Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 268
B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 268 like the stage of the sperm, is the first stage in man’s spiritual develop- ment, the Quranic verse has placed it in the first stage alongside the stage of the sperm and has described their similarities. This is so that those who reflect deeply on the Holy Quran may understand that the state of humility in Prayer is like a sperm in case of the spiritual being, and like the sperm it contains all the faculties, attributes, and features of the perfect man. Likewise, just as a sperm remains in a precarious state until it has established a link with the رحم [ ri h m —womb], so is this initial stage of the spiritual being—the stage of humility—not free from danger until it becomes firmly linked to رحیم [ Ra hi m —the Merciful God]. It should be noted here that when the favour of God Almighty is received without any effort on one’s part, this is due to the attribute of رامحتین [ Ra h m a niyyat —Graciousness]. For instance, everything that God has created for mankind by way of heaven and earth etc. , or even the creation of man himself, all this has come about on account of God’s رامحتین [ Ra h m a niyyat —Graciousness]. But when one receives favour as a result of one’s deeds, worship, effort, and striving, it is the result of ق �یم�ی� � ر [ Ra hi miyyat— Mercifulness]. This has been the continuous divine practice towards mankind so that when man adopts humility in his Prayer and remembrance of God then he makes himself deserving of ق �یم�ی� � ر [ Ra hi miyyat— Mercifulness]. So, the only difference in the sperm and in the first stage of the spiritual development—that of humility—is that while the former is dependent upon the pull of the رحم [ ri h m —womb], the latter requires the pull of رحیم [ Ra hi m —the Merciful]. So, just as it is possible that the sperm may be wasted before it can establish connection with the رحم [ ri h m —womb], so is it possible that the first stage of man’s spiritual development—that of humility—may be wasted before it is able to establish the connection with the Merciful One. There are many people who in the initial stage cry, are ecstatic, and rave and rant in their Prayers, and show all manner of frenzy and fervency in their love for God, and manifest various states of being