Page 192 - Demo

Chapter V188The 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 thatwitness 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.