muhammed(pbuh) in the bible

7/29/2019 Muhammed(pbuh) in the Bible

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Introduction"Certainly,youwillfindthestrongestamongmeninenmitytothebelievers(Muslims)theJewsandthosewhoarePagans,andyouwillfindthenearestinlovetotheBelievers(Muslims)thosewhosay:"WeareChristians."Thatisbecauseamongstthemarepriests(Mendevotedtolearning)andmonks(menwhohaverenouncedtheworld),andbecausetheydonotbehaveproudly.AndwhentheylistentowhathasbeensentdowntotheMessenger(Muhammad),youseetheireyesoverflowingwithtears,fortheyrecognizethetruth.Theysay:"OurLord!Webelieve;sowriteusdownamongthewitnesses.AndwhyshouldwenotbelieveinAllahandinthatwhichhascometousofthetruth(IslamicMonotheism)andwewishthatourLordwilladmitus(inParadiseontheDayofResurrection)alongwiththerighteouspeople?"Sobecauseofwhattheysaid,AllahrewardedthemGardensunderwhichriversflow(inParadise),theywillabidethereinforever.Suchistherewardofgood-doers.ButthosewhodisbelievedanddeniedOursigns,theyshallbethedwellersoftheHell-Fire."(HolyQur'an5:82-86)

BiographyOfProfessorDavidBenjaminKeldani,B.D.(died1940c)FormerRomanCatholicBishopoftheUniateChaldeanAbdu'l-AhadDawudistheformerRev.DavidBenjaminKeldani,B.D.,aRomanCatholicpriestoftheUniate-Chaldeansect.Hewasbornin1867atUrmiainPersia;educatedfromhisearlyinfancyinthattown.From1886-89hewasontheteachingstaffoftheArchbishopofCanterbury'sMissiontotheAssyrian(Nestorian)ChristiansatUrmia.In1892hewassentbyCardinalVaughantoRome,whereheunderwentacourseofphilosophicalandtheologicalstudiesatthePropagandaFideCollege,andin1895wasordainedPriest.In1892ProfessorDawudcontributedaseriesofarticlestoTheTableton"Assyria,RomeandCanterbury";andalsototheIrishRecordonthe"AuthenticityofthePentateuch."HehasseveraltranslationsoftheAveMariaindifferentlanguages,publishedi

ntheillustratedCatholicMissions.WhileinConstantinopleonhiswaytoPersiain1895,hecontributedalongseriesofarticlesinEnglishandFrenchtothedailypaper,publishedthereunderthenameofTheLevantHerald,on"EasternChurches."In1895hejoinedtheFrenchLazaristMissionatUrmia,andpublishedforthefirsttimeinthehistoryofthatMissionaperiodicalinthevernacularSyriaccalledQala-La-Shara,i.e."TheVoiceofTruth."In1897hewasdelegatedbytwoUniate-ChaldeanArch-bishopsofUrmiaandofSalmastorepresenttheEasternCatholicsattheEucharisticCongressheldatParay-le-MonialinFrance

underthepresidencyofCardinalPerraud.Thiswas,ofcourse,anofficialinvitation.ThepaperreadattheCongressby"FatherBenjamin"waspublishedintheAnnalsoftheEucharisticCongress,called"LePellerin"ofthatyear.Inthispaper,theChaldeanArch-Priest(thatbeinghisofficialtitle)deploredtheCatholicsystemofeducationamongtheNestorians.In1888FatherBenjaminwasbackagaininPersia.Inhisnativevillage,Digala,aboutamilefromthetown,heopenedaschool.ThenextyearhewassentbytheEcclesiasticalauthor


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itiestotakechargeofthedioceseofSalmas,whereasharpandscandalousconflictbetweentheUniateArchbishop,Khudabash,andtheLazaristFathersforalongtimehadbeenmenacingaschism.OnthedayofNewYear1900,FatherBenjaminpreachedhislastandmemorablesermontoalargecongregation,includingmanynon-CatholicArmeniansandothersintheCathedralofSt.George'sKhorovabad,Salmas.Thepreacher'ssubjectwas"NewCenturyandNewMen."HerecalledthefactthattheNestorianMissionaries,beforetheappearanceofIslam,namely"submission"toGod,hadpreachedtheGospelinallAsia;thattheyhadnumerousestablishmentsinIndia(especiallyattheMalabarCoast),inTartary,ChinaandMongolia;andthattheytranslatedtheGospeltotheTurkishUighursandinotherlanguages;thattheCatholic,AmericanandAnglicanMissions,inspiteofthelittlegoodtheyhaddonetotheAssyro-Chaldeannationinthewayofpreliminaryeducation,hadsplitthenation-alreadyahandfulinPersia,KurdistanandMesopotamiaintonumeroushostilesects;andthattheireffortsweredestinedtobringaboutthefinalcollapse.Con-sequentlyheadvisedthenativestomakeso

mesacrificesinordertostandupontheirownlegslikemen,andnottodependupontheforeignmissions,etc.Thepreacherwasperfectlyrightinprinciple;buthisremarkswereunfavorabletotheinterestsoftheLord'sMissionaries.ThissermonhastilybroughttheApostoliqueDelegate,Mgr.Lesne,fromUrmiatoSalmas.HeremainedtothelastafriendofFatherBenjamin.TheybothreturnedtoUrmia.AnewRussianMissionhadalreadybeenestab-lishedinUrmiasince1899.TheNestorianswereenthusiasticallyembracingthereligionofthe"holy"TsarofAllRussias!Fivebigandostentatiousmissions,Americans,Anglicans,French,GermansandRu

ssianswiththeircolleges,pressbackedupbyrichreligioussocieties,ConsulsandAmbassadors,wereendeavoringtoconvertaboutonehundredthousandAssyro-ChaldeansfromNestorianheresyuntooneoranotherofthefiveheresies.ButtheRussianMissionsoonoutstrippedtheothers,anditwasthismissionwhichin1915pushedorforcedtheAssyriansofPersia,aswellasthemountaineertribesofKurdistan,whohadthenimmigratedintotheplainsofSalmasandUrmia,totakeuparmsagainsttheirrespectiveGovernments.Theresultwasthathalfofhispeopleperishedinthewarandtherestexpelledfromtheirnativelands.

Thegreatquestionwhichforalongtimehadbeenworkingitssolutioninthemindofthispriestwasnowapproachingitsclimax.WasChristianity,withallitsmulti-tudinousshapesandcolors,andwithitsunauthentic,spuriousandcorruptedScriptures,thetrueReligionofGod?Inthesummerof1900heretiredtohissmallvillainthemiddleofvineyardsnearthecelebratedfountainofChali-BoulaghiinDigala,andthereforamonthspenthistimeinprayerandmeditation,readingoverandoverthe


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Scripturesintheiroriginaltexts.Thecrisisendedinaformalresigna-tionsentintotheUniateArchbishopofUrmia,inwhichhefranklyexplainedto(Mgr.)ToumaAuduthereasonsforabandoninghissacerdotalfunctions.Allattemptsmadebytheecclesiasticalauthoritiestowithdrawhisdecisionwereofnoavail.TherewasnopersonalquarrelordisputebetweenFatherBenjaminandhissuperiors;itwasallques-tionofconscience.ForseveralmonthsMr.Dawud,ashewasnowcalled,wasemployedinTabrizasInspectorinthePersianServiceofPostsandCustomsundertheBelgianexperts.ThenhewastakenintotheserviceoftheCrownPrinceMuhammad'AliMirzaasteacherandtranslator.Itwasin1903thatheagainvisitedEnglandandtherejoinedtheUnitarianCommunity.Andin1904hewassentbytheBritishandForeignUnitarianAssociationtocarryonaneducationalandenlighteningworkamonghiscountrypeople.OnhiswaytoPersiahevisitedConstantinople;andafterseveralinterviewswiththeSheikhu'I-IslamJemalu'd-DinEffendiandotherUlemas,heembracedtheHolyReligionofIslam,meaningsubmissiontoGod.

PREFATORYREMARKSIproposethroughthisarticleandtheoneswhichwillfollowtoshowthatthedoctrineofIslamconcerningtheDeityandthelastgreatmessengerofAllahisperfectlytrueandconformstotheteachingsoftheBible.Ishalldevotethepresentarticletodiscussingthefirstpoint,andinafewotherpapersIshallattempttoshowthatProphetMuhammadistherealobjectoftheCovenantandinhim,andhimalone,areactuallyandliterallyfulfilledallthepropheciesintheOldTestament.Iwishtomakeitquiteclearthattheviewssetoutinthisarticleandthosewhichwillfollowitare

quitepersonal,andthatIamaloneresponsibleformypersonalandunborrowedresearchesintheHebrewSacredScriptures.Idonot,however,assumeanauthoritativeattitudeinexpoundingtheteachingsofIslam,meaningsubmissiontoGod.IhavenottheslightestintentionnordesiretohurtthereligiousfeelingsofChristianfriends.IloveChrist,MosesandAbraham,asIdoProphetMuhammadandallotherholyprophetsofGod.MywritingsarenotintendedtoraiseabitterandthereforeuselessdisputewiththeChurches,butonlyinvitethemtoapleasantandfriendlyinvestigationofthisall-importantquestionwithaspiritofloveand

impartiality.IftheChristiansdesistfromtheirvainattemptofdefiningtheessenceoftheSupremeBeing,andconfessHisabsoluteOneness,thenaunionbetweenthemandtheMuslimsisnotonlyprobablebutextremelypossible.ForoncetheOnenessofGodisacceptedandacknowledged,theotherpointsofdifferencebetweenthetwofaithscanmoreeasilybesettled.ALLAHANDHISATTRIBUTESTherearetwofundamentalpointsbetweenIslamandChristianitywhich,forthesakeofthetruthand


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thepeaceoftheworld,deservedaveryseriousanddeepinvestigation.Asthesetworeligionsclaimtheiroriginfromoneandthesamesource,itwouldfollowthatnoimportantpointofcontroversybetweenthemshouldbeallowedtoexist.BoththesegreatreligionsbelieveintheexistenceoftheDeityandinthecovenantmadebetweenGodandtheProphetAbraham.Onthesetwoprincipalpointsathoroughlyconscientiousandfinalagreementmustbearrivedatbetweentheintelligentadherentsofthetwofaiths.ArewepoorandignorantmortalstobelieveinandworshiponeGod,orarewetobelieveinandfearapluralityofGods?Whichofthetwo,ChristorProphetMuhammad,istheobjectoftheDivineCovenant?Thesetwoquestionsmustbeansweredonceforall.ItwouldbeamerewasteoftimeheretorefutethosewhoignorantlyormaliciouslysupposetheGodasmentionedinIslamtobedifferentfromthetrueGodandonlyafictitiousdeityofProphetMuhammad'sowncreation.IftheChristianpriestsandtheologiansknewtheirScripturesintheoriginalHebrewinsteadofintranslationsastheMuslimsreadtheirQuraninitsArabictext,theywouldclearlyseethatAllahisthesameancientSemiticnameoftheSupremeBeingwhoreveale

dandspoketoAdamandalltheprophets.AllahistheonlySelf-Existing,Knowing,PowerfulBeing.Heencompasses,fillseveryspace,beingandthing;andisthesourceofalllife,knowledgeandforce.AllahistheUniqueCreator,RegulatorandRuleroftheuniverse.HeisabsolutelyOne.Theessence,thepersonandnatureofAllahareabsolutelybeyondhumancomprehension,andthereforeanyattempttodefineHisessenceisnotonlyfutilebutevendangeroustoourspiritualwelfareandfaith;foritwillcertainlyleadusintoerror.ThetrinitarianbranchoftheChristianChurch,foraboutseventeencenturies,h

asexhaustedallthebrainsofhersaintsandphilosopherstodefinetheEssenceandthePersonoftheDeity;andwhathavetheyinvented?AllthatwhichAthanasiuses,AugustinesandAquinaseshaveimposedupontheChristians"underthepainofeternaldamnation"tobelieveinaGodwhois"thethirdofthree"!Allah,inHisHolyQuran,condemnsthisbeliefinthesesolemnwords:"Becausetheunbeliversarethosewhosay:'Allahisoneofthree.'ThereisbutOneGod.Iftheydonotdesistinwhattheysay,apainfulpunishmentwillafflictthoseofthemthatdisbelieve."(QuranCh.5v73).

ThereasonwhytheorthodoxMuslimscholarshavealwaysrefrainedfromdefiningGod'sEssenceisbecauseHisEssencetranscendsallattributesinwhichitcouldonlybedefined.AllahhasmanyNameswhichinrealityareonlyadjectivesderivedfromHisessencethroughitsvariousmanifestationsintheuniversewhichHealonehasformed.WecallAllahbytheappellationsAlmighty,Eternal,Omnipresent,Omniscient,Merciful,andsoforth,becauseweconceivedtheeternity,omnipresence,universal


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knowledge,mercifulness,asemanatingfromHisessenceandbelongingtoHimaloneandabsolutely.HeisalonetheinfinitelyKnowing,Powerful,Living,Holy,Beautiful,Good,Loving,Glorious,Terrible.Avenger,becauseitisfromHimalonethatemanateandflowthequalitiesofknowledge,power,life,holiness,beautyandtherest.Godhasnoattributesinthesenseweunderstandthem.Withusanattributeorapropertyiscommontomanyindividualsofaspecies,butwhatisGod'sisHisalone,andthereisnoneothertoshareitwithHim.Whenwesay,"Solomoniswise,powerful,justandbeautiful,"wedonotascribeexclusivelytohimallwisdom,power,justiceandbeauty.Weonlymeantosaythatheisrelativelywiseascomparedwithothersofhisspecies,andthatwisdomtooisrelativelyhisattributeincommonwiththeindividualsbelongingtohisclass.Tomakeitmoreclear,adivineattributeisanemanationofGod,andthereforeanactivity.Noweverydivineactionisnothingmoreorlessthanacreation.Itisalsotobeadmittedthatthedivineattributes,inasmuchastheyareemanations,posittimeandabeginning;consequentlywhenAllahsaid:"Be,anditwas"-orHeuttered,Hiswordintimeandinthe

beginningofthecreation.ThisiswhattheSufisterm"aql-kull",oruniversalintelligence,astheemanationofthe"aqlawwal",namely,the"firstintelligence."Thenthe"nafs-kull",orthe"universalsoul"thatwasthefirsttohearandobeythisdivineorder,emanatedfromthe"firstsoul"andtransformedtheuniverse.ThisreasoningwouldleadustoconcludethateachactofGoddisplaysadivineemanationasHismanifestationandparticularattribute,butitisnotHisEssenceorBeing.GodisCreator,becauseHecreatedinthebeginningoftime,andalwayscreates.GodspokeinthebeginningoftimejustasHe

speaksinHisownwayalways.ButasHiscreationisnoteternaloradivineperson,soHisWordcannotbeconsideredeternalandadivinePerson.TheChristiansproceedfurther,andmaketheCreatoradivinefatherandHisWordadivineson;andalso,becauseHebreathedlifeintoHiscreatures,HeissurnamedadivineSpirit,forgettingthatlogicallyHecouldnotbefatherbeforecreation,nor"son"beforeHespoke,andneither"HolyGhost"beforeHegavelife.IcanconceivetheattributesofGodthroughHisworksatmanifestationsaposteriori,butofhiseternalandapriorattributespossesnoconceptionwhatever,nordoIimagineanyhumanintelligencetobeabletocomprehendthen

atureofaneternalattributeanditsrelationshiptotheessenceofGod.Infact,GodhasnotrevealedtousthenatureofHisBeingintheHolyScripturesnorinthehumanintellect.TheattributesofGodarenottobeconsideredasdistinctandseparatedivineentitiesorpersonalities,otherwiseweshallhave,notonetrinityofpersonsintheGodhead,butseveraldozenoftrinities.Anattributeuntilitactuallyemanatesfromitssubjecthasnoexistence.Wecannotqualifythesubjectbya


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particularattributebeforethatattributehasactuallyproceededfromitandisseen.Hencewesay"GodisGood"whenweenjoyHisgoodandkindaction;butwecannotdescribeHim-properlyspeaking-as"GodisGoodness,"becausegoodnessisnotGod,butHisactionandwork.ItisforthisreasonthattheQuranalwaysattributestoAllahtheadjectivalappellations,suchastheWise,theKnowing,theMerciful,butneverwithsuchdescriptionsas"Godislove,knowledge,word,"andsoforth;forloveistheactionoftheloverandnottheloverhimself,justasknowledgeorwordistheactionoftheknowingpersonandnothimself.IparticularlyinsistonthispointbecauseoftheerrorintowhichhavefallenthosewhomaintaintheeternityanddistinctpersonalityofcertainattributesofGod.TheVerbortheWordofGodhasbeenheldtobeadistinctpersonoftheDeity;whereasthewordofGodcanhavenoothersignificationthananexpressionofHisKnowledgeandWill.TheQuran,too,iscalled"theWordofGod,"andsomeearlyMuslimdoctorsoflawassertedthatitwaseternalanduncreated.ThesameappellationisalsogiventoJesusChristintheQuran-Kalimatunminho,i.e."aWordfromHim"(Ch.3v45).

ButitwouldbeveryirreligioustoassertthattheWordorLogosofGodisadistinctperson,andthatitassumedfleshandbecameincarnateintheshapeofamanofNazarethorintheformofabook,theformercalled"theChrist"andthelatter"theQuran"!Tosumupthissubject,IinsistentlydeclarethattheWordoranyotherimaginableattributeofGod,notonlyisitnotadistinctDivineentityorindividuality,butalsoitcouldhavenoactual(inactu)existencepriortothebeginningoftimeandcreation.ThefirstversewithwhichSt.JohnsGospelcommenceswasoftenrefutedbytheearlyUnitarian

writers,whorendereditstruereadingasfollows:"InthebeginningwastheWord;andtheWordwaswithGod;andtheWordwasGod's."ItwillbenoticedthattheGreekformofthegenitivecase"Theou"i.e."God's"(1)wascorruptedinto"Theos";thatis,"God,"inthenominativeformofthename!Itisalsotobeobservedthattheclause"Inthebeginningwastheword"expresslyindicatestheoriginofthewordwhichwasnotbeforethebeginning!Bythe"wordofGod"isnotmeantaseparateanddistinctsubstance,coevalandcoexistent______________(1)Footnote:ConcerningtheLogos,eversincethethe"Gospels"and"Commentari

es"aswellasthecontroversialwritingsbelongingtotheUnitarians,exceptwhathasbeenquotedfromtheminthewritingsoftheiropponents,suchasthelearnedGreekPatriarchPhotiusandthosebeforehim.Amongthe"Fathers"oftheEasternChristians,oneofthemostdistinguishedisSt.EphraimtheSyrian.Heistheauthorofmanyworks,chieflyofacommentaryontheBiblewhichispublishedbothinSyriacandinLatin,whichlattereditionIhadcarefullyreadinRome.Hehasa


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lsohomilies,dissertationscalled"midrishi"and"contraHaeretici,"etc.ThenthereisafamousSyrian,authorBirDisin(generallywrittenBardisanes)whoflourishedinthelatterendofthesecondandthefirstofthethirdcenturyA.D.FromthewritingsofBirDisinnothingintheSyriacisextantexceptwhatEphraim,JacobofNesibinandotherNestoriansandJacobiteshavequotedforrefutation,andexceptwhatmostoftheGreekFathersemployedintheirownlanguage.BirDisinmaintainedthatJesusChristwastheseatofthetempleoftheWordofGod,butbothheandtheWordwerecreated.St.Ephraim,incombatingthe"heresy"ofBirDisin,says:(Syriac):"WailakhO,dovyaatBirDisinDagreitl'Miltaeithrovd'AIIihi.Baramkthabhalakthabhd'akhhikhinIllad'MilthaeithovAllihi,"(Arabic)"Wailu'I-lakayianta's-SafilBirDisinLi-annafara'aitakina'I-kalimoli'I-LihiLi-kina'IKitibomiKatabaKaziIlla'I-KalimoKina'I-Lih."(Englishtranslation):"WoeuntotheeOmiserableBirDisinThatthoudidstreadthe"wordwasGod's"!ButtheBook[Gospel]didnotwritelikewise,Exceptthat"theWordwasGod."

AlmostinallthecontroversiesontheLogostheUnitariansare"branded"withtheheresyofdenyingtheeternalityanddivinepersonalityofitbyhaving"corrupted"theGospelofJohn,etc.TheseimputationswerereturnedtotheTrinitariansbythetrueNasira-Unitarians.SoonecandeductfromthepatristicliteraturethattheTrinitarianswerealwaysreproachedwithhavingcorruptedtheScriptures.______________endfootnotewiththeAlmighty,butsayingofHisKnowledgeandWillwhenHeutteredthewordKun,namely,"Be."WhenGodsaidKun,theworldsbecame;whenHesaidKunforHisWordstoberecordedinthe

ProtectedTabletsbythepenitbecameagain.ByHissaying:"Be,"JesuswascreatedinthewomboftheBlessedVirginMary;andsoon-wheneverHewillstocreateathingHebutonlysays"Be,"toitanditbecomes.TheChristianauspicatoryformula:"InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost,"doesnotevenmentionthenameofGod!AndthisistheChristianGod!TheNestorianandJacobiteformula,whichconsistsoftensyllablesexactlyliketheMuslim"Bismillahi,"isthustobetransliterated:BshimAbhawo-Bhraou-Ruhad-Qudsha,whichhasthesamemeaningasthatcontainedinallotherChristianformulas.TheQuranicformula,ontheotherhand,whiche

xpressesthefoundationoftheIslamictruthisagreatcontrasttotheTrinitarians'formula:Bismillahi'r-Rahmani'r-Rahim;thatis:"IntheNameoftheMostMercifulandCompassionateAllah."TheChristianTrinity-inasmuchasitadmitsapluralityofpersonsintheDeity,attributesdistinctpersonalpropertiestoeachperson;andmakesuseoffamilynamessimilartothoseinthepaganmythology-cannotbeacceptedasatrueconceptionoftheDeity.Allahisneitherthefatherofasonnor


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thesonofafather.Hehasnomother,norisHeself-made.Thebeliefin"GodtheFatherandGodtheSonandGodtheHolyGhost"isaflagrantdenialoftheOnenessofGod,andanaudaciousconfessioninthreeimperfectbeingswho,unitedlyorseparately,cannotbethetrueGod.Mathematicsasapositivescienceteachesusthataunitisnomorenorlessthanone;thatoneisneverequaltooneplusoneplusone;inotherwords,onecannotbeequaltothree,becauseoneisthethirdofthethree.Inthesameway,oneisnotequaltoathird.Andviceversa,threearenotequaltoone,norcanathirdbeequaltoaunit.Theunitisthebasisofallnumbers,andastandardforthemeasurementsandweightsofalldimensions,distances,quantitiesandtime.Infact,allnumbersareaggregatesoftheunit1.Tenisanaggregateofsomanyequalunitsofthesamekind.ThosewhomaintaintheunityofGodinthetrinityofpersonstellusthat"eachpersonisomnipotent,omnipresent,eternalandperfectGod;yettherearenotthreeomnipotent,omnipresent,eternalandperfectGods,butoneomnipotent...God!"Ifthereisnosophistryintheabovereasoningthenweshallpresentthis"mystery"ofthechurchesbyanequation:.God=1God+1God+1God;therefore:1God=3Gods.Inthefirstplace,one

godcannotequalthreegods,butonlyoneofthem.Secondly,sinceyouadmiteachpersontobeperfectGodlikeHistwoassociates,yourconclusionthat1+1+1=1isnotmathematical,butanabsurdity!Youareeithertooarrogantwhenyouattempttoprovethatthreeunitsequaloneunit;ortoocowardlytoadmitthatthreeonesequalthreeones.Intheformercaseyoucanneverproveawrongsolutionofaproblembyafalseprocess;andinthesecondyouhavenotthecouragetoconfessyourbeliefinthreegods.Besides,weall-MuslimsandChristians-believethatGodisOmnipresent,that

Hefillsandencompasseseveryspaceandparticle.IsitconceivablethatallthethreepersonsoftheDeityatthesametimeandseparatelyencompasstheuniverse,orisitonlyoneofthematthetime?Tosay"theDeitydoesthis"wouldbenoansweratall.ForDeityisnotGod,butthestateofbeingGod,andthereforeaquality.GodheadisthequalityofoneGod;itisnotsusceptibleofpluralitynorofdiminution.TherearenogodheadsbutoneGodhead,whichistheattributeofoneGodalone.Thenwearetoldthateachpersonofthetrinityhassomeparticularattributeswhicharenotpropertotheothertwo.Andtheseattributesindicate-accordingtohumanreasoningand

language-priorityandposteriorityamongthem.TheFatheralwaysholdsthefirstrank,andispriortotheSon.TheHolyGhostisnotonlyposteriorasthethirdintheorderofcountingbuteveninferiortothosefromwhomheproceeds.Woulditnotbeconsideredasinofheresyifthenamesofthethreepersonswereconverselyrepeated?WillnotthesigningofthecrossuponthecountenanceorovertheelementsoftheEucharistbeconsideredimpiousbytheChurchesiftheformulabereversedthus:"Inthen


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ameoftheHolyGhost,andoftheSon,andoftheFather"?Foriftheyareabsolutelyequalandcoeval,theorderofprecedenceneednotbesoscrupulouslyobserved.ThefactisthatthePopesandtheGeneralCouncilshavealwayscondemnedtheSabeliandoctrinewhichmaintainedthatGodisonebutthatHemanifestedHimselfastheFatherorastheSonorastheHolySpirit,beingalwaysoneandthesameperson.Ofcourse,thereligionofIslamdoesnotendorseorsanctiontheSabelianviews.GodmanifestedJamalorbeautyinChrist,JelalorGloryandMajestyinProphetMuhammad,andWisdominSolomon,andsooninmanyotherobjectsofnature,butnoneofthoseprophetsaregodsneitherthebeautifulsceneryofnaturearegods.Thetruthisthatthereisnomathematicalexactitude,noabsoluteequalitybetweenthethreepersonsoftheTrinity.IftheFatherwereineveryrespectequaltotheSonortheHolySpirit,astheunit1ispositivelyequaltoanotherfigure1,thentherewouldnecessarilybeonlyonepersonofGodandnotthree,becauseaunitisnotafragmentorfractionnoramultipleofitself.TheverydifferenceandrelationshipthatisadmittedtoexistbetweenthepersonsoftheTrinityleaves

noshadowofdoubtthattheyareneitherequaltoeachothernoraretheytobeidentifiedwithoneanother.TheFatherbegetsandisnotbegotten;theSonisbegottenandnotafather;theHolyGhostistheissueoftheothertwopersons;thefirstpersonisdescribedascreatoranddestroyer;thesecondassaviororredeemer,andthethirdaslife-giver.ConsequentlynoneofthethreeisalonetheCreator,theRedeemerandtheLife-giver.ThenwearetoldthatthesecondpersonistheWordofthefirstPerson,becomesmanandissacrificedonthecrosstosatisfythejusticeofhisfather,andthathisincarnationandresurrectionareoperatedand

accomplishedbythethirdperson.Inconclusion,ImustremindChristiansthatunlesstheybelieveintheabsoluteOnenessofGod,andrenouncethebeliefinthethreepersons,theyarecertainlyunbelieversinthetrueGod.Strictlyspeaking,Christiansarepolytheists,onlywiththisexception,thatthegodsoftheheathenarefalseandimaginary,whereasthethreegodsoftheChurcheshaveadistinctcharacter,ofwhomtheFather-asanotherepithetforCreator-istheOnetrueGod,butthesonisonlyaprophetandworshiperofGod,andthethirdpersononeoftheinnumerableholyspiritsintheserviceoftheAlmightyGod.IntheOldTestament,GodiscalledFatherbecauseofHisbeingalovingCreator

andProtector,butastheChurchesabusedthisName,theQuranhasjustlyrefrainedfromusingit.TheOldTestamentandtheQurancondemnthedoctrineofthreepersonsinGod;theNewTestamentdoesnotexpresslyholdordefendit,butevenifitcontainshintsandtracesconcerningtheTrinity,itisnoauthorityatall,becauseitwasneitherseennorwrittenbyChristhimself,norinthelanguagehespoke,nordiditexistinitspresentformandcontentsfor-atleast-thefirsttwocenturiesafterhim.


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ItmightwithadvantagebeaddedthatintheEasttheUnitarianChristiansalwayscombatedandprotestedagainsttheTrinitarians,andthatwhentheybeheldtheutterdestructionofthe"FourthBeast"bytheGreatProphetofAllah,theyacceptedandfollowedhim.TheDevil,whospokethroughthemouthoftheserpenttoEve,utteredblasphemiesagainsttheMostHighthroughthemouthofthe"LittleHorn"whichsprangupamongthe"TenHorns"upontheheadofthe"FourthBeast"(Dan.viii.),wasnoneotherthanConstantinetheGreat,whoofficiallyandviolentlyproclaimedtheNiceneCreed.But,ProphetMuhammadhasdestroyedthe"Iblis"ortheDevilfromthePromisedLandforever,byestablishingIslamthereasthereligionoftheOnetrueGod.MuhammadintheOldTestament"AndTheAhmedOfAllNationsWillCome."-Haggai,Ii.7.SometwocenturiesaftertheidolatrousandimpenitentKingdomofIsraelwasoverthrown,andthewholepopulationofthetentribesdeportedintoAssyria,JerusalemandtheglorioustempleofSolomonwererazedtothegroundbytheChaldeans,andtheunmassacredremnantofJudahandBenjaminwastransportedintoBabylonia.Afteraperiodofseventyyears'captivity,theJews

werepermittedtoreturntotheircountrywithfullauthoritytobuildagaintheirruinedcityandthetemple.WhenthefoundationsofthenewhouseofGodwerebeinglaid,therearoseatremendousuproarofjoyandacclamationfromtheassembly;whiletheoldmenandwomenwhohadseenthegorgeoustempleofSolomonbefore,burstintoabitterweeping.ItwasonthissolemnoccasionthattheAlmightysentHisworshipertheProphetHaggaitoconsolethesadassemblywiththisimportantmessage:"AndIwillshakeallnations,andtheHimdahallthenationswillcome;andIwillfillthishousewithglory,saystheLordofhosts.Mineisthesilver,mineisthegold,saystheLo

rdofhosts,thegloryofmylasthouseshallbegreaterthanthatofthefirstone,saystheLordofhosts;andinthisplaceIwillgiveShalom,saystheLordofhosts"(Haggai,ii.7-9).IhavetranslatedtheaboveparagraphfromtheonlycopyoftheBibleatmydisposal,lenttomebyanAssyrianladycousininherownvernacularlanguage.ButletusconsulttheEnglishversionsoftheBible,whichwefindhaverenderedtheoriginalHebrewwordshimdaandshalominto"desire"and"peace"respectively.JewishandChristiancommentatorsalikehavegiventheutmostimportancetothedoublepromise

containedintheaboveprophecy.TheybothunderstandamessianicpredictioninthewordHimda.Indeed,hereisawonderfulprophecyconfirmedbytheusualbiblicalformulaofthedivineoath,"saystheLordSabaoth,"fourtimesrepeated.Ifthisprophecybetakenintheabstractsenseofthewordshimdaandshalomas"desire"and"peace,"thentheprophecybecomesnothingmorethananunintelligibleaspiration.Butifweunderstandbythetermhimdaaconcreteidea,apersonandreality,


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andinthewordshalom,notacondition,butalivingandactiveforceandadefinitelyestablishedreligion,thenthisprophecymustbeadmittedlytrueandfulfilledinthepersonofAhmedandtheestablishmentofIslam.Forhimdaandshalom-orshlamahavepreciselythesamesignificancerespectivelyasAhmedandIslam.Beforeendeavoringtoprovethefulfillmentofthisprophecy,itwillbewelltoexplaintheetymologyofthetwowordsasbrieflyaspossible:(a)Himda.TheclauseintheoriginalHebrewtextreadsthus:"veyavuhimdathkolhaggoyim,"whichliterallyrenderedintoEnglishwouldbe"andwillcometheHimdaofallnations."ThefinalhiinHebrew,asinArabic,ischangedintoth,ortwheninthegenitivecase.ThewordisderivedfromanarchaicHebrew-orratherAramaic-roothmd(consonantspronouncedhemed).InHebrewhemedisgenerallyusedinthesenseofgreatdesire,covet,appetiteandlust.TheninthcommandoftheDecalogueis:"Lotahmodishreikha"("Thoushaltnotcovetthewifeofthyneighbor").InArabictheverbhemida,fromthesameconsonantshmd,means"topraise,"andsoon.Whatismorepraisedand

illustriousthanthatwhichismostcravedfor,coveted,anddesired?Whicheverofthetwomeaningsbeadopted,thefactthatAhmedistheArabicformofHimdaremainsindisputableanddecisive.TheHolyQuran(ch.61:6)declaresthatJesusannounceduntothepeopleofIsraelthecomingofAhmad:"AndwhenJesus,thesonofMarysaid:'ChildrenofIsrael,IamsenttoyoubyAllahtoconfirmtheTorahthatisbeforeme,andtogivenewsofaMessengerwhowillcomeaftermewhosenameshallbeAhmad.'Yetwhenhecametothemwithclearproofs,theysaid:'Thisisclearsorcery.'"TheGospelofSt.John,beingwritteninGreek,usesthenameParacletos,abarb

arousformunknowntoclassicalGreekliterature.ButPericlytos,whichcorrespondsexactlywithAhmedinitssignificationof"illustrious,""glorious"and"praised,"initssuperlativedegree,musthavebeenthetranslationintoGreekofHimdaorprobablyHemidaoftheAramaicform,asutteredbyJesusChrist.Alas!thereisnoGospelextantintheoriginallanguagespokenbyJesus!(b)Astotheetymologyandsignificationofthewordsshalom,shlama,andtheArabicsalam,Islam,Ineednotdetainthereaderbydragginghimintolinguisticdetails.AnySemiticscholarknowsthatShalomandIslamarederivedfromoneandthesamerootandthatbothmeanpeace

,submission,andresignation.Thisbeingmadeclear,IproposetogiveashortexpositionofthisprophecyofHaggai.Inordertounderstanditbetter,letmequoteanotherprophecyfromthelastbookoftheOldTestamentcalledMallachai,orMallakhi,orintheAuthorizedVersion,Malachi(chap.iii.I):"BeholdIwillsendmymessenger,andheshallpreparethewaybeforeme:suddenlyhewillcometohistemple.HeistheAdonai(i.e.theLord)whomyoudesire,andtheMessenger


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oftheCovenantwithwhomyouarepleased.Loheiscoming,saystheLordofhosts."ThencomparethesemysteriousoracleswiththewisdomembodiedinthesacredverseoftheQuran:"ExaltedisHewhocausedHisworshiper(ProphetMuhammad)totravelinthenightfromthesacredMosque(Mecca)tothefarthestMosque(Jerusalem)whichWehaveblessedarounditthatWemightshowhimofOursigns.HeistheHearer,theSeer."Ch.17:1Quran.Thatbythepersoncomingsuddenlytothetemple,asforetoldinthetwobiblicaldocumentsabovementioned,ProphetMuhammad,andnotProphetJesus,isintendedthefollowingargumentsmustsurelysufficetoconvinceeveryimpartialobserver:1.Thekinship,therelationandresemblancebetweenthetwotetrogramsHimdaandAhmd,andtheidentityoftheroothmdfromwhichbothsubstantivesarederived,leavenotasingleparticleofdoubtthatthesubjectinthesentence"andtheHimdaofallnationswillcome"isAhmed;thatistosay,Muhammad.Thereisnottheremotestetymologicalconnectionbetweenhimdaandanyothernamesof"Jesus,""Christ,""Savior,"notevenasingleconsonantincommonbetweenthem.2.EvenifitbearguedthattheHebrewformHmdh(readhimdah)isanabstracts

ubstantivemeaning"desire,lust,covetousness,andpraise,"theargumentwouldbeagaininfavorofourthesis;forthentheHebrewformwould,inetymology,beexactlyequivalentinmeaningandinsimilarityto,orratheridentitywith,theArabicformHimdah.InwhateversenseyouwishtotakethetetrogramHmdh,itsrelationtoAhmedandAhmedismisdecisive,andhasnothingtodowithJesusandJesuism!IfSt.Jerome,andbeforehimtheauthorsoftheSeptuagint,hadpreservedintacttheHebrewformHmdh,insteadofputtingdowntheLatin"cupiditas"ortheSeek"euthymia,"probablythetranslatorsappointed

byKingJamesIwouldhavealsoreproducedtheoriginalformintheAuthorizedVersion,andtheBibleSocietyhavefollowedsuitintheirtranslationsintoIslamiclanguages.3.ThetempleofZorobabelwastobemoregloriousthanthatofSolomonbecause,asMallakhiprophesied,thegreatProphetorMessengeroftheCovenant,the"Adonai"ortheSeyidofthemessengerswastovisititsuddenly,asindeedProphetMuhammaddidduringhismiraculousnightjourney,asstatedintheQuran!ThetempleofZorobabelwasrepairedorrebuiltbyHerodtheGreat.AndJesus,certainlyoneveryoccasionofhisfrequentvisitstothattemple,honoreditbyhisholyperson

andpresence.Indeed,thepresenceofeveryprophetintheHouseofGodhadaddedtothedignityandsanctityofthesanctuary.Butthismuchmustatleastbeadmitted,thattheGospelswhichrecordthevisitationsofChristtothetempleandhisteachingsthereinfailtomakementionofasingleconversionamonghisaudience.AllhisvisitstothetemplearereportedasendinginbitterdisputeswiththeunbelievingpriestsandPharisees!ItmustalsobeconcludedthatJesusnotonlydidnotbring"peace'to


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theworldashedeliberatelydeclared(Matt.xxiv.Markxiii.,Lukexxi.),butheevenpredictedthetotaldestructionofthetemple(Matt.x.34,etc.),whichwasfulfilledsomefortyyearsafterwardsbytheRomans,whenthefinaldispersionoftheJewswascompleted.4.Ahmad,whichisanotherformofthenameMuhammadandofthesamerootandsignification,namely,the"praised,"duringhisnightjourneyvisitedthesacredspotoftheruinedtemple,asstatedintheHolyQuran,andthereandthen,accordingtothesacredtraditionutteredrepeatedlybyhimselftohiscompanions,officiatedthedivineserviceofprayerandadorationtoAllahinthepresenceofalltheProphets;anditwasthenthatAllah"totravelinthenightfromthesacredMosquetothefarthestMosquewhichWehaveblessedarounditthatWemightshowhimofOurSigns."(Ch17:1Quran)totheLastProphet.IfMosesandEliascouldappearinbodilypresenceonthemountoftransfiguration,theyandallthethousandsofProphetscouldalsoappearinthearenaofthetempleatJerusalem;anditwasduringthat"suddencoming"ofProphetMuhammadto"histemple"(Mal.iii.1)thatGoddidactuallyfillit"withglory"(Hag.ii.).

ThatAmina,thewidowofAbdullah,bothofwhomdiedbeforetheadventofIslam,shouldnameherorphanson"Ahmed,"thefirstpropernouninthehistoryofmankind,is,accordingtomyhumblebelief,thegreatestmiracleinfavorofIslam.ThesecondCaliph,HazratOmar,rebuiltthetemple,andthemajesticMosqueatJerusalemremains,andwillremaintotheendoftheworld,aperpetualmonumentofthetruthofthecovenantwhichAllahmadewithAbrahamandIshmael(Gen.xv.-xvii).TheQuestionOfTheBirthrightAndTheCovenantThereisavery,veryancientreligiousdisputebetweentheIshmaelitesandtheIsraelitesaboutthe

questionscon-cerningtheBirthrightandtheCovenant.ThereadersoftheBibleandtheQur'anarefamiliarwiththestoryofthegreatProphetAbrahamandhistwosonsIshmael(Isma'il)andIsaac(Ishaq).ThestoryofAbraham'scallfromtheUroftheChaldees,andthatofhisdescendantsuntilthedeathofhisgrandsonJosephinEgypt,iswritteninTheBookofGenesis(chaptersxi.-l).InhisgenealogyasrecordedinGenesis,AbrahamisthetwentiethfromAdam,andacon-temporaryofNimrod,whobuiltthestupendousTowerofBabel.TheearlystoryofAbrahamintheUrofChaldea,thoughnotmentionedintheBible,isrecordedby

thefamousJewishhistorianJosephFlaviusinhisAntiquitiesandisalsoconfirmedbytheQur'an.ButtheBibleexpresslytellsusthatthefatherofAbraham,Terah,wasanidolater(Jos.xxiv.2,14).AbrahammanifestedhisloveandzealforGodwhenheenteredintothetempleanddestroyedalltheidolsandimagestherein,andthushewasatrueprototypeofhisillustriousdescendantProphetMuhammad.Hecameoutunhurtandtriumphantlyfromtheburningfurnacewhereinhewascastbythe


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orderofNimrod.HeleaveshisnativelandforHaraninthecompanyofhisfatherandhisnephewLot.Hewasseventy-fiveyearsoldwhenhisfatherdiedatHaran.Inobedienceandabsoluteresignationtothedivinecall,heleaveshiscountryandstartsonalongandvariedjourneytothelandofCanaan,toEgyptandtoArabia.HiswifeSarahisbarren;yetGodannouncestohimthatheisdestinedtobecomethefatherofmanynations,thatalltheterritoriesheistotraverseshallbegivenasaninheritancetohisdescendants,andthat,"byhisseedallthenationsoftheearthshallbeblessed"!ThiswonderfulanduniquepromiseinthehistoryofreligionwasmetwithanunshakenfaithonthepartofAbraham,whohadnoissue,noson.WhenhewasledouttolookattheskyatnightandtoldbyAllahthathisposteritywouldbeasnumerousasthestars,andasinnumerableasthesandwhichisontheshoresofthesea,Abrahambelievedit.AnditwasthisbeliefinGod,that"wascountedrighteousness,"astheScripturesays.AvirtuouspoorEgyptiangirl,Hagarbyname,isaslaveandamaidintheserviceofSarah.AtthebiddingandconsentofthemistressthemaidservantisdulymarriedbytheProph

et,andfromthisunionIshmaelisborn,asfore-toldbytheAngel.WhenIshmaelisthirteenyearsold,AllahagainsendsHisAngelwithHisrevelationtoAbraham;thesamepromiseisrepeatedtoAbraham;theriteofCircumcisionisformallyinstitutedandimmediatelyexecuted.Abraham,athisninetiethyearofage,Ishmael,andallthemaleservants,arecircumcised;andthe"Covenant"betweenGodandAbrahamwithhisonlybegottensonismadeandsealed,asifitwerewiththebloodofcircumcision.ItisakindoftreatyconcludedbetweenHeavenandthePromisedLandinthepersonofIshmaelastheonlyoffspring

ofthenonagenarianPatriarch.AbrahampromisesallegianceandfealtytohisCreator,andGodpromisestobeforevertheProtectorandGodoftheposterityofIshmael.Lateron-thatistosay,whenAbrahamwasninety-nineyearsoldandSarahninety,wefindthatshealsobearsasonwhomtheynameIsaacaccordingtotheDivinepromise.AsnochronologicalorderisobservedintheBookofGenesis,wearetoldthatafterthebirthofIsaac,IshmaelandhismotherareturnedoutandsentawaybyAbrahaminamostcruelmanner,simplybecauseSarahsowished.Ishmaelandhismotherdisappearinthedesert,afountainburstsoutwhentheyouthisonthepointofdeathfromthirst;hedrinksandissaved.Nothingmore

isheardofIshmaelintheBookofGenesisexceptthathemarriedanEgyptianwoman,andwhenAbrahamdiedhewaspresenttogetherwithIsaactoburytheirdeadfather.ThentheBookofGenesiscontinuesthestoryofIsaac,histwosons,andthedescentofJacobintoEgypt,andendswiththedeathofJoseph.ThenextimportanteventinthehistoryofAbrahamasrecordedinGenesis(xxii.)istheofferingof"hisonlyson"asacrificetoGod,buthewasransomedwitharamwhichwaspres


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entedbyanangel.AstheQur'ansays,"Thatwasindeedacleartrial"forAbraham(Qur'an,Ch.38:106),buthisloveforGodsurpassedeveryotheraffection;andforthisreasonheiscalledtheFriendofAllah,"AllahhastakenAbrahamforaFriend".(Qur'an)ThusrunsthebriefaccountofAbrahaminconnectionwithoursubjectoftheBirthrightandtheCovenant.TherearethreedistinctpointswhicheverytruebelieverinGodmustacceptastruths.ThefirstpointisthatIshmaelisthelegitimatesonofAbraham,hisfirst-born,andthereforehisclaimtobirthrightisquitejustandlegal.ThesecondpointisthattheCovenantwasmadebetweenGodandAbra-hamaswellashisonlysonIshmaelbeforeIsaacwasborn.TheCovenantandtheinstitutionoftheCircumcisionwouldhavenovalueorsignificationunlesstherepeatedpromisecontainedintheDivinewords,"Throughouttheeallthenationsoftheearthshallbeblessed,"andespeciallytheexpression,theSeed"thatshallcomeoutfromthebowels,hewillinheritthee"(Gen.xv.4).ThispromisewasfulfilledwhenIshmaelwasborn(Gen.xvi.),andAbrahamhadtheconsolationthathischie

fservantEliezerwouldnolongerbehisheir.ConsequentlywemustadmitthatIshmaelwastherealandlegitimateheirofAbraham'sspiritualdignityandprivileges.Theperogativethat"byAbrahamallthegene-rationsoftheearthshallbeblessed,"sooftenrepeated-thoughindifferentforms-wastheheritagebybirthright,andwasthepatrimonyofIshmael.TheinheritancetowhichIshmaelwasentitledbybirthrightwasnotthetentinwhichAbrahamlivedoracertaincameluponwhichheusedtoride,buttosubjugateandoccupyforeveralltheterritoriesextendingfromtheNiletotheEuphrates,whichwereinhabitedby

sometendifferentnations(xvii.18-21).TheselandshaveneverbeensubduedbythedescendantsofIsaac,butbythoseofIshmael.ThisisanactualandliteralfulfillmentofoneoftheconditionscontainedintheCovenent.ThethirdpointisthatIsaacwasalsobornmiraculouslyandspeciallyblessedbytheAlmighty,thatforhispeoplethelandofCanaanwaspromisedandactuallyoccupiedunderJoshua.NoMuslimeverthinksofdisparagingthesacredandpropheticalpositionofIsaacandhissonJacob;fortodisparageortoloweraProphetisanimpiety.WhenwecompareIshmaelandIsaac,wecannotbutreverenceand

respectthembothasholyProphetsofGod.Infact,thepeopleofIsrael,withitsLawandsacredScriptures,havehadauniquereligioushistoryintheOldWorld.TheywereindeedtheChosenPeopleofGod.AlthoughthatpeoplehaveoftenrebelledagainstGod,andfallenintoidolatry,yettheyhavegiventotheworldmyriadsofprophetsandrighteousmenandwomen.SofartherecouldbenorealpointofcontroversybetweenthedescendantsofIshmaelandthepeopleofIsrael.Forifby"Blessing"andthe"Birthright"itmeantonlysomematerial


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possessionsandpower,thedisputewouldbesettledasithasbeensettledbyswordandtheaccomplishedfactoftheAraboccupationofthepromisedlands.Rather,thereisafundamentalpointofdisputebetweenthetwonationsnowexistingfornearlyfourthousandyears;andthatpointisthequestionoftheMessiahandProphetMuhammad.TheJewsdonotseethefulfillmentoftheso-calledMessianicprophecieseitherinthepersonofChristorinthatofProphetMuhammad.TheJewshavealwaysbeenjealousofIshmaelbecausetheyknowverywellthatinhimtheCovenantwasmadeandwithhiscircumcisionitwasconcludedandsealed,anditisoutofthisrancorthattheirscribesordoctorsoflawhavecorruptedandinterpolatedmanypassagesintheirScriptures.Toeffacethename"Ishmael"fromthesecond,sixth,andseventhversesofthetwenty-secondchapteroftheBookofGenesisandtoinsertinitsplace"Isaac,"andtoleavethedescriptiveepithet"thyonlybegottenson"istodenytheexistenceoftheformerandtoviolatetheCovenantmadebetweenGodandIshmael.ItisexpresslysaidinthischapterbyGod:"Becausethoudidstnotsparethyonlybegottenson,Iwillincreaseandmultipl

ythyposteritylikethestarsandthesandsontheseashore,"whichword"multiply"wasusedbytheAngeltoHagarinthewilderness:Iwillmultiplythyoffspringtoaninnumerablemultitude,andthatIshmael"shallbecomeafruitfulman"(Gen.xvi.12).NowtheChristianshavetranslatedthesameHebrewword,whichmeans"fruitful"or"plentiful"fromtheverbpara-identicalwiththeArabicwefera-intheirversions"awildass"!IsitnotashameandimpietytocallIshmael"awildass"whomGodstyles"Fruitful"or"Plentiful"?ItisveryremarkablethatChristhimself,asreportedintheGospelofSt.Barn

abas,reprimandedtheJewswhosaidthattheGreatMessengerwhomtheycall"Messiah"wouldcomedownfromthelineageofKingDavid,tellingthemplainlythathecouldnotbethesonofDavid,forDavidcallshim"hisLord,"andthenwentontoexplainhowtheirfathershadalteredtheScriptures,andthattheCovenantwasmade,notwithIsaac,butwithIshmael,whowastakentobeofferedasacrificetoGod,andthattheexpression"thyonlybegottenson"meansIshmael,andnotIsaac.Paul,whopretendstobeanapostleofJesusChrist,usessomeirreverentwordsaboutHagar(Gal.vi.21-31andelsewhere)andIshmael,and

openlycontradictshisMaster.ThismanhasdoneallhecouldtopervertandmisleadtheChristianswhomheusedtopersecutebeforehisconversion;andIdoubtverymuchthattheJesusofPaulwasJesus,thesonofMarywhoaccordingtoChristiantraditionswashangedonatreeaboutacenturyorsobeforeChrist,forhisMessianicpretensions.Infact,theEpistlesofPaulastheystandbeforeusarefullofdoctrinesentirelyrepugnanttothespiritoftheOldTestament,aswellastothatofthehumble


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Prophet,JesusofNazareth.PaulwasabigotedPhariseeandalawyer.AfterhisconversiontoChristianityheseemstohavebecomeevenmorefanaticalthanever.HishatredtoIshmaelandhisclaimtothebirthrightmakeshimforgetoroverlooktheLawofMoseswhichforbidsamantomarryhisownsisterunderthepainofcapitalpenalty.IfPaulwereinspiredbyGod,hewouldhaveeitherdenouncedtheBookofGenesisasfullofforgerieswhenitsaystwice(xii.10-20,xx.2-18)thatAbrahamwasthehusbandofhisownsister,orthathewouldhaveexposedtheProphettobealiar!(Godforbid).Buthebelievesinthewordsofthebook,andhiscon-sciencedoesnottormenthimintheleastwhenheidentifiesHagarwiththebarrendesertoftheSinai,andqualifiesSarahastheJerusalemaboveinheaven!(Gal.iv.25,26).DideverPaulreadthisanathemaoftheLaw:-"Cursedbehethatliethwithhissister,thedaughterofhisfather,orthedaughterofhismother.Andallthepeoplesay:Amen"?(Duet.xxvii.22).IsthereahumanordivinelawthatwouldconsidermorelegitimateonewhoisthesonofhisownuncleandauntthanhewhosefatherisaChaldeanandhismotheranEgyptian?Haveyouanythingto

sayagainstthechastityandthepietyofHagar?Ofcoursenot,forshewasthewifeofaProphetandthemotherofaProphet,andherselffavoredwithDivinerevelations.TheGodwhomadetheCovenantwithIshmaelthusprescribesthelawofinheritance,namely:Ifamanhastwowives,onebelovedandtheotherdespised,andeachonehasason,andifthesonofthedespisedwifeisthefirst-born,thatson,andnotthesonofthebelovedwife,isentitledtothebirthright.Consequentlythefirst-bornshallinherittwicethatofhisbrother.(Duet.xxi.15-17).Isnot,then,thislawexplicitenoughtoputtosilenceallwhodisputethejustclaimofIshmaeltobirthright?

Nowletusdiscussthisquestionofthebirthrightasbrieflyaswecan.WeknowthatAbrahamwasanomadchiefaswellasaMessengerofGod,andthatheusedtoliveinatentandhadlargeflocksofcattleandgreatwealth.Nowthenomadtribesmendonotinheritlandsandpastures,buttheprinceassignstoeachofhissonscertainclansortribesashissubjectsanddependents.Asaruletheyoungestinheritsthehearthorthetentofhisparents,whereastheelder-unlessunfit-succeedshimtohisthrone.ThegreatMongolconquerorJenghizKhanwassucceededbyOghtai,hiseldestson,whoreignedinPekinasKhaqan,buthisyoungestsonremainedinhisfather'shearthatQara-q

oruminMongolia.ItwasexactlythesamewithAbraham'stwosons.Isaac,whowastheyoungerofthetwo,inheritedthetentofhisfatherandbecame,likehim,anomadlivingintents.ButIshmaelwassenttoHijaztoguardtheHouseofAllahwhichhe,togetherwithAbraham,hadbuiltasreferredtointheQur'an.Herehesettled,becameProphetandPrinceamongtheArabtribeswhobelievedinhim.ItwasatMecca,orBecca,thattheKa'ababecamethecenterofthepilgrimagecalledal-hajj.ItwasIshmaelth


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atfoundedthereligionofonetrueAllahandinstitutedtheCircumcision.Hisoffspringsoonincreasedandwasmultipliedlikethestarsofthesky.FromthedaysofProphetIshmaeltotheadventofProphetMuhammad,theArabsofHijaz,Yemenandothershavebeenindependentandmastersoftheirowncountries.TheRomanandPersianEmpireswerepowerlesstosubduethepeopleofIshmael.Althoughidolatrywasafterwardsintroduced,stillthenamesofAllah,Abraham,Ishmael,andafewotherProphetswerenotforgottenbythem.EvenEsau,theeldersonofIsaac,lefthisfather'shearthforhisyoungerbrotherJacobanddweltinEdom,wherehebecamethechiefofhispeopleandsoongotmixedwiththeArabtribesofIshmaelwhowasbothhisuncleandfather-in-law.ThestoryofEsau'ssellinghisbirthrighttoJacobforadishofpottageisfoultrickinventedtojustifytheill-treatmentascribedtoIshmael.Itisallegedthat"GodhatedEsauandlovedJacob,"whilethetwinswereintheirmother'swomb;andthatthe"elderbrotherwastoservehisyoungerone"(Gen.xxvRom.ix.12,13).But,strangetosay,anotherreport,probablyfromanother

source,showsthecasetobejustthereverseoftheabove-mentionedprediction.Forthethirty-thirdchapterofGenesisclearlyadmitsthatJacobservedEsau,beforewhomheseventimesprostratesinhomage,addressinghim"MyLord,"anddeclaringhimselfas"yourslave."AbrahamisreportedintheBibletohaveseveralothersonsfromQituraand"theconcubines,"towhomhegavepresentsorgiftsandsentthemtowardstheEast.Allthesebecamelargeandstrongtribes.TwelvesonsofIshmaelaremen-tionedbynameanddescribed,eachonetobeaprincewithhistownsandcampsorarmies(Gen.xxv.).SoarethechildrenfromQitura,andothers,aswellasthosedescended

fromEsaumentionedbytheirnames.WhenwebeholdthenumberofthefamilyofJacobwhenhewenttoEgypt,whichhardlyexceededseventyheads,andwhenhewasmetbyEsauwithanescortoffourhundredarmedhorsemen,andthemightyArabtribessubmittedtothetwelveAmirsbelongingtothefamilyofIshmael,andthenwhenthelastMessengerofAllahproclaimsthereligionofIslam,alltheArabtribesunitedlyacclaimhimandacceptHisreligion,andsubdueallthelandspromisedtothechildrenofProphetAbraham,wemustindeedbeblindnottoseethattheCovenantwasmadewithIshmaelandthepromiseaccom-plishedin

thepersonofProphetMuhammad(uponwhombepeace).BeforeconcludingthisarticleIwishtodrawtheatten-tionofthestudentsoftheBible,especiallythatoftheHigherBiblicalCriticism,tothefactthattheso-calledMessianicPropheciesandPassagesbelongtoapropagandainfavoroftheDavidicDynastyafterthedeathofKingSolomonwhenhiskingdomwassplitintotwo.ThetwogreatProphetsEliasandElisha,whoflourishedintheKingdomofSamariahorIsrael,donotevenmentionthenameofDavidorSolomon.Jerusalemwasnotlong


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erthecenterofreligionfortheTenTribes,andtheDavidicclaimstoaperpetualreignwasrejected.ButProphetslikeIshaiaandotherswhowereattachedtotheTempleofJerusalemandtheHouseofDavidhaveforetoldthecomingofagreatProphetandSovereign.Asitwassaidinthefirstarticle,therearecertainmani-festmarkswithwhichthecomingLastProphetwillbeknown.Anditisthesemarksthatweshallattempttostudyinthefuturearticles.TheMysteryOfThe"Mispa"Inthisarticle,asthetitleshows,IshalltrytogiveanexpositionoftheancientHebrewCultofStone,whichtheyinheritedfromAbraham,theirgreatprogenitor,andtoshowthatthisStone-CultwasinstitutedatMeccabythatPatriarchandhissonIshmael;inthelandofCanaanbyIsaacandJacob;andinMoabandelsewherebytheotherdescendantsofAbraham.Bytheterm"Stone-Cult,"letitbeunderstood,Idonotmeanstone-worship,whichisidolatry;byitIunderstandtheworshipofGodataspeciallyconsecratedstonemeantforthatpurpose.Inthosedays,whenthechosenfamilywereleadinganomadicandpastorallife,ithadnosettledhabitationwhereto

buildahouse,especiallydedicatedtotheworshipofGod;theyusedtoerectaparticularstonearoundwhichtheyusedtomakeahajj;thatistosay,toturnroundseventimesintheformofadancing-ring.ThewordhajjmightfrightentheChristianreadersandtheymightshrinkatitssightbecauseofitsArabicformandbecauseofitsbeingatpresentaMuslimreligiousperformance.ThewordhajjisexactlyidenticalinmeaningandetymologywiththesameintheHebrewandotherSemiticlanguages.TheHebrewverbhagagisthesameastheArabichajaj,thedifferencebeingonlyinthepronunciationofthethirdletteroftheSemiticalphabetgamal,whichtheArabspronounceasj.

TheLawofMosesusesthisverywordhagagorhaghagh(1)whenitordersthefestivalceremoniestobeperformed.Thewordsignifiestocompassabuilding,analtarorastonebyrunningrounditataregularandtrainedpacewiththepurposeofperformingareligiousfestivalofrejoicingandchanting.IntheEasttheChristiansstillpracticewhattheycallhiggaeitherduringtheirfestivaldaysoratweddings.Consequently,thiswordhasnothingtodowithpilgrimage,whichisderivedfromtheItalianpellegrino,andthisalsofromtheLatinperegrinus-meaninga"foreigner."-------------Footnotes:(1)UnlilketheArabs,boththeHebrewaswellastheA

ramaicpeopleshavenojsoundintheiralphabet;theirthirdletter,gamal,whenhardhasagsoundandwhensoftoraspiratebecomesgutturalandsoundsgh.------------EndoffootnoteAbrahamduringhissojournsfrequentlyusedtobuildanaltarforworshipandsacrificeatdifferentplacesandonparticularoccasions.WhenJacobwasonhiswaytoPadanAramandsawthevisionofthatwonderfulladder,heerectedastonethere,uponwhichhepouredoilandcalleditBethel,i.e."The


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HouseofGod";andtwentyyearslaterheagainvisitedthatstone,uponwhichhepouredoiland"purewine,"asrecordedinGenesisxxviii.10-22;xxxv.AspecialstonewaserectedasamonumentbyJacobandhisfatherin-lawuponaheapofstonescalledGal'eadinHebrew,andYagharsahduthabyLabaninhisAramaiclanguage,whichmeans"aheapofwitness."ButthepropernountheygavetotheerectedstonewasMispa(Gen.xxxi.45-55),whichIprefertowriteinitsexactArabicform,Mispha,andthisIdoforthebenefitofmyMuslimreaders.NowthisMisphabecamelateronthemostimportantplaceofworship,andacenterofthenationalassembliesinthehistoryofthepeopleofIsrael.ItwasherethatNaphthah-aJewishhero-madeavow"beforetheLord,"andafterbeatingtheAmmonites,heissupposedtohaveofferedhisonlydaughterasaburntoffering(Judgesxi).ItwasatMisphathatfourhundredthousandswordsmenfromtheeleventribesofIsraelassembledand"sworebeforetheLord"toexterminatethetribeofBenjaminforanabominablecrimecommittedbytheBenjamitesofGeba'andsucceeded(Judgesxx.xxi.).AtMisphaallthepeopleweresummonedbytheProphetSamuel,wherethey"sworebeforetheLor

d"todestroyalltheiridolsandimages,andthenweresavedfromthehandsofthePhilistines(ISam.vii).ItwasherethatthenationassembledandSaulwasappointedkingoverIsrael(1Sam.x).Inshort,everynationalquestionofgreatmomentwasdecidedatthisMisphaoratBethel.Itseemsthattheseshrineswerebuiltuponhighplacesoruponaraisedplatform,oftencalledRamoth,whichsignifiesa"highplace."EvenafterthebuildingofthegorgeousTempleofSolomon,theMisphaswereheldingreatreverence.But,liketheKa'abaatMecca,theseMisphaswereoftenfilledwithidolsandimages.Afterthedestructionof

JerusalemandtheTemplebytheChaldeans,theMisphastillmaintaineditssacredcharacteraslateasthetimeoftheMaccabeesduringthereignofKingAntiochus(l).Now,whatdoesthewordMispamean?Itisgenerallytranslatedintoa"watch-tower."ItbelongstothatclassofSemiticnouns-AsmaZarf-whichtakeordrivetheirnamefromthethingthattheyencloseorcontain.Mispaistheplaceorbuildingwhichderivesitsnamefromsapha,anarchaicwordfor"stone."TheusualwordforstoneinHebrewisiben,andinArabichajar.TheSyriacforstoneiskipa.Butsafaorsaphaseemstobecommontothemallforsomeparticularobjectorpersonwhendesignated

asa"stone."HencetherealmeaningofMispaisthelocalityorplaceinwhichasaphaorstoneissetandfixed.Itwillbeseenthatwhenthisname,Mispa,wasfirstgiventothestoneerecteduponaheapofstoneblocks,therewasnoedificebuiltaroundit.Itisthespotuponwhichasapharests,thatiscalledMispa.BeforeexplainingthesignificationofthenounsaphaIhavetotaxagainthepatienceofthoseofmyreaderswhoarenotacquaintedwiththeHebrew.TheArabiclanguagelacksthep


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soundinitsalphabetjustasmuchasdotheHebrewandotherSemiticlanguages,inwhichtheletterp,likeg,issometimessoftandispronouncedlikeforph.InEnglish,asarule,theSemiticandGreekwordscontainingfsoundaretransliteratedandwrittenbytheinsertionof"ph"insteadof"f,"e.g.Seraph,Mustapha,andPhilosophy.ItisinaccordancewiththisrulethatIprefertowritethiswordsaphatosafa.-------------Footnote:(1)TheBiblewhichIconsultdoesnotcontaintheso-calleddeutro-canonicalorApocryphalbooksoftheOldTestament.ThisBibleispublishedbytheAmericanBibleSociety(NewYork1893).ThetitlerunsthusKthahhiQaddishiDadiathiqiWadiathiqiKhadattAnShad-wathPoushaqadminlishaniqdimaqi.Matha'tad'dasta.Biblionetad'America[TheHolyBooksoftheOldTestamentandoftheNewCovenant(Testament),withtheconcordanceorwitnesses.Translatedfromtheancientlanguages.PublishedatthePressoftheAmericanBibleSociety].-------------EndoffootnoteWhenJesusChristsurnamedhisfirstdiscipleShim'on(Simon)withthesignificanttitleof"Petros"(Peter),hemustevidentlyhavehadinhismindthisancientsacredSaphawhich

hadbeenlostlongago!But,alas!wecannotpositivelysetouttheexactwordwhichheexpressedinhisownlanguage.TheGreekformPetrosinthemasculinegender-Petrainthefeminine-issounclassicalandunGreek,thatoneisastonishedatitsbeingeveradoptedbytheChurches.DidJesusoranyotherJeweverdreamofcallingthefishermanBarYona,Petros?Decidedlynot.TheSyriacversioncalledPshittahasfrequentlyrenderedthisGreekformintoKipha(Kipa).AndtheveryfactthateventheGreektexthaspreservedtheoriginalname"Kephas,"whichtheEnglishversionshavereproducedintheshapeof"Cephas,"shows

thatChristspoketheAramaiclanguageandgavethesurname"Kipha"tohisprincipaldisciple.TheoldArabicversionsoftheNewTestamenthavefrequentlywrittenSt.Peter'snameas"Sham'un'as-Sapha";thatistosay,"SimontheStone."ThewordsofChrist:"ThouartPeter,"etc.,havetheirequivalentintheArabicversionintheformof"Antas-Sapha"(Matt.xvi.18;Johni.42,etc.).Itfollows,therefore,thatifSimonistheSapha,theChurchwhichwastobebuiltonitwouldnaturallybetheMispha.ThatChristshouldlikenSimontoSaphaandtheChurchtoMisphaisveryremarkable;butwhenIcometodivulgethemysteryhiddeninthissimilitudeand

thewisdomembodiedintheSapha,thenitmustbeacceptedasthemostmarveloustruthofProphetMuhammad'smerittohisglorioustitle:'THEMUSTAPHA'!Fromwhathasbeenstatedabove,ourcuriositywouldnaturallyleadonetoaskthefollowingquestions:-(a)WhydidtheMuslimsandUnitariandescendantsofAbrahamchooseastonetoperformtheirreligiousserviceonoraroundit?(b)Whyshouldthisparticularstonebenamed


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sapha?(c)Whatisthewriterdrivingat?Andsoon-perhapsseveralothers.Thestonewasselectedasthebestsuitablematerialuponwhichatravelingdevoteeofferedhissacrifice,pouredhispureoilandwine,(1)andperformedhisreligiousservicesaroundit.Itwasmorethanthis;thisstonewaserectedtocommemoratethevowsandcertainpromiseswhichaprophetorrighteousmanmadetohisCreator,andtherevelationhereceivedfromGod.Consequently,itwasasacredmonumenttoperpetuatethememoryandthesacredcharacterofagreatreligiousevent.Forsuchapurposenoothermaterialcouldsurpassthestone.Notonlydoesthesolidityanddurabilityofthestonemakeitsuitableforthatpurpose,butitsmeresimplicity,cheapness,worthlessnessinalonelyplacewouldguaranteeitagainstanyattractionofhumanavariceorenmitytostealordestroyit.Asiswellknown,theLawofMosesstrictlyforbidstoheworcarvethestonesofthealtar.ThestonecalledSaphawastobeabsolutelyleftnatural;noimages,inscriptions,orengravingsweretobewroughtuponit,lestanyoneoftheseshouldbeworshippedintimetocomebytheignorantpeople.Gold,ironsilver,

oranyothermetal,couldnotanswerallthesequalitiesrequiredinthesimplestone.Itwillbeunderstood,therefore,thatthepurest,themostdurable,eligible,andthesafestmaterialforareligiousandsacredmonumentcouldbenoneotherthanthestone.------------Footnote:1.WinewasnotforbiddentothepeopleofIsrael.------------endoffootnoteThemoltenbronzestatueoftheJupiterworshippedbytheheathenRomanPontifexMaximus,wastakenawayfromthePantheonandrecastintotheimageofSt.PeterbyorderofaChristianSovereignPontiff;andindeed,thewisdomembodiedintheSaphaisadmirableandworthyofallthosewho

worshipnootherobjectbesidesGod.ItshouldalsoberememberedthatnotonlyistheerectedSaphaasacredmonument,buttheveryspotandthecircuitinwhichitissituatedaswell.AnditisforthisreasonthattheMuslimhajj,liketheHebrewhigga,isperformedroundthebuildingwheretheSacredStoneisfixed.ItisknownfactthattheKaramatianswhocarriedtheBlackStonefromtheKa'abaandkeptitintheirowncountryforsometwentyyears,wereobligedtobringandputitbackinitsformerplacebecausetheycouldnotdrawthepilgrimsfromMecca.Ifithadbeengoldorotherpreciousobject,itcouldnothaveexisted,atleast,for

somefivethousandyears;orevenifithadhadonitsomecarvingsorimagesofart,itwouldhavebeendestroyedbytheProphetMuhammadhimself.Astothemeaning-orrathermeanings-oftheSapha,Ihavealreadyreferredtothemasqualitiesofthestone.Thewordconsistsoftheconsonants"sadi"and"pi"endingwiththevowel"hi"bothasaverbandnoun.Itmeans,initsqalform,"topurify,towatch,togazefromdistance,andtochoose."Italsohasthe


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meaningsof"tobefirmandsound";initspi'elparadigm,whichiscausative,itsimplymeans"tomakeachoice,tocausetoelect,"andsoon.AmanwhowatchedfromatowerwascalledSophi(2Kingsix.17,etc.).Inancienttimes-thatis,beforethebuildingoftheTempleofSolomon-theProphetorthe"ManofGod"wascalledRoiorHozi,whichmeansthe"seer"(1Sam.ix.9).TheHebrewscholarsare,ofcourse,familiarwiththewordMsaphpi,orratherMsappi,whichisequivalentinorthographytotheArabicmusaphphi,whichsignifies"onewhoendeavorstoelectthatwhichispure,sound,firm,"andsoforth.ThewatchmanontheTowerofYizrael,asquotedabove,wasgazingandwatchingsharplyfromagreatdistancetodistinguishacompanyofpersonscomingontowardsthetown.HesawthefirstmessengeroftheKingwhoarrivedandjoinedthegroupbutdidnotreturn.Thesamewasthecasewiththesecondandthethirdenvoy.ItwaslateronthattheSophicoulddistinguishthechiefofthegroupasJehu.Now,whatthenwasthebusinessandtheofficeofthatwatchman?Itwastolookoutsharplyfromsomedistancetodistinguishoneamongtheotherswithaviewtounderstandinghisidentityandhismovements

,ifatallpossible,andthentoinformhisking.Ifyouask:WhatwasthebusinessandtheofficeofthesolitarySophioftheMispa?theanswer-whichwouldmerelybethatheusedtowatchfromtheminaretoftheMisppha(Mispa)inordertodistinguishtheidentityofthepilgrimsinthedesert,orthatheusedtokeepwatchagainstsomedanger-couldnotsatisfyaneagerinquirer.Ifso,theMisphawouldloseitsreligiousandsacredcharacter,andwouldratherseemtoassumethatofamilitarywatchtower.ButthecasewiththeSophioftheMisphawasquitedifferent.OriginallytheMisphawasonlyasimpleshrineonasolitary

highplaceinGal'eadwheretheSophiwithhisfamilyorattendantsusedtolive.AftertheconquestandoccupationofthelandofCanaanbyIsrael,thenumberoftheMisphasincreases,andtheysoonbecomegreatreligiouscentersanddevelopintoinstitutionsoflearningandconfraternities.TheyseemtobeliketheIslamicMevlevi,Bektashi,Neqshbendi,andotherreligiousconfraternities,eachoneofthembeingunderitsownSheikhandMurshid.TheyhadschoolsattachedtotheMispha,wheretheLaw,thereligion,theHebrewliteratureandotherbranchesofknowledgeweretaught.Butoverandabovethiseducationalwork,theSophiwasthesupremeheadofacommunityofinitiateswho

mheusedtoinstructandteachtheesotericormysticreligionwhichweknowunderthenameofSophia.Indeed,whatwetermto-daySufiswerethencallednbiyimor"prophets,"andwhatiscalled,inIslamictakkas,zikrorinvocationinprayer,theyusedtoterm"prophesying."InthetimeoftheProphetSamuel,whowastheheadoftheStateaswellasthatoftheMisphainstitutions,thesedisciplesandinitiateshadbecomeverynumerous;andwhenSaulwasanointedandcrowned,hejoinedthezikrorreligiou


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spracticeofinvocationwiththeinitiatesandwasannouncedeverywhere:"BeholdSaulalsoamongtheProphets."Andthissayingbecameaproverb;forhewasalso"prophesying"withthegroupofprophets(1Sam.x9-13).TheSufismamongtheHebrewscontinuedtobeanesotericreligiousconfraternityunderthesupremacyoftheProphetofthetimeuntilthedeathofKingSolomon.Afterthedivisionofthekingdomintotwo,itappearsthatagreatschismhadtakenplaceamongtheSufistoo.InthetimeoftheProphetElias,about900B.C.,wearetoldthathewastheonlytrueProphetleftandthatallotherswerekilled;andthattherewereeighthundredandfiftyprophetsoftheBaalandIshrawho"ateatthetableofQueenIzabel"(1Kingsxviii.19).Butonlyafewyearslater,Elias'sdiscipleandsuccessor,theProphetElisha,atBethelandatJerichoismetbyscoresofthe"sonsofProphets"whoforetellhimabouttheimminentascensionofhismasterElias(2Kingsii.).WhatevermayhavebeentherealpositionoftheHebrewSufis(orSophees)afterthegreatreligiousandnationalschism,onethingiscertain,namely,thatthetrueknowledgeofGodandtheesoteric

scienceofreligionwaspreserveduntiltheappearanceofJesusChrist,whobuilthisCommunityoftheInitiatesintheInnerReligionuponSimontheSapha,andthatthetrueSophisorseersoftheChristianMisphaperpetuatedthisknowledgeandwatchedoverituntiltheappearanceoftheElectofAllah,ProphetMuhammadal-Mustapha-theHebrew"Mustaphi"!TheBiblementions-asIsaidabove-numerousprophetsattachedtotheMisphas;butwemustwellunderstandthat,astheQur'anclearlydeclares,"GodbestknowswhomHeshallappointforHisMessenger"thatHedoesnotbestowthegiftofprophecyonapersononaccountofhisnobility,riches,

orevenpiety,butforHisownpleasure.Thefaithandallworksofpiety,meditations,spiritualexercises,prayers,fasting,anddivineknowledgemayraiseanovicetobecomeaspiritualmurshidorguide,ortotherankofasaint,butnevertothestatusofaprophet;forprophecyisnotprocuredbyeffort,butisagiftofGod.EvenamongtheProphetsthereareonlyafewwhowereMessengersfavoredwithaspecialbookandcommissionedtodirectacertainpeopleorwithaparticularmission.Thereforetheterm"prophets"asusedintheHebrewScripturesisoftenambiguous.ImustalsoremarkinthisconnectionthatprobablythemajorityofthematerialoftheBiblewasthe

workorproductionoftheseMisphasbeforetheBabylonianCaptivityorevenearlier,butafterwardshasbeenrevisedbyunknownhandsuntilithastakentheshapewhichwenowadayshave.ItnowremainstosayfewwordsabouttheMuslimSufismandtheGreekwordSophia(wisdomorloveofwisdom);andadiscussionofthesetwosystemsofhighknowledgedoeslieoutsidethescopeofthisarticle.Philosophy,inthewidersenseoftheterm,isthestudyorscienceofthefirstprinciplesof


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being;inotherwords,ittranscendsthelimitsofphysicstostudythepurebeing,andleavesbehindthestudyofcausesorlawsofthatwhichhappensorisseeninnaturetryingtoreachthemetaphysicswhichdealswithfaith,ethicsandlawknownnowasthespiritualaspectsofcivilization,whilethephysicisconsideredthematerialaspectsofcivilization.Therebyittakesthegreatestpainstofindthetruth.ThedifferencebetweentheGreekSophiaandtheMuslimSufiisthattheGreekhavemixedbetweenthematerialisticandspiritualareanasandatthesametime,theyfailedtoreceivedrevelationastheirtopphilosophersi.e.AristotleandSocratesadmittedthatdealinginthemetaphysicswithoutreceivingrevelationfromtheCreatorislikecrossingtheoceanonapieceofwood!WhereastheluckyMuslimSufisconcentratedontheareaofethicsandfollowingthefootstepsofProphetMuhammadandhiscompanionsindiscipliningone'sheartandselfinsailingtoreachtheHighAssemblyoftheAngelsandsoforth.MuslimSufismisthecontemplationonthedeedsofAllahandHisCreationandonesselfandavoidingthecontemplationonAllahHimselfbecausethehumanismadeofhisenv

ironmentandsoonerusetheirfivesensestodescribeAllahwhichbecomesexceedinglydangerousasithappenedwiththeEgyptianswhentheyimaginedtheSphinxthathashead,paws,bodyetc.ThesuperiorityoftheIslamicSophiatotheGreekphilosophyismanifestfromtheobjectitviewsat.AnditisdecidedlysuperiortotheChristiancelibacyandmonasticisminitsindifferencetowardstheconsciencesandthebeliefsofotherpeople.AMuslimSophi(Sufi)alwaysentertainsrespectforotherreligions,laughsattheideaof"heresy"andabhorsallpersecutionsandoppressions.MostoftheChristianSaintswereeitherpersecutorsoforthepersecutedbyheretics,andt

heircelebrityconsistsintheirexcessofintolerance.Thisis,alasbutonlytootrue.ItisalsoworthynotingthatinthetimeofthefirsteraofIslam,MuslimSufiswerereferredtoas"Zahid"or"Zohad"andatthattimetheyhadnomethodology,buttheyhadacompletefellowshipoffaithandjurisprudencetotheirrespectiveschool.Theyconcentratedontheethicsandthinking.Thefollowinggenerationestablishedthemethodologyofcoursestobetakenbybeginners,theintermediateandtheadvancedbasedontheQur'anandPropheticQuotations.ItisveryclearthatthedailyrectitionofQur'an,theremembranceoftheNamesofAllahandtheprayeronProphetMuhammad

togetherwithaskingAllahforforgivenessandprayingatnight,fastingduringthedayaresomeoftheimportantcharacteristics.Ontheotherhand,theauthenticMuslimSufirejectanyinsincerememberswhofailtokeepthewayofProphetMuhammad.Admittedly,manyignorantpeoplewereexposed,thinkingthattheseinsincerecasesarerepresentativeofMuslimSufism.Theyfailtounderstandthatthe(Ihsan)whichisonethirdoftheReligion,asdemonstratedintheanswerofProphetMuhammad


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tothequestion"WhatisIslam?,WhatIsIman,andWhatisIhsan?whenProphetMuhammadcommentedthattheonewhoaskedthequestionerwastheangelGabrielandthathehadcometoteachyoutheReligion.Also,IslamwasservedbythefourschoolsofjurisprudencewhileimanwasservedbyfaithschoolssuchasSalafandAshariaandofcourseSufiservedIhsan.IfsomeonedoubtsthislethimnamethescholarsofIhsan,becauseifyougotoanIslamicCourtwhichbelongstothesectionofIslam,orgotoaFaithschoolandadmitthathehasjeouslousyandmaliceinhisheartetc.ofthediseaseofthesoulbothschoolswilladmitthattheyhavenothingtodowiththisaspectandreferhimtoanAbid,worshiper,orSufi,Shaykh.AsasecondaryremarkIshouldliketoaddthattheMuslimauthorshavealwayswrittentheGreekword"philosophy"intheformofPhelsephawithsininsteadofsadiortzadi,whichisoneoftheconstituentlettersintheHebrewandArabicwordsSaphaandSophi.IthinkthisformwasintroducedintotheArabicliteraturebytheAssyriantranslatorswhoformerlybelongedtotheNestoriansect.TheTurkswritethenameSt.SophiaofConstantinoplewithsadi,butphilosophywith

sin,likethesamekhoftheHebrews.IbelievethattheGreekSophiaistobeidentifiedetymologicallywiththeHebrewword;andtheideathattheMuslimwordsophia(sowfiya)isderivedfromthesoph,whichmeans"wool,"oughttobeabandoned.ThetrueSophia-orwisdom-thetrueknowledgeofGod,thetruescienceofreligionandmorality,andtheinfallibleselectionoftheLastMessengerofAllahfromamongallHisMessengers,belongedtotheancientinstitutionofIsraelcalledMispha,untilitwastransformedintotheMisphaoftheNassaraorChristian.Itisindeedmarveloustoseehowcompleteistheanalogyandhowthe

economyofGodconcerningHisdealingswithmaniscarriedonwithabsoluteuniformityandorder.TheMisphaisthefilterwhereallthedataandpersonsarefilteredandstrainedbytheMusaphphi(Hebrew,Mosappi)asbyacolander(forsuchisthemeaningoftheword);sothatthegenuineisdistinguishedandseparatedfromthefalse,andthepurefromtheimpure;yetcenturiessucceedeachother,myriadsofProphetscomeandgo,stilltheMustapha,theElectedOne,doesnotappear.ThencomestheHolyJesus;butheisrejectedandpersecuted,becausethereexistednolongerinIsraelthatofficialMisphawhichwouldhave

recognizedandannouncedhimasatrueMessengerofGodwhowassenttobearwitnesstotheMustaphathatwastheLastProphettofollowhim.The"GrandAssemblyoftheSynagogue"convokedandinstitutedbyEzraandNehemiah,thelastmemberofwhichwas"SimeontheJust"(ob310B.C.),wassucceededbytheSupremeTribunalofJerusalem,calledthe"Sahedrin";butthislatterAssembly,whosePresidentwastheNassiorthe"Prince,"condemnedJesustodeathbecauseitdidnotrecognize


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hispersonandthenatureofhisdivinemission.AfewSophis,however,knewJesusandbelievedinhispropheticalmission;butthecrowdsatonetimemistookhimfortheMustaphaorthe"elected"MessengerofAllah,andseizedandacclaimedhimking,buthevanishedanddisappearedfromamongthem.HewasnottheMustaplta,otherwiseitwouldberidiculoustomakeSimontheSaphaandhisChurchtheMispha;fortheofficeandthedutyoftheMisphawastowatchandlookfortheLastMessenger,sothatwhenhecamehewouldbeproclaimedastheElectedandChosenOne-theMustapha.IfJesusweretheMustapha,therewouldbenoneedfortheinstitutionoftheMisphaanylonger.Thisisaverydeepandinterestingsubject;itdeservespatientstudy.ProphetMuhammadal-MustaphaisthemysteryoftheMispha,andthetreasureoftheSophia.ProphetMuhammadIsThe"Shiloh"ProphetJacob,thegrandsonofProphetAbraham,islyingsickinbed;heisinhisonehundredandforty-seventhyear,andtheendisapproachingrapidly.Hesummonshistwelvesonsandtheirfamiliestohisbedroom;andheblesseseachsonandforetellsthefutureofhistribe.Itisgenerallyknownasthe

"TestamentofJacob,"andiswritteninanelegantHebrewstylewithapoetictouch.ItcontainsafewwordswhichareuniqueandneveroccuragainintheBible.TheTestamentrecallsthevariedeventsinthelifeofamanwhohashadmanyupsanddowns.Heisreportedtohavetakenadvantageofhisbrother'shungerandboughthisrightofbirthforadishofpottage,anddeceivedhisblindoldfatherandobtainedtheblessingwhichbybirthrightbelongedtoEsau.HeservedsevenyearstomarryRachel,butwasdeceivedbyherfather,beingmarriedtohereldersisterLiah;sohehadtoserveanothertermofsevenyearsfortheformer.Themassacreofallthemalepopulationbyhis(Jaco

bProphetMuhammadIsThe"Shiloh"ProphetJacob,thegrandsonofProphetAbraham,islyingsickinbed;heisinhisonehundredandforty-seventhyear,andtheendisapproachingrapidly.Hesummonshistwelvesonsandtheirfamiliestohisbedroom;andheblesseseachsonandforetellsthefutureofhistribe.Itisgenerallyknownasthe"TestamentofJacob,"andiswritteninanelegantHebrewstylewithapoetictouch.ItcontainsafewwordswhichareuniqueandneveroccuragainintheBible.TheTestamentrecallsthevariedeventsinthelifeofamanwhohashadmanyupsanddowns.Heisreportedtohavetakena

dvantageofhisbrother'shungerandboughthisrightofbirthforadishofpottage,anddeceivedhisblindoldfatherandobtainedtheblessingwhichbybirthrightbelongedtoEsau.HeservedsevenyearstomarryRachel,butwasdeceivedbyherfather,beingmarriedtohereldersisterLiah;sohehadtoserveanothertermofsevenyearsfortheformer.Themassacreofallthemalepopulationbyhis(Jacob's)twosonsSimonandLiviforthepollutionofhis(Jacob's)daughterDinabySchechim,theprinceof


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thattown,hadgreatlygrievedhim.Theshamefulconductofhisfirst-born,Reubin,indefilinghisfather'sbedbylyingwithhisconcubinewasneverforgottennorforgivenbyhim.ButthegreatestgriefthatbefellhimafterthelossofhisbelovedwifeRachelwasthedisappearanceformanyyearsofhisfavoritesonJoseph.HisdescentintoEgyptandhismeetingwithJosephcausedhimgreatjoyandtherecoveryofhislostsight.JacobwasaProphet,andsurnamedbyGod"Israel,"thenamewhichwasadoptedbythetwelvetribesthatdescendedfromhim.ThepolicyofusurpationofthebirthrightrunsthroughtherecordsoftheBookofGenesis,andJacobisrepresentedasaheroofthisviolationoftherightsofotherpersons.HeisreportedtogivethebirthrightofhisgrandsonManashitohisyoungerbrotherEphraim,inspiteoftheremonstrancesoftheirfatherJoseph(chap.xlviii.).HedepriveshisfirstbornsonofhisbirthrightandaccordstheblessingtoJudah,hisfourthson,becausetheformerhadlainwithBilha,Jacobs's"concubine,"whoisthemotherofhistwosonsDanandNephthali;anddeprivesthelatterbecausehewasnobetterthantheother,inasmuch

ashecommittedadulterywithhisowndaughter-in-lawThamar,whoboreasonwhobecameanancestorofDavidandofJesusChrist(chap.xxv.22,chap.xxxviii.)!Itisindeedincrediblethattheauthor,oratleastthefinaleditor,ofthisbookwas"inspiredbytheHolySpirit,"astheJewsandChristiansallege.Jacobisreportedtohavemarriedtwosisterssimultaneously,anactioncondemnedbyGod'slaw(Lev.xviii.18).Infact,withtheexceptionofJosephandBenjamin,hisothersonsaredescribedasroughshepherds,liars(totheirfatherandtoJoseph),murderers,adulterers,whichmeansitwasafamilynotbecomingaProphetatall.Ofcourse,theMuslimscannot

acceptanycalumnyagainstaProphetorarighteousmanunlessitbeexpresslyrecordedormentionedintheQur'an.WedonotbelievethesinattributedtoJudahtobetrue(cf.chap.xxxviii),otherwisetheblessingaccordedtohimbyJacobwouldbeacontradiction;anditisthisveryblessingthatweproposetostudyanddiscussinthisarticle.JacobcouldnothaveblessedhissonJudahifthelatterwasreallythefatherofhisowndaughter-in-law'sson,Peres,forbothadultererswouldbecondemnedtodeathbytheLawofGod,Whohadgivenhimthegiftofprophecy(Lev.xx12).However,thestoryofJacobandthatofhisnotveryexemplaryfamilyis

tobefoundintheBookofGenesis(chaps.xxv.-1).Thefamousprophecy,whichmaybeconsideredasthenucleusofthistestament,iscontainedinthetenthverseoftheforty-ninthchapterofGenesisasfollows:-"TheSceptreshallnotdepartfromJudah,AndtheLawgiverfrombetweenhisfeet,UntilthecomingofShiloh,Andtohimbelongeththeobedienceofpeoples."ThisistheliteraltranslationoftheHebrewtextasmuchasIcanunderstandit.TherearetwowordsinthetextwhichareuniqueandoccurnowhereelseintheOldTestament.Thefirst


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ofthesewordsis"Shiloh,"andtheother"yiqha"or"yiqhath(byconstructionorcontraction).Shilohisformedoffourletters,shin,yod,lamedandhi.Thereisa"Shiloh,"thepropernameofatowninEphraim,(1Sam.i.etc.),butthereisnoyodinit.Thisnamecannotbeidenticalwith,orreferto,thetownwheretheArkoftheCovenantortheTabernaclewas;foruntilthennosceptreorlawgiverhadappearedinthetribeofJudah.Thewordcertainlyreferstoaperson,andnottoaplace.AsfarasIcanremember,alltheversionsoftheOldTestamenthavepreservedthisoriginalShilohwithoutgivingitarendering.ItisonlytheSyriacPshitta(inArabiccalledal-Bessita)thathastranslateditinto"Hetowhomitbelongs."Itiseasytoseehowthetranslatorhasunderstoodthewordascomposedof"sh"abridgedformofasher="he,that,"andloh(theArabiclehu)="ishis.'Consequently,accordingtothePshitta,theclausewillbereadinthefollowingmanner:"Untilhetowhomitbelongethcome,And,"etc.Thepersonalpronoun"it"mayrefertothesceptreandthelawgiverseparatelyorcollectively,orperhapstothe"obedience"inthefourthclauseoftheverse,thelanguagebeingpoetic.

Accordingtothisimportantversionthesenseofthepredictionwouldappeartobeplainlythis:-"TheroyalandpropheticcharactershallnotpassawayfromJudahuntilhetowhomitbelongscome,forhisisthehomageofpeople."Butapparentlythiswordisderivedfromtheverbshalahandthereforemeaning"peaceful,tranquil,quietandtrust-worthy."Itismostlikelythatsomeoldtranscriberorcopyistcurrentecalamoandwithaslipofpenhasdetachedtheleftsideofthefinalletterhet,andthenithasbeentransformedintohi,forthetwolettersareexceedinglyalikebeingonlveryslightlydifferentontheleftside.Ifsuchan

errorhasbeentransmittedintheHebrewmanuscript-eitherintentionallyornot-thenthewordisderivedfromshalah,'tosend,delegate,"thepastparticipleofwhichwouldbeshaluh-thatis,"onewhoissent,messenger."Butthereappearsnoreasonablecauseforadeliberatechangeofhetforhi,sincetheyodispreservedinthepresentshapeofShiloh,whichhasnovawthatwouldbenecessaryforthepastparticipleShaluh.Besides,IthinktheSeptuaginthasretainedtheShilohasitis.Theonlypossiblechange,therefore,wouldbeofthefinalletterhetintohi.Ifsuchbethecase,thenthewordwouldtaketheformofShiluah

andcorrespondexactlytothe"MessengerofYah,"theverytitlegiventoMuhammadalone"RasulAllah,"i.e."theMessengerofGod."Iknowthattheterm"shiluah"isalsothetechnicalwordforthe"letterofdivorce,"andthisbecausethedivorcedwifeis"sent"away.IcanguessofnootherinterpretationofthissingularnamebesidesthethreeversionsIhavementioned.Ofcourse,itgoeswithoutsayingthatboththeJewsandChristiansbelievethisblessingtobeoneoftheforemostMessianicprophecies.ThatJesus,theProphetofNazareth,istheChris


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torMessiahnoMuslimcandeny,fortheQur'andoesacknowledgethattitle.ThateveryIsraeliteKingandHighPriestwasanointedwiththeholyoilcomposedofoliveoilandvariousspicesweknowfromtheHebrewScriptures(Lev.xxx.23-33).EventheZardushtiKoreshKingofPersiaiscalledGod'sChrist:"ThussaystheLordtoHisChristCyrus,"etc.(Isa.xlv.1-7).ItwouldbesuperfluousheretomentionthatalthoughneitherCyrusnorJesuswereanointedbythesacredanointment,yettheyarecalledMessiahs.AstoJesus,evenifhispropheticmissionwererecognizedbytheJews,hisMessianicofficecouldneverbeacceptedbythem.FornoneofthemarksorcharacteristicsoftheMessiahtheyexpectaretobefoundinthemanwhomtheyattemptedtocrucify.TheJewsexpectaMessiahwiththeswordandtemporalpower,aconquerorwhowouldrestoreandextendthekingdomofDavid,andaMessiahwhowouldgathertogetherthedispersedIsraeluntothelandofCanaan,andsubduemanynationsunderhisyoke;buttheycouldneveracclaimassuchapreacherupontheMountofOlives,oroneborninamanger.Toshowthatthisveryancientprophecyhasbeenpracticallyandliterallyfulfi

lledinProphetMuhammadthefollowingargumentscanbeadvanced.Bytheallegoricalexpressions"theSceptre"and"Law-giver"itisunanimouslyadmittedbythecommentatorstomeantheroyalauthorityandtheprophecyrespectively.Withoutstoppinglongtoexaminetherootandderivationofthesecondsingularword"yiqha,"wemayadopteitherofitstwosignifications,"obedience"or"expectation."LetusfollowthefirstinterpretationofShilohasgiveninthePshittaversion:"hetowhomitbelongs."Thispracticallymeans"theownerofthesceptreandthelaw,"or"hewhopossessesthesovereignand

legislativeauthority,andhisistheobedienceofnations."Who,then,canthismightyPrinceandgreatLegislatorbe?CertainlynotMoses,forhewasthefirstorganizeroftheTwelveTribesofIsrael,andbeforehimthereneverappearedakingorprophetinthetribeofJudah.DecidedlynotDavid,becausehewasthefirstkingandprophetdescendedfromJudah.AndevidentlynotJesusChrist,becausehehimselfrepudiatedtheideathattheMessiahwhomIsraelwasexpectingwasasonofDavid(Matt.xxii.44,45;Markxii.35-37;Lukexx.41-44).Hehasleftnowrittenlaw,andneverdreamtofassumingtheroyalsceptre;infact,headvisedtheJewstobeloyaltoCaesarandpayhimtribute,

andononeoccasionthecrowdsattemptedtomakehimaking,butheescapedandhidhimself.HisGospelwaswrittenonthetabletofhisheart,andhedeliveredhismessageof"goodnews,"notinscripto,butorally.Inthisprophecythereisnoquestionofthesalvationfromoriginalsinbythebloodofacrucifiedperson,norofareignofagod-manoverhumanhearts.Besides,JesusdidnotabrogatetheLawofMoses,buthedistinctlydeclaredthathehadcometofulfillit;norwashethelastProphet;


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forafterhimSt.Paulspeaksofmany"prophets"intheChurch.ProphetMuhammadcamewithmilitarypowerandtheQur'antoreplacetheoldJewishworn-outsceptreandtheimpracticableandold-fashionedlawofsacrificesandofacorruptpriesthood.HeproclaimedthepurestreligionoftheonetrueGod,andlaiddownthebestpracticalpreceptsandrulesformoralsandconductofmen.HeestablishedthereligionofIslamwhichhasunitedintoonerealbrotherhoodmanynationsandpeopleswhoassociatenobeingwiththeAlmighty.AllMuslimpeoplesobeytheProphetofAllah,loveandreverencehimastheestablisheroftheirreligion,butneverworshiphimorgivehimdivinehonorandattributes.HecrushedandputanendtothelastvestigesoftheJewishprincipalityofQureihdaandKhaibar,havingdestroyedalltheircastlesandfortifications.Thesecondinterpretationofthetetragram"Shilh,"pronouncedShiloh,isequallyimportantandinfavorofProphetMuhammad.Asitwasshownabove,thewordsignifies"tranquil,peaceful,trustworthy,quiet"andsoforth.TheAramaicformofthewordisShilya,fromthesamerootShalaorshla.ThisverbisnotusedinArabic.

Itisawell-knownfactinthehistoryoftheProphetofArabiathat,previoustohiscalltotheMessengership,hewasextremelyquiet,peaceful,trustworthy,andofacontemplativeandattractivecharacter;thathewassurnamedbythepeopleofMecca"Muhammadal-Emm."WhentheMeccansgavethistitle"Emm"or"Amm"toMuhammadtheyhadnottheremotestideaof"Shiloh,"yettheignoranceoftheidolatrousArabswasmadeuseofbyGodtoconfoundtheunbelievingJews,whohadscripturesandknewtheircontents.TheArabicverbamana,liketheHebrewaman,tobe"firm,constant,secure,"andtherefore"tobetranquil,faithfulandtrustworthy,"showsthat"a

min"ispreciselytheequivalentofShiloh,andconveysallthesignificationscontainedinit.ProphetMuhammad,beforehewascalledbyGodtopreachthereligionofIslamandtoabolishtheidolatrywhichhesuccessfullyaccomplished,wasthemostquietandtruthfulmaninMecca;hewasneitherawarriornoralegislator;butitwasafterheassumedthepropheticalmissionthathebecamethemosteloquentspeakerandthebestvaliantArab.Hefoughtwiththeinfidelsswordinhand,notforhisownpersonalinterest,butforthegloryofAllahandforthecauseofHisreligion-Al-Islam.HewasshownbyGodthekeysofthetreasuresoftheearth,buthedidnotacceptthem,

andwhenhediedhewaspracticallyapoorman.NootherworshiperofGod,whetherakingoraprophet,hasrenderedsuchanadmirablygreatandpreciousservicetoGodandtomanasProphetMuhammadhasdone:toGodineradicatingtheidolatryfromalargepartoftheglobe,andtomanbyhavinggiventhemostperfectreligionandthebestlawsforhisguidanceandsecurity.HeseizedthesceptreandthelawfromtheJews;fortifiedtheformerandperfectedthelatter.IfProphetMuhammadwerepermitte


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dtoreappearto-dayinMeccaorMedina,hewouldbemetbytheMuslimswiththesameaffectionand"obedience"ashesawthereduringhisearthlylife.AndhewouldseewithadeepsenseofpleasurethattheHolyBookhehaddeliveredisthesamewithouttheleastalterationinit,andthatitischantedandrecitedexactlyasheandhiscompanionsdid.HewouldbegladtocongratulatethemontheirfidelitytothereligionandtotheOnenessofAllah;andtothefactthattheyhavenotmadeofhimagodorsonofagod.Astothethirdinterpretationofthename"Shiloh"Iremarkedthatitmightpossiblybeacorruptionof"Shaluah,"andinthatcaseitwouldindisputablycorrespondtotheArabictitleoftheProphetsooftenrepeatedintheQur'an,namely,"Rasul"whichmeansexactlythesameasShaluahdoes,i.e."aMessenger.""ShaluahElohim"oftheHebrewsispreciselythe"RasulAllah"whichphraseischantedfivetimesadaybytheCriertothePrayersfromtheminaretofallmosquesintheworld.IntheQur'anseveralprophets,particularlythosetowhomasacredscripturehasbeendelivered,arementionedasRasul;butnowhereintheOldTestamentdowecomeacrossShilohor

ShaluahexceptintheTestamentofJacob.NowfromwhateverpointofviewwetrytostudyandexaminethisprophecyofJacob,weareforced,bythereasonofitsactualfulfillmentinProphetMuhammad,toadmitthattheJewsarevainlyexpectingthecomingofanotherShiloh,andthattheChristiansareobstinatelypersistingintheirerrorinbelievingthatitwasJesuswhowasintendedbyShiloh.Thenthereareotherobservationswhichdeserveourseriousconsideration.InthefirstplaceitisveryplainthatthesceptreandthelegislatorwouldremaininthetribeofJudahsolongastheShilohdoesnot

appearonthescene.AccordingtotheJewishclaim,Shilohhasnotcomeyet.Itwouldfollow,therefore,thatboththeRoyalSceptreandthePropheticalSuccessionwerestillinexistenceandbelongedtothattribe.Butboththeseinstitutionshavebeenextinctforoverthirteencenturies.InthesecondplaceitistobeobservedthatthetribeofJudahalsohasdisappearedtogetherwithitsroyalauthorityanditssister-thepropheticalsuccession.Itisanindispensableconditionforthemaintenanceofatribalexistenceandidentitytoshowthatthetribeasawholeliveseitherinitsownfatherlandorelsewherecollectivelyandspeaksitsownlanguage.ButwiththeJewsthecasei

sjustthereverse.ToproveyourselftobeanIsraelite,youneedhardlytroubleyourselfaboutit;foranybodywillrecognizeyou,butyoucanneverproveyourselftobelongtooneofthetwelvetribes.Youaredispersedandhavelostyourverylanguage.TheJewsareforcedtoacceptoneortheotherofthetwoalternatives,namely,eithertoadmitthatShilohhascomealready,butthattheirforefathersdidnotrecognizehim,ortoacceptthefactthatthereexists


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nolongeratribeofJudahfromwhichShilohwillhavetodescend.Asathirdobservationitistoberemarkedthatthetextclearlyimplies,andmuchagainsttheJudeo-Christianbelief,thatShilohistobeatotalstrangertothetribeofJudah,andeventoalltheothertribes.Thisissoevidentthatafewminutesofreflectionaresufficienttoconvinceone.ThepredictionclearlyindicatesthatwhenShilohcomesthesceptreandthelawgiverwillpassawayfromJudah;thiscanonlyberealizedifShilohbeastrangertoJudah.IfShilohisadescendantofJudah,howcouldthosetwoelementsceasetoexistinthattribe?Itcouldnotbeadescendantofanyoftheothertribeseither,forthesceptreandthelawgiverwereforallIsrael,andnotforonetribeonly.ThisobservationexplodestheChristianclaimaswell.ForJesusisadescendantofJudahthroughMary.IveryoftenwonderattheseitinerantanderringJews.Forovertwenty-fivecenturiestheyhavebeenlearningahundredlanguagesofthepeopleswhomtheyhavebeenserving.SinceboththeIshmaelitesandtheIsraelitesaretheoffspringofAbraham,whatdoesitmattertothemwhetherShilohcomesfromJudahorZebulun,fromEsauorIsachar,fromIshmaelorIsaac,aslongasheisadescendantoftheir

fatherAbraham?ObeytheLawofProphetMuhammad,becomesMuslims,andthenitwillbethatyoucangoandliveinyouroldfatherlandinpeaceandsecurity.'s)twosonsSimonandLiviforthepollutionofhis(Jacob's)daughterDinabySchechim,theprinceofthattown,hadgreatlygrievedhim.Theshamefulconductofhisfirst-born,Reubin,indefilinghisfather'sbedbylyingwithhisconcubinewasneverforgottennorforgivenbyhim.ButthegreatestgriefthatbefellhimafterthelossofhisbelovedwifeRachelwasthedisappearanceformanyyearsofhisfavoritesonJoseph.HisdescentintoEgyptandhismeetingwithJosephcausedhimgreatjoyandthe

recoveryofhislostsight.JacobwasaProphet,andsurnamedbyGod"Israel,"thenamewhichwasadoptedbythetwelvetribesthatdescendedfromhim.ThepolicyofusurpationofthebirthrightrunsthroughtherecordsoftheBookofGenesis,andJacobisrepresentedasaheroofthisviolationoftherightsofotherpersons.HeisreportedtogivethebirthrightofhisgrandsonManashitohisyoungerbrotherEphraim,inspiteoftheremonstrancesoftheirfatherJoseph(chap.xlviii.).HedepriveshisfirstbornsonofhisbirthrightandaccordstheblessingtoJudah,hisfourthson,becausetheformerhadlainwithBilha,Jacobs's"concubine,"whoisthemotherofhis

twosonsDanandNephthali;anddeprivesthelatterbecausehewasnobetterthantheother,inasmuchashecommittedadulterywithhisowndaughter-in-lawThamar,whoboreasonwhobecameanancestorofDavidandofJesusChrist(chap.xxv.22,chap.xxxviii.)!Itisindeedincrediblethattheauthor,oratleastthefinaleditor,ofthisbookwas"inspiredbytheHolySpirit,"astheJewsandChristiansallege.Jacobisreportedtohavemarriedtwosisterssimultaneously,anactioncondemnedbyGod'slaw(Lev.xviii.18).Infact,withtheexceptiono


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fJosephandBenjamin,hisothersonsaredescribedasroughshepherds,liars(totheirfatherandtoJoseph),murderers,adulterers,whichmeansitwasafamilynotbecomingaProphetatall.Ofcourse,theMuslimscannotacceptanycalumnyagainstaProphetorarighteousmanunlessitbeexpresslyrecordedormentionedintheQur'an.WedonotbelievethesinattributedtoJudahtobetrue(cf.chap.xxxviii),otherwisetheblessingaccordedtohimbyJacobwouldbeacontradiction;anditisthisveryblessingthatweproposetostudyanddiscussinthisarticle.JacobcouldnothaveblessedhissonJudahifthelatterwasreallythefatherofhisowndaughter-in-law'sson,Peres,forbothadultererswouldbecondemnedtodeathbytheLawofGod,Whohadgivenhimthegiftofprophecy(Lev.xx12).However,thestoryofJacobandthatofhisnotveryexemplaryfamilyistobefoundintheBookofGenesis(chaps.xxv.-1).Thefamousprophecy,whichmaybeconsideredasthenucleusofthistestament,iscontainedinthetenthverseoftheforty-ninthchapterofGenesisasfollows:-"TheSceptreshallnotdepartfromJudah,AndtheLawgiverfrombetweenhisfeet,Untilthecomingof

Shiloh,Andtohimbelongeththeobedienceofpeoples."ThisistheliteraltranslationoftheHebrewtextasmuchasIcanunderstandit.TherearetwowordsinthetextwhichareuniqueandoccurnowhereelseintheOldTestament.Thefirstofthesewordsis"Shiloh,"andtheother"yiqha"or"yiqhath(byconstructionorcontraction).Shilohisformedoffourletters,shin,yod,lamedandhi.Thereisa"Shiloh,"thepropernameofatowninEphraim,(1Sam.i.etc.),butthereisnoyodinit.Thisnamecannotbeidenticalwith,orreferto,thetownwheretheArkoftheCovenantortheTabernaclewas;foruntilthennosceptreorlawgiverhadappearedinthetribeofJudah.Thewordcertainlyreferstoaperson,andnott

oaplace.AsfarasIcanremember,alltheversionsoftheOldTestamenthavepreservedthisoriginalShilohwithoutgivingitarendering.ItisonlytheSyriacPshitta(inArabiccalledal-Bessita)thathastranslateditinto"Hetowhomitbelongs."Itiseasytoseehowthetranslatorhasunderstoodthewordascomposedof"sh"abridgedformofasher="he,that,"andloh(theArabiclehu)="ishis.'Consequently,accordingtothePshitta,theclausewillbereadinthefollowingmanner:"Untilhetowhomitbelongethcome,And,"etc.Thepersonalpronoun"it"mayrefertothesceptreandthelawgiverseparatelyor

collectively,orperhapstothe"obedience"inthefourthclauseoftheverse,thelanguagebeingpoetic.Accordingtothisimportantversionthesenseofthepredictionwouldappeartobeplainlythis:-"TheroyalandpropheticcharactershallnotpassawayfromJudahuntilhetowhomitbelongscome,forhisisthehomageofpeople."Butapparentlythiswordisderivedfromtheverbshalahandthereforemeaning"peaceful,tranquil,quietandtrust-worthy."


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Itismostlikelythatsomeoldtranscriberorcopyistcurrentecalamoandwithaslipofpenhasdetachedtheleftsideofthefinalletterhet,andthenithasbeentransformedintohi,forthetwolettersareexceedinglyalikebeingonlveryslightlydifferentontheleftside.IfsuchanerrorhasbeentransmittedintheHebrewmanuscript-eitherintentionallyornot-thenthewordisderivedfromshalah,'tosend,delegate,"thepastparticipleofwhichwouldbeshaluh-thatis,"onewhoissent,messenger."Butthereappearsnoreasonablecauseforadeliberatechangeofhetforhi,sincetheyodispreservedinthepresentshapeofShiloh,whichhasnovawthatwouldbenecessaryforthepastparticipleShaluh.Besides,IthinktheSeptuaginthasretainedtheShilohasitis.Theonlypossiblechange,therefore,wouldbeofthefinalletterhetintohi.Ifsuchbethecase,thenthewordwouldtaketheformofShiluahandcorrespondexactlytothe"MessengerofYah,"theverytitlegiventoMuhammadalone"RasulAllah,"i.e."theMessengerofGod."Iknowthattheterm"shiluah"isalsothetechnicalwordforthe"letterofdivorce,"andthisbecausethedivorcedwifeis"sent"away.Icanguessofnootherinterpretationofthissingularnamebesidesthethreev

ersionsIhavementioned.Ofcourse,itgoeswithoutsayingthatboththeJewsandChristiansbelievethisblessingtobeoneoftheforemostMessianicprophecies.ThatJesus,theProphetofNazareth,istheChristorMessiahnoMuslimcandeny,fortheQur'andoesacknowledgethattitle.ThateveryIsraeliteKingandHighPriestwasanointedwiththeholyoilcomposedofoliveoilandvariousspicesweknowfromtheHebrewScriptures(Lev.xxx.23-33).EventheZardushtiKoreshKingofPersiaiscalledGod'sChrist:"ThussaystheLordtoHisChristCyrus,"etc.(Isa.xlv.1-7).ItwouldbesuperfluousheretomentionthatalthoughneitherCyrusnorJesuswe

muhammed(pbuh) in the bible

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