The Light of Truth — Page 21
THE ULAMA OF INDIA 21 Therefore, in interpreting this hadith we will say that the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not mean— by his statement لَا عَدْوَى there is no contagion]-denial of transmis- sion in every situation; and how could he have, when he himself warned against approaching lepers in another hadith!¹ So, the only thing he meant by this statement was that all effects are in the hand of Allah the Exalted, and that there is no influence or effect in the entire universe except by His command, will, and desire. Having interpreted the hadith in this way, we have done away with the accusations of the critics. By the One in whose hand is my life, the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, never intended by this statement or similar ones—e. g. the nuzūl [descent] of Jesus- anything besides interpretive meanings. So do not be hasty and do not support the mischief of the troublemakers. This is a declaration of truth, so accept a true word even if it should come from the mouth of a child. For all happiness lies in acceptance of the truth. Blessed be those who accept the truth with humility. 2☆ Those who oppose us do not accept the truth despite the fact that it is neither complicated nor ambiguous. In fact, they know in their hearts that it is the clear truth. But when it is said to them, 'Believe in the truth that has been made manifest, and accept those meanings that have been proven to be correct, they reply, 'Are we to believe in things that conflict with the sayings of our predecessors?' Even though their predecessors were among those in error? We see that they have been 1. The Holy Prophetsas is reported to have said: وفِرَّ مِنَ المَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الأَسَدِ i. e. 'Flee from the leper the way you flee from a lion. See Şahih al-Bukhārī, Kitabut-Tibb, Bābul-Judhām. [Publisher] 2. ☆ )Footnote): Had نُزُول عيسى ]Nuzūli ‘Īsā—the descent of Jesus] meant his descent in his physical person, the Messenger of Allah, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, would have said, 'He will return,' and not, 'He will descend, because the word رجوع rujūʻ—return] is appropriate for one who returns after having left. -Author