Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV — Page 58
BarĀhĪn-e-a H madiyya — Part Four 58 upon whom the One True God showers His grace, and who are sponta- neously drawn towards their Beloved. No one else can carry this task to its completion. In truth, steadfastness, patience, and worship of Allah at such times bring rewards that can never be attained at other times. Hence, the foundation of Lailatul-Qadr was laid down at the very time when, due to extreme misguidance, only a brave man of immense mettle could remain steadfast in virtue. This indeed is the age when the worth and rank of the brave come to light and the humiliation of cowards is confirmed. This is the age of darkness, which, like a pitch- dark night, makes its appearance in a terrifying manner. In this cata- clysmic situation, which is a very trying time, only those people escape destruction who are under the special shelter of divine grace. Hence, for these very reasons, God Almighty has appointed a part of this age, in which the darkness of misguidance had reached its peak, as Lailatul- Qadr. Then He proceeds to describe the heavenly blessings through which this darkness is dispelled and says that it is the way of Ar h amur- R ah im i n [the One who is the most Merciful of all who show mercy] that when misguidance reaches its extreme and the edge of darkness creeps up to its ultimate point—that is, the extreme point which, in spiritual terms, is known as Lailatul-Qadr— then at that time of night, whose darkness is akin to spiritual darkness, God Almighty turns His attention to this dark realm and, by His special command, angels and R uh ul-Qudus [the Spirit of Holiness] descend upon the earth and a Prophet of God Almighty appears for the reformation of Allah’s crea- tures. Then that Prophet, having been illumined by heavenly light, leads mankind out of darkness and he continues rising from strength to strength until the light attains its zenith. The same law applies to the auliy a ’ [friends of Allah] who are raised for showing the right path to humankind and for guiding them. Being heirs to the Prophets, they are made to follow in their footsteps. Now it should be understood that God Almighty has very emphat- ically stated in the Holy Quran that, in the case of the world a tidal rise