Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 477
Laying to Rest Some Doubts 477 equal even to Israelite women? Can it be expected that now is such an age that in this age God still hears but no longer speaks? If there is no dishonour for Him to hear the supplications of poor mortals, why is it a dishonour to speak to them? Let it be remembered that attributes of God Almighty are never suspended. So, just as He shall always continue to hear, so shall He con- tinue to speak. And what can be a clearer argument than this that the continuation of God’s speaking, like His hearing will never come to an end? And it proves that there will always remain a group of people with whom God will continue to have converse and discourse. And I cannot comprehend why people get so agitated by the word Nab i [Prophet]. Once it has been established that the coming Messiah will be from within this Ummah, what is the harm if God called him a Nab i ? Such people do not see that he has also been called an ummat i [follower of the Holy Prophet s as ] and invested with all the attributes of an ummat i. This compound name is quite distinct and Hadrat ‘ I s a, the Israelite, was never known by this name. Further, Almighty God has repeatedly called me an ummat i as well as a Nab i in His revelations. Hearing these names creates extreme ecstasy in my heart and I express my gratitude that I have been honoured with this compound name. The wisdom behind the granting of this compound name seems to be to strike the whip of castigation upon the Christians that whereas they portray Jesus, son of Mary, as God, our Prophet, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, is a Prophet of such calibre that an individ- ual from his Ummah can be a Nab i and can be called ‘ I s a despite being an ummat i. His Statement— With regard to the Promised Mahdi, there are found in some a ha d i th words such as من وُلد فاطمۃ [‘from among the prog- eny of F at imah’], and من عترتی [‘from my progeny’], and من اھل بیتی [‘from among the people of my household’], and it is also written یواطی ُٔ إسمہ إسمی و إسم إبیہ إسم إبی. [‘his name will be my name, and the name of his