Page 189 - New English Book L

188

Chapter V

The Baptism of John and Jesus only a type of
“Sibghatullah” [1]

It is a great pity that the Evangelists have not left us a
complete and detailed account of the sermon of John the
Baptist (pbuh) ; and assuming they ever did, it is nothing
short of a crime on the part of the Church not to have
preserved its text. For it is impossible to imagine the
mysterious and enigmatic words of the Baptist in their
present shape could have been understood even by the
most erudite among his audience. We know that the
Jewish doctors and lawyers asked him to explain himself
upon various points and to make his declarations more
explicit and plain (john i. 19-23 and v. 33). There is no
doubt that he elucidated those vital points to his hearers,
and did not leave them in obscurity; for he was “a burning
and enlightening candle,” who “gave witness concerning
the truth” (john v. 33, 35). What was this witness, and
what was the nature of the truth about witch that witness
was given? In addition, what makes it still more obscure
is the fact that each Evangelist does not report the same
points in identical terms. There is no precision about the
character of the truth; was it about the person of Christ
and the nature of his mission, or was it about the Apostle
of Allah as foretold by Jacob (pbuh) (Gen. Xlix.)? What
were the precise terms of John’s witness about Jesus (pbuh)
, and about the future Prophet who was his superior?

In the third article of this series, [2] I offered ample
proofs that the Prophet foretold by the Baptist was
other than Jesus Christ (pbuh) ; and in the fourth article, [3]

[1] Quran 2:138. “(Our religion) Takes its hue from Allah. And who can give a
better hue than Allah. It is He Whom we worship.” (Editors).

[2] Vide Islamic Review for March - April 1930.

[3] Ibid. May 1930.