Lecture Sialkot — Page 18
18 LECTURE SIALKOT nor did he resort to Jihad. This umma has likewise been blessed with a Promised Messiah bearing a similar disposition. Look at the verse: وَعَدَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّلِحَتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفُسِقُونَ The words, 'As He made successors from among those who were before them', are particularly worthy of note, for they lead us to understand that the dispen- sation of Muhammadsa resembles the dispensation of Mosesas. Since the Mosaic dispensation ended with a Prophet-namely Jesusas-who appeared at the turn of the fourteenth century after Mosesas, and did not wage any war or Jihad, it was therefore essential that the last Khalifah of the dispensation of Muhammadsa should appear in the same spirit. It is related in some authentic Hadith that, in the latter days, most of the Muslims would come to resemble 14 Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious. Al-Nūr, 24:56 [Publishers]