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From the good tidings we have cited above it is obvious that the
scriptures sanctified by various
nations poined out to the anticipated Prophet, even several centuries before his
advent. Allah (SWT) says: “Verily it is (mentioned) in
the scriptures of former peoples.” (XXVI: 169) These glad tidings and pieces of
news, which anticipated the advent of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), were
conveyed from one generation to another among all the nations of the world, for
Allah’s Messengers (peace be upon them) told their peoples of the anticipated
coming of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Such glad tidings were behind the
conversion of many people to Islam.The People of the Book, the Jews and
Christians had been waiting for the coming of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and
when he came with the Divine Message some of their scholars and learned men,
like Abdullah Ibn Salam, believed in him. Allah (SWT) says: “Tell me! If this (Qur’an) is from
Allah and you reject it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel
testified that it is from Allah { like the Torah} and he believed , while you
are too proud to believe. Verily Allah guides not the people who are unjust.”(XLVI: 10) Some of the People of the Book
rejected Allah’s religion and refused to follow Muhammad (Peace be upon him) out
of arrogance and envy and insisted on showing him enmity and hatred. They aimed
at corrupting and altering the texts that described him and they concealed a lot
of the authentic texts from the public. Allah (SWT) says: “You (Jews) have made it (the
Scripture) into (separate) paper sheets disclosing (some of it) and concealing
much.” (VI: 91) Allah
(SWT) also says: “From among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words
from their (right) places.” (IV: 46) Allah (SWT) also says: “We made their hearts hard. They displace the words from their
(right) places.” (V:
13) The process of corruption and
alteration continued throughout the ages up to now. However, some obvious clues
have remained in their Books till now describing Muhammad (peace be upon him)
and certifying the truthfulness of his being the Messenger of Allah and the last
among Prophets and Messengers. We have noticed that these Books describe the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) as illiterate and mention his name, ancestry, the
place and time of his advent as a Messenger and describe his speech and morals
and the Law that he would come with, his emigration and the flight of his enemis
before him. Such characteristics do not apply to any but Muhammad (Peace be upon
him). Is it not high time for those who
have gone astray from the Truth to follow its guidance and believe in Allah’s
religion, Allah’s Messenger and the Truth that has been revealed to him? Allah (SWT)
says: “You are the best
of people introduced to mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is
wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had Faith, it were
best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are
pervereted transgressors.” (III:110) |