Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III — Page 19
CHAPTER One 19 He has also, after meditating and reflecting on the teachings of his reli- gion, discovered all that is right or wrong in it, as well as its extremely subtle and profound truths. On the other hand, Person X is an individual about whom it is an established fact that he is unlettered and cannot read any book. So if Person Y relates some doctrines or tenets mentioned in these books, they will not fall under um u r-e-ghaibiyyah with respect to him, because he is well-versed in the subjects of the books in question due to hav- ing full knowledge and rehearsing the contents of the books over a long period of time. However, if Person X, who is entirely unlettered, expounds the profound doctrines, which would normally be impossi- ble to do unless one has a complete and in-depth knowledge of them, and if he can disclose the subtle and profound truths contained in these books which are not known to anyone except the distinguished schol- ars, and if he exposes all the errors and flaws of these books, which is equally impossible without the ability to examine a text with a sharp, critical eye, and if, over and above all this, he is so perfect in his critique and analytical study that he is unrivalled in this respect, it will then be just and fair to affirm that he has stated um u r-e-ghaibiyyah. Explanation: A critic might object with respect to this preliminary point that it is possible for someone to acquire knowledge of the plain and simple facts contained in religious books by just hearing them; one does not necessarily have to be educated. They might say that it is possible for an illiterate person to acquire such knowledge from one who is literate; these matters do not involve subtle and intricate knowledge that can only be acquired through formal education. Such critics should be asked whether or not their scriptures con- tain any subtle truths that can be fathomed only by the ablest of schol- ars and learned men, and can be understood only by those who have sweat blood over them for a long period and have received education in centres of learning from accomplished teachers. They may reply to