Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 140
B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 140 that he was at the beginning of the world; whereas, my being born after my twin sister signifies that I have appeared at the end of this cycle of the world. I was born at the end of the sixth millennium, and—according to the lunar calendar—we are now passing through the seventh millennium. In the same way, in the earlier parts of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, God Almighty has also called me N uh as [Noah] and said with regard to me: تخاطبنی فی الّذین ظلموا اِنّھم مُغْرقون. ل و Meaning: ‘Build an ark before My eyes and do not say anything to me by way of intercession for those who have transgressed. I shall cause them to drown. ’ At the time of N uh , God gave almost a thousand years of respite to the transgressors, and now, too, a thousand years have passed if we put aside the three centuries of Khairul-Qur u n [the Best of Centuries—of early Islam]. So, according to this reckoning, this age now approaches the time similar to the one at which N uh ’s people were destroyed. God also commanded me: یھم. اصنع الفلك باعیننا ووحینا. ان ّ الذین یبایعونك انما یبایعون الل ّٰ ید الل ّٰ فوق اید Meaning: ‘Build an ark before My eyes and according to My command. Those who enter into bai‘at [the pledge of allegiance] with you, enter into a covenant with Allah. It is the hand of God that is upon their hands. ’ This bai‘at is the ‘ark’ that will save the lives and the faith of the people. However, the bai‘at does not mean the mere verbal avowal of which the heart is oblivious and even rebellious. Bai‘at means to sell one’s self. I say most truly that one who does not sell his life, prop- erty, and honour in this path has not entered the bai‘at in the sight of God. Indeed, I see that there are many even now who have apparently pledged bai‘at, but have not yet perfected even the moral of thinking