The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 78
78 78. Essence of Islam II upon anyone that he should possess a natural light, and they allege that it is not necessary that a heart upon which the light of revelation descends should possess inner light. According to them, if a person instead of possessing sane reason is utterly stupid and ignorant, and instead of being brave is an utter coward, and instead of being generous is a total miser, and instead of possessing a sense of honour is utterly shameless, and instead of loving God is in deep love with the world, and instead of being pious and trustworthy is a thief and a robber, and instead of being modest and innocent is a debauch, and instead of being contented is utterly greedy, even such a one can be a Prophet and elect of God. Indeed, with the single exception of Jesus, all the other Prophets whom they accept as true and whose Books they describe as holy were, according to them, full of such defects and were bereft of holy perfection which is a condition of innocence and purity of heart. What a philosophy have the Christians adopted with regard to the descent of the light of Divine revelation! But such a philosophy is approved and followed only by people who are caught in deep darkness and inner blindness. Otherwise, even a feeble-minded person would not deny the obvious truth that to receive the grace of light it is necessary that the recipient should possess inner light. [Brāhīn-e-Ahmadiyya, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 1, pp. 195-197 footnote 11]. It is a pity that most people regard as God's word everything that flows from their tongues in a state of slumber, and thus contravene the verse: 17 لا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْم " 17. Follow not that of which thou hast no knowledge. '-Banī. Isrā'il, 17:37 [Publisher]