The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 260
MISCONCEPTION IN NUR AFSHAN 259 made any man their God, and because of the blessings of Tauhid, they do have an inner light and possess, to some small measure, the warmth of life. We cannot, therefore, call them completely dead, though they are in a precarious situation. If a Hindu or a Christian ignores us and indulges in criticism of this sort, he is either very much prejudiced or extremely ignorant. It is necessary that there be thorns in a garden as well. Where there are flowers, there will be thorns as well. However, in the opposing religious groups, only a heap of thorns can be seen. It is utterly absurd for Christians to say that the Messiahas was the spiritual resurrection and that they were brought to life through the Messiah. The Christians should remember that it is not at all estab- lished that the Messiah, peace be upon him, was the resurrection. Nor have the Christians been brought to life—they are dead and more so than all the dead lying in narrow and dark graves, having fallen into the pit of polytheism. They neither possess the spirit of faith nor the blessings of such spirit. They have not achieved even the lowest grade of faith in Tauhid, which is to abstain from the worship of creation. They deem someone as frail and feeble as themselves to be the Creator and worship him. Bear in mind that Tauhid has three grades. The lowest grade is to abstain from the worship of any created thing like oneself-nei- ther stone, nor fire, nor mortal, nor any star. The second grade is to refrain from being so devoted to material means as if they were a sort of permanent partner in the operation of the Divine enterprise of Rubūbiyyat [Providence]. On the contrary, one must concentrate on the Provider of means rather than the means itself. The third grade of Tauhid is that, after having witnessed perfect manifestations of Allah's glory, one should consider every other being as non-existent, includ- ing one's own self. Everything besides God Almighty, who possesses perfect attributes, should appear as mortal to one's eyes. This is what spiritual life means that these three grades of faith in Tauhid are achieved. Now upon reflection you may see that all eternal fountains