A
Perfect Religion
Part - III
MARY
AND CHRIST
(Peace Be Upon
Them)
1. ‘KHALQ’ AND ‘AMR’:- The four basic factors of Manifestation (Zuhoor), viz. (1) ‘Khalq
(Creation), (2) ‘Amr’ (Command), and the initiative of (‘Amr’) – (3) ‘Kun’
(Be), also called (4) ‘Kalima’ (Word), have been explained before. “Verily your
Rab (Lord) is God. Who created the heavens and the earth in six days (periods),
and is firmlyestablished on the Throne of (Authority) He created the sun, the
moon and the stars (all) governed by Laws, under His (‘Amr) Command. Are not
both for Him? “Khalq’ (Creation) and ‘Amr’ (Command.” 54: 7.
In the above passage the
action of ‘Khalq’ is illustrated as a chain of Causation, while ‘Amr’ is just
hinted, as Command. Now to elucidate ‘Amr’ says the Qur-‘aan:-
‘Verily His ‘Amr’ is
this: when he intends a thing, He says for it ‘Kun’ (Be) and there it is.’ 82:
36.
In other words, the
action of ‘Amr’ is Instantaneous and Absolute, free from the chain of
Causation. This ‘Kun’ (Be) is also called ‘Kalima’ (Word); thus owing to his
miraculous birth, under the action of ‘Kun’ (Be), Jesus Christ is himself
described as ‘Kalima’ (Word). Says the Qur-‘aan : “Behold! The angels said: Oh
Mary! God giveth thee Glad tidings of a ‘Kalima’ (Word) from Him; his name will
be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary.” 45: 3. Jesus Christ is called Kalima or
Word, being the product of ‘Kun’ (Be) in the sphere of ‘Amr’,’ is contrast with
others, born in the sphere of ‘Khalq’ through fathers, with a chain of
Causation.
2. CHRIST – PRODUCT OF ‘AMR’:- Let us now proceed to our subject, Truth in the life of Mary
and Christ. Virgin Mary and her son Jesus Christ (God’s blessings on both) were
often subject to the action of ‘Amr’ as compared with ‘Khalq’ in their life,
and hence the leading events of their life, seem, as it were, shrouded in
mystery, for instance, Mary’s miraculous supply of provisions in girlhood, the
birth of Christ, his miracles and his end, all smack of mystery, because as
pointed out before, they were dominated by ‘Amr’ in particular, and ‘Amr’
defies the chain of Causation, so common in the sphere of ‘Khalq’, thus the
action of ‘Amr’ being Instantaneous and Absolute, it is from the sphere of
‘Amr’ that the Miracles of Prophets spring. Several problems of spiritual
sphere, for instance the ‘Mi’raaj or Ascension of Prophet Muhammad in his life,
or the Resurrection of Christ according to Christian Belief, and such others,
are stated in the Qur-‘aan and the Bible, for general information, and for
belief, and belief has got its own value and importance; but their operation
and their significance are open to the grasp of only those, who are advanced
enough in spiritual Culture. But their words and deeds have to be in perfect
consonance with the Qur-‘aan, no deviation can be tolerated in their case, so
as to detect pretenders in their fanciful interpretations who claim to be
somehow, Prophet Ahmad, and a replica of Muhammad, of Christ and Krishn, rather
an improvement upon the originals, somewhat like revised and enlarged editions
all combined. For instance, such was the origin of Qaadianism by one Mirza
Ghulam Ahmed Qaadianee of Qaadian in Punjab , India
(whose FRAUD was exposed by Prof. Burney in his book “Qaadiani Movement”) in
English and “Qaadiani Mazhab” in Urdu (which is an Encyclopaedia of
Qaadianizm).
3. MIRACLES:- Now reverting to the features of ‘Amr’ and ‘Khalq’, let us take
Virgin Mary first. While she was yet a girl, she was endowed with ‘Amr’ in the
supply of her provisions. Says the Qur-‘aan, “Every time that he (Zakariyyaa)
entered her chamber to see her, he found her supplied with Provisions from God.
Vide 37: 3. Imbued with the spirit of ‘Amr’ like his mother Mary, and on a
large scale, Christ made a prayer to God, but at the request of his Disciples,
to be supplied with provisions from heaven. The favour based on ‘Amr’ was a
gift in the case of Mary, and a grant in the case of Christ, so a hard
condition was imposed in the later case, to be severely punished for disbelief,
if the miracle were to make its appearance. Vide 115 to 118: 5. When Mary came
of age, fit to give birth to Christ which took place as below:-
“The
angels said: Oh Mary! God giveth thee Glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name
will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary- - - He shall speak to the people in
infancy”. She said: “How shall I have a son, when no man has touched me.” He
said: “Even so: God createth what He willeth, when He hath issued ‘Amr’ to
action). Vide 45 to 47: 3. The pains of childbirth drove her to a date-tree.
She cried, “Ah, would that I had died before this!... But a voice cried to her,
“Grieve not! For thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee. Shake the stem
of the date-tree; it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.” 16 to 26: 19.
4. IMPORTANCE OF ‘KHALQ’:- As pointed out, ‘Khalq’ is most common in action, and ‘Amr’ is
considered superior to ‘Khalq’. But ‘Khalq’ is also indispensable for spiritual
Accomplishment. Thus it is that Mary was favoured with ‘Amr’ about the supply
of provisions in girl-hood, but when she rose in status, so as to be the mother
of Christ, she was made subject to ‘Khalq’ to use efforts to make dates fall
from the tree after childbirth. Similarly while her conception of Christ was
unfelt under the action of ‘Amr’, the delivery was very hard indeed, to assert
action of ‘Khalq’ at the climax to set a balance between ‘Khalq’ and ‘Amr’ to
elevate her position in Humanity. Angels are subject to ‘Amr’, and Animals are
subject to ‘Khalq’, and Man holds a combination of both but the Genii are
confused between Angels and Men.
5. END OF CHRIST IN THE BIBLE
AND THE QUR-‘AAN:- The Ministry of Christ lasted
only about three years from 30 to 33 years of his age. The action of ‘Amr was
most prominent in his life that he healed the blind and lepers and quickened
the dead to life (vide 49: 2), but according to the Bible and Christian
Traditions, Christ felt agonies on the Cross which made him cry helpless till
he yielded up his ghost-(in the sphere of Khalq’). This submission (Islam) to
the action of ‘Khalq’ in spite of the gift of ‘Amr’ is the characteristic of
‘Abd’, Apostle, and saint. Vide 30 to 35 : 19. The last moments of the life of
Jesus Christ as if, on the Cross, are thus portrayed in the Bible:-
“Now
from the sixth hour was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour, and
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying “Eli! Eli! Lama
sabach-thani? That is to say. “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me? Jesus
when he had cried out with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” (Matt. XXVII, 45-50).
But
the Qur-‘aan says Christ was altogether saved from the indignity of the Cross,
and as if by a miracle of likeness, someone else of the same features was
crucified by the Jews under illusion. Says the Qur-‘aan:-
(Verse, 157) “And they (Jews) said (in boast), we killed Christ Jesus the son
of Mary, the Apostle of God (in the Knowledge of God). But they killed him not,
nor crucified him, but it was made to appear to them, and those who differ
therein are full of doubts with no (certain) Knowledge, but only conjectures to
follow, for a surely they killed him not.”
(Verse, 158) “Nay, God raised him up unto Himself, and God is Mighty, Wise.”
(Verse, 159) “And there is none, of the people of the Book, but must believe in
him (Christ), before his death. And on the Day of Judgment, he (Christ) will be
a witness.” Vide 157 to 159: 4.
While
the Jews claim to have killed Christ on the Cross, it is also a Cardinal Point
of Faith to the Orthodox Christian Churches that (a) Jesus Christ gave up his life on the Cross. That (b) he was
buried after Crucifixion, that (c) on the third day, he rose in body with his
wounds fresh, that (d) he met his disciples and (f) was afterwards taken up
bodily to heaven. In fact, this is the Belief which forms the basis of the
theological doctrine of blood sacrifice and Vicarious Atonement for since,
which is, however, losing its force with the Modern Age of Action and
Retribution.
6. EXAMINATION AND RESULT:- Let us ponder the passage quoted above (157 to 159).
Three points
emerge from them. It would appear from (157) that contrary to the belief of
Jews and Christian, Jesus Christ was not killed on the Cross: from (158) that
Christ was raised up to God, and from (159) that People of the Book must
believe in him till the time of his death.
Now the first
point is clear and definite in itself and needs no further elucidation. As to
the second point how Christ was raised up to God, it is further explained as
below:-
(55) “Behold! God
said: Oh Jesus! I will take thy soul (make thee die) and raise thee to Myself
and clear thee (of the, falsehoods) of those who blaspheme, (that they
crucified thee) as is cleared by the Qur-‘aan).” Vide 55: 3.
(120) ‘And I
(Christ) was a witness over them (Christians) whilst I dwelt amongst them,
(but) when Thou didst take my soul (made me die). Thou wast the watcher over
them, and Thou art a witness to all things.” 120: 5.
(33) “So peace is
on me (said Christ) the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I
shall be raised up to life again (at Resurrection).” 33: 19.
The third point
is only a natural consequence of the first and second, the Jews and Christians
must believe in him not only up to the event of Crucifixion when he did not
die, but also after the said event, up to the time before his death, or till
the end of his life.
This problem, the
end of Christ on earth, has been, since long, the subject of long and learned
dissertations, not only in Christian, but also in Islamic literature, covering
a vast field of Traditions, as well. The subject seems saturated with a sense
of mystery. But within the Qur-‘aan alone, its solution came so spontaneous and
so plain to the present author (Elias Burney), that he felt nervous lest he
should be suffering from delusion. But still he keeps an open mind on the
question. Traditions are no doubt an integral factor in the Teachings of Islam,
but they are acceptable, not in addition to the Qur-‘aan, but only as subsidiary
to the Qur-‘aan.
7.
CHRIST – ‘UZAIR-POLYTHEISM (Peace Be Upon Them)
God is indignant if Christ is believed to
be God himself. Vide 19:5, 75 to 78: 5. To say nothing of Godship, Christ is
not even the son of God, but only an Apostle like several others. The same is
the case with ‘Uzair, a Prophet of the Jews. The priests have often been the
source of trouble in Religion, to lead people astray, and to grow rich at
others’ expense. It is to be accepted that Islam is the Religion of Truth, and
Muhammad is the Apostle of God, says the Qur-‘aan. Vide 171: 4.
To sum up, great
stress is laid throughout the Qur-‘aan on God’s Transcendence (‘Tanzeeh’), but
His Immanence (‘Tashbeeh’) is admitted as well. The Oneness of God is the
bedrock of Islam, called ‘Tauheed’ or Monotheism, and the reverse called
‘Shirk’ or Polytheism is the greatest sin never to be forgiven. Vide 48, 116:
4, 119 to 121: 5.
8. LIFE IN HEAVEN:- One view is to treat the description of Heaven as the symbolism for
the indescribable Bliss of Hereafter, but the Religious Experience confirms the
literal sense, refined of course. Here is a synopsis of Salvation. Says the
Qur-‘aan : “Theirs are the Gardens Eternal Home: God well pleased with them,
and they with God; that is the great Salvation (the fulfillment of all
desires), .” 122: 5. “They and their associates (wives and family) will be in
groves of (cool) shade, reclining on Thrones (of dignity). (Various) Fruits
(refreshments) will be there for them. They shall have whatever they call for
(endowed with ‘Amr’) PEACE-a word (of Blessing) from the Lord, Most Merciful.”
Vide 55 to 56: 36. “Those who believe (in God and His Apostle Muhammad and in
subsequent Truths) and stick to Righteousness), their Lord will guide them
because of their Faith, (to Regions) beneath which will flow rivers in Gardens
of Paradise. (This be) their glee therein: “Glory to thee, O God!” and ‘Peace’
be their greetings (to companions) therein, and the close of their glee will
be, “Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of all the worlds.” 9, 10: 10, 31: 16, 25, 31 to 35: 50, 122: 5, 55 to 58: 36. On the contrary, if
they disbelieve and reject Faith, they will burn in Hell-Fire in the Next Life.
Vide 77, 96: 56, 16:
11, 18, 72: 17.
9. CONCLUSION:- Now to conclude, all the Major Religions should put before
Mankind their systems, realistic as well as idealistic, in all the spheres of
human life, as taught by their Basic Books, so as to preserve the original
purity, bearing the Seal of Authority. Numerous accretions and additions
however accepted, should not be permitted to share the Authority of any Basic
Book, which alone is accepted as the Standard of Religion. So let the Basic
Books speak for themselves. This is the only way to settle the future of Religion
for Mankind after comparative study.
There is no God
but Allah, Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
(Peace be Upon Him)
Copied by Muhammad
Sharif from the HOLY QUR’AN (transliteration in roman script with English
translation by Marmaduke Pickthal), Published by, Paak Company, 17-Urdu
Bazar Lahore Pakistan
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