The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 243
The Holy Prophetsa 243 flected in it in a complete and perfect manner. The cen- tral point which is suspended between God and His creation, that is to say, the personal point of our lord Mu- hammad, the chosen one [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] cannot be confined merely to the word of Allah as the title of Jesus has been so confined, inasmuch as, this Muhammadi point combines in itself as a reflec- tion all the Divine ranks. That is why Jesus has been likened to a son on account of the deficiency from which he suffered; for the reality of Jesus is not a complete manifestation of Divine attributes, but is only one branch out of its many branches. As a contrast, the reality of Muhammad is a complete and perfect manifestation of all Divine attributes. For this reason, the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] has been lik- ened in heavenly Books to a reflection of God, the Glorious. His station is one of the father rather than that of the son. The imperfect nature of the teaching of Jesus and the perfection of Qur'anic teaching, as compared with all other revealed teachings, is also due to this, for incomplete grace is bestowed upon the incomplete and perfect grace is bestowed upon the perfect. Of the resemblances to God on the part of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] which are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, is the verse: ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى ، فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى 1420 That is to say: The Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] on account of his nearness to God, is like the chord between two bows and even closer. It is obvious that on the higher side of the chord is the 142 al-Najm, 53:9-10 [Publisher]