The Message of Islam — Page 4
4 of Qadian (1835–1908), who warned that mankind stood at the threshold of an era which would bear the same relation to his age (i. e. , the beginning of the twentieth century), as the beginning of that century bore to the days of Adam, and who proceeded to set forth from the Quran, in the light of revelation vouchsafed to him, the guidance that mankind now desperately needs. Thus, Islam comprises within itself the means of its own revival, not merely through normal interpretation, but also through the light of revelation, vouchsafed by the Divine to God’s elect through the ages. In this context, it needs to be remem- bered that the whole of the Quran from beginning to end is ver- bal revelation, and is thus literally the Word of God. As such, it possesses a dynamic quality and is manifested. It is as dynamic as the universe which is the work of God. This assures a complete accord, throughout, between the Quran and the universe. The Quran affirms that the universe is bound by law and, thus bound, is placed at the service of man. For instance, it is said: َو ْمُكىٰتٰا ْنِّم ِّلُك اَم ُهْوُمُتْلَاَس١ؕ َو ْنِا اْوُّدُعَت َتَمْعِن ِهّٰللا اَل َرَّخَس ُمُكَل َكْلُفْلا َيِرْجَتِل يِف ِرْحَبْلا ٖهِرْمَاِب١ۚ َو َرَّخَس ُمُكَل َرٰهْنَاْلا َو َرَّخَس ُمُكَل َسْمَّشلا َو َرَمَقْلا ُهّٰللَا ْيِذَّلا َقَلَخ ِتٰوٰمَّسلا َو َضْرَاْلا َو َلَزْنَا َنِم ِءٓاَمَّسلا ًءٓاَم َجَرْخَاَف ٖهِب َنِم ِتٰرَمَّثلا اًقْزِر ْمُكَّل١ۚ َو َ ر النَّهَا ِنْيَبِٕىٓاَد١ۚ َو َرَّخَس ُمُكَل َلْيَّلا َو اَهْوُصْحُت١ؕ … God is He Who created the heavens and the earth and caused water to come down from the clouds and brought forth therewith fruit for your sustenance. He has sub- jected to you the ships that they may sail through the sea by His command, and the rivers too has He subjected to you. He has also subjected to you the sun and the moon, both pursuing their courses constantly. He has subjected