Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 340
B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 340 My Answer— No objection can be levelled at this statement of mine, for even in the case of the chastisement that was promised to the Arabs, God Almighty did not provide details of that chastisement as to what kind of chastisement it would be and what would be its nature. He only said that God has the power to bring it down from heaven, or send it from the earth, or make the infidels taste the swords of the Muslims. In these verses the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, himself admits that he has not been informed as to what kind of chastisement it would be. And when he was asked about the time of its occurrence, he did not specify any date, as the Holy Quran says: 1 َو َنْوُلْوُقَي ىٰتَم اَذٰه ُدْعَوْلا ْنِا ْمُتْنُك َنْيِقِدٰص ْلُق اَمَّنِا ُمْلِعْلا َدْنِع ِهّٰللا َو ۤاَمَّنِا اَنَا ٌرْيِذَن ٌنْيِبُّم Meaning: ‘The disbelievers ask, “When will this proclamation come to pass; tell us the date if you are indeed true?” Say to them, “I do not know of any date, only God has this knowledge. I am only a warner. ”’ And when the disbelievers repeated their question about the date, they got the answer: 2 َو ْنِا ْۤيِرْدَا ٌبْيِرَقَا ْمَا ٌدْيِعَب Meaning: Tell them, ‘I know not whether the chastisement is near at hand or far off. ’ Now, remember—O you who listen! It is true, and absolutely true—and there is no choice but to accept it—that the prophecies of God Almighty are at times fulfilled literally while at other times they are fulfilled metaphorically. Therefore, no Prophet or Messenger can dare to claim everywhere and in every prophecy that this prophecy would be fulfilled in such a manner. The Prophet, however, has the right, as 1. S u rah al-Mulk, 67:26–27 [Publisher] 2. S u rah al-Anbiy a ’, 21:110 [Publisher]