Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 304
364 can result;, tieremonies are shells in which fcbe're is no kernel, and if the deep truths that underlie them are not realized, they may turn out to be ways of destruction. It is when such truth is realized that a true love for God is generated in the heart, and the soul flies to God and is completely engrossed in the contemplation of Divine glory. Every particle of the body in that state serves and obeys God. " "There is another point worth mentioning. The Holy Pro- phet had to depart and thus a great exemplar, the most excellent agency that showed the path to God, had to be taken away from the companions. So they were told: j*$ ^ *W ) ^^ ^ ^l J* ill ) j,&xso ^i" Say if you love God, then walk in my footsteps and God will love you. " Now no one can be the beloved of God except the upright man. To renew and increase the love of the follow- ers for their Holy Master, they were enjoined to invoke Divine blessings on the Holy Prophet, and this was made a part of their prayers so that their love for the upright one should ever be on the increase and thus lead them to uprightness. It is admit- ted by all Muslims that spiritually the Holy Prophet lives for ever. The Sufis say that the names of the Reformers are mani- festations of the name of the Holy Prophet in some one or other of its aspects. The excellences of propbethood terminated in the perfect Guide, but their manifestation will always continue to appear in the world through the successors of the Holy Pro- phet till the day of judgment. I say to you truly that even now Almighty God has raised such a one among you. Aye with His hand He has established a dispensation and sent a Messenger, and he it is who is speaking to you. The mercy of God has come down upon earth : therefore pray to Him and ask for upright- ness, and invoke the blessings of God on the Holy Prophet for this is the only way to uprightness. Remember the beauties and