Three Questions by a Christian and their Answers — Page 67
67 because of the son’s intermediary link, similarly, the person who is nourished under the benign influence of a Prophet and in his submission, is treated with the same favours and blessings that are bestowed on the Prophet himself. Just as signs are granted to a Prophet, so are his true followers given special signs to increase their Divine knowledge. Such peo- ple serve as living signs for the truth of the religion in whose support they have appeared. God supports them from heaven, hears most of their prayers, and informs them of their acceptance. They do have their share of calamities, but these are not meant to destroy them; they are only meant to show signs of special Divine power in their support. They receive honour after they have been disgraced, and are given life after they are dead, so that the extraordinary works of God are manifested in them. A subtle point that needs to be remembered in this context is that prayers are accepted in two ways: As a trial, or as a favour. Even the prayers of sinful, disobedient and unbe- lieving people are at times accepted in order to try them; but this does not signify true acceptance, it is, in fact, a kind of test or trial. But for a prayer to be accepted as a fa- vour, the person who prays must be among the chosen ones of God, and should manifest all the blessings and signs that accompany such people. For, God never truly accepts the prayers of disobedient people, He only hears the prayers of those who are righteous in His eyes and follow His com- mandments. Therefore, the distinction between the acceptance of prayer as a trial, and its acceptance as a fa-