Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 250
250 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad spread in such a terrifying and forceful manner that those people who have wit- nessed such epidemics would say that they resemble the Day of Judgement. From among such severe illnesses, there is the plague, which runs rampant in our land at present. It has ravaged Karachi and Bombay. We have also received terrifying news of the spread of the plague in the hill station of Palampur and even in Kol- kata. And so a grave danger confronts us at this hour. The reason that I address you is because man is met with enormous trials, as God Almighty states Himself: وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ Allah says: 'We shall continue to try you, at times with fear, at times by a loss of wealth, and at other times still by a loss of fruits. ' The Meaning of a 'Loss of Fruits' Books of exegesis explain that a loss of fruits' also implies a person's children and the loss of one's efforts. For example, one's effort to acquire knowledge; one's ef- fort to succeed in business; the efforts of a farmer. The loss of such efforts is a ter- rible misfortune. Man is forever concerned with attaining success. However, ulti- mately, the knowledge of God and His wisdom demands at times that people fail, or that their crops do not bring harvest, or that they are unsuccessful in business. The Plague Is a Sign of Divine Wrath We gather from this verse that Allah the Exalted has decreed to try us in four ways: firstly, fear; secondly, at times a loss of wealth; thirdly, a loss of life; fourthly, a loss of fruits. However, it is terrifying and dreadful to note that in the case of the plague, all four of these trials have come together at once. Those who are aware of the current circumstances and suffering that people are having to bear know that wherever there are outbreaks of the plague, all four of these trials arise one after the other. The matter is not only limited to the death of a person. As a matter of fact, in view of a dire need and in the best interest of the people—as sometimes, mothers are required so as to care for, protect and nurture their children—the British government has passed a law that in any home where an incident of plague occurs, the residents of that home are moved out, and when required, neighbours and surrounding residents, and in extreme circumstances, even entire villages are 1 al-Baqarah, 2:156