The Descent of the Messiah — Page 159
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS its light falls so clearly upon the world that no one remains in any doubt as to its rising, and no one can say that yesterday's sun was certain but that of today is doubtful. Can you then doubt this revelation that shines with the light of Divine countenance? Is the dawn of Divine revelation any less than the dawn of the sun? Nothing can be separated from its innate attributes. How then can God's word, which is the living word, be separated from Him? Do you say that in earlier times the sun of God's revelation used to rise with certainty, but it does not possess that quality anymore? This would imply that all the means for achieving cer- tain spiritual knowledge are no longer available and are a matter of the past, and that God's kingdom, government, and benevo- lence have come to an end after a time. The Holy Quran testifies against this because it teaches us to pray: اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ In this prayer, we are given glad tidings of the rewards that were given to past Prophets and Messengers. It goes without saying that the greatest of all those rewards is that of certain rev- elation, for the word of God stands in place of seeing Him as it confirms His existence. If no one from this Ummah is blessed with certain revelation, and no one dares hold his revelation on par with those of the Prophets, peace be upon them, nor as in the case of the revelation of the Prophets, does failure to submit and adhere to it lead to harm in this world, then teaching such a prayer is mere deception. For if God did not want this Ummah to share in the rewards of the Prophets, peace be upon them- اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ as a consequence of the prayer 1 "Guide us in the right path the path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings. " Al-Fatihah, 1:6-7 [Publisher] 159