Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 231
APPE N DI X to B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 231 Another objection that you have raised is that nowhere in the words of the prophecy: عفت الدّیار محلّھا ومقامھا. [Temporary residences and permanent ones will be wiped out]. is there a mention of any earthquake. Alas, this critic does not realize that the essence of the prophecy is evident from its words; viz. that a great calamity will hit a portion of this country. Any man of sense can understand that the destruction of buildings and towns indeed usu- ally occurs through earthquakes. But it is quite possible that this great destruction of dwellings and cities is wrought through some other means, and in that case, too, the prophecy will stand fulfilled. Since, in keeping with the divine practice, earthquakes are inherently implied in such destruction, it was not necessary to mention it specifically. However, as God knew that some ignorant people, who have naivety and prejudice ingrained in their nature, would raise such objections, He has also clearly mentioned the word ‘earthquake’. See Al- H akam, 24 December 1903. Even though this prophecy, when viewed separately from the one that mentions the earthquake, only says that portions of this country will be destroyed, there will be great devastation, and buildings will col- lapse and dwellings will be wiped out, it does not specify the method through which this will come about. But anyone who reflects as to how towns and villages disappear into the earth, and what causes buildings to collapse at once, and reads this prophecy along with the one that was published in the same newspaper five months earlier, whose words are: ززلہل اك داكھ Shock of earthquake he will not hasten to object that the prophecy does not contain the word ‘earthquake’.