Ahmadiyyat or Qadianism! Islam or Apostasy? — Page 173
nobody cares to have laid upon at their doors. It is a sorry subterfuge of an impertinent heart that will not confess its guilt. ”17. It is ironic that while the critics of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad censure the scholars of Judaism for their impertinent rejection of the God appointed Masih, Christ son of Mary, 18 they fail to inquire into the reasons which led the Jews into this rejection of the long awaited Messiah of the. Mosaic dispensation. . Biblical history records that at the time of Christ's advent some 2000 years ago, the Hebrew nation was in expectation of a Jewish Messiah 19 but when the son of Mary claimed to be him, Hebrew scholars argued against his claim on the ground that their Messiah was expected to be preceded by the personal appearance of Elijah, 20 who had been taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. 21 This insistence of the Hebrew scholars, one should stress was based upon a mistaken understanding of the earlier prophesies in the Hebrew Scriptures 22 to which the scholars of Judaism stuck literally. . Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, endeavoured to explain that the prophesy about the personal appearance of Elijah was an allegory and he also identified John the Baptist, upon whom be peace, as the Elijah prophesied to appear before the Messiah: He stated: 'I say unto you, that Elijah is already come and they knew him not, but they have done unto him whatever they listed. Likewise shall the son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. " '23 17. The Illustrated National Family Bible: Edited by Rev. John Eddie: Howard Press, 18. Maududi, A. A: Finality of Prophethood: pp 66/67 19. Aid to Bible Understanding: Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society, Pennsylvania: pg 1147 20. Illustrated Family National Bible: Edited by Rev. John Eddie: Howard Press,. London: pg 938 21. 2 Kings 2. 11 22. Malachi: 4. 5/6 174 23. Matthew: 17. 1013