Section Five: The Killing Befalls the Opponent

If we wanted to choose a title or a concise expression for this matter, we would say:

{And the evil plot does not encompass except its own people.}¹

{And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or expel you. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.}²

In these two verses, by Allah, there is sufficient insight for those who reflect.

However, we will continue and say:

After we established that killing and the rest of the human afflictions do not befall them, may their glories be exalted, and we presented narrations about the occurrence of similitude (tashbīh), the related doctrines will lead us to the manifestation of an issue that is one of the difficult doctrines except for the people of submission, and those who trust that their sciences, may their glories be exalted, have no end, and contain esoteric and aspects that go beyond the limit of perception. Because of the soundness of their inner self and the integrity of their intention, they are submissive to everything that has been reported to them from them.

We begin the chapter with a question: You say that the Messiah was subject to similitude, so who was killed in that incident instead of him?!

We shall see what the Family of Muhammad, may their glories be exalted, say in your books:

In a narration from the book Tafsīr of Our Master Al-Hasan Al-'Askarī, may his glory be exalted, regarding His saying, the Exalted: {And We supported him with the Holy Spirit}, our Master Al-'Askarī, may his glory be exalted, said: "That is Gabriel, from him is peace. That was when He raised him from the skylight of his house to the heaven, and cast his similitude upon the one who intended to kill him, so he was killed instead of him, and it was said he was the Messiah."³