Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi

164 true significance of Islam is to lay oneself before God like the sheep that is to be slaughtered to lose all one's desires, passions and intentions and to be completely lost in the will and pleasure of God, to subject oneself to death, to love Him so entirely as to obey all His commandments out of love and not any other motive, to get eyes which see with God, ears which hear with God, a heart which is wholly inclined to Him and a tongue which does not move to utter a word until moved by Him- This is the stage at which all the labours of the spiritual wayfarer end, and all the passions and desires of man undergo a death.Then does the mercy of God with His living word and brilliant lights grant him a new life.Then he is honored with the sweet Word of God, and that most subtle Light which no reason can discover, nor eye can see, itself comes near to the heart of man, as He says : *V, y$ ) J^- ^j" -**J) V f \ \j^ " We are nearer him than his vein of life." With such nearness does Almighty God honor mortal man.Then comes the time that every blindness and darkness is remov- ed and a man sees his God and hears His voice, and finds himself completely enwrapped in His mantle of light.Then is the reality of religion reached, and seeing his God a man throws off the dirty clothing of worldly life and wears the magnificient robes of Divine light.The promises of paradise and of seeing God are not then simply prospective promises to him, but he actually tastes of the delights of paradise in this very life and sees God and speaks to Him, and thus realizes even here all those promises.The Almighty God says : Jf& ) y &*~ ) f ^ ) ty -j ^ $ ^ ^ I & ) ^ 5 i> y ^ ,^1 ) &svJ b J 5 ;.io ) ^ ) y jso il ^ J ^ (s3 $ [ &&J ) ^lc " Those who say that our Lord is the God who possesses all the perfect attributes and who has no partner in His person and attributes and remain faithful to their word, their faith not being shaken by any trial or adversity, however hard it may be

165 the angels of God descend upon them and Almighty God Himself speaks to them and says to them 'Do not fear the enemies that stand against you and the trials that befal you, nor be grieved for the bitter adversities which befel you in the past, for I am with you, and be joyful that I grant you in this very world the paradise which was promised to you.'" It should be borne in mind that these are facts supported by the strongest testimony.Within the sphere of Islam there have been thousands of the righteous people who have, actually tasted the fruits of the spiritual paradise in this iiie.In fact Islam is the blessed religion, whose true followers have been made by Al- mighty God the inheritors of all the righteous servants of God who have passed before them and the heavenly blessings that were granted to them variously granted all to the Muslims He has accepted the prayer which He Himself taught in the Holy Quran in the following words : ^.& ) k ) y* p&i^ )-^ } ^ } U &*> } ^) laJ ) 31.j ^lc u-yoiJ ]jtp ^xlfi ^**j ) '* Lord ! show us the right path, the path of the righteous whom Thou hast favored and honored in every way and who have received from Thee all sorts of blessings, (who have received the honor of being spoken to by Thee, of having their prayers accepted by Thee and of having been granted victory, assistance and guidance from Thee) ; and keep us away from the path of those upon whom Thy wrath has descended and of those who having forsaken Thy path have be- taken to erroneous paths." This is the prayer which is addressed to Almighty God by every Muslim five times daily in his prayers.It shows clearly that a person who passes his days in blindness from God, lives and dies in hell, and that he only really obeys God and attains true salvation.who recognises God and has a perfect faith in His existence, for only such a one is granted power to forsake sin and to love God with his whole heart.The

166 religion, therefore, in which there is no yearning for a certain Divine revelation, which is one of the highest Divine blessings, is not from God, nor is that prophet true who has not taught people to seek the path of certain Divine revelation and perfect Divine knowledge.For, the highest aim of man's life, and the only way in which he can be released from the bondage of sin, is that he should attain a certain knowledge regarding the existence of God and His retribution.But certainty regarding the Divine Being who is the most hidden of all things, is impossible unless from Him is heard the voice 'I AM,' and unless a man witnes- ses the clear and manifest signs of His existence.Such certainty can never be obtained from the source of reason, for the deduc- tions of reason lead us no further than that there should be a God, for this is the only conclusion with regard to the existence of a Creator that a man can arrive at by deep reflection over the consummate order and perfect skill displayed in the universe.But it can be easily seen that such a conclusion is only an infer- ence suggested by certain facts, while the statement that God actually exists requires a sound and conclusive proof about which there should not be the slightest doubt.The necessity of the existence of a thing and its actual existence are two quite diffe- rent things.In short, in the midst of the great religious excite- ment of the present day, the seeker after truth should not forget the great truth that only that religion is from God which can show God with perfect.certainty.I will now take some of the more important religions which are showing great missionary activity, and see whether they can take a man to the stage of perfect certainty regarding Divine existence, and whether their scriptures contain the noble promise that they can make their true followers the recipients of a certain Divine revelation, and whether if they do so this promise is borne

167 out by actual facts 1 at the present time.First of all I take the religion which is named after Christ.The answer to the questions proposed above for solution is very easy and simple in its case, for the Christians are all one in the belief that after the time of Christ the fountains of Divine revelation and inspiration are closed to all.The blessing of Divine revelation has according to.them been left behind and it now remain closed to the day of judgment.The door of Divine grace by which alone salvation as shown above can be obtained being shut up, a new plan of salvation has been set up which is opposed to the established principles of the world, and which is contrary to human reason and Divine Justice and Mercy.It is said that Jesus Christ bore the sins of the 'world and chose to die on the cross, that by his death others may be delivered, and that Almighty God killed His own innocent son to save the sinners.We are unable to understand how the pitiable death of one man can purify the hearts of others from the impure quality of sin, and how by the murder of one innocent man others can be absolved of the sins and crimes which they have committed.This course is, on the other hand, directly opposed to justice and mercy, for to punish the innocent in place of the offender is against justice, while causing the son to be murdered cruelly with no fault on his part is contrary to Divine mercy, and the whole affair is a meaning- less transaction.I have already stated that the true cause of the prevalance of sin is the absence of true Divine knowledge.If, therefore, the cause is not removed, the effect cannot be annulled, for the cause must bring about its effect.It is a strange philosophy that sin is supposed to be made non-existent while its cause which is a want of 'Divine knowledge remains as strong as ever.Experience shows that without full knowledge of a thing we cannot know its true value, nor can we love or fear it.

168 but love and fear are the only incentives to action and a.man does not do or abstain from doing a deed except from the motive of either love or fear.Therefore it is clear that unless the love or fear of the Divine Being is generated in the heart which depends upon a true and perfect knowledge of God, it is impossible that a man should be released from the bondage of sin: But so far as the Christians are concerned, I am bound to state and that for the sake of truth that their knowledge of God is very imperfect and ambiguous.The doors of Divine revelation are for ever closed and miracles ended with Jesus and his apostles.What is left then in.our hands to judge the truth of the Christian religion except the authority of reason, but the defying of a man has already set reason at naught.If the old stories of miracles as narrated in the Gospels are adduced in support of Christianity, various objections may be put forth against this evidence by one who does not admit the truth of the Christian religion.In the first place, it is impossible to ascertain what amount of truth is contained in these narratives and what reality.For there seems to be no doubt that the evangelists were great exaggerators.For instance, in one of the Gospels it is written that if all the things which Jesus did had been written in books, the world could not have contained those books.This is a most extravagant state- ment.How could the world prove insufficient for the record of deeds which were contained in it in an unrecorded state, deeds done by one man within the limited period of 3J years in a very small province.Secondly, the miracles stated to have been performed by Jesus were in no way superior to the miracles of Moses.Nay, even the miracles of Elijah display a greater power than those of Jesus.If therefore the performance of certain miracles can make a man God, many of the prophets shall be entitled to Divinity.

169 The alleged Divinity of Jesus is sometimes supported on the ground that Jesus called himself the son of God or that he is so designated in some book.This is an idea which deserves to be laughed at.In the Bible many men are designated as the sons of God and to some even the epinhet God is applied.They all, therefore, belong to the same category aud one of them cannot become a God to the exclusion of all others.Even if the title son of God had not been used for any one besides Jesus, it would have been absurd.to interpret it literally and draw from it an argument for the divinity of Jesus, for such metaphors abound in the Word of God.But when the title on whose basis divinity is claimed for ^Tesus is freely applied to others in the Bible, it ceases to have the slightest force as an argument for his divinity, and if it has, it at the same time proves the divinity of all those to whom it is applied.In short, the plan suggested by the Christian belief should not be depended upon for salvation, for it fails to provide the true remedy for sin.On the other hand, it is itself a sin that a man should commit suicide thinking that others would be saved thereby.I can say on oath that Jesus did not offer' himself to be crucified, but he was in the hands of his enemies who subjected him to all sorts of cruelties.He prayed to God to save him from the accursed death on the cross and wept-the whole night long.Then,.was he hard because of his righteousness and his prayer was accepted and he was saved from death upon the cross, as appears from the Gospels themselves.It is, therefore, a false accusation against Jesus that he commit- ted suicide by designedly subjecting himself to death.Moreover reason itself condemns the theory that Peter should be cured of his headache by John's knocking out his brains.We do admit that Jesus was a servant of God and.one of the perfect ones whom God purified with His own hands, but he or any other prophet

170 cannot be made a God on the strength of words spoken of him in any holy book.I have personal experience in this matter and in the Word of God revealed to me I find words of honor and dignity used of me which I have not met with in any Gospel as used concerning Jesus Christ.Can I then assert on the strength of such words that I am God or son of God ? Far be it from me or any other prophet of God to make such a blasphemous asser- tion.As to the teachings contained in the Gospels, I arn of opinion that they are imperfect.A perfect code of ethics is that which is calculated to develop all the moral faculties of man and does not lay stress upon one side of human nature only.I assure the gentlemen present that such perfect teaching is cantained only in the Holy Quran, for in every matter it adopts the mean path, which is th'e path of truth and wisdom.For instance, the Gospel says: "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." But the Holy Quran does not teach us unconditional forgiveness on all occasions.It directs us to see the occasion first, whether it requires forbearance or revenge, forgiveness or punishment.It is evident that the latter is the proper course for a man to follow, and its observance is necessary for the social life of man.No society can live on the principles taught by the Gospel nor can any Christian society be pointed out which should have ever acted on the turn-to-him-the-other-also text Again the Gospel says that no one should look " on a woman to lust after her," but the Holy Quran tells us that a man should not unnecessarily look upon other women whether with lust or without lust for this habit will after all make him stumble- On such occasions the Quran requires that a man's eyes should be half-closed, for this is the, only way in which a man can remain pure in heart.Perhaps the advocates of a mis-named liberty would

171 object to such a course, but experience shows that this is the only right course.Free intermingling of the two sexes and their freely casting looks at each other, are productive of great mischief and no good has resulted from them.To allow men and women whose hearts are not yet purified, and who are yet under the control of their sensual passions, to freely mingle with, and look at, each other, is to intentionally push them down into the pit.The Quranic teaching in this respect is free from every harm.The same defect of Gospel teaching is brought to light in its directions regarding divorce.The Gospel says that no one should / "put away his wifej saving for the cause of fornication," But the j Holy Quran permits divorce on other equally" urgent occasions, for instance when the husband and wife become the deadly enemies of each other and the life of one is in danger from the other, or when the wife is guilty of having gone through the preliminaries of fornication, though she may not have actually committed fornication, or when she suffers from some such disease as would endanger the life of the husband in case the relations are continued, or when some other cause comes into existence which -on account of its beisg a hindrance to the continuance of conjugal relations is a sufficient cause for divorce.In all such cases divorce is permitted, and the truth of this principle is practically admitted by the Christians themselves.To revert to the main point of this lecture, the Christians, cannot point out the means which can lead a man to salvation and freedom from the bondage of sin.For, as stated above sal- v vation means nothing but the attainment of a condition in which a man does not venture upon transgression and his love of God becomes so great as" to suppress his sensual desires, and the realization of such a state depends upon a perfect knowledge of God.The Holy Quran points out to us the clear ways which can

172 make a man attain to a true knowledge of God and fill him with such fear of Him as keeps him away from sins.By following the Holy Quran a man becomes the recipient of Divine revelation, sees the heavenly signs, receives the knowledge of future from God, has a zeal in his heart for union with God which he prefers to every other connection, receives knowledge from God before- hand of the acceptance of his prayers and a mighty torrent of Divine knowledge flows in his heart which sweeps away all sinful tendencies before it.But when we go to the Gospels, it points out a method for release from the bondage of sin which is con- trary to reason and does nothing to remove the causes of sin.-We will next take the Arya Samaj and consider the means which it proposes for release from the bondage of sin.Here again, as in the case of Christianity, we meet with a plain denial of Divine revelation and heavenly signs, a denial which is based on the authority of Hindu sacred books, the Vedas.It is vain, therefore, to look in this direction for the complete satisfaction which the heart of man finds in the sweet Words of God, the acceptance of his prayers and the manifestation of heavenly signs which reveal to him the face of the living God.But if access cannot be had to all these sources of certainty, then a man shall have to depend upon reason only according to the Yedic doctrine.But reason, as shown above, is not a source of perfect certainty and cannot make a man attain the perfect Divine knowledge which is equivalent to seeing God, and which by generating true love and fear of God, burns the chaff of sin, mortifies the sensual passions and working a holy transformation in the life of man, cures all defects and washes away all the impurities of sin.Bub as most men do not care for the perfect purity of life which frees a man from every stain of sin, therefore they do not even aspire after a holy life, and their hearts are so dead to it that they do

173 not ever feel its need.On the other hand they are ready to fight /when the truth is told because of their excessive bias towards a particular set of dogmas.The position of the Arya Samaj is extremely deplorable.It denies revelation, heavenly signs and acceptance of prayers, the only means to a perfect knowledge of God, and bases the whole superstructure of its beliefs on the slender bases of reason.But its principles do not hold even when judged from the.standpoint of reason.For, as shown above, the only argument for the exis- tence of God that can be derived from the source of reason, is that this universe could not have come into existence of itself, and that it must have had a creator.But the Arya Samaj teaches the doctrine that matter and soul are self-existent and eternal y and that God has created nothing.Hence the only argument that reason could give for the existence of God fails in view of the principles inculcated by the Arya Sarnaj.This vital objec- tion against the teachings of the Sarna,j.it is sometimes sought to remove by the assertion that though matter and soul are self- existent, yet the combination of the particles of matter and the union of matter and soul could not be effected without the power of God.But the absurdity of this idea is clear on the face of it, for when it is assumed that the particles of matter and the souls have in them the inherent quality which has made them self-existing and self-supporting from eternity, it is nothing but sheer folly to assert that some external power is needed for their union and combination.To assert first that every particle of matter existing in the universe is with all its qualities a self- existing thing, and that similarly every soul with all its attri- butes and powers is self-existent, and to deny then that the power of combination in the particles of matter and the power of union in matter and soul belongs to them, is to contradict

rte btieself anil no sensible person can hold this position 1 for a single minute.The holder of such a belief is an easy prey for atheism, and it needs very little effort on the part of an atheist to win over an Arya Samajist to his own side.It grieves me much to see that the Arya Samaj has in formulating its doctrines com* rnitted serious errors in both branches of Law.With regard to God the Aryas hold the belief that He is not the Author of the Universe and the source from which all blessings flow, but that matter and soul with all their properties and attributes are self- existent and not in any way under obligation to God.If this is true, it is meaningless to acknowledge the existence of God, and even if His existence is assumed, it does not appear why He deserves to be worshipped, on what grounds He is to be taken as the All-powerful Being, and how and by what methods He is to be recognised.Can any one answer these questions? Ah ! that there were a heart capable of receiving this message of sympathy.Ah ! that some one should sit in the corner of solitude and ponder over these words.Almighty God ! Have Thou mercy on these people who are our old neighbours.Turn Thou the hearts of most of them to truth so that they should know it and accept it, for to Thee belongs all power.Amen ! So far as to the error of the Arya Samaj in connection with the recognition of God and His powers, but the other part of Law is also full of errors.Firstly, there is the doctrine of trans- migration according to which the soul assumes different bodies in different births, The point which strikes one most in this doctrine is that Almighty God is represented as a most cruel and hard-hearted being whose anger can never be appeased.In the Arya Samajic code of beliefs, God is first shorn of His glory and divested of the power of creation, and then in strange contra- diction with it, He is invested with an arbitary and tyrannical

175 power over the souls to punish them for billions of years for disobedience of commandments to which He has no right to exact obedience.For, if He has not created the souls, He has no absolute right to require them to obey Him.Or assuming that He has acquired such a right, it must at all events be very limited in its scope like the right acquired by a ruler over his subjects.But the interminable series of punishments which every soul has to undergo according to the doctrine of transmigration in one body after another, is absolutely inconsistent with such an acqui- red right and the principles of justice.According to the Muslim doctrine, not only are soul and matter with their attributes and properties created by the hand of God, but even the punishment which they must receive for disobedience to their Master, does not last for ever.Thus Almighty God says in the Holy Quran with regard to the eternity of the punishment of sinners: *> & ^ J J ^* *? j e/ J -*?,;* U U U ) " Except in so far as thy Lord willeth, for thy Lord doeth whatever He wilieth." Here we are told that though the punishment of the sinners is spoken of as lasting eternally, yet it is not without an end in the sense in which God is without an end, but only because of its length, and the mercy of God will then overtake them, for He is powerful and does what He wills.This verse is further explained by a tradition according to which the Holy Prophet is reported to have said : ^)^J ^-f f M) ^ ) ^ ) ^ \j~$ ^ l*j ^ ^b ^jb " A time will come over hell when there will be no one in it and a cold breeze (of the mercy of God) will blow upon its gates." The Arya Sarnajic teaching represents the Divine Being as a peevish and revengeful master whose anger can never be appeased.The Christians also entertain the belief that a man shall be condemned to eternal hell for every sin and that his tortures will know no end.But the wonder is that while proposing endless

176 torture for other men, the son of God is made to bear punishment for three days only.This unrelenting cruelty to others and improper leniency to His own son, is absolutely inconsistent with the mercy and justice of God Instead of being let off with such a slight torture the son should have, been made to bear the heavier punishment, because being the son of God and as such possessing greater power than mortals, he was the only fit person to bear up under a heavy and never-ending punishment.In short the Chris- tian and the Arya Samajic doctrines are both open to the same objection, while some Muhammadans too are guilty of a depar- ture from the reasonable teaching of the Quran on this point.But the Holy Quran has expressed itself in clear and unequivocal words in the exposition of the doctrine of eternal hell, and hence the blame which attaches to some of its votaries, cannot be laid at its door.Another error of which the Muslims are guilty, because going against the teachings of the Holy Quran, is that relating to the death of Jesus, The Holy Quran speaks of his / death in the clearest words but some Muslims still hold him to i be alive and think that he would come back to this world.Another objection against the doctrine of transmigration is that it is against true purity.If the mother, sister or daughter of a person dies to-day, she may be reborn to-rnorrow and in a few years become the wife of the self-same person and thus rela- tions may be contracted which are prohibited by the Vedas.This difficulty which vitiates the purity of the family life cannot be obviated unless the birth of every child is attended with a document containing particulars as to the relations in which it stood to different persons in the previous birth.But since no such arrangement has been made, the upholders of this doctrine shall have to confess that Almighty God Himself is the cause of spreading an evil in this world.But leaving aside these objec-

177 tions, it is difficult to understand what good results from casting souls into the revolution of births.~M.ukti or salvation, as must be admitted by every sensible person, depends upon gayan, i.e.^ Divine knowledge, and if the doctrine of transmigration had any truth in it, the Divine knowledge attained by a soul in a previous birth ought not to have been lost.On the other hand, every frag- ment of Divine knowledge attained in one birth, should have been a stepping stone for the acquirement of more knowledge, and the previous store ought to have been added to the newly acquired one, thus bringing a person nearer and nearer to the fountain of salva- tion.But it is clear that every child comes into the world utterly ignorant and the previous store of knowledge amassed with great labour during a whole life is utterly wasted like the fortune of a prodigal man.The revolution of successive births, therefore, in no way assists the attainment of salvation, for whatever store of Divine knowledge is accumulated in one birth is utterly wasted in the transition to the next.This process of the gain and loss of knowledge at the beginning and end of each birth, makes the attainment of salvation almost an impossibility, and therefore metempsychosis does not afford the least assistance to such attain- ment.A really insurmountable difficulty in the way of souls for the attainment of salvation that they must lose everything they gain without any fault of theirs and simply because God has wished to cast them into the maze of transmigration.And in spite of these difficulties, the salvation obtained is temporary and not permanent, and thus after enjoying this hardlywon rest for a short time, the soul is again cast out from the abode of bliss to undergo similar revolutions of ceaseless tortures.The second doctrine owned by the Arya Sarnaj which strikes at the very root of the true purity of life, is the doctrine of Niyoga.I do not ascribe this doctrine to the Vedas; nay, I tremble at the

178 idea of making the Vedas responsible for such a hideous doctrine.I am sure that human nature repels the idea extremely dis- gusting that a man should tell his own chaste wife who belongs to a respectable and noble family to have connection with a stranger simply for the chance of getting a son, in spite of the continuance of her conjugal relations with her own husband, or that the wife should herself desire to adopt such a shameful course of life.Even some animals are so jealous of their mates that they do not like their living with other males.It is not my object to enter into any discussion here.I humbly entreat the leaders of the Arya Samaj to renounce this doctrine, because in it lies their moral betterment.The people of this country have already much fallen off from true purity and if practices like the Niyoga remain in vogue, the moral degradation of the country would only grow deeper and deeper day by day.Here I take occasion to express my views on another point of equal importance.Whatever the feeling of hatred which the Arya Samaj entertains towards JVIuslims and tbe principles of Islam, it should not make a total departure from the time-honored custom of purdah, for such a course would be productive of im- mense evil and mischief, though it may appear to be attractive at the present moment.Every sensible person can easily under- stand that the majority of men and women in this age are walking only in obedience to their passions and desires, and are so com- pletely in their control that they do not care aught for the retribution of their deeds.Most young men cannot refrain from looking to lust after young and beautiful women if they get a chance to look at them at all, and so is also the case of most women.If in this state when the hearts of both sexes are not free from corruption and evil and are unable to resist the temp- tations of flesh, a too free intercourse of men and women is

179 allowed, the result would be that the evil of adultery would poison the whole system of society, as is the case in many parts of Europe.But when these men actually grow pure in heart, when they- are freed from the control of bestial passions and sensual desires, when the spirit of devil is utterly expelled from among them, when Divine majesty takes entire possession of their hearts and the awe of God controls their looks, in short when a pure transformation is effected in their lives and they don the garments of the fear of God, then, but not till then, they may do what they like, for they would be then as ennuchs made so by the Hand of God and their eyes would be shut against lustful looks and their hearts closed against evil ideas.But remember, my beloved countrymen, may God Himself inspire this idea into your hearts, that this is the most dangerous time for doing away with the custom of purdah, and if you do it, you would sow the seed of poison in your people which would vitiate the whole society.This is a time when the custom of purdah ought to have been instituted even if it had never prevailed before, for this is the Tcaljug (the iron age).Evil rages in the world and the transgression of Divine commandments, corruption and drunkenness are at their highest.Atheism prevails in the hearts and the awe of Divine majesty and glory has utterly vanished away from them.Many things are uttered with the tongue with which the heart does not tally.Lectures are delivered which may claim great intellec- tual merits, but the hearts are dead and devoid of spirituality.It is not meet that at such a time the poor sheep should be let loose in forests where wolves abound.My friends, the plague is still threatening us and I have re- ceived information from on high that many of its onslaughts are in store for us.These are dangerous days and no one can say who would become its morsel by the next year and who remain alive,

180 what house Would be devastated and what saved.Arise then and repent, and please your Lord with good and virtuous deeds.Mind that though errors in belief would be punished in the life to come, and the fact of being a Hindu or a Muhaminadan or a Christian would be decided on the day of judgment, yet the person who exceeds all limits in his transgressons, evils and injustice to others, will be punished even here, and he cannot flee from the wrath of heaven.Kise then and please your Master and be at peace with Him before the terrible day cornes, the day of the raging of plague, of which the prophets of God have prophesied.Keconcile yourselves with your Lord, for He is the most merciful and if you repent truly and forsake the ways of evil, He will for- give you all your sins.A single moment's repentance with a true and fearful heart cancels the evil deeds of seventy years.Do not say that your repentance is not accepted by God.No ! you cannot be saved by your own deeds, it is the grace of God that takes you by the hand and not your own deeds.Merciful and Gracious God, show mercy to us for we are Thy servants and bow our- selves at Thy threshold, *My Claim to Promised Messiahship.Gentlemen, I would now say something about my own claims which I have published in this country.Reason and history bear witness to the fact that when the darkness of sin oversha- dows the earth, when all sorts of transgressions prevail in the world and evil is supreme, when the spiritual sensibilities are deadened, when the earth growing impure with immoral practi- ces and the love of God being numbed in the hearts of men, a poisonous wind begins to blow, the mercy of God then ordains that life should again be breathed into dead hearts and the earth * This subject forms the second part of the same lecture.

181 should be quickened afresh.As there are changes of seasons in the physical world, so here are revolutions in the spiritual world.In autumn the trees lose their verdure and freshness, and are stripped of their leaves and branches, and look like a man who being in the last stage of consumption loses all his flesh and blood, or like a leper whose face is disfigured by the effects of leprosy and whose limbs have dropped down.But they are not left in this state.Another period comes, and autumn is followed by spring when a new life is given to the dead plants and they sprout forth into fresh leaves.Similar to these changes in the physical world, there are changes and revolutions in the spiritual world and periods of light and darkness follow each other succes- sively like day and night.At certain stages of the history of the world, men are stripped of spiritual excellences and the perfec- tion of manhood like trees in the autumn, while at others a wind blows from heaven which breathes life afresh into their hearts.This our time is also the beginning of a spring.The deadness of autumn was witnessed in the Punjab during the days when this country was under the Sikh sway.Knowledge had then quite disappeared and ignorance had become prevalent.Religious books had become so rare that they could not be found except in some high family which remained intact from Sikh oppression.The night of the Sikh rule has been followed by the day of Bri- tish dominion which has brought us the invaluable blessing of peace.The truth is that if regard is had to the general peace and security prevailing in the country and to the comforts which we can and do enjoy, it is unjust to compare the days of Sikh rule with even the nights of English Government.The time in which we live is a time of physical as well as spiritual blessings, and what has already appeared is a sign of the richness of the harvest that we may yet reap- It is true, however, that being

182 the commencement of a new age, this period presents varying faces.Some faces are hideous because they go against righteous- ness and the true knowledge of God, while others present attrac- tive features and there is a lustre of righteousness in them.There is no doubt, however, that the English Government has taken great pains to spread learning' in the country and to advance the cause of science and knowledge.Printing presses-have multi- plied copies of books to an extent unknown in any previous age and placed them within the reach of all.This vast spread of knowledge has brought to light many hidden libraries and cast the light of publication upon many rare manuscripts and thus it has changed the whole appearance of society within a few years.' Side by side with the growth of learning and spread of know- ledge spoken of here, there has been a continual falling off from the standard of parity in practice, and the plant of atheism has struck a deep root in most hearts.There is no doubt about the benefits and blessings which the English Rule has brought to us, nor can any one question the unparalleled peace and liberty which it has established in this country, but most people have not made a right use of this liberty and peace.Instead of being thankful to God for His great obligation in placing us.under the benign rule of such a peaceful and kind Government, most people have become utterly neglectful of and stolidly indifferent to God and have wholly given themselves up to the pursuits and cares of this world, so wholly indeed as if this world were their permanent abode and they were not under the control of any Higher power or under any obligation to Him.As happens generally, with peace transgression has become more flagrant, and on account of daily increasing hard-heartedness and indifference, the country is now in a very dangerous condition.Ignorant people commit the most brutal and heinous deeds like.savages, and every grade of society

183 is more or less involved in some sort of evil.Public houses are much more frequented than other shops, and professions involving open immorality are daily increasing, while places of worship are only used for the performance of ceremonials devoid of life and inner worth.In short a violent outburst of evil and iniquity has taken place, and as a flood destroys all embankments and sweeps away whole villages before it in a single night, so the flood of passions is sweeping away all barriers to sin before it.Cimmerian darkness has spread over the world, and it has reached the point at which it must either be regenerated and receive a light from heaven or be utterly destroyed and brought to naught.But the prophetical utterings give us to understand that the end is yet a thousand years off.Moreover, the new physical order of this world which has been brought about by the numerous discoveries and inventions of the last and the present century, is clearly indicative of a similar change for the better in the spiritual system of the world.There is pressing necessity for such spiritual reform, for spiritually the world stands on the brink of destruction and is so depraved that the wrath of heaven must be kindled against it.The force of passions is growing too strong while the spiritual tendencies have been utterly weakened and the light of faith has been extinguished.A light must, therefore, be kindled from heaven to shatter the clouds of darkness whichoverhang this world, for, as we see daily, the gloorn of night is not dispelled until the heavenly light makes its appearance.As there is a heavenly light which lightens the corners of the earth, so there is also a heavenly light which illuminates the corners of the heart, and the truth of both these laws is manifest.Since God created man, it has been His unchangeable law that He sheds His light upon mankind through one of their own number, so that there may be a unity and oneness among them.

184 The persdn Who is thiis chosen, receives the light of perfect Divine knowledge from God, drinks deep at the fountain of His perfect love, is spoken to by Him, made to walk in the path of His perfect pleasure and granted a deep-seated zeal to draw others to the light, the knowledge and the love which have been granted him Thus drawn by him and sharing in his knowledge because of their close connection with him, other people are also kept back from sins and guided to the path of piety and righteousness.In accordance with this time-honored law, Almighty God pro- phesied by the mouth of His prophets that after nearly six thousand years from the time of Adam when great darkness Would prevail upon earth and an irresistable flood of passions would make the love of God wane and iniquity predominate, God would, breathe into a man the soul of truth and love and know- ledge spiritually after the likeness of Adam, and he would be called the Messiah, because God would Himself anoint his soul with the ointment of His love- This Messiah who on account of the promise of God concerning his appearance is called the Pro- mised Messiah in sacred books, would, it is foretold, be made to stand against Satan, and between him and the evil one there would be a mighty struggle, the final struggle between good and evil.For this spiritual fight Satan would bring all his hosts into the field and gather together all his power and make use of all his resources.Never shall a fight like this have occurred between good and evil before, for on that day the tricks of Satan and the means by which he can mislead people, would all be exhausted.After a heavy fight, the Messiah of God would drive back the powers of darkness, and the glory, majesty, unity and holiness of God would be proclaimed upon earth and would continue to be so declared for a thousand years, the seventh day of the Holy

185' Irtooks of God.Then will be the end.I am that Messiah : let nirn who will, accept' rne 1 ! Doubts would, perhaps, be entertained here by some- as, to tihe existence of Satan and they would wonder at the mention of Satan and his hosts.Let them bear in mind that every man's heart has two attractions with it, the attraction of good and the attrac- tion of evil.The first of these is attributed in Islamic law to the angel or the spirit of goodness, and the second to Satan or the spirit of evil.Man is inclined sometimes to evil add sometimes to goodness, and this is what is meant by the struggle between good and evil.I think there are many men in this gathering who will, simply on hearing rny claim to Promised Messiahship and Divine revelation, call rne a liar and look down upon my claim, but I do not condemn them, torso it has been from the beginning.Every Messenger of God had to hear words of abuse and contempt from his people in the early stages of his mission, and it may be said truly that a prophet is not without honor but in the beginning of his career as a prophet.That Holy Prophet and Messenger of God to whom the Holy Quran was revealed, and who gave us a law which is the finisher of all laws, of being called 'whose followers we are all proud, was also received in the same 'manner by his people.For thirteen years'he suffered persecution 'and tortures at the hands of his 1 enemies alone and helpless, and received their scoffing, insults, affronts and outrages with the greatest patience and forbearance, all these cruelties of his enemies reaching their climax in^that unkindest cut of all, his expulsion from Mecca.Who knew ''at that time that helpless and forlorn man was destined to become the guide and leader of millions of human beings ? Such is the Divine law that the sent ones of God are laughed at and despised at first.There are very few who recognise them in the beginning and hence they must

186 suffer at the hands of the ignorant and bear all sorts of scurrilities abuses and taunts until the time comes when God should open the hearts of men for their acceptance.Such is my claim.But the work for which Almighty God has appointed me, my function as the Promised Messiah, is that I should remove the estrangement which has taken place between God and man, and re-establish man's connection of purity and love with his Divine Master.I have been raised that I should put a stop to religious wars and lay the basis of peace, concord and fellow-feeling between, men, that I should bring to light the religious truths which have long been hidden from the mortal eye, that I may show true spirituality by dispelling the darkness of passions from before its face, that I may manifest the working of Divine powers within man by prayer or by concentration of attention, and most important of all that I should re-establish the pure and glorious unity of God which is free from every mix- ture of shirk, and which has disappeared from the face of earth.All this will be effected not by my power, but by the mighty power of Him who rules in heaven and earth.I see that on the one hand Almighty God having trained me, in His deep knowledge and having made me the recipient of His revelation, has granted me a zeal for bringing about these reforms, and on the other He has Himself prepared hearts which are ready to accept my words.I see that a mighty revolution has taken place in the world since I was appointed by Almighty God to this heavenly office.While in Europe and America the doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus is being rejected by all sensible thinkers, in India idol-worship is fast losing ground.Though these people are yet ignorant of true spirituality and are content with a few words in which is con- tained a formal expression of their beliefs, yet they have broken asunder many ties which held them to unbelief, and they are now

187 as it were standing on the threshold of unity.I hope that in the near future the grace, of God would take many of them by the hand and place them within the stronghold of unity where there is all peace and safety, and where a man is granted perfect love and perfect fear and perfect knowledge.This is not a mere wish but Almighty God has given me the 'glad tidings which make me entertain this hope.The manifestation of this heavenly ordinance has been brought about in this country so that different people may be the sooner seen gathering into one flock, and that the night of discord and enmity may the sooner changed into the bright morning of peace and concord.That the different people will be ultimately made one nation, is the universal hope of all religious sects.The Christians think that the time is coming when all the nations of the earth will accept the doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus.The Jews entertain the fond hope that their Messiah will soon appear and make them the inheritors of the whole earth and bring the gentiles into the Jewish faith.The Islamic prophecies also give the hope of the advent of a Messiah who would make Islam the predominent and universal religion of the world, and the promised time of advent goes no further than the commencement of the 14th century of Hegira.And at this very moment the Pundits of the Sanatan Dharrn are anxiously waiting for the advent of an avatar who would spread the true faith in the whole world.The Aryas, though they do not believe in any prophecy, share in these uni- versal views and are trying their best to spread the Arya religion in the East as well as in the West.Nor has the Buddhist reli- gion remained behind in this movement, for it is also showing signs of activity and reform.But what is most wonderful of all, and may perhaps excite laughter, is that in this competition of religions for superiority, even the sweeper community is not quite

188 -..-> , i indifferent, but it also is awake to the serious necessity of protec- ting itself from hostile religions.In short, the ^competition of religions has grown hot and every sect is inspired with the zeal to make acquisitions from other faiths.There is a commotion in the religious world more violent than the commotion which is f ! " p ' I caused in the sea by a storm, and as the billows roll down upon one another, so do at present the different religions.The various movements described above lead one at least to this conclusion that the time has come at which Almighty God has willed to gather all men into one fold..Regarding this very time, He says in the Holy Quran I**?- ^ U** ; ^ j ^ JM ^ Bea- ding this verse along with the preceding verses its proper signifi- cance appears to be that when there will be a hot competition for victory among the various religions, and they will be in a tumult like the waves of the ocean, then will Almighty God bring into existence a new dispensation which will draw all o.capable hearts to itself.Then will they know what religion them is, and a new life, the soul of true righteousness, will be breathed into and they will be made to drink at the fountain of true knowledge of God.It was necessary that this world should not have come to an end until this prophecy was fulfilled which was announced by the Holy Quran 1300 years ago.The Holy Quran has mentioned many other signs of the last ages when all people would be gathered upon one religion ; for instance, that the rivers would be generally split into canals, that the earth would bring out its hidden treasures of minerals, inventions and sciences, that such means would come into exis- tence (referring to printing presses) as would cause books to be multiplied in large numbers, that a conveyance would be dis- covered which would render the camels useless and facilitate men's going to and fro, that the means of correspondence and of

189 * the mixing together of different people would become easy, and that the sun and the moon would eclipse on specified dates in the month of Raraazan.All these signs of the mercy of God would be followed by another which is indicative of the wrath of heaven i.e> the raging of a destructive plague which would aflecfc every town and village, utterly laying waste some and leaving others in a partially desolate condition.God would then be in great wrath because the signs which He manifested at the hands of His Messenger were belied, and the Apostle whom He had sent was rejected and called an impostor.All the signs enumerated above, which the Holy Quran has described as the signs of the appearance of the Promised one, have been fulfilled in this age.Thus there is a clear path for any one who exercises his judgment and understanding for my acceptance, because all the signs appointed for the appearance of the Promised Messiah have been manifested by God for me.Besides the signs mentioned above, the Holy Quran fixes the time of the appearance of the Promised Messiah in another manner too.In it we are told that one day with God is equivalent to a thousand years as is indicated in the verse : * & ; &&..t*y t ^) ^ 2 o*j U/* &i e_aJ fc Therefore the seven days mentioned in the Holy Quran indicated seven thousand years which represent the present age from Adam to the end spoken of in the holy books of God.I do not mean to say that seven thousand years is the whole time from the beginning to the end of the world, for from the Holy Quran it appears that the world existed before the Adam spoken of in the Holy Book.Of course we cannot say who the people were that lived upon earth then because" we have no details in our hand.But it appears that one cycle of this world lasts for seven thousand years and hence also the

190 <* seven days, each day standing for a thousand years.We cannot say through how many such cycles the world has passed up to this time, and how many Adams have passed away before our own Adam.As God has ever been the creator, therefore 'we believe that His creation must have existed always in some one form or another though it is difficult for us to specify the parti- cular form.Here too the Christian faith has made an error, for the Christians believe that the world was created and heaven and earth made only six thousand years ago, and that before that time the creating power of God had for ever remained unemployed.I do not think any sensible person can subscribe to such a belief which is absurd on the face of it.The Holy Quran on the other hand teaches us doctrines whose truth can never be questioned.In teaches us that God has always been a creator and will for ever be a creator, and if He wills He can destroy heaven and earth and make them anew millions of times.He has told us that from the adam who is our ancestor to the end of this cycle, there is a period of seven thousand years, which are as seven days with God.The Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, appeared in the fifth thousand after Adam or in the fifth day of this cycle.This is indicated in the chapter entitled the' Asr (Afternoon) the letters of which, according to the mode of reckoning numbers from letters, re- present the number of years which had elapsed from Adam to the time of the revelation of that chapter to the Holy Prophet.According to this calculation six thousand years have now elapsed from Adam, and a period of one thousand years more would com- plete this cycle.The Holy Quran as well as tbe previous books give us to understand that the Messenger of God who would appear in the last ages in the likeness of Adam, and would be called tbe Mes-

191 w siah, would be born in the last days of the sixth thousand from Adam, a"s Adam was born at the end of the sixth day.These signs are sufficient to lead a thinking mind to the true conclusion.The seven thousand years of this cycle are further divided accor- ding to the prevalence of good or- evil, every odd thousand being the time of the prevalence of virtue and true guidance, and the even thousand of the supremacy of Satan.Thus in the fifth thousand our Holy Prophet was born for the regeneration of the world and Satan was then put into chains.Then followed the sixth thousand,.from the beginning of the fourth to the fourteenth century after Islam, in which Satan was let loose and evil pre- dominated.And now we are in the seventh thousand which is the time of God and His Messiah and of every goodness and virtue, of the true faith and regeneration of mankind, of righte- ousness and the proclamation of the Unity of God and Divine worship..With the entrance of the world upon the seventh thou- sand, the Millenium, no other Messiah can set his foot upon earth, for his time is now gone.The true Messiah is he who has appeared in time and made known his appearance to the world, * All these prophecies are contained in the Holy Quran, and they were also uttered by the earlier prophets.In fact, no prophecy has been uttered, with such frequency and force as the prophecy relating to the appearance of the Messiah in the last ages and to the evil of the Anti-Christ.: Some men think that the prophecy relating to the appea- rance of the Promised Messiah is contained only in the traditions and not in the Holy Quran, and accordingly they demand a proof of it from the Word of God.A reflection upon the words of the Holy Book is sufficient to convince any reasonable man that this prophecy is contained in the plainest words in the Holy Quran.In the chapter entitled the Tahriin, it is indicated that some

192 individuals from among the Muslims would be called Ibn-i-Mar- yam (the Son of Mary), for in that chapter at first thefaitbful are compared to Mary and afterwards the breathing of a soul into her (i.e., the faithful like her) is mentioned.This indicates that the faithful who observe complete obedience to Divine command^ ments and make themselves like Mary, will be rewarded by God by being made Christ-like.It is in reference to the attainment of this stage that Almighty God says of me in a revelation pub- lished in the Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya: '&*) ) O^ ^j 3 ^ ) V! /1 fiy b " Mary ! Enter thou and thy friends into paradise ;" and again : ftj ^ y* b "0 Mary! I have breathed into thee the soul of truth," (thus symbolically Mary was impregnated with truth) ; and last of all : ^J ) <-& fy 3 ^-&*-^J ) &~*P k "-0 Jesus! I will cause thee to die a natural death and would then raise thee to Myself," where I am addressed as Jesus Christ as if raised from the dignity of Mary to the dignity of Christ Thus the promise contained in the Tahrim has been fulfilled in me, and I am named by God as the son of Mary.Again, in the chapter entitled the Nur (Light), Almighty God says that successors to the Holy Prophet would be raised from among the Muhammadans like to the successors that were raised to Moses as in the verse ^i ^ J ) ^^^ ) ^u^; ^ )^y jV^V^ (^ e/* From the Holy Quran it also appears that the religion of Islam would witness two terrible disasters which would endanger its very life.One of these came upon Islam with the death of the Holy prophet and was averted at the hands of Abu Bakr, the first caliph according to Divine promise.The second disaster according to the Holy Quran would be the evil that would be wrought by the Anti-Christ, to repel which the Promised Mes- siah would appear.It is to this great evil that the concluding words of the Fatiha, which every Muslim must repeat in his

prayers, contain an allusion, and to this time of tribulation that the prophecy contained in the words: \^> ; ) -'L^ ) ^.^ ^ \tfi*$ } U* ) /y^ ->? &* f^ ^ &*** J (J* a ^ cH ) v^.J J (^** [ ^ aK-;; J-jJ "God is He who sent His messenger with the guidance and the true faith so that He may ultimately (i e., m the time of the Promised Mes- siah) make it victorious over all other religions." Again, the verse ^.j& tJ 4J.U ) 5 /^J J UJ.jj ^ U I "Verily We sent down the Holy Quran, and verily We will be its guardians," also refers to the time of the Promised Messiah for as it speaks of the sending down of Revelation which was effected through the Holy Prophet, it also speaks of guarding the revealed word from its enemies when it would be in danger of being brought to extinction, which is the function of the Promised Messiah.Here I have briefly pointed out the verses in which the advent of the Promised Messiah is indicated, either in plain words or by way of allusion, as a detailed proof would not have suited the.limits of a lecture.This is a sufficient proof for any one who seeks an evidence of my claim in the Holy Quran in the same manner in which he seeks an evidence of the claim of the Holy Prophet or Jesus Christ in the previous books.So if these prophecies, are not regarded as sufficient, it must also be admitted that there is no prophecy in the Taurat concerning the appearance of Jesus or our Holy Prophet, for if the words of the former prophecies are

194: not very definite, neither are they so in the case of the latter prophecies.It is exactly here that the Jews stumbled in the recognition of the two prophets, Jesus and Muhamrnad, may peace and the blessings of God be upon them.For; instance, if; it had been stated in plain and clear words in the prophecies foretelling the appearance of our Holy Prophet that be would be born at Mecca, that his name would be Muhammad, that his father and grand-father would be known respectively as Abdulla and Abdul Muttalib, that he would be of the Ishmaelite race, that being persecuted at Mecca he would fly to Medina, and that he would be born so many years after Moses, not a single Jew could have denied him.The difficulties in the case of the pro- phecies relating to the appearance of Jesus Christ, are still greater, and it is on this ground that the Jews to this day con- sider themselves excusable in rejecting Jesus.In these prophe- V cies it is clearly stated that Elijah would re-appear before the advent of the true Messiah and prophecies containing this condition are contained in the revealed books.But since Elijah did not re-appear, therefore the claim of Jesus to Messiabship could not be regarded as true by the Jews.When confronted with this difficulty, Jesus replied that by the appearance of Elijah was meant the appearance of one like him, and not his own appearance.But this explanation was rejected by the Jews as directly opposed to the Word of God which spoke not of the advent of the like of Elijah, but of the advent of Elijah himself.These considerations show clearly that the prophecies relating to the appearance of the prophets of God are always deep so that they may serve to distinguish the righteous from the wicked.This is not, however, all that I can say in support of my claim.A claim based on truth is not attended with only one sort of proof, but like the genuine diamond it shines in full efful- v

195 gence in all its phases.Such is my claim to Promised Messiah- ship.Its truth shines forth from whatever point of view it is considered.My claim to being sent by God and of being the recipient of Divine revelation, dates from a period of over 27 ^\ years; and it was published in my book entitled the Barahin-i~ I Ahmadiyya about twenty-four years ago.Such a long and conti- nuous aeries.; of lies is inconceivable.However great a liar a person may be, he canoot be guilty of concocting a falsehood extending over such a lengthly period of time and effecting the whole world.Moreover Almighty God does not assist an impos- tor.Consider a person who with every new sun concocts anew falsehood and fabricates a new lie, forges words and prophecies and pretends that it is an inspiration which he has received from God, or the Word of God thai has come down to him as a reve- lation from the Almighty, while God knows that he is a great liar and impostor in what he says every day, consider if God would grant assistance to such an accursed being, if he would make him and his followers flourish and increase for long years and frustrate the designs and plans of his enemies to bring him to naught.Yet for 27 years, I have been receiving the assistance of God without any intermission and the number of my followers has constantly increased notwithstanding the hardest opposition.Do not these facts point me out as the true one ? There is another argument which settles.conclusively the truth of xny claim.Twenty-four years previous to this at a time when I was quite unknown to the world and lived in the corner of solitude, Almighty God revealed to me certain prophecies concerning my future life which were at that very time and under those very circumstances published in the Barahin-i- Ah- madiyya which I was then writing.Addressing me Almighty God thus spoke to me : "0 my Ahrnad, thou art according to my //

196 wish and thou art with me.Thy secret is My secret.Thou art to Me as My Unity and Oneness, so the time has come when thou shouldst be assisted and made known among men.Thou hast in my presence a dignity which the world knows not- God will assist thee in all fields- Thou hast dignity in My presence and I have chosen thee for Myself.And I will make many people follow and obey thee and will make thee a guide to them.We will inspire people from heaven that they may assist thee.Assistance will come to thee from deep and distant paths.People will flock to thee from distant corners of the world.It is, there- fore, meet that thou shouldst not turn away from them or get tired of them, because of their vast numbers, but receive them with kindness and courtesy.And pray to God, '0 Lord, do not leave me alone and Thou art the best of inheritors.' God will procure for thee the companions of the mat, and what knowest thou who the companions of the mat are.Thou wilt see tears flowing from their eyes, and they will say, '0 Lord, we have heard the voice of one who invites people to faith in God.' Verily, I will make thee My vicegerent upon earth, and people will say of the contemptuously, ' Whereform and how hast thou got this dignity and high rank?' Say to them, 'My God is a wonderful God and.wonderful are His powers.' He is not questioned of what He doeth; but he will question every one as to what He said.They say, 'This is but a fabrication.' Say, 'It is God who has established this dispensation, then leave them in their vain sports.God is He who "has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth that he may make it victorious over all other religions.They will try to extinguish the light which God has kindled, but God will make that light perfect and kindle it in hearts that are ready to receive it, though the unbelievers may not like it.God will protect thee against their mischiefs, though

197 people may not be able fco save thee.Thou art before My eyes; I have Darned fchee Mutavakkil (bruster in God).Arid God will nob leave thee until He has severed the virtuous from the wicked.Two sheep will be slaughtered, and every one who is upon earth, must taste of death.There may be a thing to which you may be averse, but haply it may be good for you ; and there may be a thing which you deem good but haply its attainment may be injurious to you.God knows what is good for you arid what injurious, but you do not know." It will be seen that the revelations given above contain four grand prophecies.Firstly, at a time when I was alone and com- panionless about 24 years since, God gave me the glad tidings that I would not be left alone but would have numerous followers and that people will come to me from distant places and remote corners in such numbers that they should tire me- Secondly, that I would receive great assistance from these people.What I was when these prophecies were published, and what I am now when about a quarter of century has elapsed since their publi- cation, is known to the whole world.Alone I lived in the corner of solitude then in a small village, but now I have more than 200,000 followers.The third prophecy mentioned in the same connection is that people would do their utmost to bring this dispensation to naught and to extinguish this light, but all their efforts would be fruitless and all their designs would be frustrated.These three prophecies are shinning like the meridian sun.ISlo sensible person would hold that these wonderful disclosures of the deep secrets of the future, upon which no guess or surmise could shed the faintest light, could be announced beforehand except by a revelation from Almighty God, the knower of all secrets.There was no circumstance which could make the most intelligent person guess that the helpless and solitary man who

198 had never stepped out from the corner of solitude* would one day become the leader and guide of hundreds of thousands of men.If it is within the power of man to reveal such secrets, let another such instance be cited.The grandeur of these prophecies is made more manifest and the heart of man bows with true sub- mission before the mighty knowledge of God when the third pro- phecy foretelling the attempts of the people to thwart the fulfil- ment of these prophecies, and God's promise to bring about their fulfilment in spite of every opposition, is borne in mind.Can a mere mortal thus challenge the world? No, he cannot even say that he would live for such a time.The fourth prophecy which particularly deserves the reader's attention is that relating to the slaughter of two sheep which was fulfilled by the martyrdom of two of my disciples in Afghanistan, viz., Sheikh Abdul Eahman and Sahibzada Maulvi Abdul Latif at the hands of Amir Abdul Rahman and Amir Habibullah respectively.Besides these, there are hundreds of other prophecies which were fulfilled in their time.On one occasion, I informed Maulvi Hakim Nurud-din that a son would be born -to him who would have sores upon his body, and the prophecy was published in a book.Some time afterwards the promised son was born and he had the sores on his body as described in the prophecy.The Maulvi Sahib is present in this gathering, and every one can question him as to the truth of this statement.On another occasion, Abdul Rahirii Khan, one of the sons of Sardar Muhammad Ali Khan, Eais of Malerkotla, was attacked with a serious disease and all hope of his life was lost.When I prayed for him to God it was revealed to me that the boy would recover on my intercession.So like a kind and affectionate sympathiser, I prayed for him and the disease was gone- AbdullaKhan, the second son of the same gentleman, also fell ill and the attack

199 was So serious that death seemed to be certain.I prayed for him and was informed of his recovery by God and he accordingly re- covered.There are numerous other signs and if I were to relate them all, this lecture would hot be finished even in ten days.Hundreds of thousands 6f men bear testimony to the truth of these signs because they were shown before their eyes.One hundred and fifty of these I have collected in a book called the " Nazool-ul-Masih " which will be published shortly.These signs are of various sorts.Some of them were manifested upon heaven others upon earth ; some related to my friends, while others were in connection with my enemies; some effected myself and my children and otfrers have been manifested by God through my enemies without any intervention on my part.To the last class belongs a sigh which was manifested through Maul vi Ghularn Dastgir of Qasur, who pubished in his book Fatah Rahman o? his own accord a prayer against me to the effect that of us two \, God might destroy the liar first.A few days has passed when the Maulvi died and -thus bore a testimony to my truth.Be- \ sides this, there are thousands of men who were informed of mjf truth through visions and who have thus accepted ihe.Thete are! other considerations of importance in determining the truth of a claim lo prophethood.Whether the claimant has appeared in time of need, i.e., at a time when the need of a guide was felt by the world, whether he has come exactly at the prophesied hour, whether he receives assistance from God, whether he has fully refuted the objections brought forward by his opponents against his claim, are points which go a long way to prove the truth or falsehood of his claim.If all these ques- tions are satisfactorily answered, they would be an evidence of his truth.Now ib is clear that the at present -moment, the need of a guide and Reformer is very strongly felt by the whole world.

200 Islam needs the soothing hand of a Reformer who should bring about union and agreement among the contending sects and the strong hand of one who should defend it against hostile attacks, ^ while the world generally needs a spiritual guide who should restore to it the spirituality which it has lost, and re-establish the certainty which has vanished away from its face, and thus strengthening faith release people from the bondage of sin and turn them to paths of virtue and righteousness.These are facts which no one can deny unless he is blinded by prejudice, and therefore I clearly fulfil the first of the conditions enumerated above, viz., the condition of corning in time of need.In the second place, it requires to be seen whether I have come at the prophesied hour.In point of time the clearest prophecy is that relating to the appearance of the Promised Messiah at the end of , the sixth and the commencement of the seventh thousand from ' Adarn.Computing by the lunar year, the seventh thousand has begun and by the solar year the sixth is corning to a close.Be- sides this the Holy Prophet had said, as reported in an authentic tradition, that among the Muslims a Reformer would appear at the commencement of every century to give fresh life to the holy V religion of Islam.But more than a fifth of the fourteenth century has passed away, and no other Reformer can be pointed out who has claimed an authority under the tradition referred to above.Thirdly, it is to be seen whether God has assisted the claimant or not.This condition is eminently fulfilled in me, for opponents stood up against me from among every community and left no stone unturned to bring me to naught and made all sorts of plots / against me, but all their designs and plans were hopelessly shat- w tered by Almighty God.There is no community which can say that it did not exert itself to destroy me.But against their wishes Almighty God gave me honor and made thousands of men

,201 my followers.What is it if nob heavenly assistance, for upon i earth no eibrts were spared to bJot.me put- The stronger the opposition grew, the more (I was made to flourish, untiLmy follow- ing now.exceeds two hundred thousand.Had not a hidden hand been in my support, and had my mission been based on human machinations, I would have bee>n long before shot iby one of t,he arrows of which I was made-an aim, ^and being utterly destroyed no trace , of mine would have been.left to-day.iFor there is no ;doubtr that an impostor does not prosper, but meets with destruc- tion in one way or another, because God Himself is his enemy.But Almighty God guarded ;me from.every evil that was designed against me in accordance -with His promise which He had irnada t-wenty-four years' before.What a 'wonderful assistance from the Almighty that He first informed me in > my loneliness :and solitude that He would assist me and bring thousands, of men to me and disappoint -my enemies in their evil designs against me,-andthen brought all this to fulfilment as He had foretold.How manifest is His assistance and how clear this sign ! Can it be within the power of man or devil.that ha should when quite helpless foretell his mighty success in the future, and this should be fulfilled not- withstanding the efforts of numerous enemies who rise against V him for his destruction.The fourth condition, 'viz: t that the ob- jections of the opponents should be fully refuted, has also been fulfilled by me.The greatest objection that.has been put forward against.my claim is that Jesus is alive and that he himself must \ come back into the world in fulfilment of :the prophecy relating to the advent of the Promised Messiah in the last ages.It has been shown by rue in refutation of this objection that Jesus is , dead and he cannot come back.For the Muslims, the authority \ of the Holy Quran is conclusive which says ; u>3 ) *&& ^Vy ^ ) The occasion of this verse in the Holy Quran is that

202 on the day of judgment, God would question Jesus if he had said to his people that they should take him and his mother for Gods and worship them.In answer to this, Jesus would say that he had said to them only what God had commanded him to say, viz*, that they should worship God alone and consider him as His apostle only, and that he knew what they did so long as he was among them, " but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou didst witness their doings and I was quite ignorant of what happened after me-" The reply of Jesus here is that his followers did not set up to the false belief of his divinity until after his death.If, therefore, it is held by a Muslim that Jesus is still alive, he shall also have to admit that the Christian doctrine is true.Moreover here Jesus displays an ignorance of the condition of his followers after his death, a fact which is inconsistent with the theory of his re-advent, because in the latter case he could not remain ignorant of the doctrines invented by the Christians after his death.The belief that Jesus would come back in to the world, and joining with the Madhi, slay the infidels, falsifies the Quranic verse quoted above, and must, therefore be rejected.Nor can it be held that Jesus would conceal before God the fact that he had gone into the world, lived there far forty years and slain the Christians, for that is far from the dignity of a prophet, and besides nothing would remain concealed on the day of judg- ment.If any one has true faith in the Holy Quran, he can see that the whole plot of Mahdi's murderous deeds and Jesus' decent from heaven to assist him in that bloody task, is brought to naught by a single verse.When the opponents are vanquished in every point, as a last resource they bring forward the slender objection, that one or two out of thousands of my phrophecies have not been fulfilled, while as a matter of fact this is untrue.Besides this, it will be

203 seen that the prophecies so objected to related to the punishment of certain individuals arid the Divine law is, as appears from the Holy Books of God, that a prophecy relating to punishment is always conditional, whether the condition be or be not expres- sed in it, and the punishment can be averted upon repentance or deeds of charity or upon manifesting a fear of God.The prophecy of the prophet Joaah is an example of this.There was no express condition in that prophecy, but still the punishment was averted on the people's repentance.If, therefore, the law established above were not true, the prophethood of Jonah would be seriously in question.It cannoc be questioned that God's in tention to punish a people is suspended or averted on their repen- tance, and what is prophecy but a manifestation of that intention through a prophet.If such intention can be suspended or aver- ted when it is not disclosed to any person, there can be no objec- tion to its being suspended or averted when it has been revealed through a prophet.Now the essence of the prophecy relating to the death of Atharn which is objected to in my case, was that of the two, Atharn and myself, the party in error would be brought to destruction before the eyes of the other.The truth of this pro- phecy has been sealed by the death of At ham, and it is quite un- reasonable to object to it on the ground that he did not die within the stated time, for the limit of time had with it a condition in express words.Atham showed fearfulness and was granted a res- pite according to the express condition of the prophecy, but when he concealed the truth, he was soon seized by God and died in occordance with the piophecy.Even if the condition had not been expressly stated, he could have taken the benefit of.it ac- cording to the Divine law with regard to the prophecies of punishment).Besides this, all the details are not always contained in prophecies, and such details are only manifested after their

204 fulfilment.Ifc also happens that an error occurs sometimes in the interpretation of a prophecy, for after -all prophets.;are mortals.For instance, Jesus had prophesied that..his twelve apostles would sit on twelve thrones, whereas one of them.became the devil's in his lifetime.He bad also prophesied that the men of.his time would.be still living when he would come-back.This also remain- ed unfulfilled on account of error in the interpretation of the words of revelation.Some other prophecies of Jesus too met a similar fate.As to my prophecies, there are thousands of them that have been fulfilled in all their details and to ignore all of these, while selecting one or two for objection, is nothing but intentionally rejecting the truth.I fully hope and am certain that df any ione were to live in my company for forty days consecutively, he would witness a heavenly sign.Here I finish this lecture and think t'hat wtaat I have said is sufficient for a seeker after truth.And peace be upon hirn who follows truth and guidance.* * * * An Extract from the Promised Messiah's Lecture delivered at SiaJkot on the 1st November 1904.There are ignorant men who because of their.determination to reject the truth, do not in any way benefit themselves by the proved signs manifested from heaven, and finding faults with what has been shown manage to avoid the truth.They level their objections at one prophecy or two, never mentioning the thousands which have been so clearly fulfilled as to defy every objection.What a pity, that they lie so boldly as if they had no fear of God, and calumniate so grossly as if theyidid not care for the retribution of the next world.I do not mean to dwell here upon their calumnies for that is useless.Had they possessed any piety or entertained any fear of God, they would not have been so bold and so hasty in rejecting and belying the signs of

205- God.Had they been really unable to comprehend any sign, they should have sought its explanation from me.Is it true piety that they do not so much as mention thousands of the signs against which they cannot.bring forward any objection and whenever they have to speak of signs refer only to the one or two which their warped understanding is unable to comprehend.Had they had any fear of God, they would havebenefitted by the prophecies which have been fulfilled, and of which the clearest proof exists.Every plain miracle is treated as in different 137 as if it had not existed at all, and where there is a subtle question an objection is brought forward.Now this is a process which, if adopted, would bring to naught the prophethood of every pro- phet, and those who reject rne because they can object to one or two of my prophecies, will have to reject by and by every prophet of God, on the same line of reasoning.For instance, Jesus was a prophet of God and as such he must, no doubt have shown certain miracles.But if his signs were to be judged by the test which is applied in my case, the whole body of his miracles would have to be rejected in the same way as mine are rejected.For, an opponent with this bent of rnind, can say that some of his prophecies were not fulfilled.This is what the Jews say to this day, viz., that all his prophecies turned out to be false.And he can easily argue that Jesus had prophesied that is twelve apostles would sit on twelve thrones, but one of them apostatised even during the life-time of Jesus, and thus the prophecy remained unfulfilled.He had also said, it may be further asserted by an opponent, that he would come back before the generation then living passed away, but generation after generation has slept in graves for nineteen centuries and still he has not returned.According to his opponents, his prophecy that he was the king of the Jews also turned out to be false.And any one who chooses

this procedure, may multiply the list of objections to any extent that he likes.ID like manner, the whole mass of the prophecies of our Holy Prophet is denied by men of this type, because of certain objections to one or two of them.If the procedure adopted by -my opponents is right, then nothing will be left in their hands, and they will have to reject in the same breath the prophecies of every other prophet of God.There is no doubt that if they continue to walk in this line, they shall have to bid farewell to Islam itself.In the interpretation of the words of prophecy, the opinion of the prophesier is some- times mistaken.But an error of opinion does not in anyway vitiate the prophecy itself.This was what happened in the journey of the Holy Prophet during which a truce was made at Hudaibiyya.Anticipating the time of the promised victory he undertook a journey to Mecca.But let me say again that such an error in opinion does not detract from the glory, honor and excellence of the Holy Prophet.Perhaps it might be said that the liableness of a prophet's opinion to error, destroys our confi- dence in his infallibility.The reply to this Objection is that such error is a very rare occurrence and that infallibility is the rule.It sometimes happens that revelation comes like a single / piece of news, and being concise it does not explain itself.It then requires to be explained, and such explanation, it is easy to see, would be a matter of opinion.Now opinion is liable to r error, though in the case of the prophets of God, this happens \ very rarely.Such an error does not lessen the effect of the clear and perspicuous signs which are more numerous.I do not there- i fore, deny that like all true prophets, I may err in interpreting ! the word of prophecy when there is any obscurity about it, but then there are thousands of my prophecies which are fulfilled in the clearest manner and which defy all scepticism.So no defect

207 can be pointed out which can disprove my claim to the office of a * Prophet.It should, moreover, he borne in mind that in prophe- cies containing a threatening of punishment, it is not obligatory upon God to carry out His threat.It k admitted on all hands v that repentance and prayer avert the punishment.Had such not been the case, prayers and the deeds of charity which are generally resorted to by men at the time of Divine visitations, wouid have been perfectly useless.The well-known prophecy of Jonah also supports this position..Now I close this lecture, and thank God that He has enabled me to finish it in spite of my weakness and illness, and I pray that by these words, He may lead many a man out of darkness and error, ! and guide him into light and truth I pray also that as He has brought about this gathering of various people, He may also ordain that accepting the true guidance they may all love each other and be united by ties of affection.May He cause the wind of guidance to blow in all quarters ! May He cause heavenly light to descend from above, for without the light of heaven, the eye cannot see! May He create the air of guidance from the unseen, for without air, the ear cannot hear! Who can come to us, but he whom God Himself may draw? But He is drawing many men, and there are many more still whom He will draw.He will unlock many a heart and open it for the reception of truth.The death of Jesus is the door to my claim.\j It is the foundation and my claim is the superstructure.Almighty God has Himself fortified this basis, and the Holy Prophet protects it against every attack.Almighty God has testified to it by His | Word and the Holy Prophet by his deed.God has told us in the Holy Quran that Jesus died, and the Holy Prophet saw in his famous vision of night-journey that Jesus was included among the prophets who had died.But there are men he do

208 not cafe for all these testimonies, because they strike at the ! root of their cherished opinions.They give Jesus a peculiarity.which is not given to any other prophet of God.These are matters which the Christians count upon as supporting the r Divinity of Jesus, and many ignorant men stumble because of \ / such beliefs.I bear witness that Almighty God has informed me that Jesus is dead.His life involves the destructions of the j faith of Islam, and to undertake to prove the exploded theory of his ascent to heaven is a puerile task.The very first fact agreed upon by all the companions of the Holy Prophet, and thus the first point of agreement in Islam, was that all the prophets were dead and that none was an exception to this rule, as is clearly : stated in the verse : J^ f ) *A*S ^ ^IL & Jy ; $ ) i>*sw> u? j ( ll*r c < )^*^ J I) "Muhammad is no more than an apostle, all the other apostles have passed away before him." (III.143).May God bestow ample reward upon Abu Bakr who was the first to assert that all prophets had died, and who going up into the pulpit at once proclaimed this verse of the Holy Quran.In conclusion, I sincerely thank the Government which has with kindness and liberal-mindedness granted us religious liberty.It is this liberty which enables us to preach the truth and to convey important religious knowledge to others.It is one of the greatest blessings of this Government for which it.deserves our deepest and sincerest thanks.I would not exchange this liberty for a jagir of millions of rupees, for the wealth of this world is transient and is a thing which must pass away, but the wealth of liberty does not pass away.I enjoin all my followers to be sincerely thankful to this Government, for he who does nob thank a man for his gifts, cannot be thankful to God.The virtuous man as he thanks God, thanks also the man through whom he has received any blessing from God.And peace be upon those who follow true guidance.(Vol.Ill R.R.1904).

209 The Bubonic Plague." Praise be to God and peace be witb His chosen ones ! My beloved countrymen ! May God show His mercy to you here and hereafter.You know that the plague has got a footing in your country and pitched its tents in the very hearts of your cities* Its onslaughts have drawn tears from your eyes and rent your heart-strings* Many among you have had to mourn for the loss of some dear friend, parent, child, kinsman or neighbour who has fallen a victim to its virulent attacks.Know it for certain that in sending this affliction upon you the Wise and Gracious God has tried you and visited you in wrath and venge- ance.The visitations of the Providence are due to four causes, and this is an unchangeable law which we witness in the workings of God as far back as the history of man can be traced.Firstly, the judgment of God overtakes men when they do not walk in the paths of Divine pleasure, transgress the limits of purity and virtue, violate the laws of sanctity, lead their lives in vanity and self-conceitedness being bent solely upon the mean cares of this world without any solicitude for the next, unscru- pulously indulge in wickedness and iniquity, transgress the commandments of God and trample them under their feet, commit enormities before His face, and offend Him by open revolt and shameless villainy.Secondly, the just retribution of God is dealt out to people who are disobedient to Rulers appointed over them by Divine expedience for their material and religious welfare and the guarding of their lives and properties, run riot and set authority at naught, shake off the yoke of obedience, do not assist them in lawful and proper measures, look upon them with distrust, frustrate their plans by opposition and antagonisn, disobey and defy their orders like disloyal and faithless, subjects, cut off the

210 connections which God has established, and reject that which Almighty God has brought about by His consummate wisdom.Thirdly, the wrath of God descends upon the people who reject the Divine Messenger who is raised in the beginning of the century with clear and conclusive arguments in support of his claim, deny his signs on account of their own meanness and narrow-mindedness, injure him, persecute him, abuse him declare him an heretic, mischievously plan his death and falsely and unjustly drag him into law courts.The fourth iniquity which moves the Almighty to send a general calamity upon a people is the^ total absence of sympa- thetic and merciful feelings from among them which leaves them like beasts preying upon each other and recognising no social distinctions, It should be clearly borne in mind that these are the four causes which bring about devastating plagues, and we pray God that out of His infinite mercy and grace He may protect us and our friends from this devouring evil But the wise and far- seeing only can understand them.Fear God, therefore, and do not approach the evils, which bring havoc and destruction, that you may be saved.I declared it ere now but you would not listen to my words, I pointed out the path of safety but you would not walk in it, and I showed you the way but you would not see.It has occured to me therefore, that I should once more exhort you so that I should not be blamed for neglecting the performance of the duties entrusted to me..." " Whoever does not take rny words lightly but listens to them as serious advice, shall meet with certain success Corne to the Judge, therefore, and repent of your past deeds.Believe what I say to you to be a benefit for yourself; in it lies my happiness and yours.Whoever accepts this advice shall see better days.

211 The Lord shall deliver him from all afflictions and save him out of all his troubles and mend his broken heart.I am certain and my judgment assures me that all these afflictions are due to the sinfulness and transgressions of men, and God has justly sent them upon this generation, as He sent upon those of the past times.Walk in the paths of Divne pleasure and depart from all manner of evil and wickedness, and then shall you be saved from an ignominious death.I fear lest the plague should enter every city and every inhabited corner of the country and swallow up every soul, consume every pasture and dry every spring of water.Do deeds of righteousness and.charity and give alms to the poor, and you shall surely be saved from destruction.Throw away the garments of pride and luxury and arise from the drowsiness of sleepers.Say your prayers in company with those who stand and bow in reverence to God.Seek deliverance from the affliction, with perseverance, prayer and charity and God will forgive your iniquities and deliver you from every affliction.Then being freed from every error you shall see the mercy of God.I have spoken to you as the inspired ones of God did speak and ere long you shall know the truth of my words." (Vol.I.R.R.1902.) Plague Inoculation and the Followers of the Promised Messiah.By no means can aught befall us but what God hath ordain- ed for us.He is our patron and protector: in God alone it behoves the faithful to trust.Out of sympathy for its suffering subjects, the Government has kindly undertaken at the expense of about a million of rupees to place the benefit of plague inoculation within the reach of the general public as a safeguard against the anticipated outbreak of the plauge.To tell the truth, it is one of those benevolent

212 measures of the Government which it is the duty of all sensible sub- jects to welcome with expressions of greatfulness, and upon which none but the fools and the enemies of their own souls would look with distrust or suspicion, for it has often been proved that this cautious Government never asks its subjects to try any dangerous remedy, and does not offer one to be taken recourse to by the people unless it has assured itself of its usefulness and harmlessness after repeated trials.To impute a selfish motive to the underta- kers of a benevolent measure which requires an enormous outlay of money, is most uncharitable.There is not the least doubt that ino- culation is the best and most efficacious preventive against plague that the Government has yet discovered.Korean it be denied that it has actually proved useful when restored to.It is, therefore, the duty of all loyal subjects to relieve the Government of the great anxiety it has for their lives by acting in accordance with its de- sires and getting themselves inoculated so as long there is no obstacle.As for me, I most respectfully beg to inform the Govern- ment that I would have been the first man to avail myself of ^*^**"-" - __^_ , |.its.generous offer, had not an ordinance of Heaven kept me back, j Almighty God has willed to show to this generation a sign of 1 mercy from heaven.The Lord of the earth and heavens, whose i \ knowledge and power extend over every thing, spoke to me long I ago, saying : I shall protect thee from the plague and also deliver all those from this accursed death who live within the four walls of thy dwelling and those ivho follow thee, provided that they purge their hearts of all inimical intentions, and with heartfelt sincerity and humble submission swear repentance on thy hands, and rebel not against the commandments of God and His Messenger nor show any vanity, haughtiness, remissness, arrogance, or self -approbation, and conform their conduct to fhy teaching.

213 But for those who do not follow tkee -faithfully, be thou not grieved, for such is the decree of heaven.Again His word came to rue saying: Out of regard for thy residence therein, I shall save the residents of Qadian in general from destructive plague and protect it from such a severe outbreak of it as might cause a panic or depopulate the town.It is the ordinance of Heaven which renders inoculation needless for me and for all those who dwell within my house or follow rue.For Almighty God has said it that people of my sect, whatever their number, shall be comparatively safe from the attacks of the plague.Only such of them may be overtaken by it as are either not true to their pledge or about whom there is some other reason known to God only.But ultimately people will see with wonder and acknowledge that compared with my opponents, my followers have enjoyed with God's assistance a far greater security from the plague, and that a special provi- dence of God has watched over them, to which there has been be no parallel among any other people.At this some will laugh and call me mad, and others will be startled and surprised to hear that there is a God who can bring down His mercy upon His faithful servants without the intervention of physical causes.To set this scepticism at rest, I declare that without doubt their exists such an Almighty God.If God had n9t such power, His seekers would have had to quaff the bitter cup.Wonderful is the might of the Lord and wondrous are His ways.On the one hand, He turns the wicked ones against the righteous and sets them over His favorite ones like dogs, atid on the other, He gives His angels charge over them and makes them triumph over their enemies.In like manner, when His fierce wrath encompasses the world to consume the unrighteous and His anger is kindled against the workers of im'quily, His eye protects

214 His chosen ones.Had Almighty God not thus extended His mercy to them, the righteous would have been confounded with the unrighteous, and no one could have known them from the wicked.Great are the works of the Lord and infinite is His power, but they are displayed to men only according to the measure of their faith.The extraordinary manifestations of His power take place only for the sake of those who show an extraor- dinary love and faithfulness in His way, and sever all low con- nections and suppress all desires of the flesh for His sake.He does whatever He wills, but His wonders and marvellous works are displayed only when a man shows a wonderful and marvellous transformation in his connections with him.In this age, there are very few who know God or believe in His wonderful works, but many who have no faith at all in the Almighty Being whose I voice is heard by all things and with whom nothing is impossible.) It should be borne in mind that I do not declare it to be ,| ! generally illegal to have recourse to medicines or preventive mea- ~i ' I sures in the case of plague or other diseases, for the Holy Prophet ; is reported to have said that there is'no malady for which God has not created a remedy.But I consider it sinful to obscure by inoculation the heavenly sign which God has been gracious enough to display for rne and my followers and by which He in- tends to show His distinctive favour to those who accept me in sincerity and faithfulness.I cannot, therefore, insult and dis- credit this sign of mercy by submitting to inoculation, and be guilty of unbelief in the promise of God.If I get inoculated like others, I shall have to tender my greatful thanks to the physician who invented the cure and not to God who gave me the promise that He shall protect all those who live within the four walls of my house.I declare it as an eyewitness that the promises of God are true, and I see the impending danger as if it had already

215 corner I know that the real object of Government is no other than to save people from the plague and if it ever happens to find out a better remedy than inoculation for the plague, it will receive it with joy.Considering this, it is plain that the method which God has revealed to me does in no way conflict with the aims of Government.Twenty years ago a prophecy about the appearance of a terrible epidemic and the protection therefrom, and an increase by that means, of rtiy followers, was published by me in my work the Barahin-i-Ahmzdiyya, pages 518-9.Since then the Word of God has emphatically asserted the same pro- mise repeatedly.Bare occurances of plague amongst those who class them- selves as my followers, cannot lessen the value of this sign.For, it is not to bar death that the sign has been manifested by God.Amongst the numerous causes of death, plague is one.It is not to be feared so long as it does not cause a high rate of mortality.If any one falls vicfcim to it from weakness of faith, or some blemish in his conduct or the inevitable decree of heaven, or some other reason known to God only, or if sundry cases of plague which do not cause panic or'a vast destruction, occur in Qadian, the sign shall not thereby lose its value.In comparing results on a large scale, rare occurrences cannot be taken into account.In saying this, I adhere to the words of the prophecy.Inocula- tion itself is esteemed an inestimable boon for the comparative safety it affords and the Government has seen that it is not an irresistable bar against the attacks of plague.But the public as well as Government shall esteem the Word of God revealed to me when they shall see at last that comparatively rny followers have enjoyed a far greater security from plague than those who restored to inoculation Those who are endowed with wisdom, do not laugh at heavenly signs when they are foretold but wait

216 patiently for the consequences.What I have said is the sure Word of God, not the vague talk of an astrologer; it proceeds from the brightness of heavenly light, not from the darkness of conjecture.If subsequent facts do not fulfil my prophecy, I shall willingly submit myself to the condemnation of not being from God.It should further be remembered that the outbreak of the plague in the time of the Promised Messiah is foretold in the Holy Quran as well as in several books of the Bible as for ins- tance in Zach.14: 12, Matt.24: 7 (where Jesus makes the plague a sign of his appearance) and Eev.21 : 8.It is impossible that all these prophecies should have been made in vain.The appearance of the plague and the protection from it of those who follow me, being signs of God it behoves us not resort to material resources, so that the sign which Almighty God has promised to show, may not be attributed to such resources.Bub if God by means of revelation discloses a remedy or any mode of safety, the dignity of the sign will not therby be lowered because both the remedy and the sign emanate from the same supreme source- The occasional occurrence of cases of plague among my people without causing any considerable loss can not lessen the value of the heavenly signs, for we witness in the history of early prophets that it was only their ultimate success that served as a heavenly sign, although in the meantime they occasionally suffered loss, which being insignificant could not seriously mar their progress.I emphatically assert that the prophecy shall be fulfilled in a manner which shall not leave any doubt in the mind of any seeker after truth as to its fulfilment, and he shall clearly see that Almighty God has granted a miraculous pro- tection to my followers from among all the people.To make

217 the matter still more plain, there will ba an extra-ordinary in- crease in the number of my followers owing to the plague, this clearly establishing that it is a sign from heaven in rny support.People should not wonder at the disclosure of this secret of the future.Almighty God has more then ten thousand times revealed to rne such secrets and about 150 of these have been collected in a book shorily to be published.There is not a single one of my prophecies which has not already been fulfilled either wholly or in part.Their fulfilment has been as 'clear as daylight and there are thousands of witnesses for them- They have not a single parallel in history except in the life of our Holy Prophet, People shall soon see how the face of Almighty God is revealed and how He comes near, as if He had come down from heaven.He kept Himself hidden from the world for a long time.He was denied but He has been still and has refrained Himself.But now He shall no more hide His face and this generation shall see His wondrous deeds which their forefathers had never seen.All this shall be because the earth is filled with iniquity and people have no faith in the Maker of earth and heavens.On their lips are professions of faith but their hearts are utter strangers to it.Therefore God Almighty has wished to create a new earth and a new heaven.What is that new earth and what is that new heaven? By the new earth are meant the regenerate hearts which have been purified by God's own hand, which have been manifested by God and which shall manifest God's glory.By the new heaven are meant the signs which God is showing to the world through His servant.But alas ! the world only oppose this new mani- festation of God's glory.They have nothing but tales to rely upon ; the God that they worship is an image of their own desires and passions; their hearts have lost all zeal for truth,

218 their ardour has cooled, and over fcheir eyes are coverings.Ifc would have been center if these people had not fallen into temptation, for no one can withstand the will of G-od and the word is gone out of His mouth that He shall save those who follow me.This I declare before the whole world, and request the leaders of other religious sects that if they enjoy any favor in the sight of God, they should also announce similar protection for their followers and publish the fact beforehand so that seekers after truth might be able to judge afterwards of the merits of each religion.Tne Christian Missionaries should particularly take advantage of this occasion.They assert that there is no deliverance but through Jesus.Let them, therefore, deliver the Christians from this terrible calamity.Of all these sects only that one can claim the truth which now proves itself to be most acceptable in the sight of G-od.Every one can now give proof of the favor he enjoys with the Almighty Being, without entering into a controversy.Tne method proposed will not only decide the truth of a religion, but also save its adherents from the plague.If the Christian Missionaries sincerely look upon the son of Mary as their deliverer here and hereafter, they should be foremost in declaring the efficacy of a belief in tnat Redeemer as a safer protector from plague.In this manner Government will be relieved of a great burden, for every religious leader shall undertake to procure protection for his own people from the God which he believes in or from anything else, which he regards as his Deity, and intercede with him to save his suffering worshippers.This method is calculated to do immense good to mankind, to furnish the proof of the truth of a religion and to assist the Government in its care for its subjects.I must also add that those of rny followers for whom the Government has rendered it compulsory to get inoculated, should obey the

219 orders of the Government.Of the rest, those who cannot act upon my teachings as given below, (see page 82 of this book) should also avail themselves of the benefit of inoculation, lest the Lord should deal with them after their iniquity, and thus they become stumbling blocks in the way of others by obscuring the heavenly sign.(Vol.I.R.E.1902).Immediate Precaution in case of outbreak of Plague, "The Government of India consider the evacuation of infected house as the best plan to minimise chances of infection *.from the plague, and the correspondence which has just been published on this subject directs that as sooa as the plague makes it appearance in a village or in any mohala, of a town the residents of the infected quarter should take the earliest opportunity to evacuate their houses and should live in sheds in the open at sufficient distance from the infected place.lam fully confident that this plan is a most efficient one as a remedy against the plague.Oar Holy Prophet, upon whom be peace and the blessings of God- also directed that when the plague made its appearance in any town the people living at the infected place should be immediately evacuate it and that otherwise they would be fighting with God.To fly from the place which is under the wrath of God is an act of wisdom.In the Islamic history an incident is related with regard to the second Caliph Omar, which also shows that a place visited with the plague should be avoided- It is stated that when Omar undertook a journey to Syria after the conquest of that country, it was brought to his knowledge on the way to it that the.plague raged there- On hearing this he at once made up his mind to go back and not to advance any further.Some people remonstrated with him on his postponing his journey saying that it was not proper to fly from the decree of God- But Omar said that he

220 was only flying from one decree of God to another decree and they were satisfied.In fact it is the duty of man not to choose the path which is sure to lead him to destruction.Bear in mind that whatever the Government is doing for the suppression of the plague, it is doing for the welfare of its subjects.It has spent hundreds of thousands of rupees for the safety of the lives of those who live under it.None is more foolish than the person who looks with distrust upon the Government measures.My followers! be foremost in showing an example of true obedi- ence, for in it lies your welfare.Your number is now close upon four hundred thousand and your example will serve to save many a life.I enjoin upon you that if the plague makes it appearance in any town in which you live, you should be the first to leave the infected locality " But remember that I do not think this to be sufficient that you should leave infected localities.Nay, I inform you, servants of God, that the plague has not of itself appeared in this country, but it has come by the will and order of God whose order every particle of this universe obeys I have been informed that Almighty God is offended with those on earth because of the multiplicity of their sins.Repent therefore and seek the forgiveness of your Lord.Mind that as you leave the place which is infected with the plague, banish also all ideas from your heart which are infected with evil and sinfulness.Ye that follow me! I shall not live for ever among you; remember my words that nothing occurs on earth uuelss the same is decreed upon heaven, Fear therefore the God who is the God of earth and heavens, and let there be a transformation in your lives so that you may be saved from the punishment which is overtaking others." Remember also that it will be wickedness and mischief if

221 you look with suspicion upon the measures or.disobey the orders of the Government under which you are living peacefully and whose favours you have witnessed many a time.It is your own misfortune if you turn away from its orders which are meant for your own welfare.I do not say aught to you but what is for your own good) and I do not stand in need of flattering the Government, for there is only one Lord who is my refuge and whose protection I seek.He is the King of the earth and the heavens and I trust that till I die, I shall not stand in need of anybody else.But I cannot conceal that this Government is a great benefactor of ours and except that we can pass our lives with peace and security under this Government, there is not so much as a span of earth where we should lead our lives in safety.If therefore we are not thankful to this Government which Almighty God has chosen for our comfort and safety we shall be unthankful to God.If I arn not right in saying this, name the Government which will afford you a shelter in case you leave the shelter of this Government.You have heard that the Maulvies who are opposed to you and who are followed by millions of people in this and other countries have published in pamphlets, notices and newspapers judgments declaring that you are here- tics and that your murder is a deed of merit.Similar judg- ments have more recently been published in the Civil and Mili- tary Gazette by Syed Muhammad of Peshawar and Maulvi Muhammad Husain of Batala who gives himself out to be the advocate of the Ahl-i-Haddes sect.Where then is peace for you except under this Government? Certainly you cannot find it under any Muslim Rule.Be faithful to this Government-with a true and sincere heart and let there be no desire of reward on your pare for what you have done, for their is sufficient reward for any service tbat you may render in that Almighty God has

222 appointed this Government to protect your lives and properties." I may add that the Government intends to afford every facility to those who are ready to act upon the measures sugges- ted by it, and it is hoped that in such parts of the country as the Frontier Provinces where the lives of those who go out into fields will be in danger, a danger which is doubled in the case of the Ahrnadis on account of the fatwas of heresy and murder aganist them, the Government will if approached properly make sufficient arrangements for safety of lives in addition to the arrangements for safety of property which it intends to make elsewhere."Some people object saying why they are required to leave their houses and to leave in temporary sheds in the fields.This is a foolish complaint.I know it for certain that even if the Government did not interfere in the case of such terrible disease, those concerned would ultimately be obliged to resort to those very measures which the Government has undertaken for theic wel- fare.For instance, when plague deaths begin to occur in a house, the residents of the house will, when they have seen two or three of them dying, begin to feel anxious for desertion of the house.But if after leaving it they only take their abode in a different quarter of the same town, the result will be that infection will be carried to that quarter.Then they will, no doubt, think of leaving that town for some other place but this even the Islamic law forbids, for it does not allow that when plague rages in a town, the inhabitants of that place should go to some other town.In other words, even the Divine law forbids leaving an infected city to take abode in an uninfected one.What other plan there is, I ask, which under the circumstances we can adopt at such a dangerous time if we are free to adopt it.It is a pity that evil is done in return for goodness and the Government measures and plans are looked upon with suspicion," (Vol.VI R.R.1907).

223 Plague Remedies Suggested by various Religious Sects AND The only true Remedy revealed by the Almighty God.The various religious sects are nob silent upon this subject The Muhammadans suggest, as appears from a handbill issued by the Secretary of the Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam, Lahore, that all the Muhammadan schisms, in every town and village, should gather together on a certain date at a certain hour of the day, and forgetting their sectarian differences for a moment.should all together pray to God to take away this affliction.This measure, it is asserted, shall afford ao instantaneous relief from this visitation.The publisher of the hand-bill, however makes no suggestions as to the manner in which the sectarian differences can be removed- and prayers said together by the various Muslim sects, for there are essential differences among them which according to one sect, render void the prayers of the other.We are not, moreover, told what the Hindus are to do at this time of general affliction.Are they too allowed to seek the assistance of their idols? Should the Christians worship and beseech Jesus Christ to save them from this des- truction ? We ought also to have been informed^as to the.course which those sects should take which look upon AH or Husain as their deliverer and the supplier of all their needs or which worship Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, or Shah Madar or Shaik Sarwar.All these sects call themselves Muhammadans, but in the above mentioned announcement no directions are contain- ed for them and we are not told whether, being Muhammadans, they should or should not, call upon their own deities for assis- tance.We may also ask another question from the advertisers of this general prayer at a fixed hour whether all their various sects are not now, frightened and terror-stricken, engaged in

224 prayers and supplications to their idols and deities.Walking into a ward of the Shias, one would fiad every door witnessing the truth of this couplet: "I have five saints with whose names I extinguish the fire of the burning plague, viz., Mustafa (i.e^ the Holy Prophet), Murtaza (i.e., Ali).Fatirna and their two sons (&.., Hassan and Husain)." My tutor, a learned Shia, used to say that the only remedy for plague is ^y and \^j i.e^ excessive love, bordering upon worship, of the Imam of the house of Ali, and excessive hatred, displayed in abuses and imprecations, of the other companions of the Holy Prophet.This is the Shia amulet for the plague.It is also said that the first appearance of the plague in Bombay was looked upon as a miracle of I-marn Husain, for its first victims were the Hindus who happened to have had a quarrel with the Shias.But when it levelled its attucks against the votaries of there idol, the cries of " Husain " began to die away.Passing on to the Christian religious view of the plague, we notice a hand-bill issued by Revd.H.M.Weitbrecbt as expressing the view of a Christian Religious Society.It also suggests a remedy for the extirpation of the plague which it regards as the only true safeguard, all others being merely useless.Our intelligent readers might have guessed it It consists in taking the man Jesus for God and believing in the efficacy of his blood.The Arya, sect of Hinduism lays stress on the point that this Divine visitation in wrath is owing to people having given up the Yedas.All men should believe, the Aryas assert, in the truth of the Hindu scriptures and look upon all the righteous prophets of God as impostors, and then the plague is sure to vanish.

225 All these views could have been easily guessed by an intelligent person, but the most wonderful proposal comes from the Sanatan Dharm quarter of the Hindu religion.But for the org-an of conservative Hinduism, the Akhbar-i-Am, this valuable mystery could never have been revealed to the world.Tne plague, we are told, is in consequence of the suffering of cow, and the only measure which can ensure its extirpation is a prohibition against cow-slaughter.The same newspaper goes on to assure the public that a person heard a cow speaking that all this evil and affliction which distressed the country was on its account.However superstitious this last statement may, appear all of them are equal in one respect viz*, that they are all assertions without any arguments to establish their truth, each the belief of a different religious sect, and therefore not acceptable to the public at large.If at this critical hour a person were required to sit as a judge over all these various beliefs, he would probably himself pass away before he could pass a judgment over the truth of anyone of them.This is not the time for the solution of the intricate problems of belief but we need some decisive measure, more easily comprehensible, and accompanied with evidence of the clearest and most conclusive type.It is with this object that I now appear before the public.Four years ago I published a prophecy that the Punjab was about to be visited with severe plague.I then wrote that I had seen in a vision black trees of plague planted in the villages and towns of this province, but that if people repented, the disease would have run its course in two winters only.Vulgar abuses and denunciations were, however, hurled at ray head in response to this call of warning, and the result is the destructive state of the plague in the Punjab as witnessed to-day.God revealed to

226 me His word, then, saying : ^ ^ ) 3 *?.;^ ) v^-j ) *^ ) ft-***' " Almighty God has willed that He shall not take away His visitation which He has brought down upon the people in wrath until the people change their own condition with respect to their behaviour towards the Apostle of God, and He, the All-powerful one, shall protect* the village of Qadian * from the destruction of plague," so that there may be a sign that Qadian was saved out of respect for the Messenger of God who was there.The truth of this prophecy has already been made clear.While, on the one hand, plague has widely spread in the Punjab and rages severely in numerous towns and villages in the province, being in the fifth year of its life here, we witness, on the other, that Qadian is up to this moment quite free from the epidemic, in spite of the fact that it has appeared in villages * The word ^..J oceuring in the revelation quoted above signifies the " affording of protection from a general dispersion and destruction and taking in one's own shelter." The word has here been used, in fact, In.reference to the highly destructive form of plague known as the " Ta'un-i-Jarif ' or the destructive plague which sweeps away whole villages and towns in its onslaughts.This frightening epidemic depopulates whole towns, one part falling victim to its attacks, and the other flying away from the terror of its name.On account of its fearful sever fcy and destruction it causes a panic in the country.The revelation therefore promises a protection against such destruction.This is made clearer by the words of another revelation (sid } ^ J^J ) T O ) )) J " Had it not been for the regard in which this propa- ganda is held by God, Qadiaii should have been laid waste with destructive plague." This revelation establishes two things : (!) It is not against the plain interpretation of the-words of the revelation that rare cases of plague may occur in Qadian without causing any destruction or evacuation of the village.(2) It is necessary that, in exact contrast with Qadian, places which in comparison with Qadian.are the abodes of more refractory, wicked, atrocious and corrupt persons and of the bitterest enemies and unrelenting persecutors of this propaganda, shall be visited by destructive plague, and deserted by the people who shall take to flight in all directions.We therefore, assert that Qadian shall never be visited by Taun-i-Jarif or destruc- tive plague which depopulates inhabited places and eats away the inhabitants aiid that other towns and villages, the abodes of iniquitous and turbulent spirits, shall be the frightful scenes of destructive plague in comparison with Qadian.This is the only place in the whole world for which Almighty God has promised this protection, All praise is due to Him for this favor

227 situated at not more than two miles from it.It also deserves to be mentioned that certain persons who were sick with plague were, brought.in here from infected villages and they all escaped death.What stronger proof than this could he demanded that what had been said four years since is being.fulfilled.to-day.Tne appearance of the plague in the Punjab had been foretold in the Barahin-i-Ahrnadiyya more than twenty-two years ago.To reveal such deep secrets of the future could not be within the power of a mortal.The Message which Almighty God has now.given to me as to the means which can cause the plague to disappear from the country, is that people should believe in me with a sincere heart as the Prom- ised Messiah.Had my assertion not been accompanied with adequate proof like the assertion of other religious leaders, I would have been an idle-talker like them.But I told you of what was to happen before there was any sign of the thing, and what I said ere now has been fulfilled to-day.Almighty God has again revealed to me His word, saying: P iEJ i yjifj ^ j ; $i I )) y * ? jj jSj ) ^ j i AJ ) ^ C^H j ^ **d *JJ ) ^ & u ^ jL, f J ; ^ J ^ (sy $ ^J i ^ j jl ) > ) o ^4^ jJ | l> ) fy * }} Ju } * r ^b ^.r y.) 3 * r y.) J r- ; J ' r ^ JJ J 3J ) c Lij ^w^&jj ) j G IxiJ ^ ) j* $ ] J l U ) ^ j i^/ _j ^J i J vlT) 3 ) & UA ) ) f^i.dJU I \\1 I** I** * * 1 l^^lj / * I ^ *^ *1 / 7 * v*^ ^ f^& u*^' ' * I 5 L >xa> C35^.1*10 ^2a^ v.^.Uir* ^.V i L __-&*M \*) / God is not going to punish them (i.e., the people of Qadian) with severe tortures whilst thou art among them.Verily He shall protect this village from the virulence and destruction of the plague.Had it not been for the regard and esteem in

228 which you are held, I should have destroyed this village.I am the Merciful who remove the" afflictions.Verily, My Messengers shall have no fear or anxiety hefore Me ; I am their protector.1 shall stand by My Messenger and reproach the man who chides him ; I shall break the fast and keep it (i.e , for a certain portion of the year, I shall destroy people' with the plague and for another portion let them live in peace), My wrath has been kindled, diseases shall prevail and lives shall be destroyed.But those who believe, and their belief has no defect in it, shall live in peace and be delivered from all afflictions.Do not think that the criminals are quite safe, we are corning nearer and nearer to their residence.I am preparing My armies, i.e., am multi- plying the plague bacilli.The people shall be found lifeless in their houses like so many dead camels- We shall show them our signs first in distant parts and then among themselves.Those shall be the days of the assistance and victory of God.I have made a contract of exchange with thee, i.e , something which was thine has been transferred to My ownership and something which was Mine I have made over to thee; do thoti also say ' God has made a contract of exchange with me-' Thou art to Me as j a son * Thou art from Me and I fr*om thee, (The * It should be clearly bornfl in mind that God is free from having sons.He has neither an equal nor a son.No one has the right to call himself God or the Son of God The relation- ship of Son towards God is, therefore, a metaphorical expression.In the Holy Quran, Almighty styles the hand of the Prophet as His own hand saying j ^ [ ^ y aJJ ) jo The hand which is above their hands is the hand of God ;" and again addressing the Prophet says : t ^j> Ur b Jj " Say, my servants " instead of b ) J> S & &U ) ) * j U "And remember God like your fathers." Do not stumble therefore at such metaphorical expressions and be careful wheii you construe them.Believe in the words as they have been revealed without seeking the " why and wherefore " of them.The clear words of my revelation which refute the idea of any one being actually the son of God are as follows : ,&j (j J UJ )

229 words " Thou arb from Me" mean bhab ib is I who have senb thee and showed bhy brtibh bo bhe world and the words " I am from bhee " mean bhab ib is through 1 thee bhab My face has been reveal- ed bo bhe world.) The -time is coming when I shall exalb bhee bo such a high position bhab bhe world shall praise thee.Success is wibh thee and failure with thine enemies.Wait patiently unbil bhe promised day arrives.Time shall come when plague shall wholly die away and no one shall suffer from ib.i.e., ab lasb there will be peace and safety." This revelation establishes three bhings: (1).Ib sbabes bhab bhe plague has made ibs appearance, because bhe Promised Messiah was not only rejected but also abused and persecubed.Plans were formed againsb his life and he was called an unbeliever and Anbichrist.Bub God did nob desire bo leave His Messenger unsupported.He, bherefore, made heaven and earbh bhe witnesses of his- cause.Heaven gave bhe evidence of bhe brubh of his claim by the eclipses of the > **.* J ) U3 " Say : I am a man like yourselves, and it has been revealed to me from the most High that your God is God alone, and everything good is contained in the Quran." * Long ago, Almighty God had told me of 'the plague in the words in which a third person is supposed to be the Speaker tj [.jx ,ilJ [ ^JU** b and on the 21st April ; 1901 the word of God was again revealed to me i>so ( - (J^sJ J ^M/* b " 0, thou Messiah of k God who hast been sent to the world, hasten (j j [^ U ) / for our assistance and intercede for our protection with God : thou shalt not see hereafter any wickedness or disturbance from us (i.e., we shall be plain and can did in future and shall nob abuse thee." In accordance with this, there is also another revelation."By sending plague t l&svftJ | } *gj | MC ( _ jj.*aJJ v _ ftvw.ji Lc tU^.y _ ) ) ^ Ave shall bestow a favor upon this Joseph, vie., that people shall not abuse him because of the terror of plague." Relating to these days is also the revelation of God in which the earth is made to say addressing me : t^ _ ) 3) u^i^iJJ ) J.b "0, thou saint of God, I did not recognise thee before this time." The earbh was in a vision, brought before me and it addressed me in the words quoted above; meaning that it did not recognise me as being the sancitifled one of the Merciful.

230 sun and the rnoon in the month of Ramzan, and the earth gave similar evidence by bringing forth plague, so that the Word of God may be fulfilled which said: p& ) J* *JJ ) ^ o ^ ^ tie J;> ^^J^j'^l J^j aJJ) ^ M V ^ ^V>A Jj ^/*^y " I have an evidence from God; will you therefore believe? I have another evidence from God; will you therefore submit ? " The first evidence is the evidence of heaven as is evident from the use of the expression (will you believe ?) which implies no force.The second evidence is that of the earth which has brought forth plague; and in this case people are required too submit (not believe as before), because there is a sort of a compulsion caused by the terror of the plague which makes them submit to God.(2).The revelation asserts in the second place that the plague shall only abate, in case the people accept the Messenger of God, or, at the least, do him no violence, harm or mischief.In other revelations of earlier date than that of the Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya and published in that book.Almighty God says that he shall send plague upon earth in order to check tbe mischievous and wicked people who vilified His Holy Messenger.The truth is that a mere denial of the apostles of God does not bring down punishment in the present life.Anyone who denies the mission of an apostle, yet keeps within due bounds of respect and decen- cy, shall find his punishment in the next world.Death and destruction sent upon a people on a rejection of the prophets was ever the, result of their excesses, abuses and persecutions directed towards the prophets that were sent to them.If people even now hold their tongues, refrain from the mischief, oppres- sion and injustice, they have been doing to the Messiah of God, and repent of all these ways of wickedness, the afflictions too / shall be averted.Thus plague is a warning from God, and on this occasion many capable hearts shall turn to truth, accept the

231 Messenger of God, and receive the Diviae blessings.Thus shall the earth be filled up with good and virtuous men.(3).Lastly, the Revelation establishes that however long the period of the plague may be, Qadian shall ever be safe from the destruction and havoc which it works in other towns and vil- lages, for it is the seat of God's Holy Messenger.This is a sign for all nations of the earth.Now if there is anyone who rejects the Messenger of God or denies the supernaturalness of this sign, and thinks that formal prayers or the worship of the sou of Mary or reverence for cow or a belief in the Yedas, can avert this evil, despite the enmity, opposition and disobedience of this Messenger, he must furnish like proof of his assertions.It is no doubt the time to judge the truth of every religion and every claimant has the opportunity to offer proof of the Divine favor he enjoys.It seems as if Al- mighty God had appointed this day as the day of final triumph for the true religion, and brought about this grand exhibition for every religion to display its truth or falsehood before all the world.In this grand arena a Champion has already appeared to challenge others, and Almighty God has named Qadian as the seat of His Chosen One which He shall, for His Messenger's sake, protect from the destructions of plague.If the Aryas believe in the truth of the Vedas, they should prophecy that the plague shall find no access to Benares, the birth-place of the Vedas, and the most ancient seminary for the instruction of students in Yedic lore.The conservative Hindu party, the Sanatau Dharrn section of the Hindu religion, should also name some city where cows are found in large numbers and particularly revered, Amritsar for instance, as enjoining a similar protection out of regard for one cow.If this revered animal is willing to show some such super- natural miracle,.Government, we think, shall gladly prohibit its

slaughter, "the Christian should also come forward and name, for instance, Calcutta^ which enjoys the favor of being the seat of the great Lord Bishop and as such the greab representative of j'esus Christ, and inform the world that out of respect for his great representative, Jesus shall save that city from the ruin of plague.The Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam of Lahore should alsOj with the aid of some inspired residents of Lahore, such as Mun- shi Ilahi Bukhsh, Accountant P.W- D., publish a similar pro- phecy relating to the grant of a similar protection to Lahore.This is also the time for Abdul Haqq and Abdul Jabbar to stand forth as the inspired champions of the city of Amritsar, their place of residence.Shamsul-Ulama Nazir Husain and his dis- ciple, Muhammad Husain of Batala, the leaders of the Wahabi sect, shall not, we hope, lag behind in securing such protection for Delhi, the birth-place of Wahabism.If all these religious leaders take these steps, there is no doubt they shall relieve the country of great afflictions and the Government of heavy res- ponsibilities.But if they do not come forward now and bring their religious to the test of this great touchstone, it shall be clear and unquestionable that the true and Living God is only He who has sent His Messenger at Qadian.It should also be borne in mind that if all these men, includ- ing the inspired leaders of the Muhammadans, the Hindu Pan- dits and the Christian Missionaries, make no answer to this call and assume a conspiracy of silence, no other argument shall be needed to prove the falsity of the principles which they teach against this Messenger of God.The day is fast approching when Qadian shall shine out like the noontide sun from among all vill- ages and towns and prove to the world that it is the habitation of a righteous servant of God.Last of all the Secretary of the Anjuiuan-i-Hirnayat-i-Islarn, Lahore, who thinks that God will

233 bear their prayers because tbey are afflicted, is in manifest error as to the applicability of tbe verse k^)6 ) jk*aJ) ^xo ^l j.e., " He is tbe God who hears the afflicted," because the afflicted spoken of in this verse are those afflicted 'by way of trial and not by way of punishment.Had the case been as he deems, the people of Noah, of Lot and Pharoah would all have escaped the afflictions with which God punished their transgressions against His Messengers.The verse applicable to their case is found else- where in the Holy Quran and runs thus: '^/^) aUdUj J^\y ^1 " And the supplications of the rejectors of the Mesen- ger of God are useless." To clear all doubts upon this point, I take the liberty of repeating the real object of this announcement.The message which I bear to rny countrymen is, that the plague which now prevails in this land is due to no other cause than the persistent rejection, accompanied with abuses, persecutions, fatwas of heresy, and threats of murder, of the Promised Messiah, who has made his appearance in the seventh thousand after Adam, in accordance with the prophetic utterances of the former prophets.The jealousy of God has therefore come into motion for His Messenger a-nd He has sent down His warning upon the people for their mischiefs and insolence.Almighty God had also made it known in the sacred writings that in the days of the appear- ance of the Promised Messiah, severe plague shall rage in the country on account of his denial.The appearance of the plague was, therefore, inevitable.The name Ta'oon given to this plague throws light upon its real cause.Ta'oon, is derived from Ta'n> which means to revile and the word therefore literally means a great reviler.The plague is called Ta'oon inasmuch as it is the punishment of those who revile the Prophets of God, thus being an answer to their calumnies.The Israelites used to be infected V-'-

234 with it whenever they calumniated their prophets.The inten- sity found in the meaning of the word Taoon, as stated above, indicates that it does not overtake people afc an early stage of calumny but only when the heavenly Messenger is abused and persecuted intolerably and when the.slanderers exceed all limits.Therefore nothing but an acceptance of the Messenger of heaven can check it in its onward march.My message to my countrymen is that if they have a mind to be delivered from the sore distresses wliich afflict them, they should accept the Messiah with a sincere heart.This is a sure and certain remedy,.An inferior remedy is that people should at least refrain from rejecting and abusing V him, and that their hearts should be impressed with his greatness and dignity.(Vol.I E.R.1902.)

235 A Standing Miracle of Islam in support of the Proof that Islam is the only true and Living: Religion on earth.THE HOLY PROPHET MAHOMMAD PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF GOD BE ON HIM SAYS :- ;" Verily Qod shaft raise for my followers at the beginning of every century a man who shaH revive their religion for them." (None of the Religions on earth possesses such an exceptional Divine Blessing.) Of all the 'religions prevalent in the world, Islam is the only religion which is free from every error.The erroneousness of other creeds cannot, however, be traced to their very beginning but is due to the fact that since the time that Islam was esta- blished upon earth, heavenly assistance has not been vouchsafed to other religions.They have, therefore, become like the garden which has no gardener, no one to tend or cultivate or water it.Errors have gradually crept into them and they have become corrupt.Tne trees that yielded fruit have all withered away and dried up and thorny bushes and pernicious shrubs have grown up in their place.Spirituality which is the root of reli- gions has vanished away and nothing has remained in the hands of their followers except vapid wards.The life and the spirit are gone for ever and they have never been re-animated.But Islam has not been brought to this condition.As Almighty God

236 ordained' that tka garden of Ida m, should *be?$ver- green fore He watered it a new at the commencement of every century after the Holy Prophet and did not allow it to wither or loose its freshness Though whenever a man of God was raised for the regeneration of the world, ignorant men opposed him and severe- ly resented the correction of errors which had taken a firm root in their customs and institutions and been grounded in ; their habits, yet Almighty God did not forsake His law until in this age, when the final struggle between truth and error was to be fought, finding the Muslims in a state of remissness, He again remembered His promise made of old concerning the last ages, and breathed new li'fe into the faith of Islam at the commence- ment of the fourteenth century of Hejira and the seventh or the last thousand of the present cycle of the world.But since the time of our Holy Prophet, other faiths have not experienced such regeneration, and therefore they are all now dead and devoid of spirituality, and errors have taken such a firm root in them as dirt in a cloth which is never washed.Men who had no share of the holy spirit in them, and whose disobedient spirit had not yet been purified of the dross of earthliness introduced into them, principles according to their own evil desires, and with such cor- ruption changed their whole nature and their very appearance- v Look at Christianity for instance, how holy were the principles upon which it was originally based.Though the teachings given by Jesus Christ appear to be defective when compared with tne teachings of the Holy Quran, this being due to the apparent reason that the faculties of man had not at that stage been yet completely developed and accordingly the time for a perfect teaching had not arrived, yet these teachings were quite in accordance with the requirements of that time and embodied excellent principles of moral and spiritual growth, and pointed the

237.way to the same God to whom the Old Testament had guided men before.But after the death of Christ, the Christians set up a new God for themselves, of whom no trace was found in the books of Moses and ;the prophets, and who was quite unknown to the Israelites.Faith; in this new God overturned the whole scheme of the Old Testament doctrines.All the directions which had been given by the prophets of God for many centuries for attaining true purity of life and obtaining salvation from the bondage of sin, were overthrown, and purification from sin was based on the monstrous theory that Jesus was in fact God and that he himself chose to die a shameful and accursed death on the cross in order to give salvation to.the world.But the Christians did not stop here.They went further still and abo- lished many of the Old Testament laws which had been given for all times.In short, the Christian religion has uudergone a complete metamorphosis and is so completely changed that if Jesus himself were to come back, he would not recognise in Christianity the religion which he had taught and preached.It is astonishing indeed that men who had been eujoined to regu- late their conduct by the laws of Old Testament which had been given for all times forsook that sacred book all at once.For instance, it is nowhere written in the Gospels that the prohibi- tion against the flesh of swine was taken away by Jesus, or that circumcision which was required by the law was prohibited by him.How could principles be introduced into religion regard- ing which Jesus gave no directions? But it had been ordained that a universal religion viz-, Islaru, should be established upon earth, and the corruption of Christianity served as a sign of its advent- Hinduism had met a similar fate before the appearance of Islam.Idol-worship was prevalent throughout India, Corrupt

238 beliefs had replaced the true and simple monotheistic doctrines.The same corruption sfcill prevails in the beliefs entertained by the Arya Samaj who hold that the Creator like mortals stands in need of material to make things.One error called forth another and as a necessary consequence of the first belief, ano- ther erroneous belief had to be formed according to which the par- ticles of matter and the souls are regarded as self-existent and eternal like God Himself.Had the Aryas given a little reflec- tion to this point, they would have discovered the error of their belief.For, if God stands in need of material ia His attribute of creation like mortals, then He must also like men stand in need of resources in His attributes of seeing hearing, &c.The power of hearing in man depends upon the transmission of sound by the waves of air, and the power of seeing in him depends upon the existence of light.Does God too then need air and light to hear and see, and is He like mortals dependent upon these things? If He does not, as the Arya Samaj will be obliged to admit, then it is equally certain that Hedoes not need material for the exercise of Hi.s attribute of creation In short, it is a false logic which attributes to the Divine Being a weakness and dependance like that to be met with in mortals.In fact such a belief involves the likening of Divine powers and attributes to the powers and attributes of man- Man is, no doubt, not able to make something out of nothing, but to judge of the power of God in accordance with that of mortals is an error.Man is a finite being and God is infinite, and by the power of the infi- niteness of His existence, He can bring other things into existence.Such is the mighty power of His Godhead.If He too like men had depended upon other things in the exercise of His power, He could not have been anything more than a mortal.Is there any one who can resist His will or withstand His power? Is

.,..^ the Mighty God, unable to create earth and heavens in the twinkling of an eye if He so wills it ? Those among the Hindus in whom learning went hand in hand with spirituality, and for whom a false logic had no charms, never entertained the erroneous belief whioh the Arya Samaj holds.Such a belief gains currency only on account of an estrangement from the Divine Being, which is, in other words> the absence of spirituality.(Vol.Ill R.E.1904.) When Almighty God saw that the world was steeped in iniquities, transgressions and error?, He raised me to draw it ^ from this state of degradation and commanded me to preach the truth and reclaim the world from the evils into which it had fallen.So, exactly at the time when the thirteenth century of Hejira had come to a close and the world had entered upon the fourteenth century, I announced my mission in obedience to the v Divine commandment and made it known to the people through rny words and writings that I was the Reformer promised to \ f - appear at the commencement of the fourteenth century for the reformation of the faith, so that I should re-establish upon the earth the faith which had vanished from its face, and that being strength- ened by God, I might draw the world by the powerful attraction of His hand to true virtue, piety and righteousness and remove the prevailing errors in doctrine and practice.A few years after this I was informed in clear and plain revelations from the j Divine Being that I was the very Messiah who had been pro- ^ mised from the beginning for the last days, and that I was also the last Mahdi who was ordained to appear at a time when Islam would be in decline and errors would prevail, and who being guided in ohe right path by Almighty God Himself, was destined to offer heavenly truth anew to the world, and the glad tidings of whose advent had been given by the Holy Prophet, may peace

240 and the blessings of God be upon him, thirteen centuries ago.(Vo).II.R.R.1903.) Listen Earth ! and bear witness Heaven I that I have received inspiration from on high, and have found access to the Divine mysteries.I have been sent in the early piart of this century in order that I may restore Islam to its original purity, and as a judge remove the differences that are tearing asunder the Muhammadan sects, and armed with the weapons of heavenly signs, destroy all false principles, and bring about a spiritual transformation in the whole world.(Vol.II.R.R 1903.) Another point which deserves to be noticed is that the revelations of all the Muhammadan saints fix the appearance of the Messiah at the commencement of the 14th century of Hejira, and not a single revelation takes it further.There is moreover an authentic tradition to the effect that a Spiritual Revivalist will be raised among the Muslims at the commencement of every century, and since the Messiah will also be a Spiritual Revivalist, therefore if he does not appear in the earlier part of the century his advent shall have to be delayed for another century, an idea not only repugnant as suggesting the decline of Islam for another century, but also opposed to all prophetical writings..,; (Vol.II R R 1903.) The advent of a Reformer at the commencement of every century is admitted by all, and it is further admitted that the Promised Messiah will also come as a Reformer.But no one can point out where the Reformer is who ought Jto have appeared at the commencement of the fourteenth century of Hejira.The eclipse of the sun and the moon in the month of Ramzan was the sign fixed for the advent of Mahdi (another name for the same Reformer), and more than eight years have elapsed since that sign was seen on the heavens, but no Bother Mahdi can be

241 shown.If it be said that though the sign has appeared, yet the person whose advent it denotes, will appear after some time, there would be great difficulties, for in that case any number of men may claim Mahdiship and accordingly the advantage of the sign.Heaven has shown a mighty sign, but people do not care for it.The prophets had also spoken of another sign to appear after the eclipse,- a heavy disaster which was to befall the world.This has appeared in the form of plague which has wrought a havoc in the country.It has destroyed hundreds of thousands of souls, and who knows what destruction it may yet bring about, but people have not recognised him whose sign it is.Heaven and earth have borne testimony to my truth, but their testimony has been rejected.God is jealous and He will show His jealousy because His signs are denied.He will not leave this disobedience unpun- ished.Both the Quran and the traditions speak of another sign, a new conveyance which was to replace camels.Thus the Holy Quran says: u>ils ^ U.*J ) i ) ^ " When the camels will fall into disuse," while a tradition says : ^* ^*~ ^ u* ^ J ^ j*tf "Verily the camels will be given up and they will not be used for riding upon." This sign has been brought to fulfilment in a wonderful manner, so much so that even in the deserts of Arabia where camels have not been dispensed with from time immemorial, railways are under construction, and thus camels will soon fall into disuse there fulfilling the great prophecy.Could I bring about the fulfilment of these signs in support of my claim by my power? Had I any control over the solar system that I should have brought about the eclipse of the sun and the moon in accordance with the prophecy ? Or could I create the germs of plague in order to fulfill the prophecy concerning this epidemic? Or was it at my instance that pilgrimage to Mecca was obstructed? All the signs fixed for the advent of the Messiah have been

242 brought to fulfilment by.Almighty God who has control over the system of the universe, and every argument has been produced, but there is still the same denial.(Vol.Ill E.R.1904.) The wrath of God descends upon the people who reject the Divine Messenger who is raised in the beginning of the century with clear and conclusive arguments in support of his claim, deny his signs on account of their own meanness and narrow minded- ness, injure him, persecute him, abuse him, declare him an heretic, mischievously plan his death and falsely and unjustly drag him into law-courts.(Vol.I E.E.1902.) No one can take you to heaven but he who comes from heaven.If you knew that the fresh and certain Word of God is the true remedy for your diseases, you would not have.rejected him who came with this blessing in the beginning of the century.(Vol.I E.E.1902.) A Glorious Prophet came into the world for the regeneration of mankind, i.., the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may God pour His choicest blessings upon him, and he called people to the path of the true and living God whom the world had quite forgotten and forsaken, but in the present age he has been held in such contempt and disdain and abused to such an extent that there is no parallel to it in any other period of history.Almighty God has moreover sent in the commencement of the 14th century of Hegira, a servant of His, i.e., the writer that he may bear wit- ness to the truth, glory and grandeur of the great Prophet, and preach the unity of God and glorify Him, but he also has been abused and anathematized.This is the reason of the calamities that have befallen the world in this age.There is no fear of God in the hearts of men, there is much o'f vain talking and babbling but as to real worth, the purity of heart, there is none.There is a great ado about society, and national considerations solely y

243 occupy the hearts which are totally devoid of every impression of the glory and majesty of God.(Vol.II R.R.1903.) It should be further borne in mind that for proof of the blessings and fruits of Islam stated above, we do not refer the seekers after truth only to the past.Islam is not a dead religion, and we are not compelled to say that the blessings of Islam are left behind.It is in fact the unique excellence of the holy faith of Islam that its blessings are unbroken and continuous.It offers not only its blessings in the past but similar blessings even now.The world stands ever in need of blessings and heavenly signs, and it is absurd to suppose that it stood in need of such signs in the past but can do without them now.Man is a weak creature, and walks blindly until he is shown traces of the heavenly kingdom ; and his faith is a blind faith until he wit- nesses the wonderful signs of the existence and power of God.The signs shown in a previous age are of no avail in a later age unless they are renewed.The relation of stories of wonders dis- played in the past can never produce the conviction which signs witnessed by a man himself can do.Every new century is the inauguration of a new era and the beginning, as it were, of a new world.The God of Islam, who is the true God, therefore mani- fests new signs in each new world; and in the commencement of every new century, especially when the world goes astray from probity and righteousness and is involved in darkness, He raises a vicegerent of the Holy Prophet in the looking glass of whose nature the person of the Holy Prophet is imaged forth.The repres- entative so raised shows the excellences of the Holy Prophet whom he follows and establishes the charge against his oppo- nents by truth, by showing the reality and by exposing them; by truth, because shows that the prophet whom they rejected was a true prophet, and shows the heavenly signs for his truth ;

244 by showing the reality, because he solves all difficulties in the.comprehension of the religion of the Prophet, and removes all doubts that are entertained with respect to it, and refutes all objections that are urged against it and by exposing them, be- cause he rends asunder all the veils under which they hide themselves and lays bare before the world their folly in not comprehending nice points of religious truths, their love of remissness, ignorance and darkness, and their being forsaken by God and cut off from communion with him.The perfect man who is raised for this purpose is a recipient of Divine revelation, I.and he is purified and blessed and has his prayers accepted by God.He shows with clearness that God exists and that He is powerful over all, sees, hears and knows every thing, and regu- lates affairs according to His will, that prayers are in fact accepted and have an efficacy, and that the men of God actually show heavenly signs.He is not only himself rich in Divine know- ledge, but his appearance brings about a life in the faith of the people.The heavenly signs which were rejected and scoffed at by people as opposed to the laws of nature and contrary to reason, or, if treated with respect, were considered at the most to be stories, are not only accepted as truths at his appearance because of their renewal at his hands, but the absurdity of the former position is also fully realized.It is then, clearly seen and even regretted that what was taken to be wisdom was really folly, and that which was considered to be knowledge of the laws of nature V was in fact ignorance.In short, the Holy One raised by God falls like a flame upon the world and gives a light to every one according to his capacity.He is at first tried, thrown into afflic" tions persecuted on all sides, abused and injured by all possible means, and every attempt is made to bring him to disgrace, but as he has with him the argument of truth and Divine assistance,

246: he overcomes all difficulties and vanquishes his enemies, and the rays of the light of his: truth are made to pierce into the world by a powerful hand.When Almighty God sees that the earth has rejected him, He commands the holy host of heaven to bear testimony to his truth.Therefore a clear and bright testimony comes down for his sake from heaven in the form of extraordi- nary heavenly signs, acceptance of prayer and the disclosure through him of deep religious truths and verities.This heavenly testimony gives sight to the blind, and hearing to, the deaf, and the power of speech to the dumb.There are' many who are drawn at that time to the truth; but blessed are they who accept him previously, for they on account of their strength of faith are granted the dignity of the siddiqs (the truthful servants of God).But this is the Grace of God, and He bestows it upon ; whom He wills.To complete the ^argument that Islam is a living religion, I deem it my bounden duty to state further that finding the world involved in utter darkness and^ plunged in the depth of ignorance remissuess, unbelief and is/m*&, and finding faith, sincerity and righteousness vanishing away, Almighty God has raised me to re-establish in the.world the purity of doctrine and -practice, and the purity of morals and faith, and to save Islam from the hostile attacks of those who with the weapons of a false philosophy and science, lawlessness, atheism, etc., are trying to damage this im- pregnable rock.It was exactly the time when Islam stood in need of heavenly assistance, and this Almighty God has vouch- safed by raising me.The general prevalence of error, which is to be witnessed in ; this agej has taken- place in fulfilment of the prophecies relating to the appearance of the anti-Christ, as fore- told by the prophets, of God.Tne basis of these errors has been laid by Christianity, which inculcates the most fatal error.It

246 was, therefore necessary that the revivalist or representative of the Holy Prophet appearing at the commencement of this cen- tury, should have come after the name of Christ, for the found- ^ ation of the present evil has been laid by the followers of Christ.^ It has been disclosed to me in a revelation that the soul of Jesus being informed of the poison with which Christianity affects the spiritual atmosphere, came into motion for.a spiritual re-advent into the world.Having thus come into motion, and finding his own people spreading destruction in the worldj the soul of Jesus required that one resembling him in all points and having the same spirit and character should appear as his representative upon earth, there being such a spiritual likeness between the ^ two that they may be considered as one.So, according to the promise which Almighty God had already made he raised one t/ resembling Jesus and in him was manifested the resolution, character and spirituality of Jesus.He and the Messiah were so closely united as to be considered as being of the same essence.The attractions of Jesus made his heart their habitation and fulfilled their requirement through him.In this sense, therefore his personality was considered as the personality of Christ him- self, for the resolution of Christ was manifested in him and / this manifestation was metaphorically expressed in spiritual language as the second advent of Christ.It is a deep spiritual law that the resolution of some one of the perfect ones who have passed away, is imaged in some living perfect man, and the unity of their ideas makes the connection so strong that the appearance of the latter is looked upon by the former as his own appearance.The person whose soul is thus united with the soul of a past saint becomes, as it were, an instrument for the mani- festation of the will of the latter, and the will of the one is made by Almighty God identical with the will of the other.It short,

247 it is a Divine law that the former prophets re-appear in the world in this manner.The second advent of Elias in the person of John took place according to this law; and if this law is not recognised, the Messiahship of Jesus would be seriously in question.(Vol.Ill R.R 1904.) Every Muslim must recognise Imam- e-Zaman or the Spiritual Leader of the time who is specially raised by the Almighty God at the begin- ning of every century.THE HOLY PROPHET MOHOMAD PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF GOD BE ON HIM SAYS: " He who does not recognise the Spiritual Leader of his time certainly perishes the death of ignorance" It is further necessary that there should reign in the heart the absolute conviction that light is granted to man from heaven only through the sun who is the Imam (the Spiritual leader) of his time.Hence it is that ignorance with regard to such a Spiritual leader is followed by a death of ignorance.The person who thinks he can do without that real source of light is deluded, for he sets himself in opposition to the unchangeable laws of God.The eyes have a light, yet to avail themselves of it they must borrow the light of the sun.The Imam resembles the sun in being the true source of all light: tJ O J he comes from heaven and illumines the world, and the eye is blind that does not borrow light from him.On the other hand,

248 the person who, with the aid of this light, stands on a firm footing of certainty is attracted towards virtue.Between the earthly and heavenly attractions a struggle would naturally follow and each will try to overcome the other.The one shall be drawr ing a man to virtue, ;the other to vice, the one to the easfc and the other to the west.The more powerful the two opposite attractions grow, the more fearful shall the struggle be.It is a necessary consequence of great material progress that these two attractions should display their highest powers.When the world has attained the highest stage of material advancement the days of heavenly advancement are not far.It is certain that upon the heavens also preparations are, then, being made for a spiritual reformation.An attraction is produced upon heavens and the two concend with each other for supremacy.Dreadful is the day when neglect and vanity reign supreme upon earth, for it is the day of vengeance and the promised day of the great spiritual struggle..That terrible struggle has been described in metaphori- cal language by the holy prophets of G-od.Some have represr ented it as the final struggle between the angles of heaven and the devils of the bottomless pit, at the close of which comes the end of the world ; while others have from crass ignorance taken it to be a physical struggle which shall be carried on with steel and gunpowder.The latter view is, no doubt, the result of misjudg r ment and superficial notions, and metaphorical words describing a spiritual contest have been misconstrued as meaning a physical war." (Vol..I R.K 1902.)

249 Why are the Muslims called the best of all people and their Holy Prophet Mahomad peace and blessings pi: God be on him called the Seal of prophets and the only Living Prophet? >; ; - The Muslims are called the.best of all people in the Holy Quran.< If it were true that the gift 'of Divine revelation was never to be granted to' them, they should have been called the worst of all people; There were many recipients of Divine re- velation among the Israelites, but Israel lost favour in the sight of God on account of its repeated transgressions.The Muslims came as successors, and as their Holy Prophet was the most excellent of all prophets^ so they were the most excellent of all people.This meant that while other people to whom Divine revelation was granted deprived themselves of this boon by their own misdeeds, the Muslims were never to be deprived of this Divine favour.Islam was a living religion and spiritual death '.*..' , i.i.- was never to overtake it.Its blessings had to continue to the day of judgment.; Hence the Holy Prophet was called ^1^',^ the seal of prophets, which meant, not that the gift of Divine revelation was with his advent witheld from men for ever, but that the door -to this blessing was everlastingly opened by him, and his imitation was sure to bring this gift to every people in all ages to the day of judgment.The prophets that passed before him had their blessings discontinued after some time, but not so were the blessings of the Holy Prophet because these were to continue for ever.The door had been shut to the Israelites, but if it remains closed even to the Muslims, in what did they excel the former.How can a blind man claim an excellence over a blind man ? If revelation inspiration and the manifestation of heavenly signs, the highest Divine blessings, had been discontinued so far as the Jews were concerned, did the door remain closed for

^250 ever afterwards? My opponents would fain answer this question in the affirmative, but I say this belief is a disgrace to the Holy Quran and the noble religion of Islam.This is in fact my only difference with, them.I say that the blessings and the fruits of Islam are still the same as they were in the time of our Holy Prophet, that Almighty God manifests the signs of His: power as He manifested them before and that He speaks as He spoke ere now, but my opponents deny all these facts and say that the blessings of our Holy Prophet are left behind and shall never more be witnessed.Ah ! they are not yet aware of the dignity of the Holy Prophet, of the grandeur of the.Holy Quran and of the glory of God.Islam is a living religion, the Quran a living book, our God a living God, and our Prophet a living Prophet : how can their lights and blessings be then deacl ? Ah! what greater calamity than this that we should believe that the Muslims must for ever be deprived of the blessings of Divine revelation while the Holy Quran calls them the! best of all people.What for should they pray then if their prayers are not to be attended with fruits and blessings? Why should they seek if they are told that the object they seek for can never be attain-ed? To tell them tq pray in such a case is just like telling a man to dig a well inform- ing him at the same time that he would never come to water, should he dig ever so deep..Certainly all exertions in the path of God must cease if they cannot bear any fruit.If there is no answer from God, why should man pray? In short, unless it is admitted that Divine revelation is a blessing to which a true Muslim can always have.access, neither would Islam be a true religion, nor would the Muslims be the best of all people.But Almighty God has informed me in a revelation which I have published in the Brahin-i-Ahmadiyya that "every blessing pro- ceeds from Muhammad, may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, and blessed is the Master as well as the disciple." (Vol.IY B.B.1905.)

251 JEHAD OR RELIGIOUS WAR.There is not the least truth in the assertion that it is the time for resorting to the sword and gun for spreading the true religion and righteousness.The sword, far from revealing the beauties and excellences of truth, makes them dubious and throws them into background.Those who hold such views are not the friends of Islam but its deadly foes.They have low motives, mean natures, poor spirits, narrow minds, dull brains and short sight.It is they who open the way to an objection against Islam, the validity of which cannot be questioned.They hold that Islam needs the sword for; its advancement and thus brand its purity and cast a slur upon its holy name.The religion that can easily establish its truth and superiority by sound intellectual arguments, heavenly signs or other reliable testimony, does not need the sword to threaten men and force a confession of its truth from them.Keligion is worth the name only so long as it is in consonance with reason.If it fails to satisfy that requisite, if; it has to make up for its discomfiture in argument by handling the sword, it needs no other argument for its falsification.The sword it wields cuts its own throat before reaching others'.If it be objected that sword was resorted to by early Islam and hence the legality of Jehad,, we say the objection is based upon ignorance of early Islamic circumstances.Islam never allowed the use of the sword for spreading the faith.On the other hand, it strictly prohibits compulsion in matters of faith.It has the plain injunction ^.^ ) ^y !/) ^ " There shall be no compulsion in religion." Why was the sword taken in hand then? The circumstances under which this measure had been resorted to have nothing to do with the spread of religion; they

252 are connected with the preservation of life.Briefly, they areas, follows: The savage inhabitants of the deserts of Arabia, whofcould ' hardly distinguish right from; wrong, conceived a hatred towards Islam in its earliest day and became its bitterest enemies.The reason of this hatred may be easily conceived.When the Unity of God and the Islamic truths were preached openly to idolatrous Arabs and convincing argument aganist idol worship were im- pressed upon their minds and they were told how degrading it was for the noblest of God's creatures to bow submission to stones, they found themselves usable to meet the adherents of the new faith upon argumentative ground.The exposure led to a motion in favour of Islam among the more reasonable of them.The ties of relationship were cut asunder, the son parted from his parents and brother from his brother.This exasperated them the more and they saw plainly that if their fathers' ; false religion was to be saved, excessive measures must be taken to stop the ingress into the new religion.The new convest to Islam ; were therefore violently persecuted and no efforts were spared to blocked the way to the new faith.Those, acquainted with early Muslim history- know full well what barbarous and cruel treat- ment was ineted out to the early converts, and.how many were murdered in cold blood.But these harsh measures did not pre- vent people from the acceptance of truth, for even a superficial glance is enough to convince a man of the reasonableness and purity of Islam as against idolatory.At length when the impla- cable foes of Islam saw that severe persecution availed but little and that their ancient religion was threatened to be swept away in the current of muslim reason, they planned ; tbe death of the Prophet himself.But their designs were frustrated.Almighty God saved His Messenger and took him to Medina.The unbe-

253 lievers, however, could nob test in their homes so long as they heard that the religion they had persecuted was gaining ground in another place.They pursued the Muslims to their new abode, and nothing but their extirpation could satisfy them.What could Islam do under circumstances but defend itself? For what fault were Muslims to be mercilessly butchered and not allowed to protect their lives? Why should not the inveterate persecu- tors have been brought to retribution and just punishment? The Muslim battles were therefore not undertaken for gaining converts but to protect innocent Muslim lives.Can an unbiassed judgment accept the conclusion that Islam was unable to prove its reasonableness as against savage Arabs? Can an unprejudi- ced mind believe that men who had sunk down so low as to worship images and lifeless things and who indulged in every manner of vice, could yeu vanquish the noble religion of Islam on intellectual grounds, and that failure in proof led it to resort to the sword for increasing the number of its followers? Those who have advanced such objections against Islam have been guilty of grave injustice, in as much as they have concealed the true state of facts.It is, however, true that the Musalman Maulvis and the Christian Missionaries are equally to blame for this unjust charge against Islam.The ignorant Maulvis while pretending to sup- port Islam have by their repeated inculcations, ingrafted the false doctrine of Jehad upon the minds of the unenlightened public who were misled by \>\\Q fatwas of the Maulvis on the one side and the objections of the Christian Missionaries, whom they took for learned men, on the other.The doctrine of Jehad being thus supported by the evidence of two opposing witnesses, its validity could not be questioned by the masses.Had the Missionaries taken a different course and with true honesty declared that the

254 fatwas of the Maulvis were based on ignorance of the -early Islamic history, and that the circumstances which then rendered and appeal to arms necessary for Muslims, did not exist any more, the idea of Jehad would long since have been eradicated from the face of earth.But they never looked to the consequen- ces and a misdirected zeal for their own religion cast a veil over their judgment in grasping the truth.It must also be stated here that permission for self-defence and murdering the enemies of Islam was not given -to the Mus- lims until the Arabs had, on account of their excessive oppres- sions and outrages and innocent bloodshed, rendered themselves culpable and liable to be punished with death.But a clemency was even then shown to such of them as embraced Islam.The unity of religion established a relation of brotherhood and all past wrongs were forgotten.It is here that some opponents of Islam.have stumbled and from this draw the conclusion that the V new religion was forced upon the unbelievers.In fact, the case is just the reverse of what the objectors have thought.There is no compulsion here ; it was a favour to those who had rendered themselves liable to death.It is apparently absurd to take this conditional mitigation of just punishment for compulsion.They deserved to be murdered, not because they did not believe in the mission of the Prophet, but because they had murdered many an innocent soul.The extreme penalty of the law was upon them, but the mercy of the Gracious God gave them another chance of averting this merited capital punishment.He knew that during the long years of opposition the Islamic truths had been brought home to them and they well understood the futility of idol- worship, therefore His mercy offered them an opportunity, even after the sentence was justly pronounced against them, for implor- ing His pardon arid the forgiveness of their sins.This clearly

255 shows that it was not the object of Islam to put any unbeliever merely as such to death, but that it was willing to forgive even when the criminal was found deserving of death.Islam had to grapple with other difficulties.Religious prejudice was so strong at the time that if a member of any tribe adopted the faith of Islam, he was either put to death or threa- tened with it, and persecution was so severe that life seemed a burden to him.Islam had therefore to face the difficulty of establishing -freedom of religious exercise and for this noble object ic had to undertake wars.The early wars of Islam fall under either of the above head- ings and it never took the sword for its own propagation or for any other purpose.Attempts were made to blot out its very existence and therefore it had to struggle for its life.It did not take up arms of its own accord but was compelled to do so.It had to defend itself and repel the dangerous foe.Later on, when its true -principles were forgotten, the doctrine was read in a different light and ignorance looked with pride upon a hateful course of life.But the fault can in no way be attributed to Islam.The source from which it flows is pure and undefiled.That this doctrine has been identified with Islamic teachings by shal- low-brained zealots who do not care for the life of man even so much as man should care for the life of a sparrow, cannot be questioned.But the innocent blood that has been spilt in the past does not satisfy them.They have yet a bloody Mahdi in store for the world and would like to exhibit the ugliest picture of Islam before all nations, that all people may know that Islam has always had to resort for its propagation to compul- sion and the sword, and that it has not a particle of truth in it to gain its conquest over hearts.It seems as if the holders of these views are not satisfied with humiliation and decadence

256 which Islam has already suffered, but must.bring it still lower and subject it to yet more disgrace.These men are a reproach to Islam.But God now wills that Islam should not be branded with reproaches and remain under a cloud any more.It is al- ready so distressing to find that its opponents who have not taken the trouble to investigate matters for themselves, have it impres- sed upon their minds that Islam has from its very beginning been employing the sword to add to its numbers.It is high time that all these base charges should be cleared from the face of Islam.If the Maulvis unite to root up the evil from the midst of the Muhammadans, they shall have done a lasting good to, and conferred a blessing upon, their co-religionists.Such an exposition of the doctrines of Islam will further reveal the excellences and beauties of that religion to the general public, and the aversion which opponents have conceived on account of misconceptions shall be turned into admiration.The clouds of dust being cleared, they shall then be able to get theic light from that source of light.It is evident that no one can approach a bloody murderer.Every one fears him, woman and children tremble at his sight, and he looks like a mad man.An opponent of an alien religion cannot even pass a night with him lest he should choose to be a Gliazi at the cost of his life.Such events daily occur among the ignorant frontier people, and a single bloody deed is deemed sufficient to entitle the murderer to para- dise aud its manifold blessings.It is a sharne for Muharnrnadaus that alien races cannot safely live as their neighbours.They cannot trust them for a single moment and hardly expect any good in times of need.They do not deem themselves safe among them and shrink at the hidden belief of Ghaziism.An instance of this occurred lately here at Qadian.On the 20th of November last a European came here.Just at that time

257 a number of my followers had assembled together and the con- versation was upon a religious subject.The traveller stood apart from the assembly and was addressed in polite words.It appear- ed that he had been to Arabia and other Muslim countries, and that he came here with the object of taking my and my followers' photographs.Asa guest, he.was asked to stay for a few days, but it appeared that he was apprehensive.He stated that he had seen many Muhammadans who had committed atrocious deeds of murder against Christians.He mentioned several specific in- stances in which such cruelty had been 'shown.It was then explained to him that this, the Ahrnadiyya sect of Islam, abhorred such doctrines and hated their adherents.It had set before ^ itself the noble object of uprooting the evil.Upon this he felt satisfied and stayed here -for one night.There is a lesson in this story for the pro-Jehad Maulvis.The growth of such horrible doctrines among the Muslims has done lasting injury to the cause^of Islam, and created and abhor- rence for it in the hearts of other nations.They have no confidence in their sympathy so long as the dangerous doctrine of Jehad finds favour with them.They cannot form a favourable opinion expect of such of them as do not lead strictly religious lives and are not very scrupulous about their relious beliefs.For all these misunderstandings none but the Muslims themsel- ves are responsible.The blame of depriving a whole world of the recognition of Islamic truths lies at the door of the Maulvis who taught doctrines repulsive to the nature of man.How could the religion be from God, whose- teachings needed the flash of the sword to get an entrance into the human heart ? Such considera- tions were enough to keep back people from the acceptance of truth.The true religion is that which on account of its inherent property and power and its convincing arguments is more powerful

258 than the keenest sword, not that which depends upon steel for its existence, Such are the evils that call for a Eeformer.Casting a glance at the internal state of Islam, we meet with sad disappointment.It is a ghastly picture.The sun has undergone an eclipse, the greater part being already darkened.The social relations of the Muslims are deplorable.Traditions have been fabricated that act like poison upon their moral conditions and break the Divine laws.The most sacred rights which Divine law has given to man are those relating to life, property and honour.We are commanded not to kill man, no to commit an outrage upon his honour, and not to seize his property dishonestly.But some Muhammadans have broken all these commandments.They take away the life of an innocent person and never shudder at the inhumane deed.Empty-headed Maulvis have circulated fatwas to the effect that it is lawful to seduce or seize the women of unbelievers or heretics, and to steal or misappropriate their properties.How dangerous is the condition of the religion that is full of so many evils, and whose pretended religious leaders^ instead of acting- in obedience to the dictates of their conscience, follow their sensual desires and palm off their own erroneous views as holy doctrines taught by G-od and His Prophet.These are wolves in lamb's clothing and deceive the people.They act like poison and say they are an antidote.They are an enemy to society and an enemy to Islam.Their hearts are void of grace and sym- pathy but they conceal themselves.They put on the mask of preachers but have in view the indulgence of their own carnal desires.They come into mosques like saints, but their character is black with diabolic deeds.These infamous characters are not limited to aDy particular country or town or sect, but may be

found in every Muslim country.They prebend to be the religious leaders of the people and expositors of the doctrines of their religion.They call themselves Moulvis and assume saintly airs so that they may pass for godly men.Their deeds, however, reveal their true character.They do not like that true righteous- ness and true sympathy be spread in the world, for they consider that a loss to themselves.In short, the way of Islam is blocked with numerous difficulties.The souls are dead and do not respond to the call of virtue.The golden mean which Islam taught as the guiding rule of life has been given up, and Muslims have gone to extremes.There are those among them that prostrate them- selves before tombs and make circuits around them.They regard the departed-souls of their spiritual guides as having full control from God over the affairs of humanity.Every religious order has a tomb in connection with it which is worshipped by the disciples at the instance of the head.(Vol.I.R.E.1902.) "Bear well in mind that the time of religious wars is now gone.The battles fought by the Holy Prophet were not meant to compel people to accept the religion of Islam, but they were fought in self-defence.When the Muslims were very severely persecuted and turned out of Mecca and many had been killed, then it was that Almighty God commanded the Muslims to take the sword in self r defence.But such is not the case now.We are living in peace and security..Islam is now attacked with the pen and not with the sword, and therefore it is the pen which the Muslims should now take in hand to meet their opponents' attacks.For, Almighty God says in the Holy Quran that we should make preparations for defence similar to those which our opponents make for attack.Now the unbelievers are not muster- ing forces to crush Islam, but they are writing books against it,

260 and therefore we should adopt a similar line of* defence* Very fortunate and blessed is the man whose heart is 'pure and whose true desire is the manifestation of the glory and majesty of God, for Almighty God prefers him to others.As to those who oppose me God alone will judge between; them and: me.He knows- what is in our hearts, and: He sees whose heart is devoted to the attainment of the objects of this world and who it is whose heart melts solely for the sake of God.Remember that you cannot make ; any spiritual advancement until '.? your hearts are puriffied of every dross.; But when there is purity in the heart, there is also generated with it the power which; enables a man to make spiritual advancement.Consider how the Holy Prophet, when quite alone and: helpless was commanded to /' proclaim to the whole worldi: "0 ye people ! I am a Messenger of God, to you all," Who could think at the time that these words would ever be fulfilled;? Yet the success which crowned v/ his efforts is the most marvellous that the world has seen.It was from among his deadliest enemies that his devoted followers carne.This leads us to hope that even from among, these people men will come out who will combine true purity of heart with an entire submission to Divine will..(Vol.IV R.R.1905)." Listen to rne for I have come to deliver to you the Com- mand of God that Jehad with the sword is now at an end but the real Jehad yet remains and much must still be done for the purification of the soul.I do not speak these words myself but such is the Will of God.Consider the words Yazaulharb spoken of the Promised Messiah in the Sahjh-Bukhari, i.e.the Messiah shall put an end to religious war.I, therefore, give the word that those who follow me, should with-hold themselves from such deeds.Let them cleanse their hearts of all moral defilemen-b and advance in fellow feeling and sympathy for the oppressed.They should exert themselves to spread peace over the earth, for thus would they propagate their faith."

261 The Promised Messiah's Exhortation to his followers concerning the British Government." It is only through His grace and goodness that Almighty God has placed us under a Government which has granted reli- gious liberty to all its subjects.It is due to the liberty granted by this Government and to its justice that our opponents cannot give a practical turn to their hostility against us (the Ahmadiyya Propaganda).If it had been in their power, they would have annihilated us, but on account of their inability to do so, they only grind their teeth in wrath and despair, for they are unable to execute their designs.When I remember the hardships and persecutions suffered by the early Muslims, and then see what a kind-hearted Government God has sent to protect us from such persecution, my heart overflows with thanks to the Almighty for His unbounded grace and kindness towards us.How merciful and gracious is our Lord, for when He wished to establish a heavenly dispensation in the days of the decline of Islam, He placed it under a peaceful Government.I do not say this to please any body: it is hypocritical to do so, and I hate hypocrisy and have come to deal a death-blow to it.Facts compel us to praise this Government and to be grateful to God for His blessings.Consider only one fact, viz*, the peace and freedom with which we are doing our own work under the Government.We have been propagating the doctrines of the \ \\ Movement for more than twenty-five years, and the Government I has not in the least degree interfered with our work.We have I ! published thousands of pamphlets in America, England and i| other European countries among respectable persons inviting ,[ V them to accept our holy faith.A book was even sent to Her late Majesty the Queen-Empress, and though this book contained

262T an invitation to the Queen to accept Islam, yet Her Majesty or the Government was not in any way offended -'at- it and another copy of the book was sent for.By placing us under such a Government, Almighty God has shown that it is His will to make this propaganda successful, for no where else could we carry on our work with this freedom.Had we been at Mecca, innocent blood would have been shed every day by religious bigots, nor could we do our work at Medina or Constantinople without persecution on the part of the authorities.The cruel murder of two of our friends at Kabul shows the truth of these remarks.They did not rebel against the Government of the country or commit homicide or any other crime under the penal code ; they only spoke against the doctrine of Jehad and the advent of a Gliazi Mahdi.They did not say anything against Islam and were murdered by a Muslim Killer, while we publish writings against Christianity day and night and Christian Goveinrnent does not even prohibit us from doing so: They were good, righteous and silent men.Maulvi Abdul Latif especially was very silent, but some selfish person informed the Amir of his doctrines and excited him saying that he opposed Jehad and some other doctrines held by the orthodox.It was for this fault only that he was stoned to death in such a cruel manner that the hardest heart melts to tears at the mention of the cruelty.11 Look at the British rule now.For thirty years, more or less we have been writing against the Christian religion.We tell the Missionaries and other Christians plainly that they are in a serious error in holding the Christian religion to be true.We tell them that Trinity and Atonement are false doctrines, that Islam is the only true religion and the only means of attain- ment of salvation, and that- the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may

263 peace and the blessings of God be upon bimj is the most excellent of all prophets of^ God and Divine union cannot.be- attained ex- cept through him, but we are never arrested for saying these things against a Christian Government, nor have the authorities ever asked us why we propagate our religion so openly* If we do not praise the Government for all this freedom and peace which it has granted to us> we are ungiateful to God for His gifts and guilty of a great sin.We have shown the errors of the Christian religion in the strongest words, but the Gov- ernment has in respect of religious liberty shown wonderful neutrality.It has not withheld from us any right which it has given to the Missionaries of its own religion, and all the religious sects have the same freedom of opinion and freedom of propa- gation granted to them." Though the Government has granted equal freedom to all sects and communities, yet its presence in this country is one of the signs which Almighty God has manifested for us particu- larly.The tree which it is the will of Almighty God should grow and give fruit is planted by Him in a place where its growth is not hampered in any way, but the tree whose growth He does not like is planted in a place where it soon withers awayi Now the seed of this heavenly dispensation which Almighty God has sent me to establish has been sowu in a land which is suitable for its growth, and no calamity can sweep it out of existence here.Ib is to a very large extent quite safe from its enemies.And as it is the British Government which has been made an instrument by Almighty God in the granting of these blessings, it behoves us, when we thank God for His gifts, to express our gratitude to the Government also, for Almighty God says in the Holy Quran, "Is aught but goodness the reward of goodness ?" It does not mean that you should do goodness in

264 return for goodness only when the party concerned is a Muslim, and not when he belongs to any other religion.Such conduct ^ Islam severely condemns.My advice to all my followers is that they should hate the narrowminded and fanatic Mullas-viho shed innocent human blood under the guise of religion, and per- petrate the blackest deeds under the cloak of piety.They should value this':Government and show their gratefulness to it by their loyalty and obedience.For, the man who is not thankful to men cannot be thankful to God." (Vol.VI B.B.1907).You have heard the judgments of the Muhammadan theolo- gions who are your opponents.They hold that you deserve to be murdered for your doctrines, and in their sight a dog deserves to have mercy shown to it but you do not deserve it.The fatwas of the whole of the Punjab and India, nay of all the Muslim countries, regarding you, are that you deserve to be V murdered, and your murder, the extortion of your property, the taking away of your wives by force, and the disgracing of your dead bodies by not allowing them to be buried in Muslim grave- yards are not only according to their judgment permitted by the v law, but are deeds of the highest merit.It is the English whom the people call Kafirs who protect you from your enemies who v.thirst for your blood and it is for fear of their sword that you are saved from being murdered.If you doubt these words, then go and live under another government and see how you are trea- ted.So bear in mind that the English Government is a mercy for you and a blessing."It.is the shield which protects you, therefore you also prize this shield with all your heart and soul.Englishmen are a thousand-fold better than the Muharamadans who are your bitter opponents, for they do not declare that you deserve to be murdered nor do they wish to dishonour you.\ Not long ago, a Christian Missionary prosecuted me for abetment

265 of murder in the Court of Captain Douglas, but that wise and just Deputy Commissioner having come to know that the case was entirely false and got up, acquitted me honourably and even asked me if I desired to prosecute those who had fabricated false evidence against me.This is an example showing how the deal- ings of the English are based on justice and equity.Bear in mind also that there is nothing so discreditable to Islam as the doctrine of Jehad which is imputed to it.A reli- gion whose teachings are excellent, and to manifest whose truth Almighty God shows His signs does not stand in need of the sword to propagate it.In the time of the Holy Prophet the persecutors of the Muslims attacked them with the sword and were bent upon blotting out Islam with the sword from the face of the earth.Therefore, those who took up the sword were des- troyed with the sword and the Holy Prophet was compelled to fight in defence of the Muslim society.But such doctrines as that the Mahdi would come with the sword and fight with and vanquish the Christian Kings are mere fabrications, and their propagation is only corrupting the heart of our Muharnmadan opponents.Those who hold such doctrines are dangerous to the peace of society, and they may at any moment excite the igno- rant masses to insurrection.Therefore, we exert ourselves to our utmost to deliver the Muslims from the errors of such dangerous doctrines.Best assured that a religion which is devoid of sympathy with fellow- beings cannot be from God.God teaches us that we should show mercy to those on earth that Heaven might show mercy to us.(Vol.YI.R.R.1907).Sir Fredrick Cunningham, once Commissioner and Superin- tendent of Peshawar Division, wrote in 1900 to the Founder of Movement : " So far as I can judge, it appears to be a just and enlightened exposition of the doctrines of Islam, and is equally

266 creditable to your learning and judgment.I have no doubt such a statement from a teacher of your reputation will be welcomed by all good Muharnrnadaus as a vindication of their faith, and as proof that Islam does not countenance crimes which ignorant, and wicked men may commit under the cloak of religion.I should be glad to see your Resdla and Fatwa widely distributed in Frontier districts." (Vol.VI R.R.1907).-> An Extract from Punjab Census Report.Mr.Ross thus concludes his remarks on the Ahmadiyya Movement in Punjab Census Report for 1901 : The sect, however, emphatically repudiates the doctrine that the Mahdi of Islam will be a warrior, and relies on Sahih Bultliaree, the most authen- tic of traditions, which says, that he shall wage no wars but discontinue war for the sake of religion.In his voluminous writings the Mirza has combated the doctrine of Jehad and the sect is thus opposed to the extreme section of the Ahl-i-Hadees.An Extract from Bombay Census Report.After laying down some excellent rules of conduct for his disciples, he (The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement) explains his reasons for naming the sect "the Ahmadiyya," by referring to the two names of the Prophet, the"Jalali" name Muhammad, significant of his triumphant career, and the u Jarnali" name Ah- mad, pointing to the peace and tranquility that he was to spread in the world.By denouncing the doctrine of Jehad and all cri- mes of violence committed in the name of religion, the Imam claims that he and his disciples can be fitly described as "Ahma- diyya".(Census of India, 1901, Vol.IX, Bombay, Part I).

267 (Through Associated Press.) Lahore, 1st May 1919.The following Press Communique is issued by the Punjab Government : The Punjab Government have received a report of the activities of the Ahmadiyya community of Qadian in re- pressing the disturbances and in keeping apart from all partici- pation in any of the unlawful agitations which have disfigured the Punjab- The community has been exhorting all their fol- lowers to have nothing to do with the movements and their efforts have been reported to have been entirely successful.An Interpretation of the titles of Isa Masih and Mahomad Mahdi given to the Promised Messiah.THE HOLY PROPHET MAHOMAD, PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF GOD BE ON HIM SAYS : There is no Mahdi other than the Messiah.(Vide IBNE MAJAH.) "As I have been given the name of Messiah by God with reference to the creatures' rights and am an incarnation of Jesus Christ on account of having been sent in his spirit and character and cast in the same mould, so I have received the name of Muhammad Ahmad by virtue of my function as a Reformer of the transgression of Creator's authority.To spread the Unity of God, therefore, I have been sent in the spirit and character and cast in the mould of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad, may peace and blessings of God be upon him.Thus I am at once Isa Masih & Muhammad Mahdi.Masih is a title given to Jesus Christ and

268 it means one who is anointed and blessed by God, His vicegerent on earth and a truthful and righteous person.The title of Mabdi was given, to the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and it means one who is naturally guided and the heir to all truths, and in whom the attribute "guide" of the Almighty is fully represented.The grace of God and His mercy have made me the heir to both those titles in this age and manifested them conjointly in my person.This is the true interpretation of my claim to the titles ot Isa Masih and Muhammad Mahdi.The way in which this manifestation has taken place is known in Islamic terminology as baruz* I am, therefore, a 5an/# of Jesus as well as of Mu- hammad, peace be with them, and my person is spiritually a combination of the persons of 'these two eminent prophets.As Messiah my duty is to prohibit the Muslims from savage attacks and bloodshed, in accordance with the tradition which clearly lay down that when the Messiah shall appear in the world, he shall put an end to religious -wars My function as Mahdi consists in re-establishing the Unity of God with heavenly signs.Ifc was with miraculous signs alone that our Holy Pro- phet may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, impres- sed the idolatrous population of Arabia with the grandeur, the omnipotence and glory of God.Like my master, I have also been helped with the holy spirit.The Lord that appeared to the prophets of old appeared to Moses from Sinai, rose up from Seir to Jesus Christ and shone forth from Mount Paran upon Muhammad may peace and blessings of God be upon him, the same powerful Lord has appeared to me in all His glory...He revealed to me that the belief of the majority of * Baruz means the spiritual appearance of one in the person of another, the two bearing a striking resemblance to each other in their qualities and character and being as like one another as two peas.

Christians in the world wibh regard fco Jesus Christ (such for instance as in the doctrines of Trinity^ Atonement, &c ) is a serious error and a deviation from the right path , Heavenly signs support my claim, my prayers are accepted ; future events are made known to rne, and the deep and secret things of which none but God has knowledge are revealed to me," (Vol.V.B.E.1906)."The relation in which I stand to the Holy Prophet is ana- logous to one in which a disciple stands to his master.God has made the grace of that Great Apostle to descend upon me in its perfection, and has made his favour and bounty to flow towards me so much that a complete union of personality is the result.Thus he who identifies himself with the Movement really joins the companions of rny master, the best of God's Apostles.And this is the interpretation of the words."Others of them who have not yet joined them," (Quran LXIL3) as it would be clear to all thinking men.Whoever makes diffe- rence between myself and the Holy Prophet of Islam has failed to recognize me." (Khutbai Ilhamiya) But if all the signs are fulfilled and I the claimant to both these heavenly offices, have been among you for more than twenty-five years, whom are you looking for still ? To whom do all these signs point except to him who claimed to be the Mes- senger of God before their appearance.For signs could not be shown for one oi whom no trace can be found in the world.A wonderful hard-heartedness this that when all the prophesied signs have appeared in support of my claim and all attempts to bring me to naught have proved futile, still another is expected.It is true that I have not with this body of clay descended from heaven, nor have I come into the world to cause wars and blood- shed, but I am from God and have come to sow the seed of peace.

270 I prophecy that after me no Mahdi would come who should fill / the earth with blood, nor would any Messiah ever descend from ; heaven.Be despaired of both of them, for these are vain hopes which will be buried in graves with this generation.The / Promised One has come, and I am he by whose appearance the promise of God has been fulfilled.He who rejects me fights with (3k)d.He does not question my truth, but opposes the will of God and says, why did He bring about the fulfilment of His promises in this manner ? Such errors in understanding the meaning of prophecies was also committed by the Jews, and many who, were learned, among them, stumbled on account of misconception of the prophetic word.They thought one way and the truth turned out to be elsewhere.Do not be insolent, for the days of God are corne, and heaven is showing you the wonderful signs which your fathers never dreamt of.Blessed are they who do not stumble in judging and accepting me.And peace be on him who follows guidance..(Vol, IV R.R 1905.) An Interpretation of the title of Avtar or Incarnation of Shri Krishna given to the Promised Messiah.My advent in this age is not meant for the reformation of the Muharnrnadans only, but Almighty God has willed to bring about through me a regeneration of three great nations, viz., Hindus, Muhammadans and Christians.As for the last two I am the Promised Messiah, as for the first I have been sent as an Avtar.It is more than twenty years since 1 announced that as I have appeared in the character of Christ, son of Mary, to purify the earth of the injustice, iniquity and sins which prevailed upon it, I corne likewise in the character of Raja Krishna, the greatest Avtar of the Hindu religion, and spiritually I am the same man.I do not say this of my own accord, but the Mighty God, who is

271 the Lord of eftrth and heavens, has revealed this to me.He has told me not on one occasion but repeatedly, that I am Krishna for the Hindus and the Promised Messiah for the Muharnrnadans and the Christians.I know that ignorant Muharnmadans will at once exclaim upon hearing this that I have become a plain unbeliever and heretic on account of my having adopted the name of an unbeliever, as they think the Holy Krishna to be, but this is a revelation of God which I cannot but announce, and this is the first day that I announce this claim in such a large gathering, for those who come f rorn God do not fear being blamed or reviled.Now Eaja Krishna as revealed to me was so great and perfect a man that his equal is not to be found among the Hindu Hishis and Avatar* He was an Avatar or Prophet of his time and he received the holy spirit from God.He was granted triumph and victory from God and cleansed the Arya Varta of sins.He was true Prophet of his time, but many errors were introduced into his teachings afterwards.His heat overflowed with the love of^God and he loved virtue and hated evil.Almighty God had promised to raise a spiritual manifesta- tion of him in the last ages, and He has now fulfilled this promise through me.One of my revelations on this point is : A \JS o^ J e/-" ^ V* ^-?j$ J ^/ ; ;; e/^/ A."0 Krishna, destro- yer of the wicked, and upholder of the meek, thy praise has been written in the Gita." I love Krishna for I appear as his image.The two attributes of Krishna who is described in this revelation as the destroyer of evil and upholder of the poor and the rneek, are exactly the same as those, of the Promised Mes- siah.Thus spiritually Krishna and Promised Messiah are one and the same person, there being no difference except that which exists in the terminology of the two people, the Hindus and the Mahomedans.

272 As Krishna, I now warn the Aryas of some of" their errors.The first of these has already been pointed out- It consists in the belief the matter and soul are self-existent and eternal.This is serious error, for there is nothing self-existing except the Divine Being Who does not require any one else to sustain Him.But how can things be uncreated which require another power to keep them alive and to support them ? If it be supposed to be true that matter and soul are self-existent, then their combi- nation and dissolution can also take place of themselves.In that case the only proof of the existence of God derived from the source of reason, would fall to the ground, for if matter and soul could possibly come into existence by themselves, it is much more easy for reason to assert that their combination and disso- lution did not need any assistance (Vol..Ill E.B.1904) An Interpretation of the Promised Messiah's descent upon a Minaret.Minaret is the name given to the pure, hallowed, noble and magnanimous spirit granted by God to the perfect man by reason of which he gets his light from heaven an idea existing in the literal signification of the word.The loftiness of the minaret; represents the magnanimity of the soul of the perfect man, ita firmness stands for the constancy and determination which he shows at the time of the greatest trials, and its whiteness is a symbol of his guiltlessness which is ultimately established.When the perfect man has passed through all these stages and undergone all these trials, when his rnaguanimity, constancy, patience and determination shine forth in their full glory and his innocence is established with conclusive arguments, then is the time of his advent in glory, and the period of his first advent, which was a time of trails and persecutions, comes to an

273 end.Then does the holy spirit invested with the glory of God descend upon his person, and the Divine attribute of glory is manifested in him.All this takes place in his second appear- ance.The same reality underlies the peculiar manner of the advent of the Promised Messiah.The Muslims hold that he shall descend near a minaret.The descent spoken of in that tradition really stands for his advent in glory which shall be ac- companied with a manifestation of the Divine power and attri- butes.It does not exclude the idea of his previous presence upon earth, but ib is necessary that the heaven should hold him so long as the appointed time of God does not arrive.It is also an unchangeable Divine law that spiritual realities are symbolized by physical emblems.The temple at Jerusalem and the Ca'ba at Mecca are illustrations of the same law and repre- sent the manifestations of Divine glory.The same explanation holds good in the case of the tradition which describes the des- cent of the Promised Messiah upon or about a minaret in a country to the east of Damascus.The word 'east' should be specially noted for Adam also had been put in a garden eastward.The object of the prophecy is in no way interfered with so long as the minaret is built before the glorious advent of the promised one, for it appears from the prophetic utterances that the mina- ret is to be a sign that shall indicate his advent in full glory.It had been ordained that the Promised Messiah should appear in the world in two characters.At first he shall come as an ordinary person suffering under trials and persecutions of every sort.When the days of suffering are over, then shall be the time of his advent in full glory.It is before that time that the minaret must be completed, for it appears from the traditions that a minaret must stand as a symbol of the reality, and it shall

274 be a physical picture of the spiritual minaret to which we have before referred.The world shall nob recognise him before his glorious advent for he is not of the world.Nor shall the world love him, for he comes from the God whom the world does not love.It is therefore necessary that he should be abused, perse- cuted and charged with all manner of crime.The Islamic prophecies testify that the Promised Messiah shall not be accepted in the beginning.On the other hand, he shall be sub- jected to malignant and bitter treatment from the ignorant and to oppression and outrage from the mischief-makers.A man shall do violence to him and think that he has done a deed of virtue, another shall do him injury and regard his deed as most pleasing in the sight of God.Thus shall he suffer and undergo every trial and face every difficulty till the corning of the appoin- ted time of God and the fulfilment of the Divine law of persecu- tion against prophets.Then shall come the time of his glory.Capable hearts shall have their eyes opened and they shall begin to think of him with unprejudiced minds."Can this be a liar," they shall say, "who cannot be subdued and crushed." What is the reason," they shall reason with themselves "that Divine assistance is without intermission granted to him and never to us." The inspiring angel of God shall then descend upon their hearts and admonish them that every one of the circumstances related in the traditions which had been a hindrance in the way of their acceptance, need, not occur to the very letter.It was possible nay highly probable that some of those traditions were errors and fabrications, and others were couched in meta- phorical language and could not be fulfilled literally.What was the cause of the misfortune of the Jews in rejecting Jesus? Nothing but that they waited till every word of prophecy should have been fulfilled in a literal sense, and exactly according to

275 their own notions of ifc.Bab their expectation was vain and- their hope a delusion.With that Divine law before them, and with the God of their fathers above their heads, the opponents of God's Messenger should consider lest they were tried by God in the same manner as the rejecters of the prophets before them.In short, such considerations, when duly weighed, shall at last turn their rninds to accept the rejected and suffering Messenger of heaven, as was the case with the prophets of by-gone times.(Yol.I.E.E.1902.) An Interpretation of the Promised Messiah's descent with two yellow mantles on.I have been suffering from two diseases for over twenty years, vertigo and diabetes,- which disappear temporarily upon prayer.On one occasion I prayed to God that they may dis- appear permanently, but the answer was that this shall not be.Then I knew that the continuance of these two diseases is in fact a sign of the Promised Messiah, for it is written that he shall descend with two yellow mantles on.The interpretation of this prophecy (for prophecy like vision sometimes requires to be interpreted) is plainly this that he shall be suffering from two diseases, because a yellow mantle ir-i a vision represents a disease as given in all authoritative books of interpretation.(Vol.11 E.E.1903), An Interpretation of the rising of Sun from West."What was disclosed to me in a vision is this that the rise of the sun from the West means that the Western countries which have from time immemorial been in the darkness of unbelief and error shall be lightened by the sun of Truth and shall benefit by Islam.I saw myself standing on a minaret in Lon- don and elucidating the truth of Islam in a very argumentative

276 discourse in the English language, After this I caught a large number of birds that were sitting on small trees.They were of white colour' and of about the size of a partridge.I inferred from this vision that though I myself would not go to England, yet 'my writings would be circulated among those people and many upright Englishmen would fall a prey to the charms of Islam." (IzALA-i-AuHAM P.214, SECOND EDITION (1891.)

THE PROMISED MESSIAH IS A PROPHET OF GOD.God requires you to believe that there is one God and that Muhammad, may peace and blessings of God be upon him, is His Prophet, and the sea] of the Prophets and greatest of all.No prophet shall come after him but only he who is spiritually clothed in his clothing, for the servant and the master, are as one and the branch is not independent of the root.Therefore, he who lo,sing himself in his master, receives the title of Prophet from God, does not break the seal prophecy.It is like one's own image in a looking-glass.Such an image of the Holy Pro- phet is the Promised Messiah.(Vol.I.R.R.1902).The Holy Prophet was the seal of prophets and, therefore, if his successors had been called prophets, the seal qf prophet- ship would have become a moot point.On the other hand, if none of the successors had been called a prophet, the similarity with the Israelite prophets who succeeded Moses could not have been established.It was, therefore, ordained by Divine wisdom the first successors of the Holy Prophet should not be called prophets, so that it may be a sign that the Holy Prophet was the seal of prophets, and that thus the seal of his prophet- hood should be established.It was also ordained that the last successor of the Holy Prophet, the Promised Messiah, should be called a Prophet, so that the resemblance referred to above, might be complete.The prophethood of the Promised Messiah moreover is not Haqiqi (of a New Law) and independent prophet- hood but one acquired through the Holy Prophet.It is on account of his being a perfect manifestation of the Holy Prophet that he has received the title of a Prophet.Thus in

v/ 278 the Barahin-i-Ahrnadiyya, Almighty God addressed me saying 1L* 2* cU*^ *+*> j b " Ahmad, thou hast been made an Apostle." In these words it is indicated that as being the manifestation of the Holy Prophet, I was called Ahmad though my name was Ghulam Ahmad, so being Ahmad, I was made a Prophet, for Ahmad was a Prophet.(Vol.Il E.E.1903).And when Divine revelation becomes frequent and certain in the highest degree and is free from every obscurity and defect arid foretells deep secrets of the future in clear 'language, the stage is then reached which is designated by the title of prophethood, and this is a point on which all the prophets of God agree.It was impossible that a people of whom it had been said that " you are the best of people raised for the good of the world" and who had been taught to pray frequently arid j-> '-untiringly, "0 Lord ! show us the right path, the path of those upon whom thy blessings have been showered." It was impossible that not a single person out of this whole favoured nation should have attained to the perfect stage of prophethood, and all should have been deprived of this great blessing.Had it 'been so, not only would the followers of the Holy Prophet have remained blind and their spiritual advancement been very defec- tive and incomplete, but in that case it would have further to be admitted that the Holy Prophet could not communicate his blessings to his followers and that his sanctifying power was de- fective.And the prayer which the Muslims are enjoined to re- peat several times in each of their five daily prayers, would also be useless in that case.Ou the other hand, if any follower of the Holy Prophet could have obtained prophethood independent- ly, that is to say, wilhout borrowing from the light of the Holy Prophet, the seal of prophethood in him would have been, falsified.To guard against both these evils, Almighty God has

279 so ordained that the gift of a pure, perfect and holy Divine revelation is granted to such of the followers of the Holy Prophet who attain the highest stage of a complete annihilation in the prophet and the veil which keeps him hidden from strangers is entirely removed.Thus the condition of being a true follower of the Holy Prophet is fulfilled in them in a most perfect sense, for their own personality entirely vanishes away, and the image of the personality of the Holy Prophet appears in the looking- glass of their absorption.On the.other hand, they are granted a most perfect gift of Divine revelation like the prophets of God and thus deserve to be called prophets." "It must however be borne in mind that no prophet who should also be a law-giver can appear after the Holy Prophet, even from among his followers, for this door is, completely closed.Nor can fchere be any book after the Holy Quran which should give new commandments or abrogate any commandment of the Holy Quran or dispense with the necessity of following any of them, for this is the last book and its ordinance must remain in force to the day of judgment." "Such is the significance of the phrases in which the Holy.Prophet described the Promised Messiah, of whom he said that he is *U ) ^ and ^ ^ ^ ) i.e."a Prophet.of God, " and, "your Leader from among yourselves." This means that he is a follower as well as a prophet.A stanger, (i.e., one from among the Israelites) cannot stand in this position.Blessed is he who understands this point, for he will not peribh." (Vol.V.R.R 1906.) Further Extracts from the Writings of the Promised Messiah."I am a Prophet in accordance with the decrees of Provi- dence : it will be a sin to deny this fact- How can I deny it \vhenGodHirnselfhasconfeiredon rne the title of Prophet T'

280' I will cleave to this belief, until I pass away from this world." "1 swear in the name of God, who has my soul in His hand that it is He who has commissioned me and it is He; who has conferred on me the appellation of Prophet, and it is He who.has called me by the name of the Promised Messiah." "I am the Promised Messiah and* am the same whom the greatest of prophets has named ^ ) ^ Prophet of God;" "I am jtot Divine Messenger or a Prophet with a,, new law^ a new claim, and a new name.But I am a Prophet and a Divine Messenger in the sense of perfect spiritual impersonation.For I am a mirror in which both the nature and the prophetic quality of Mohammad (on whom be peace) have been perfectly represented." "I was under the impression that far was it from me to stand any comparison with Messiah the son of Mary who was a Prophet and a chosen one of God ; and if my superiority over him was visible in certain matters I set it down as a mere partial superiority.But the revelations as subsequently showered on me did not suffer me to keep to the old belief, for, the appellation of Prophet was given to me clearly and distinctly...........I notice further that Jesus son of Mary was the last successor of Moses, may peace of God be on him, and I am the last successor of that Prophet who was the noblest of Divine Messengers.Therefore such was the will of God that my rank be not made lower than his.7 ' "In is an established fact, that in the course of these thirteen hundred years not a single man has been favoured with such a rich plenty of God's inspiration as I have received, and unto none have been unfolded so many secrets of the future as unto me.Of all the saints and holy men in Islam that have gone before me, there is not even one who has received so large

281 a share of this blessing (i.e.God's revelations,) It is on this ground that I enjoy the distinct privilege.of receiving the title of Prophet.If other personages do not deserve this title it is for the simple reason that they have failed to fulfil the condition of possessing a large abundance of revelations embracing the secrets of the unseen.That it should have been so was the decree of Providence so that the prophecy of the Holy Prophet of Islam may find its perfect fulfilment.For, if the other holy personages that have preceded me had been previleg- ed to enjoy the -same degree of divine commerce and the same clear -vision of the unseen, then they also would ; have been eligi- ble for the title of.Prophet." " I do not understand why people get annoyed at rny claim to the title of Prophet.After it has been established that the coming Messiah will be from the followers of the Saored Prophet what objection could there be if God chose to confer on him the designation of Prophet ?" " There can be no objection to my being called Rasvl (Divine Messenger) or Prophet.Nor does it.break the seal of finality..As I have repeatedly-pointed out, in accordance with the Quranic words

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