Were they to be questioned concerning those signs that must
needs herald the revelation and rise of the sun of the Muhammadan Dispensation,
to which We have already referred, none of which have
been literally fulfilled, and were it to be said to them: “Wherefore have ye rejected the
claims advanced by Christians and the peoples of other faiths and regard them
as infidels,” knowing not what answer to give, they will reply: “These Books
have been corrupted and are not, and never have been, of God.” Reflect: the
words of the verses themselves eloquently testify to the truth that they are of
God. A similar verse hath been also revealed in the Qur’án, were ye of them
that comprehend. Verily I say, throughout all this period they have utterly
failed to comprehend what is meant by corrupting the text.
Yea, in the writings and utterances of the Mirrors
reflecting the sun of the Muhammadan Dispensation mention hath been made of “Modification by the exalted beings” and “alteration by the disdainful.” Such passages, however, refer only to particular cases. Among
them is the story of Ibn-i-Suríyá. When the people of Khaybar asked the
focal center of the Muhammadan Revelation concerning the penalty of adultery
committed between a married man and a married woman, Muhammad answered and
said: “The law of God is death by stoning.” Whereupon they protested saying: “No such law hath been revealed in the Pentateuch.” Muhammad
answered and said: “Whom do
ye regard among your rabbis as being a recognized authority and having a sure
knowledge of the truth?” They agreed upon Ibn-i-Suríyá. Thereupon Muhammad
summoned him and said: “I
adjure thee by God Who clove the sea for you, caused manna to descend upon you,
and the cloud to overshadow you, Who delivered you from Pharaoh and his people,
and exalted you above all human beings, to tell us what Moses hath decreed
concerning adultery between a married man and a married woman.” He made reply:
“O Muhammad! death by stoning is the law.” Muhammad observed: “Why
is it then that this law is annulled and hath ceased to operate among the
Jews?” He answered and said: “When Nebuchadnezzar delivered Jerusalem to the
flames, and put the Jews to death, only a few survived. The divines of that
age, considering the extremely limited number of the Jews, and the multitude of
the Amalekites, took counsel together, and came to the conclusion that were
they to enforce the law of the Pentateuch, every survivor who hath been
delivered from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar would have to be put to death
according to the verdict of the Book. Owing to such
considerations, they totally repealed the penalty of death.” Meanwhile Gabriel
inspired Muhammad’s illumined
heart with these words: “They
pervert the text of the Word of God.”
[Qur’án 4:45]
This is one of the instances that have been referred to. Verily by “perverting” the text is not meant that which these foolish and abject souls have fancied, even as some maintain that Jewish and Christian divines have effaced from the Book such verses as extol and magnify the countenance of Muhammad, and instead thereof have inserted the contrary. How utterly vain and false are these words! Can a man who believeth in a book, and deemeth it to be inspired by God, mutilate it? Moreover, the Pentateuch had been spread over the surface of the earth, and was not confined to Mecca and Medina, so that they could privily corrupt and pervert its text. Nay, rather, by corruption of the text is meant that in which all Muslim divines are engaged today, that is the interpretation of God’s holy Book in accordance with their idle imaginings and vain desires. And as the Jews, in the time of Muhammad, interpreted those verses of the Pentateuch, that referred to His Manifestation, after their own fancy, and refused to be satisfied with His holy utterance, the charge of “perverting” the text was therefore pronounced against them. Likewise, it is clear, how in this day, the people of the Qur’án have perverted the text of God’s holy Book, concerning the signs of the expected Manifestation, and interpreted it according to their inclination and desires.
In yet another instance, He saith: “A part of them heard the
Word of God, and then, after they had understood it, distorted it, and knew
that they did so.” [Qur’án 2:75] This verse, too, doth indicate that the
meaning of the Word of God hath been perverted, not that the actual words have
been effaced. To the truth of this testify they that are sound of mind.
Again in another instance, He saith: “Woe unto those who,
with their own hands, transcribe the Book corruptly, and then say: ‘This is
from God,’ that they may sell it for some mean price.” [Qur’án 2:79] This verse
was revealed with reference to the divines and leaders of the Jewish Faith.
These divines, in order to please the rich, acquire worldly emoluments, and
give vent to their envy and misbelief, wrote a number of
treatises, refuting the claims of Muhammad, supporting their arguments with
such evidences as it would be improper to mention, and claimed that these
arguments were derived from the text of the Pentateuch.
The same may be witnessed today. Consider how abundant are
the denunciations written by the foolish divines of this age against this most
wondrous Cause! How vain their imaginings that these calumnies are in
conformity with the verses of God’s sacred Book, and in consonance with the
utterances of men of discernment!
Our purpose in relating these things is to warn you that
were they to maintain that those verses wherein the signs referred to in the
Gospel are mentioned have been perverted, were they to reject them, and cling
instead to other verses and traditions, you should know that their words were
utter falsehood and sheer calumny. Yea “corruption” of the text, in the sense
We have referred to, hath been actually effected in particular instances. A few
of these We have mentioned, that it may become manifest to every discerning
observer that unto a few untutored holy Men hath been given the mastery of
human learning, so that the malevolent opposer may cease
to contend that a certain verse doth indicate “corruption” of the text, and
insinuate that We, through lack of knowledge, have made mention of such things.
Moreover, most of the verses that indicate “corruption” of the text have been
revealed with reference to the Jewish people, were ye to explore the isles of
Qur’ánic Revelation.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Iqan)
