Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 227
19 MARCH 1908 لا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ In other words, the objection of the Jews, in fact, was that since Jesusas was put on the cross, he is accursed and obviously an accursed person cannot be raised spiritually-we seek refuge with Allah [from such an accusation]. It was in response to this very point that the Holy Quran said 2 بَلْ رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ Besides, I may ask if the objection of the Jews was just that Jesusas was not raised physically, then what is the answer to this objection given by the Holy Quran, which came to be the judge between these two peoples? Why is it that the Holy Quran did not provide any answer to the real objection of the Jews while laying so much stress on the spiritual ascension [of Jesus]? It said رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ]Allah exalted him to Himself']. Why did it not say رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ]Allah exalted him to heaven']? The Arsh [Throne of Allah] is a creation that is hidden beyond hidden, that is as far from the earth as it is from the heavens; indeed, it is just as far from whichever direction it is approached. It is not the case that Allah's Throne is close to heaven and far from the earth-we seek refuge with Allah [from such a belief]. One who maintains such a belief is accursed. The Arsh is a transcendent station and it is for this reason that God is Omnipresent and Omniscient, as He says: 3 هُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ and . وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ and, مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ نَّجْوَى ثَلَثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ ) 227 1. The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Heaven until a camel goes through the eye of a needle (Sūrah al-A'raf, 7:41). [Publisher] 2. On the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself (Sürah an-Nisa', 4:159). [Publisher] 3. He is with you wheresoever you may be (Sūrah al-Hadid, 57:5). [Publisher] 4. There is no secret counsel of three, but He is their fourth (Sürah al-Mujādalah, 58:8). [Publisher] 5. We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein (Sürah Qaf, 50:17). [Publisher]