The Light of Truth — Page 291
REFUTING OBJECTIONS Among the criticisms of this sinful one, who is heedless of the Day of Judgement, is that he conjectures the Quran errs in its explanation of Christianity and its beliefs; it mis- understands the purpose of its doctrines; and it attributes beliefs to Christians that contradict their faith. Know that his declaration is a great aspersion and a clear lie. The truth is that by the time the Quran was revealed, the Christians had split into many sects. Some of them worshipped the Messiah, while others worshipped his mother alongside him, and some even prostrated before their portraits and worshipped them in the way they ought to have worshipped the Lord of all the worlds. They disputed and argued with one another exceed- ingly and intensely. They had all gone completely astray, save a few among them who remained monotheists, but even they adopted other harmful innovations and were like the [spirit- ually] blind. So the Quran clearly conveyed what it observed, reproach- ing and silencing them with a most compelling declaration. It said [to the Christians]: You worship a human instead of Allah the Self-Sufficient and you do not worship your Lord, the Most High. They did not absolve themselves from this; rather, they remained silent like one who is proven wrong and confesses his guilt. So the argument was made against them and the proof was put forth and it was established that they indeed held the beliefs which the Quran stated, and that they associated part- ners with Allah. Then, another generation of Christians came after them. They read books of philosophy and were dumbfounded, and became like drunkards. They perceived themselves like cap- tives, shackled by the chains of shirk [associating partners with Allah]. They were greatly embarrassed by and felt remorse over their religion. So they contemplated reforming what had been corrupted and promoting what had been neglected. But ruin 291