Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 235
APPENDIX TO BARĀHIN-E-AHMADIYYA PART FIVE 235 down by the Holy Quran; namely, that it should be at least as long as the shortest Sūrah of the Holy Quran or equal to ten Quranic verses. I do, however, say that when a man's words become the words of God in the form of revelation, they do take on a miraculous character. For instance, this very revelation from Allah: عَفَتِ الديار محلّها ومقامها [Temporary residences and permanent ones will be wiped out] was not a miracle when it issued from the tongue of Labīd, may Allah be pleased with him, but after appearing in the form of revelation, it has now became a miracle. All Labīd did was to speak of bygone events-the description of which lies within human power. But now, when God caused His reve- lation to coincide with Labīd's words, He gives the news of great future events that are beyond the power of man to foretell. So, the same words, when ascribed to Labid, do not constitute a miracle, but when attributed to God they undoubtedly became miraculous. A year ago, who knew that a large portion of this country would be destroyed and rendered unin- habitable by a terrible earthquake? Who knew that so many towns and villages would be swallowed up by the earth in an instant, and buildings would collapse and disappear as though they had never existed? This is exactly what a miracle is: Something should transpire that no one could previously think-or even imagine-to be possible. Is it not true that the dwellers of this country were left awestruck by the severity of the earthquake and regarded it as something extra- ordinary and an impossible occurrence which was a foretaste of Doomsday? And is it not true that European researchers have given the verdict that a review of the past history of 1,600 years of this coun- try shows that such a terrible and destructive earthquake has not been experienced by this country before? So, is the prophecy that gave news of such an extraordinary event a long time before its occurrence, not a