Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III — Page 29
CHAPTER One 29 verbosity, satire, and every kind of ambiguous and uncouth language, and all such defects that conflict with wisdom, lucidity, and eloquence; and is also completely pure and free from all such grave defects that are contrary to perfection and comprehensiveness, and at the same time is absolutely comprehensive and truthful, and is full of wisdom, lucidity and eloquence, truths and verities—then the one who would stand out above all of them will perforce be the one who possesses the greatest intellectual prowess, extensive general knowledge, expertise in deep intellectual subjects, and who is also the most skilled in the art of writ- ing prose. In no event would it be possible for a person who is inferior to him in ability, knowledge, skills, experience, mind and intellect to be able to equal him in respect of the eloquence of his writing. Another example is that of a physician who is an expert in his pro- fession, has acquired proficiency in the diagnosis and treatment of disease over many years of experience, and is also outstanding in his knowledge of literature and has achieved outstanding pre-eminence as a writer and a poet. Now, when this physician explains the causes, nature, and symptoms of a disease, he will be able to do it far more accurately, truthfully, lucidly, and eloquently than a person who is not even remotely acquainted with medicine and is also absolutely igno- rant of the subtleties of literary expression. It is an obvious and eas- ily understandable fact that there is always a difference to some extent between the discourse of the ignorant and the wise; and a man’s intel- lectual excellence is always reflected in his scholarly exposition, just as a face is reflected in a clear mirror. The words that a person utters in his exposition of truth and wis- dom are considered a yardstick for measuring his intellectual abilities. The words that flow from the spring of the vastness of knowledge and perfect reason and those that emerge from narrow, constricted, dark, and limited thought are as clearly distinct as fragrance is distinct from foul smell, provided that one’s sense of smell is not congenitally defective or temporarily impaired. You may reflect and ponder over it as much as