Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (3/437)

Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-MasīhIbn Taimiya

For indeed, the dispensation brought by the Messiah—peace be upon him—is unquestionably true, and everyone who adhered to it was a believing Muslim, a friend of Allah, one of the people of Paradise upon whom there shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve, as the Exalted says:

“Indeed, those who believed, those who were Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and acts righteously—will have their reward with their Lord; no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.” (al-Baqarah 2:62).

The Exalted also says:

“Just as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers for Allah?’ the disciples replied, ‘We are Allah’s helpers.’ A faction from the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved; so We strengthened those who believed against their enemies, and they became dominant.” (al-Saff 61:14).

Thus, whoever followed the Messiah was a believer, whereas whoever rejected him was an unbeliever.

The Exalted further says:

“O Jesus, I will take you and raise you to Myself, purify you from those who disbelieve, and place those who follow you above the disbelievers until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I shall judge between you regarding that over which you used to differ.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:55) (55)

“As for those who disbelieve, I shall punish them with a severe punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:56) (56)

“But as for those who believe and perform righteous deeds, He will pay them their full rewards, for Allah does not love the wrongdoers.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:57) (57)

فَإِنَّهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَتِ السُّنَّةُ الَّتِي جَاءَ بِهَا الْمَسِيحُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ حَقًّا، وَكُلُّ مَنْ كَانَ مُتَّبِعًا لَهُ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ مُسْلِمٌ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ اللَّهِ، مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ الَّذِينَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَى وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ} [البقرة: ٦٢] . وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ} [الصف: ١٤] . فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْمَسِيحَ كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا، وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بِهِ كَانَ كَافِرًا. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {يَاعِيسَى إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ} [آل عمران: ٥٥] (٥٥) {فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَأُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ} [آل عمران: ٥٦] (٥٦) {وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ} [آل عمران: ٥٧] .