Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 14
14 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad from within, man is plagued so severely by affliction that it is beyond imagina- tion. Even if one takes the example of various illnesses, they are enough to result in countless other afflictions. But those who are within the fortress of righteous- ness are free from such affliction as distances one from God. However, those who are beyond its walls sit in a jungle teeming with ravenous beasts. The Righteous Receive Glad Tidings in this Very World A righteous person enjoys another promise as well: لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَى فِي الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ very world by Meaning, those who are righteous receive glad tidings in this means of true dreams. In fact, even more so than this, they begin to experience visions and receive revelations; they are so honoured as to experience converse with Allah. Despite being human, they are able to see the angels, as is stated: إِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الَّا تَخَافُوْا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوْا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوْعَدُونَ Meaning, those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah, and then show steadfastness, the angels descend upon them, saying: 'Fear ye not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the Garden that you were promised. ' In other words, at a time of trial such people demonstrate through practice that they have fulfilled the promise they earlier made to God by word of mouth. Trials Are Necessary As indicated in the following verse, trials are necessary: أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُوْلُوْامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُوْنَ 3 Allah the Exalted declares that those who say: 'Our Lord is Allah, and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them. The commentators of the Holy Quran have erred in their belief that the angels descend only when a person is struggling through his last breaths-this is not true. In actuality, those who cleanse their hearts and keep their souls free from filth and impurity—which 1 Yunus, 10:65 Ha Mim As-Sajdah, 41:31 al-Ankabut, 29:3