Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 103
103 the meaning of the Holy Quran and contend that it contains no meanings other than those that have already been derived by past scholars. The question is that if the door to the interpretation of the Holy Quran remained open even after the Holy Prophet s as , why should it be closed now? Another sign of the latter days foretold by the Holy Prophet s as is that while people would disregard the essence of the Holy Quran, they would revere its physical form and adorn it with cov - ers of gold. 17 This sign is all too evident. Muslims are not bothered to read the Holy Quran but they do keep it wrapped up in satin and gold. They care so much about its physical adornment that nothing like it was seen among people of past ages, even though they were superior to the people of today in terms of their piety as well as their worldly wealth and power. Another sign indicated by the Holy Prophet s as is the exagger - ated devotion to the physical decoration of mosques. 18 This can also be witnessed in this age. Like the people of other religions, Muslims overly decorate their mosques with carvings and chan - deliers and hang precious drapes on the walls, which make them look more like places of idol-worship than mosques. 19 Another sign is that the people of Arabia would deviate from their religion (the same religion that was revealed to one of them, that took birth and prospered in their land, whose scripture was revealed and is recited to this day in their own tongue and because of which it has survived to this day). It was foretold that, despite speaking Arabic, the Holy Quran would not benefit them. Their hearts would become as empty of knowledge and wisdom as the people who do not have the ability to understand the Holy Quran at all. Hadrat ‘Al i ra cites the Holy Prophet s as as saying that in the