Khilafat-e-Rashidah — Page 226
226 KHILAFAT-E-R A SHIDAH rest. ’ He answered, ‘Take four birds and make them attached to you. Then put each of them on a hill; then call them; they will come to you in haste. And know that Allah is Mighty, Wise. ’” If this incident were taken literally there would have arisen many objections to it. First, what is the relation of taming birds with the restoration of the dead to life? Second, what is meant by the taking of four birds? That is, why was the taming of just one not enough proof? Third, what is the benefit of putting them on the hills? That is, why is putting them on any other place not workable. The fact is that it is not a statement to be taken literally, but has deeper implicit meanings. Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) prayed, “O God! Show me the fulfilment of the obligation of the restoration of dead to life, which you have assigned to me, and reveal to me how national life will be created. I am old and the task is very heavy. ” Allah, the Almighty said, “It will certainly happen as We have promised”. Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) said, “No doubt, it will happen, but for the satisfaction of my heart I ask, when will these adverse circumstances change”? Allah, the Almighty commanded “tame four birds and put them on the hills one by one, then call them and look how swiftly they fly towards you”. That means, train four of your offspring. On your call they will accomplish the task of restoration to life. These four, as I have said, are Hadrat Ism a ’ i l as (Ishmael), Hadrat Is ha q as