The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 274
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI deprived of the fullness of this bounty and is left only with vain boasting. . Millions of the virtuous have been recipients of revelation, but they were not of equal standing in the estimation of God. Indeed, even the holy Prophets of God, who are recipients of divine revelation at the highest level, are not equal in rank, as God Almighty has said: "Of these Messengers some have We exalted above others" (2:254). . This shows that revelation is pure Divine Grace and is not evidence of exaltation. Exaltation is according to the degree of truth, sincerity, and faithfulness of the recipient, which is known only to God. If revelation possesses all its blessed conditions it is also one of the fruits of such qualities. There is no doubt that if revelation takes the form that the recipient submits a question and God responds to it, and there is a sequence between question and answer, and the revelation is characterized by Divine Majesty and light, and comprehends knowledge of the unseen and true understanding, it is truly the word of God. It is necessary that Divine revelation should be like a dialogue between two friends. When the servant submits a question he should receive a delicious and eloquent response from God. Almighty in which his own self and thinking a reflection should have no part. If such a dialogue is bestowed as a bounty upon a person, it is a word of God and its recipient is held dear by God. That revelation should be bestowed as a bounty, and a living and holy series of revelations should be bestowed upon a servant of God clearly in a pure form, is not a portion of anyone except of those who attain a high level of faith and sincerity and righteous action, and of that which we cannot here disclose. True and holy revelation displays. many wonders of the Godhead. Very often a brilliant light is generated and along with it a majestic and shining revelation is vouchsafed. What could be a greater bounty than this that a recipient of revelation should hold converse with the Being Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. God can be seen in this world only through converse with Him. . Islam has always produced persons of this rank. It is Islam alone in which God approaches a servant and holds converse with 274