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He is cautioned against the neglect or disbelief of it, lest he incur the
"ignominious punishment
( عذاباً مهيناً)
which God hath prepared for the unbelievers,"
for them "that believe in a part and reject a part" of God's word.Art.
CII. He is warned against refusing to acknowledge that "perspicuous
Book," which is "a light to lighten mankind, a guide and a direction,
an admonition to the pious,to them that fear the Lord in secret and tremble
at the hour of judgment";that Revelation which is "complete as to
whatever is excellent, and an explanation of every matter, and a mercy, that men
may believe in the meeting of their Lord"; for if he does thus reject it,
according to the verdict of his own Prophet, "verily he hath wandered into
a wide and fatal error,"
قد ضل ضلالاً بعيداً
.
Above all let him beware of blaspheming (like some
of the degenerate Mussulmans of the present day) that holy Book, and of thus
sealing his doom as "a transgressing and flagitious Unbeliever."Art.
CXXIV.
What fearful audacity is displayed by some of the modern Mahometans (unworthy
disciples in this respect of their Prophet!) who ignorantly and blasphemously
speak against "the Book which God hath sent down, "the holy "Forcân,"
"the Word of God"!
As for ourselves, the People of the Book, it is only in conformity with the
express inculcation of the Prophet of Islâm, that we observe, and hold by, both
the Law and the Gospel (Art. CXXVII.); and that, in accordance with his
challenge, we examine those
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TESTIMONY TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES |
239 | |
Scriptures to which he appealed before the people of Arabia as his witness,
to see whether or no they bear testimony to his mission. And it is the sacred
duty of every Mussulman, in order that he may guard against the possibility of
fatal deception, to do the same.
Lastly; all honest Moslems are called on to believe, for they cannot
consistently disbelieve, that these Scriptures are the inspired "Word of
God"
( كلام الله)
"that they are a light to lighten Mankind,"
(نوراً وهدى للناس)
"an
illumination and admonition to the Pious"
(ضياً وذكراً للمتقين); in fine, that they are
calculated to lead those that follow their precepts into the way of peace, and
make them wise unto salvation. Why, then, will they neglect so precious a source
of spiritual benefit as (the Corân itself being judge) exists in the Old and
New Testaments, and shut themselves out from their illumination? Let them search
the Scriptures diligently, and they will find the whole tenor of those sacred
Books to be "that God is in Christ reconciling the world unto
Himself"; that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life";
"This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."
THE END.
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