The Descent of the Messiah — Page 84
THE DESCENT OF THE MESSIAH this world before all of God's promises are fulfilled. One who is unaware that God's conclusive and definitive word descends upon His servants remains in the dark and is ignorant of God's existence. He views the world as being shrouded in illusions, much like his own self. Even if he accepts Divine revelation, he views it as speculative rather than a certainty. However, as I have just described, the heart that has been illuminated by the sun of God's revelation cannot harbour any suspicion or darkness. Can darkness abide in the presence of pure light? Even the mother of Moses received a clear and unequivocal revelation from God. By trusting in this revelation, she placed her child's life in danger, yet she was not held accountable before God for what might have been considered attempted murder. Are we to believe that this Ummah is not even worthy as the women of the Israelites? Simi- larly, Mary received a definitive revelation, relying on which she did not care what her people would think. Fie, then, on this for- saken Ummah that is even lesser than these women! If this were true, then this would not be the best of Ummahs; it would be the worst or the most ignorant of them. Likewise, Khidr-who was not even a prophet-was endowed with inspired knowledge. Why would he have unjustly killed a child on the basis of his revelation if it had been uncertain? If the revelation received by the Companions, peace be upon them, directing them to give the ghusl¹ to the body of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was not certain and definitive, why did they act upon it? If a person denies my revelation because of his lack of insight, but he still calls himself a Muslim and is not secretly an atheist, it should be a part of his faith that it is possi- ble to receive the Divine Word; and that just as God's definitive 1 Ritual bathing of the body prior to burial. [Publisher] 84