The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 324
ANNOUNCEMENT OF A PROPHECY 323 this pure method, because the lack of self-restraint that is increasing among them, encourages them to have no regard or need for it. The attitude of Christians towards this question is utterly regretta- ble, for they close their eyes to the examples of their Prophets, whose Prophethood is beyond question, and grind their teeth without justi- fication against the Muslims. Christian people admit that the physical body of the Messiah, through his mother's side, was a product of the self-same principle of polygamy which in the case of David (forbear of the Messiah) was extended not merely to having two or three but over a hundred wives. But it is a shame that they consider polygamy no dif- ferent than adultery, and care not in the least what this dirty principle of theirs would mean in relation to Hadrat Maryam, the Truthful. In spite of all this impertinence, they profess to be lovers of the Messiah. Let it be realized that, according to the Bible, polygamy is not merely proved by the text but is also vouched for as a lawful and a praisewor- thy principle by the practice of most of the Israelite Prophets, among whom may be named the grandfather of the Messiah. O you Christians who have no fear of God! If it is obligatory for a man gifted with revelation to have only one wife, will you reject a true Prophet like David? Or, will you exclude a person like Solomon, the Elect of God, from being a recipient of Divine revelation? Is not this, according to you, a constant sin for these Prophets, whose hearts were, as it were, in a constant telegraphic connection with the revela- tion from Allah, and who were recipients of the details of what con- stitutes Allah's pleasure or displeasure. Despite that, they were con- stantly indulging in this practice. Was it not a sin from which they did not desist till their end? Did they care in the least for God and His commandments? The Jealous God who is Ever-Vigilant for protecting His honour destroyed Thamūd and ‘Ād on account of their rebellious behaviour, rained stones on Lot's people, and drowned the Pharaoh along with all his mischievous people in a terrible deluge. Is it becoming of His