Testimony of the Holy Quran — Page 59
H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 59 extra word to distinguish between them, the text would be poor, ambiguous, and far removed from eloquence. The word minkum also emphasizes the point that just as in the past, when only the righteous and pious were appointed Khulaf a ’, so, likewise from among you, only the righteous and pious people will be appointed Khulaf a ’. Now, the discerning eye can see that in keeping with the general idiom, the word minkum is not unnec - essary at all, and there is no repetition in the statement. Faith and righteous deeds did not begin only with this ummah; believers and righteous people had also lived before. How, then, without adding the word minkum, could a perfect distinction have been made? If the verse had just read, 1 ِ يْن َ آمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوْا الصَّالِحٰت َّ وَعَد َ الل ُّٰ الذ [Allah has promised to those who believe and do good works] the identity of the righteous mentioned in the verse would have remained unclear as to whether they are from among this ummah or the previous ones. And if only the word ُْ مِنْک [ minkum —from among you] was there without being accompanied by يْن َ آمَنُوْا ِّ الذ ِ وَعَمِلُوْا الصَّالِحٰت [those who believe and do good works] it would have been taken to mean that even the sinful and wicked people could become Khulaf a ’, whereas the fact is that the rule of the sinful is only by way of trial and not by way of exaltation. Only right - eous believers and doers of good deeds are true Khulaf a ’ of God Almighty, whether spiritual or worldly. There is a misconception that, as generally understood, the last part of this verse, i. e. 2 َو ْنَم َرَفَك َدْعَب َكِلٰذ َكِٕىٰٓلوُاَف ُمُه َنْوُقِسٰفْلا [then whoso 1. Without the word minkum, the hypothetical verse can be read as so: ‘Allah promised to those who believed and did good works. ’ [Publisher] 2. S u rah an-N u r, 24:56 [Publisher]