Book Summary

Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan (who has been mentioned in Aainai Kamalati-Islam) published a book Ad-Dua wallstijaba to show that the acceptance of the prayer was not an actual fact; it was only a sort of consolation that one felt in one’s heart after prayer to God that could be called acceptance of the prayer. Since this ideology is totally opposed to the Islamic ideology of the acceptance of prayer as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and other sacred scriptures, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) lost no time in issuing a refutation of the ideas of Sir Sayed Ahmad. Barakatud Dua was the result. Sir Sayed Ahmad had also written another book containing his views about the principles of commentary on the Holy Qur’an. Hadhrat Ahmad (as) found that this book also contained incorrect principles. So he included his views on the commentary of the Holy Qur’an. In this book, Barakatud Dua, Sir Sayed was of the opinion that revelation did not mean that it was a message from another source; it only meant what somebody strongly felt as an idea taking hold of him. Hadhrat Ahmad (as) in this respect explained what revelation really is.

In this book he says: ‘I have seen that when revelation comes to me – and that is what the wahyi walayat – I feel that I am in the grip of someone and this grip is very strong and sometimes it is so strong that I feel that I am merged in the light of the one who grips me. I find a pull towards Him and I cannot resist in the least. It is when I am in the grip like this that I hear a very clear voice.’ Hadhrat Ahmad (as) also assures Sayed Ahmad that if he wishes to have the proof of the acceptance of prayer he is prepared to supply the same but he tells him that if the proofs are actually supplied, Sayed Ahmad should abandon his views. Before closing, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) mentions one of his prayers that was accepted; it was in connection with Lekhram. He asks Sayed Ahmad to pray to God that his views about prayer may be corrected and this, he said, he could do by prayer alone.

In his booklet Sayed Ahmad had mentioned the principles of the commentary of the Holy Qur’an. Hadhrat Ahmad (as) gives his own seven principles and asserts that Sayed Ahmad knows nothing about the commentary of the Holy Qur’an. The seven principles mentioned by Hadhrat Ahmad (as) are:

1. The Holy Qur’an comments upon its own verses, i.e. every verse is made clear by some other verses and none of them contradicts in the least.
2. Our commentary must fall in line with the Commentary of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
3. Our Commentary must tally with the Commentary by the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa).
4. We should purify ourselves and then look into this pure and sacred book. Only such a person can really and truly understand the Holy Qur’an as is pure. The Holy Qur’an says La yamassohu illal mutahharun, i.e. nobody can touch it except the pure people. Touching here means understanding.
5. We should know the lexicon of the Arabic language.
6. The spiritual system of life is akin to the physical system and this must always be kept in view.
7. We should not lose sight of the visions and revelations of the holy people. They also throw a flood of light on the spiritual affairs.