The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 448
448 Essence of Islam-1 despite their opposition to Islām, among whom were included great poets. Great enemies of Islām were won- der-struck by the high grade of this text and many of them who were well-versed in judging the merits of a composition and were men of justice, finding the Qur'anic composition beyond the reach of human power and esteeming it a great miracle, believed in it. Their testimonies are referred to at various places in the Holy Qur'an . . . . This ignorant Christian does not appear to be aware that true eloquence does not demand that the small should always precede the large, and that the true rule is that a text should be the mirror of reality. Here also by making Rahmān take precedence over Rahim, the verse has become a mirror of reality. A detailed account of this natural sequence will be set forth in the course of the discussion of the other verses of the Surah Fatihah. [Brāhīn-e-Ahmadiyya, Rūķānī Khazā'in, Vol. 1, pp. 414-435, footnote 11] Spiritual Characteristics of Sūrah Fatihah A spiritual characteristic of the Surah Fatihah is that to recite it in one's prayers with full attention and to estab- lish its teaching in one's heart, believing it to be true, brings about the illumination of one's soul. One's mind is expanded thereby and the darkness of humanness is dis- pelled and the worshipper begins to experience the grace of the Fountainhead of grace. He is encircled by the lights of being accepted by the Divine and progresses towards being honoured by the converse of God and de- rives benefit from true visions and express revelations. He is counted among those who are close to the Divine and such wonders of inspiration and acceptance of prayers and the disclosure of hidden matters and Divine support proceed from him the like of which is not found