Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 795
CHAPTER ONE IN AL-ISTIFTA' 795 recorded in Barāhīn-e-Aḥmadiyya, long before their occurrence. O honourable people! There are certainly Signs in them for all who have eyes. Therefore, give a clear verdict and be rewarded [from Allah the Exalted]. Is this the act of Allah or the fabrication of a human being? Moreover, among the Signs is that God Almighty informed him of great earthquakes in far-off lands and in this country before their occurrence and before there were any indications of their appearance. Accordingly, you have heard what has happened in this country and around the globe. You are well aware of how mankind was hit by these calamities in such a manner that the sun rose upon bustling popula- tions, but when it set, it set upon entire metropolises lying destroyed with the roofs of the houses razed to the ground, burying their inhab- itants and filling the houses with death and grief. Assemblies were moved from palaces to graves and the gathering places vanished under- ground, thus exposing life to be nothing more than a mirage or a bub- ble of water upon the surface of the sea. Anxiety stamped the hearts of those who survived, and grief tore apart their bosoms. Razed to the ground were the mansions, to reside in which they so proudly vied with one another and which they considered a distinction to abide in. This series of earthquakes has neither relented nor has it ended. Rather, the one that is imminent will be of much greater severity than the earlier ones. Verily, it is a means of enlightenment for the righteous people. Therefore O equitable people!-explain and be rewarded. Are these divine Signs or forgeries hatched by fabricators? - Believers are those who are truthful when they speak; and when they are appointed to give a verdict, they are just, and they do no wrong. But those who fear people as they should fear Allah and hide the truth as if it would cut off their noses [i. e. degrade them] or put them behind bars, are women in the garb of men and disbelievers in the guise of believers. Another Sign is that Allah informed this servant [of His] of the plague that was to break out in this country and indeed, in all direc- tions and all regions. He said: