Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 225
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 225 and the Muslims were progressively reduced to the condition which you observe today. After an interval of thirteen hundred years God Almighty raised the Promised Messiah with the rank of Prophet, according to the prophecies of the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, and after his death the system of the rightly-guided Khilafat was initiated once more. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Mau- lana Nurud-Din Sahib was the First Khalifa in this dispensation. May Allah raise him to the highest rank in heaven and bestow millions of His mercies and blessings upon him. May Allah join him to the company of the Holy Prophet and the Promised Messiah, peace be on them, whose love filled his heart and coursed through his veins. We took the oath of allegiance to him on the basis of this very doctrine. Therefore, so long as this system continues in force Islam will continue to progress materially as well as spiritually. I tell you truly that I have a fear in my heart as I find myself extremely weak. Weare told in the hadees that we should not set a task for a slave which might be beyond his strength. At this time you have sought to make me your slave, then do not set me a task that might be beyond my'strength. I know that I am weak and sinful. How can I claim that I would be able to guide mankind and would spread truth and righteousness? Our number is small and the enemies of Islam are legion, but we have high hopes in the grace and benevolence of God Almighty and in His support of the humble. Now that you have placed this responsibility on me, you must help me in its discharge; and the way of helping me is that you should supplicate God Almighty for grace and strength and should obey me, seeking the pleasure of Allah and in obedience to Him. I am a human being and a weak one. You should overlook my weaknesses and I, on my part, promise you, in the name of God Almighty, that I shall overlook your mistakes and shall forbear. Our united task is to give practical effect to the progress of the Movement and the achievement of its purpose. Now that you have established a relationship with me you should carry it on loyally. By God's grace we shall exercise forbearance towards each other; but you will have to obey me in all good things. I repeat that you must not act contrary to my directions in all good matters. If you make obedience your rule and adhere strictly to this covenant then be sure that God Almighty will lead us of His grace and our united supplications will bear fruit.