The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 674
CH. 18 AL-KAHF Christian nations will endure for a limited time and the cause of Islam will eventually triumph. Similarly, the Isra' of Moses was, like the Isra' of the Holy Prophet, no physical journey but a spiritual experience by means of which Moses was transported from this body of flesh and blood to a spiritual tabernacle. The Bible and the Quran both support this contention. Some of the arguments advanced in its support are as follows: (1) The Bible which is more or less a reliable record of Moses' life has omitted all mention of this most unusual and wonderful incident and has failed even to make a passing reference to it. a (2) Before Moses was made Prophet, he is known to have undertaken only one journey and that was to Midian. The Bible and the Quran have both referred to this journey, the latter at several places. The Bible and the Quran also both agree that Moses undertook this journey alone, while in the journey referred to in the present and the following verses of the Quran he is described as having been accompanied by "his companion. " (3) Even after he was made Prophet, Moses undertook no such journey. The Bible embodies a somewhat detailed record of Moses' life but it contains no account of any such journey and even makes no reference to it. (4) It is well known that after Moses had been away on Mount Ṭur for a few days his people took a calf for worship. When his absence from them for only forty days on Mount PT. 15 Țur caused such great spiritual havoc among them, which has been described in the Bible in detail, the depths of spiritual chaos to which these people of weak faith and fickle minds should have sunk in Moses' absence on a journey of a much longer duration, as evidently the journey referred to in these verses was, can easily be imagined. The Bible could not have failed to mention it. But the Bible alludes to no such happening. Moreover, it would have cast a serious reflection on Moses' wisdom and intelligence if, having had such a terrible experience once, he should have undertaken another journey which would have kept him away from his people for a much longer period. on any (5) In his absence on Mount Ṭūr for only forty days Moses appointed Aaron his vicegerent for his people. But apart from this solitary instance Moses is not known ever to have appointed anybody his vicegerent or Khalifah in his absence journey. The Bible contains no reference to any such appointment. It is inconceivable that if Moses had gone on such a long journey as mentioned in these verses he would have failed to appoint a Khalifah in his absence. (6) It is against the established practice of all the Prophets of God to remain separated from their people for a long time. Some of them are known to have gone on short journeys but those were missionary expeditions and their scope did not extend beyond their own peoples. Jesus certainly did go to Kashmir after the Crucifixion but he left one 1882