Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 198
198 HAQIQATUL-WAḤI-THE PHILOSOPHY OF DIVINE REVELATION Question (5) Your Honour has averred in several of your announcements that the world is not subjected to divine chastisement because of corruption in religion but because of insolence, mischief, and ridicule levelled at the Messengers [of God]. Now you have designated the recent earthquakes in San Francisco and elsewhere as Sign in your support. One fails to understand how these earthquakes have been caused by the rejection of your claim. ANSWER: I have never said that all these earthquakes in San Francisco and other places have been caused only because of the rejection of my claim and that no other factor has played any role in it. But, of course, I do say that the rejection of my claim has been the cause for the occurrence of these earthquakes. The fact of the matter is that all the Prophets of God agree that divine practice has always been operative such that when the world commits sins of all kinds and when a variety of their sins piles it is then that God commissions someone from Himself, but a part of the world rejects him. It is then that the Messenger's advent becomes a catalyst for the punishment of the other mischievous people, as well, who have already qualified as being guilty. It is not necessary for a person who is punished for his earlier sins to be aware that a Prophet or Messenger of Allah has been raised in the world in that age. up, As Allah the Exalted says: وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا ! Thus, I meant no more than to say that the rejection of my claim could 1. We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (Sūrah Bani Isrā'il, 17:16). [Publisher]