The story of the Caliph of Bagdad
September 8, 2007(GB Message)
There was once a caliph of Bagdad who was known for his justice, fair play, and also for cruelty. A Christian prisoner awaited capital punishment and according to the usual practice, the caliph wanted to give him a last chance to escape. He summoned for him and said to him, “What is the most important factor or requirement in order to be saved; is it faith, repentance, baptism, or something else? If you answer me correctly in one word, you will be set free; otherwise, you will be executed.” Because the prisoner was a Christian, the caliph had arranged, with the help of the local missionaries, to prepare a question such as this.
The prisoner thought deeply for a while and wrote a word on a piece of paper and gave it to the caliph. The caliph since he had no knowledge of Christianity summoned half a dozen great theologians of the world. He said to them, “Gentlemen, some Christian missionaries came up with this question. When I asked them for the answer, one said ‘Faith,’ another said ‘Repentance,’ and a third, was sure that it was ‘Baptism.’ I posed this question to this prisoner waiting to be beheaded; I even gave him these three choices, but he has come out with yet another answer. I want your opinion about this matter, whether the prisoner is correct.
They peered into the small chit written by the convict and saw the word “Christ.” They had a hot discussion among themselves. The caliph issued a stern warning that if they did not come out with a unanimous answer, they would be beheaded as well.
Thereafter they had another quick session and arrived at a unanimous decision. Their representative said, “Your majesty, if the answer must be expressed in one word alone, we have no better word than that.” The caliph expressed his joy and said: “I want to ask this wise prisoner one more question. If he fails, he will still be freed. But if his answer is correct I wish to reward him. Gentlemen, I would like you to stand by and give me your opinion regarding the prisoner’s answer.”
He then turned to the prisoner and said: “My question to the prisoner is “After Christ, what is the next most important factor for salvation?” The caliph expected that this time, he would select one of the three suggested words. Again, the prisoner wrote his answer on a piece of paper and gave it to the caliph, and the caliph handed it over to the panel of the jurists consisting of the theologians. This time the word he had written was “mind.” The theologians themselves were taken a back by this answer. With the permission of the caliph they called the prisoner and asked him to state why he had chosen to give that answer.
He replied loudly, clearly, and humbly, “The mind is the gate for the soul. After one has heard the living word of God through the mind, the soul reacts. Unless the word of God has an impact on the soul and the soul responds positively, Christ does not save. That is why animals and birds cannot be baptized in Lord Jesus because they have no soul. Man has a mind and soul but without their positive response man cannot be saved.”
At this the theologians unanimously agreed and replied to the caliph. “Yes your majesty, this prisoner is very correct and he has enlightened us also.” The caliph was relieved, and the prisoner was freed and rewarded. The panel of theologians were also rewarded amply. Here ends the story of the Caliph of Bagdad.
