Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV — Page 188
BarĀhĪn-e-a H madiyya — Part Four 188 of the Messengers]—the like of whom has never been born, nor ever will be—came for the guidance of the world and brought the Radiant Book, the like of which no eye has ever seen. Thus, it was a grand manifestation of God’s perfect ra h m a niyyat that He sent down, at the time of gloom and darkness, the Magnificent Light that is called the Furq a n [Discrimination, i. e. Holy Quran], which distinguishes between truth and falsehood and which demonstrably established truth and uprooted falsehood. It descended upon the earth when the earth had died a spiritual death and great corruption had spread over land and sea. Thus, through its descent, it accomplished that which Almighty Allah has Himself indicated in the words: 1. اْۤوُمَلْعِا َّنَا َهّٰللا ِيْحُي َضْرَاْلا َدْعَب اَهِتْوَم Meaning that, the earth had died; God is quickening it anew. Here, it must be fully borne in mind that this descent of the Holy Quran, which took place for the spiritual revival of the world, was through the upsurge of the attribute of ra h m a niyyat. This is the same attribute that, at times, is roused to take care of the physical needs of the famine-stricken and pours down the rain of mercy upon parched land; and the same attribute is roused spiritually, at other times, as compassion for the starved and thirsty, who are in the deadly grip of error and misguidance and have run short of the nourishment of truth and righteousness, which is the source of spiritual life. Just as the Most Gracious God provides food for the body at the time of its need, so does He, by virtue of His perfect mercy, provide spiritual nourish- ment at the time of its true need. It is true, though, that the Word of God descends on only those exalted personages with whom God is well-pleased and He honours only such people with His converse and discourse, of whom He approves. But it is certainly not correct to say that a heavenly book would descend on whomsoever God is pleased 1. S u rah al- H ad i d, 57:18 [Publisher]