Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 233
APPENDIX TO BARĀHIN-E-AHMADIYYA PART FIVE 233 human conjecture. Regardless, when the word 'earthquake' has been clearly and precisely mentioned in the first part of the prophecy, pub- lished in Al-Hakam on 24th December 1903, we know not whether to laugh or weep at the level of intelligence of such a critic who says that there is no prophecy about an earthquake. Also bear in mind that the revelation: عفت الديار محلها ومقامها - [Temporary residences and permanent ones will be wiped out] consists of the words that God put into the heart of Labīd bin Rabīʻah al-'Amrī 1300 years ago, and it forms the first line of his qaşīdah [ode], the fourth qasidah of the Sabah Mu'allaqah. ¹ Labīd lived to witness the advent of Islam, was honoured to embrace Islam, and was among the blessed Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. This is why God honoured his words by revealing a line from his verses as a majestic proph- ecy about the Latter Days when a country would be devastated. Thus, it is foolish to wonder how the words of a believer could have found their way into divine revelation, because-as I have just explained-the words uttered by Abdullah bin Abi Sarahviz. فتبارك الله احسن الخالقين were revealed in the Holy Quran verbatim, which caused him to turn apostate and run away to Makkah. 2* So if divine revelation could coincide with the words of an apostate, what is so strange if it were to coincide with the verse of an eminent Companion like Labīd? Just as God is the ultimate Heir to everything, He is also the Heir to all chaste speech, and every such pure speech proceeds from the tongue on account of the power and ability bestowed by God Almighty. So, if 1. The Suspended Odes, or Muʻallaqah, are reportedly seven famous masterpiec- es of Arabic poetry that were hung in the Ka'bah during pre-Islamic times. [Publisher] 2. See the commentary by Al-'Allāmah Abī al-Saʻud on the footnote of Tafsir- e-Kabir, p. 276-277, volume six. (Author)