Testimony of the Holy Quran — Page 59
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS 59 extra word to distinguish between them, the text would be poor, ambiguous, and far removed from eloquence. The word minkum also emphasizes the point that just as in the past, when only the righteous and pious were appointed Khulafā, so, likewise from among you, only the righteous and pious people will be appointed Khulafā. Now, the discerning eye can see that in keeping with the general idiom, the word minkum is not unnec- essary at all, and there is no repetition in the statement. Faith and righteous deeds did not begin only with this ummah; believers and righteous people had also lived before. How, then, without adding the word minkum, could a perfect distinction have been made? If the verse had just read وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الذَّيْنَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَتِ [Allah has promised to those who believe and do good works] the identity of the righteous mentioned in the verse would have remained unclear as to whether they are from among this ummah or the previous ones. And if only the word مِنْكُمْ ]minkum-from among you] was there without being accompanied by الذَّيْنَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَتِ ]those who believe and do good works] it would have been taken to mean that even the sinful and wicked people could become Khulafa, whereas the fact is that the rule of the sinful is only by way of trial and not by way of exaltation. Only right- eous believers and doers of good deeds are true Khulafa' of God Almighty, whether spiritual or worldly. There is a misconception that, as generally understood, the last part of this verse, ie. 2 وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفُسِقُونَ ]then whoso 1. Without the word minkum, the hypothetical verse can be read as so: 'Allah promised to those who believed and did good works. [Publisher] 2. Sūrah an-Nūr, 24:56 [Publisher]