Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 10
10 earth after a long season of drought. They are, as it were, God’s answer sent down from Heaven to the cries of those who seek after Him. They are like the horn blown by the hunter who spots the quarry, to collect together his scattered companions. The world is called by them back to the Truth; and commences its march towards its real goal under their direction. We hold the belief that this succession of Proph- ets will continue in the future as it has done in the past, for reason repudiates a permanent cessation of it. If mankind is to continue to pass through ages of spiritual darkness, ages in which men will wander away from their Maker; if from time to time men are to be liable to go astray from the right path and to grope in the thick darkness of doubt and despair in their efforts to regain it; if they are to continue their search after the light in all such ages and times, it is impossible to believe that Divine torch-bearers and guides, should cease to appear; for it is inconsistent with, Ra h m a niyyat , the mercy of God, that He should permit the ill but should not pro- vide the remedy, that He should create the yearning but should withdraw the means of satisfying it. To imagine so would be to offer an insult to the Fountain-head of mercy and compassion, and to betray one’s spiritual blindness. We believe that the world was in these days in sore need of a guide and preceptor who should point out the way to God, and should lead us, out of doubt and misgiving, to belief and certainty. If mankind was ever in need of a Prophet, it is much more in need of one