Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 280
280 AHMADIYY AT swords, or rifles, or cannon, or naval vessels, or aircraft has been wholly blocked. Every citadel that the companions of the Holy Prophet had constructed by shedding their blood is being demo- lished and there appears no possibility of safeguarding those cita- dels with swords, rifles, cannon and aircraft. But there is on the surface of the earth a Community whose hearts are filled with the faith and the certainty that these crumbling citadels will be restored not through cannon, swords, rifles or aircraft, but through propa- ganda, education, admonition and exposition. That Community is the Ahmadiyya Community. The renaissance of Islam will be undertaken by that Community. The standard of the Holy Pro- phet, peace be on him, will be planted again not on any height, nor on the top of any mountain, nor on a bastion of any citadel, but in the hearts of the peoples of the world. There can be no doubt that a standard planted in the hearts rises higher, is stronger and is more enduring than the one that is planted on the top of a mountain or on a bastion of a citadel. On another occasion he stated: I have said it several times and now repeat it emphatically that the West has been supreme in the world for a long period, but it is now the divine design to crush the Western social and cultural systems. Those who are fearful and are afraid to oppose Western values and consider that the veil can no longer be maintained and that it is necessary that men and women shall mix freely in social inter- course and that we cannot make any progress unless we follow the West in these matters, should remember that in adopting this attitude they are obstructing the progress of Islam and Ahma- diyyat. These things are bound to be wiped out and will disappear altogether. Many of you will be alive to witness the collapse of the structure of Western values and you will observe the new palaces of Islam being reared upon the ruins of Western values. These are not the words of a man; it is the decree of the God of heaven and earth and no one can change it. It is not a question of our strength. We have never said that this change will be brought about through our strength, nor shall we ever say it. What we do say is that God has promised this change and we have always witnessed the un- changeability of divine promises. After this observation there is nothing that can shake our faith or weaken our beliefs. Most certainly the world will approach us humbly on its knees and will