Prophets As Divine Magnetizers
The Prophets, according to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, inspire humans to such an extent that faith (eiman) translates into practical application of the faith (a’maal). The Prophets ‘magnetize’ and draw humans towards them and as a result of this, true faith – that is, eiman with a’maal (practical application) – is established amongst their followers. It is written, however, that the ‘magnetism’ which draws forth people that a Prophet displays is for a limited time because, within a somewhat long time period after they die, the magnetism that the Prophet brought becomes less and less until it is absolutely non-existent. Thus, either God immediately appoints a Successor to the Prophet (who may be a Prophet himself) that has died or, after hundreds of years, when the magnetism is virtually non-existent, God sends forth another new Messenger to display that magnetism once more. It is for this reason that, according to Ahmadiyya belief, followers of all faiths are not drawn to the magnetism of their founding Prophets because that has become non-existent over time. This also applies, according to Ahmadiyya belief, to Orthodox Islam because it has been centuries since the founding Prophet Muhammad has died and centuries still since Muhammad’s original Caliphate had ceased to exist.
Read more about this topic: Prophethood (Ahmadiyya)
Famous quotes containing the words prophets and/or divine:
“So I soon made up my mind about the poets too: I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled them to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.”
—Socrates (469–399 B.C.)
“But misery still delights to trace
Its ‘semblance in another’s case.
No voice divine the storm allay’d,
No light propitious shone;
When, snatch’d from all effectual aid,
We perish’d, each alone:
But I beneath a rougher sea,
And whelm’d in deeper gulphs than he.”
—William Cowper (1731–1800)