Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 287
287 symbols and metaphors in the apparent sense are ultimately compelled to reject the truth altogether. The Jews were plagued by the same affliction. Now the Christians face a similar state of affairs; so most of them believe that the second coming refers to the Church. When all of the signs are never fulfilled in entirety as the general public assumes, then why do people fall into discord and reject the Prophets when they appear? Ask the Jews if they believe whether all the signs had been fulfilled at the time when the Messiah appeared? They do not. Bear in mind that the law of nature and the way of Allah in this matter is as I have presented before you. Allah the Exalted states: 1 ْلًا ی ِ ِ اهللِ تَبْد ۃ َّ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُن And thou shalt not find any change in the law of Allah. Human thoughts, human interpretations and deductions can never be perfectly correct, conclusive and categorical. They are always susceptible to error. A view that is formed about an event before it has actually occurred cannot be deemed definitive. However, when the time comes, every veil is removed. It is for this reason that the man who was destined to come was named the Arbiter, which clearly demonstrates that at the time of his advent, discord would be rife. This is the very reason that he was named the Arbiter. Hence, the truth is whatever the Arbiter states. Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan has written that when the Arbiter comes, he would lay emphasis on the Quran, because the Hadith are, to an extent, victim to human interpolation. However, the Holy Quran is the unchanged Word of God Almighty, as referred to in the words َ ْل ی ِ تَبْد لَا (they do not change) , which has remained free from human alteration. Now, the Word of God Almighty which was revealed to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and which is the foremost, everlasting miracle, is being presented to all, but in turn the people present sayings that are contrary to the Holy Quran. Is this not aston- ishing and disappointing? I ask you, because you seem, by the grace of God, to be an understanding and insightful man: can the Hadith possess the same rank as the Holy Quran? If the Hadith rank at the same level as the Holy Quran, then God forbid, one will have to accept that the Holy Prophet sa was neglectful in fulfilling his duty, because 1 al-Ahzab, 33:63 p. 262