| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 136 |
will advance the Faith, and promote the interests
of the people, of Moses, so that the Law of the
Mosaic Dispensation may encompass the whole
earth. Thus hath the King of eternal glory referred
in His Book to the words uttered by those wanderers
in the vale of remoteness and error: "`The
hand of God,' say the Jews, `is chained up.'
Chained up be their own hands! And for that
which they have said, they were accursed. Nay,
outstretched are both His hands!" (1) "The hand of
God is above their hands." (2)
Although the commentators of the Qur'án have
related in divers manners the circumstances attending
the revelation of this verse, yet thou shouldst
endeavour to apprehend the purpose thereof. He
saith: How false is that which the Jews have imagined!
How can the hand of Him Who is the King
in truth, Who caused the countenance of Moses to
be made manifest, and conferred upon Him the
robe of Prophethood--how can the hand of such a
One be chained and fettered? How can He be
conceived as powerless to raise up yet another
Messenger after Moses? Behold the absurdity of
