). [Publisher] 2. Let death come to me in a state of submission to Your will and join me to the righteous ( S u rah Y u suf, 12:102). [Publisher]