Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III — Page 183
Footnote Number Eleven — Tenth Objection 183 of God has been propagated in the world only through the elect who believe in the word of God, they deliberately make a statement con- trary to this known fact. Their bigotry is shown by the fact that in order to support their assertion they have held back the self-evident verity that in theological matters, unaided reason cannot carry a person to the stage of perfect certainty. And the ignorance is that they have regarded revelation and reason as inconsistent with each other, which cannot subsist together, and that they have regarded revelation to be opposed to reason and destructive of it, whereas this fear is entirely unfounded. It is obvious that a follower of true revelation cannot refrain from rational inquiries; rather, he finds that revelation helps him to see the nature of things in a rational manner. By the light and blessing of reve- lation, he avoids the pitfalls that might come his way in the pursuit of logical investigation, and does not have to waste time like misguided rationalists in inventing baseless arguments and indulging in useless formalities; instead, he sees the clear path of reason and his eyes settle on the real truth. In short, reason rationally substantiates the phenomenon of rev- elation; and it is the task of revelation to safeguard reason from wan- dering aimlessly. Hence, it is obvious that there is no conflict between reason and revelation; and that they are not contrary to or opposed to, each other. Nor is the true revelation, i. e. the Holy Quran, a stumbling block in the path of progress of reason. Rather, it illumines reason and is its great helper, supporter and guide. As the full value of the sun is appreciated by the eye and the benefits of the bright day are disclosed only to those who possess sight, in the same way, divine revelation is fully appreciated only by those who possess reason, as God Almighty has Himself said: 1 Part Number 20— َو َكْلِت ُلاَثْمَاْلا اَهُبِرْضَن ِساَّنلِل َو اَم ۤاَهُلِقْعَي اَّلِا َنْوُمِلٰعْلا 1. S u rah al-‘Ankab u t, 29:44 [Publisher]