Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV — Page 55
Section One 55 Word—at a time of extreme misguidance, which is spiritual famine [ S u rah as-Sajdah, 32:28]. Then He says, ‘We have made the night and day as two Signs’, which means that the spreading of misguidance is akin to the night, and the spreading of guidance is akin to the day. When the night is at its dark- est it betokens the dawn of day, and when the day is at its brightest it foretells the onset of night. So, by dispelling the Sign of night, We have made the Sign of day a guide. That is to say, with the dawn of day one realizes that there was darkness before. Hence, the Sign of day is so bright that it also reveals the reality of night. And the Sign of night— that is, the age of misguidance—has been ordained because it alone manifests the full beauty and lustre of the Sign of day, meaning, the spreading of guidance. Beauty is truly appreciated only when it is set in contrast to the unsightly. Therefore, divine wisdom has so destined that ages of light and darkness should rotate in alternate cycles within the world. When light reaches its peak, darkness should step forth; and when darkness reaches its limit, light should emerge with its charming beauty. In short, the predominance of darkness is a proof of the coming of light, and the predominance of light paves the way for the coming of darkness. As the well-known [Persian] proverb goes, رہ امکل ِ را زواےل [‘Everything declines after reaching its peak’]. So this verse points to the fact that when darkness reached its limit and both land and sea were enveloped in darkness, We, in keeping with Our eternal law, revealed the light as a Sign, so that by witnessing the manifest power of the Omnipotent God, the wise may grow in certainty of faith and enlightenment [ S u rah Ban i Isr a ’ i l, 17:13]. Then He says, 1 اخل ۤاَّنِا ُهٰنْلَزْنَا ْيِف ِةَلْيَل ِرْدَقْلا. [‘Surely, We sent it down on Lailatul-Qadr (the Night of Destiny)’]. The true meaning of this s u rah, which bears upon the great truth that I have already mentioned, 1. S u rah al-Qadr, 97:2 [Publisher]