Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 92
92 still higher. Not only does it teach a man his duties but when he has performed all that lies on him, it carries him higher and he becomes the recipient of attention and favours from God, and a mutual relationship of love and sincerity is established between him and God. At another place He says: This means that those who render perfect obedi- ence to God and His apostle, God will confer upon them one of the four dignities according to their deserts. Those who attain the highest stage of perfection will be made Prophets, and those next to them will be made S idd i ques , i. e. , favourites of God, and those coming after them will be made Shah i ds , i. e. , those from whose eyes the veil has been removed, but who have not yet attained the dignity of special friends, and those that are next below them will be made Sa li h , i. e. , they will be righteous men who are trying to improve themselves but who have not yet been admitted to the inner presence of God. These are the best companions whose company benefits others. These different stages of development may be attained only through the grace of God, and God well knows His servants. ' That is to say, God is aware that He has endowed man with the capacity for unlim- ited development, and has put in his heart the longing to seek the Beloved, and thus it was necessary for Him to