Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 158
158 HAQIQATUL-WAḤI—THE PHILOSOPHY OF DIVINE REVELATION Now it is obvious that the Prophets died at their appointed times. This injunction that 'when that particular Messenger appears they must believe in him, otherwise they will be held accountable, applies to the followers of all Prophets. Now Miyāń ‘Abdul-Ḥakīm Khān― who possesses imperfect knowledge, and is a danger to faith—should explain: Were salvation possible through belief in barren Tauḥīd alone, why would God hold such people accountable who are convinced of Tauḥīd, but do not believe in the Holy Prophet, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him? In addition to this, in the Torah, Deuteronomy chapter 18, there is the verse that whosoever will not believe in the Prophet of the Latter Days, 'I will require it of him. ' Hence, were Tauhid alone sufficient, then why would this demand be made? Will God forget His Word? I have, for brevity, quoted only these verses from the Holy Quran; otherwise, the Holy Quran is full of verses to this effect. In fact, the Holy Quran opens with verses of this kind as He says: اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ. صِرَاطَ الَّذِيْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِم Meaning that, O our God! Guide us along the path of the Messengers 1. It points to the fact that when a person follows the true faith, he receives a special reward from God Almighty on account of performing righteous deeds. Such, indeed, is the way of Allah that one who has true faith is not restricted to the highest point to which he walks by his own effort and ad- vances by his own striving. Rather, when his effort reaches its maximum limit and the work of human capabilities ends, then the bounty of God operates in him; and guidance from Allah helps him further advance in knowledge, good deeds and understanding to a level which he could not have attained on his -Surah al-Anka] وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنا : own. God says so elsewhere too būt, 29:70]. Meaning that, those who strive in Our path and do whatever they and their capabilities can do, then the grace of the One True God holds their hand and does what they could not have done by themselves. (Author) 2. Surah al-Fatiḥah, 1:6-7 [Publisher]