The Honour of Prophets — Page 40
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 40 18 ْ ُ وَ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُم ﷲ َ فَاتَّبِعُوْنِيْ يُحْبِبْكُمُ ا ﷲ قُلْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّوْنَ ا The translation is: say, if you love God, then come and follow me, so that God may love you as well and forgive you your sins. Now, observe how clearly this verse states that the necessary result of treading in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the requirements of which are to love, honour and obey him, is to make a person the beloved of God and absolved of their sins, in that if a person has consumed the poison of sin, then the antidote of love, obedience and subservience does away with the effects of this poison. Just as a person can be healed of their disease by the application of medication, so too can they be cleansed of sin. Then, just as light dispels darkness, an antidote counteracts the effect of venom, and fire burns, in the same way true love and obedience yield positive results. One may observe how fire consumes in an instant; similarly, virtue performed earnestly for the sole purpose of manifesting God’s glory acts like fire to consume the chaff and rubbish of sin. When a person believes sincerely in our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and recognises him in all his grandeur and eminence, and follows him with loyalty, purity, affection and subservience, so that on account of 18 Al-e-Imran, 3:32