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is a marvellous proof that the sacred scripture of Islam
is a direct revelation of Allah, and that His Apostle was
inspired and the real person whom John predicted! The
baptist (“Saba?a”) plunges or immerses his neophyte or
an infant into a pond, as a dyer or a fuller plunges a cloth
or garment into a kettle of dye. It is easily understood
that baptism is not a “thara,” purification or washing, nor
“tabhala,” an immersion, nor even a “rahsa,” a bathing
or washing, but “sab’aitha,” a dyeing, a colouring. It is
extremely important to know these distinctions. Just as a
“saba’a,” a dyer gives a new colour to garment by dipping
it into a kettle of tincture, so a baptist give his convert
a new spiritual hue. Here we must make a fundamental
distinction between a proselytes Gentile and a penitent
Jew and Ishmaelite Arab. The former was formally
circumcised, whereas the latter baptized only. By the
circumcision, a Gentile was admitted into the family
of Abraham (pbuh) , and therefore into the fold of God’s
people. By baptism, a circumcised believer was admitted
into the society of the penitent and reformed believers.
Circumcision is an ancient divine institution,which was
not abrogated by Jesus nor by Muhammad . The baptism
practised by John and the Christ was only for the benefit
of the penitent persons among the circumcised. Both
these institutions indicated and presented a religion. The
baptism of John and of his cousin Jesus (pbuh) was a mark
of admission into the society of the purified penitents
who promised loyalty and homage to the Apostle of Allah
whose coming they both foretold.

It follows, therefore, that just as circumcision signified
the religion of Abraham (pbuh) and his adherents (his slaves
were also circumcised), so baptism signified the religion
of John and Jesus (pbuh) , which was a preparation for the
Jews and the Gentiles to accord a cordial reception to the
Founder of Islam and to embrace his religion.