Page 212 - Demo

208the Message of Allah that was His Word; he led the prayers, administered the divine service, and fought the holy wars against the unbelievers and the idolaters to defend his cause. However, the success and the victory achieved was God’s. In the same way, John preached and baptized, but the contrition, penance, and the remission of sins could only be done by God. The Prophet John’sprediction that “he who comes after me is more powerful than I; he will baptize you with the Spirit and with fire” is quite intelligible, because only through Muhammad (pbuh) this spiritual baptism was given and performed.It is to be remarked that the form and material of this baptism is altogether divine and supernatural. We feel and see the effect of an invisible but real cause which accomplishes that effect. There is no longer water as the material, nor a baptist to officiate at the ritual or theform. It is God who, through the Spirit, works it out.The materials of the “Sibghatullah” in the words of the Baptist are the Holy Spirit and fire. The form exclusively belongs to Allah. We cannot attribute to the Almighty any form of operation except His Word “Kun” -“Be!”- and His command is obeyed or created. The result isthat a Muslim becomes sanctified, enlightened, and an equipped soldier to fight the Satan and his idolatry. These three effects of the “Sibghatullah” deserve a serious consideration and study. Their exposition is but brief.1. The Holy Spirit, whether the Archangel Gabriel or another of the created Superior Spirits, by the command of God sanctifies the spirit of a Muslim at his birth or conversion - as the case may be; and this sanctification means:(a) Engraving a perfect faith in the one true God. The “Subghatu ’lLāh” makes the spirit of a true Muslim believe in the absolute unity of Allah, to rely upon Him, and to know He alone is his Master, Owner, and Lord.