RENAISSANCE SEPTEMBER 2020

Faith & Beliefs 45 Monthly Renaissance September 2020 faith…” (2:89). Christians were also waiting eagerly. The parables which Jesus (sws) had narrated as stated in the Bible, if clarified, will indicate that a large part of these parables is nothing more than the story of the last prophethood. It is obvious that in this situation, it was the responsibility of the People of the Book that once the last prophethood had been realized, they assess it under the terms of their earlier knowledge. If they found it according to their predictions, they should have believed it; communicated it to people, lent it their full support and then sacrificed everything they possessed in order to establish the religion brought by the last messenger. But these people suffered the same fate as that of the virgins who were described in a parable by Jesus (sws). He had said that the virgins kept their lamps lit the whole night as they waited for their grooms; when it was time for them to come, their flames died out, the oil in them finished and they went to sleep. These people waited for centuries for the last messenger and when he arrived, and they even recognized him, instead of belief, they exceeded others in their denial and, in addition, in their eagerness borne of their malice and rancour, stood up openly to support the Idolaters and polytheists who were trying their best to resist the messenger’s invitation. They ridiculed his teachings, started wars to put a stop to his work and went so far ahead in their enmity that they gave preference to the religion of the Idolaters and declared the disbelievers to be more guided and truthful than the messenger’s followers “they say to the Unbelievers that they are better guided in the (right) way Than the believers!” (4:51) What possibility remains for taw ḥī d in such a condition of support to shirk ? Thus, God cursed them: “They are (men) whom Allah hath cursed: And those whom Allah hath cursed, thou wilt find, have no one to help.” (4:52) ( Translated by Nikhat Sattar ) ___________