Ahmadiyya Movement — Page 21
21 justice than did that Roman Magistrate before whom Jesus was tried, and that the former refused to espouse the cause of false- hood and persecution, in spite of the fact that the complainants were missionaries of his own religion and that some influential persons brought pressure to bear upon him in favour of the prosecution. In addition to these resemblances, the need of the age and the fulfilment of the prophecies contained in the Bible, God caused to be fulfilled in favour of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) all those prophecies concerning the Prophet of the Latter Days which were contained in the books of other re- ligions. The Moslem books, for instance, said that the Promised Messiah would appear at a time when banking would flourish, wine would be used in large quantities, the number of women would become larger than that of men, women would wear clothes so fine that their bodies would be visible through them, and they would leave uncovered some of those parts of their bodies which used previously to be covered, women would be employed largely as saleswomen, Christian Governments would extend their territories and Islamic Governments would be de- stroyed; less deference would be paid to parents; a certain people would shorten the months; a new means of conveyance would be discovered which would be propelled by stones and water (this refers to steam locomotives); inanimate things would speak (e. g. , gramophones, etc. ); new modes of conveyance would be dis- covered and camels would be used less and less; three great powers would go to war with three other great powers and those with whom the Government of Constantinople sided would be defeated; a man would run away from Constantinople into Asia Minor and would re-establish the Turkish Government News- papers, pamphlets and books would be published on a large scale; many canals would be dug; zoological gardens would become numerous; the science of astronomy would be considerably developed; some savage nations would be exterminated, many mines would be discovered and, the earth would throw up its hidden treasures; two oceans would be united by means of a