Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 405
APPE N DI X to B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 405 such a Prophet, particularly when God Almighty has raised the hope in many a place in the Holy Quran that an ummat i can be the recipient of a word and discourse from Allah. God Almighty does speak with and listen to His friends, and this is the very blessing for the attainment of which we were taught the prayer in S u rah al-F a ti h ah, which is recited in the obligatory prayers five times a day: 1 اَنِدْهِا َطاَرِّصلا َمْيِقَتْسُمْلا َطاَرِص َنْيِذَّلا َتْمَعْنَا ْمِهْيَلَع So why is the possibility of an ummat i attaining this favour denied? Does the favour that is asked of God Almighty in S u rah al-F a ti h ah, and which was bestowed upon the Prophets, may peace be upon them, consist of dirhams and dinars? It is evident that the Prophets were blessed with the gift of converse and discourse with Allah, whereby their cognizance of God reached the level of true certainty, and verbal communion substituted for the physical beholding of God. So when we pray, ‘O Lord, show us the path whereby we too may inherit that bounty,’ what else can it mean other than that we too should be blessed with the same gift of converse and discourse? Some ignorant ones say at this juncture that this prayer means only that God may strengthen our faith, bless us with the opportuni- ties to do good deeds, and enable us to do the works that please Him. But these ignorant ones do not understand that the strengthening of faith, doing of good deeds, and acting in accord with the will of God Almighty results from perfect cognition of the Almighty. The heart that has not acquired the slightest cognition of God Almighty will also remain bereft of firm faith and good deeds. It is only through ma‘rifat [divine cognition] that the fear of God Almighty develops in the heart. 1. Guide us on the straight path—the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your favours ( S u rah al-F a ti h ah, 1:6–7). [Publisher]