Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 226
B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 226 of an earthquake in the land of the Punjab in terms that are more extraordinary than these divine words: عفت الدّیار محلّھا ومقامھا. which means that a portion of this country will be so devastated that all its buildings will be obliterated—neither boarding houses nor places of permanent residence will survive. A person with even a rudimentary knowledge of Arabic will realize that the ال [ al ] in the word الدّیار [ ad-diy a r ] refers to a portion of this country. And the word عَفَت [ ‘afat ] means that all buildings in that por- tion of the country would fall, disappear, and be obliterated. 1 ٭ So, can someone tell me when such an event occurred in this land before? It is a sign of sheer faithlessness that a man should shamelessly tell lies and not fear God, who has the power to inflict punishment whenever He wills. And, then, in the announcement of Al-Wa s iyyat, published before the earthquake, on 27th February 1905, there occur the words: ‘Just now, at four o’clock after midnight, I saw in a vision that a large number of grievous deaths had created an impression as if the Judgment Day had arrived. At the same time, I received this revelation: ومات ومیت گل ریہ ےہ There is death everywhere. 1. ٭ If anyone is in doubt regarding these meanings, I appeal to him in the name of Allah the Almighty to ask an opponent who is well versed in Arabic, under oath, whether or not the words in the revelation عَفَت ِ الدِّیار [ ‘afatid-di- y a r ] betoken the collapsing and annihilation of buildings, and the collapse of houses that serve as temporary residences for travellers, such as Dharamshala and the Temple of L a t an Wa l i in the mountains of Kangra, as well as the houses that serve as permanent residences? This is so patently obvious that it requires no further elucidation. (Author)