Life of Ahmad — Page 593
as PLAGUE 593 S ula h. 146 In this book Ahmad as explained the significance and use of prayer, because when the objection mentioned above is carefully examined it only amounts to a doubt as to the efficacy of prayer. He pointed out that prayer was ingrained in the nature of man. His natural anxiety at the time of trouble and distress is only a kind of prayer in its crudest form. Then there was no contradiction between prayer and the adoption of necessary means to an end. A prayer is ordinarily a request addressed to God to enable man to find out the right means to an end. It is really a search after the right way. Again, it is an effort to make the right use of the necessary means. The result, too, is in the hands of God. Islam does not teach, he says, that the universe is governed by a mere impersonal law or a mechanical force uncontrolled by the Supreme Being. God is not only the Creator of the Universe, but He is also the One who controls and superintends all its affairs. The God of Islam is a Living and Merciful God. He answers prayer and opens unto those who knock at His door. Ahmad as also explained the meaning of faith and how it is increased by prayer and the prophecies made 146 Printed at the D iy a ’ul-Islam Press, Qadian, and published on January 1st, 1899. At the end of this book Ahmad as answered the objections raised against him by Shahz a da Wala Gauhar, E. A. C. of Ludhiana, who also published a false piece of news in the Sir a jul Akhb a r to the effect that Shahz a da Abdul Maj i d ra , a devoted follower of Ahmad as , had recanted. Shahz a da Abdul Maj i d ra immediatly wrote a spirited refutation of the mischievous allegation. He died preaching the message of Ahmad as in Tehran in 1928.