The Descent of the Messiah — Page 47
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS When Allah says in the Holy Quran that دَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ the creature that causes the plague-will arise from the earth, it also indicates that it will appear at a time when the Muslims and their scholars will be leaning towards the earth and will have them- selves become the creatures of the earth. I have written in some of my books that the Maulawis and hereditary Pirs of this age, who are not righteous and are bent towards the earth are the creatures of the earth, and I have also written in this book that the germ of the plague is the creature of the earth. No one should think that there is a contradiction in these statements. The Holy Quran is full of insights and it can have various interpretations, without one contradicting the other¹. Just as the entire Holy Quran was not revealed at once, its knowledge too, does not penetrate the hearts all at once. Hence, it is the belief of the scholars that all knowl- edge was not imparted to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in an instant but rather, he gradually went through stages of intellectual development. The same is true for me; for I am his manifestation by way of reflection. The reason for the Holy Prophet's gradual progress was that the sole means of his progress was the Holy Quran, which itself was revealed gradually, hence, the knowledge of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was also progressively perfected. The same is the case with the Promised Messiah who has appeared among you at this time. The knowledge of the Unseen is a unique attribute of God, and we partake of it only to the extent that He gives it to us. It was He who first gave me the understanding that the indo- lent-who, while they believe in God and His Messenger, are lax 1 Just as Allah the Almighty has endowed various properties in plants and other things, for example, a plant can provide strength to the mind and is also beneficial for the liver, similarly, every verse of the Holy Quran con- tains a wealth of knowledge in different areas. (Author) 47