Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 257
APPE N DI X to B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 257 him. Due to this lapse, Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra pledged that he would never again feed him as a punishment for this misdeed, whereupon the verse was revealed: 1 َو اْوُفْعَيْل َو اْوُحَفْصَيْل اَلَا َنْوُّبِحُت ْنَا َرِفْغَّي ُهّٰللا ْمُكَل١ؕ َو ُهّٰللا ٌرْوُفَغ ٌمْيِحَّر At that Hadrat Ab u Bakr broke his pledge and restored his meals as usual. It is for this reason that it is part of Islamic morality that should one pledge something by way of punishment, the breaking of that pledge is a component of good morals. For instance, if someone swears that with regard to his servant, he shall strike him fifty times with a shoe, to forgive him on account of his repentance and earnest suppli- cation is the Islamic custom, so that ّٰ ق الل ل تخلق باخ [morality mirror the attributes of Allah]. Nevertheless, it is not permissible to break a prom- ise; one will be held accountable for the breach of promise, but not for breaking a pledge of chastisement. His Statement— The state of other prophecies is even worse than this. My Answer— O bigoted ignoramus! When did you have the occa- sion to study my prophecies with care and to learn about them all, and when did you have occasion to stay in my company to witness my Signs first-hand! Who should I compare you with? You are compara- ble to a blind man who denies the existence of the sun yet fails to see his own blindness. Everyone cognizant of this matter can determine whether the state of my prophecies is worthless or whether the state of your faith is worthless. For the wise, this sample of your objections is enough; namely, the issue which is incontrovertible for all the Prophets 1. Let them forgive and forbear. Do you not desire that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful ( S u rah an-N u r, 24:23). [Publisher]