Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 244
244 BARĀHIN-E-AHMADIYYA - PART FIVE tense even though they refer to the future-occurs not just in the Holy Quran but is published and well known even in earlier Scriptures; even a child cannot deny it. This usage appears abundantly in the Hadith [for example]: عن انس رضى الله عنه قال، قال النبي صلّى الله عليه وسلم خربت خيبر- انا اذا نزلنا بساحة قوم فساء صباح المنذرين The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had said prior to gaining victory over Khyber, 'Khyber has been ruined. And inauspicious is the morning for the people who are warned- when we descend upon the courtyard of that people. So here the Holy Prophetsas used the past tense, whereas it was meant to refer to a future triumph. In short, this was one prophecy that was made utilizing past tense but, in fact, had the connotation of the future. The same is the case with the prophecy: عفت الديار محلها ومقامها [Temporary residences and permanent ones will be wiped out]. It is in the past tense but implies the future. Also, as I have said, the word الديار ad-diyār] means a part of the country, as denoted by the article [a] Labīd, may Allah be pleased with him, also did not take الديار ]ad-diyar] to refer to homes in general, but has taken it to mean the homes of friends. Here, in the words of God: عفت الديار محلها ومقامها [Temporary residences and permanent ones will be wiped out] mahal refers to the ancient places of pilgrimage of Hindus; that is, the temples that were present in Dharamshala and Kangra from ancient times, and the duration of their existence is proven to be at least 1,600