Malfuzat - Volume IV — Page 96
96 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is the case with hell, paradise also is no external entity. In fact, a person’s paradise springs forth from within. It ought to be remembered that the pleasures received in this place are as a result of the holy life and being that is formed in the physi - cal world. Pure faith is similar to a plant, and good deeds or lofty morals serve as streams that water that plant so it remains verdant and fresh. In this world, these are similar to things seen in dreams, but in the next world, they will be perceptible and visibly apparent. Hence, this is the reason it is written that when the inhabitants of paradise receive these bounties, they will proclaim: 1 ًا ِه ِ َب َا ْش َُتَ َم ٖ ٗه ِ َب ُْوْا َّت ُ ا ََو ُ ْل َْبْ ُق ْ ُن ِ َم َا ْن ْ ُق ِ َز ُِْيْ ُر ِّذ َ ْل ا َا ِّذ ٰ ْه ‘This is what was given us before,’ and gifts mutu - ally resembling shall be brought to them. This does not mean that the milk, honey, grapes, pomegranates and other such things that we eat and drink in this world will be given to us in the next life—not at all. The things of the hereafter will be completely different in their nature and state; they will be similar only in name. Moreover, even though all of the bounties of the next world have been illustrated in a physical manner, we are also told at the same time that they illuminate the soul and nurture a deeper insight of God. Their source is the soul and virtue. To infer from the words ُ ْل َْبْ ُق ْ ُن ِ َم َا ْن ْ ُق ِ َز ُرُ ( This is what was given us before ) that the bounties of this world are what one will receive in the hereafter as well, is absolutely incorrect. Instead, the purport of Allah Almighty in this verse is that those believers who performed good deeds will have created a paradise with their own hands, the fruits of which they will enjoy in the next life as well. Since the believers will have already eaten that fruit spiritually in this world, they will recognise it in the hereafter as well. Thus, they will say that these are the same fruits; these are the same spiritual advancements that were achieved in the world as well, and so the pious and devout will be able to recognise them. I would like to clearly reiterate that hell and paradise are underpinned by a deeper philosophy according to the manner that I have just explained. However, no one should forget that the punishments of this world are for the purpose of warning and to serve as a lesson, in order to maintain discipline. Both rule and mercy bear a mutual relationship with one another. The punish - ments and rewards of this world are reflections of this relationship. This is how 1 al-Baqarah , 2:26 p. 369