The Light of Truth — Page 293
REFUTING OBJECTIONS 293 seize them! for how they plotted and contrived! They changed nothing aside from the mode of their preaching, but with the same conclusion. So woe to the unjust people! They were consumed by the afflictions of misguidance, and their preaching achieved the same result [as their precursors], and they did not ponder with due care. They displeased their Master in order to please His servants. They forgot His warnings and His promises, and threw the teachings of the Prophets behind their backs. There is no doubt that they took Jesus as a god in preference to the Lord of all the worlds. To them, he is the Master of the Day of Judgement. On that day, they say that Jesus shall show no sign of being human, though he will possess a physical body with bones and flesh like humans. This is their belief and the belief of those who stumbled in the darkness of the early days [of Christianity], and which was observed during the advent of Islam. Thereafter, in the present age, their eyes opened and their darkness decreased due to the spread of intellectual sciences and philosophy. They recognized the ignominy of their reli- gion and the absurdity of their claim. Therefore, fearing criti- cism, condemnation, and the taunts of their opponents, they resorted to the practice of interpretation—for human nature cannot accept such shameful beliefs—and they rejected myths, which both men and women consider unmistakably false. This is particularly true in the present age when virtuous minds are inclining towards Tauhid [the Oneness of God] and the winds of Tanzih¹ are blowing from every direction towards Allah the Matchless, and the bazaars of the polytheists are no longer drawing patrons. But how would they hide that which has been 1. According to Lane's Lexicon, Tanzīhullāh means: 'Declaring God to be far removed or free [. . . ] from having anything like unto Him by participation of his essence or otherwise. [Publisher]