Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 99
99 they are made in the manner, and are continued up to the point, appointed for their acceptance. He says: 'Then who is He, Who hears the cry of a dis- tressed person, when he calls on Him, and accepts his prayers and relieves his pain, and, removing the oppression of the oppressor sets up the op- pressed in his place? Is there, then, another god who has this power? But you derive no lesson from it. ' 52 This stage is open to all. God hears the prayers of every one who prays to Him in his distress, to whatever religion he may belong, and thus affords an opportunity to all to get into direct touch with Himself and thus to emerge from the stage of doubt and darkness. It is essential that a certain degree of realization should be open to people of every class and condition to make them turn to God, for people turn only to those things with whose importance they are impressed. The followers of every religion can attain to this stage and can experience the effects of prayer. Many obstacles may be overcome and inconveniences re- moved by prayer. But this stage of realization is an inferior one, for room is left for doubt that that which has happened after prayer might even have happened without it, or that that which has been averted might not have come about even if no prayer had been offered, for 52 Al-Namal, 27:63