Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 531
REPLY TO THE DOUBTS RAISED BY RASHID AHMAD GANGOHI 531 specify that Hadrat 'Isā, may peace be upon him, will plead before God that people went astray after his death and not in his lifetime. Therefore, if this belief is correct, that Hadrat 'Īsā escaped the cross and went to Kashmir and lived there for 87 years, it would be incorrect to say that his people went astray after his death; and he should instead have said that people had gone astray after his journey to Kashmir, for his death occurred 87 years after incident of the cross. ' So, keep in mind that such a doubt is born only out of lack of reflec- tion. Otherwise, the journey to Kashmir is not in contradiction with this statement, because the meaning of مَادَّمْتُ فِيهِمْ is As long as I was among my people who had believed in me, and does not mean, 'As long as I was in their land, for we do accept that Hadrat 'Isā had migrated from the Levant to Kashmir, but we do not accept that the mother of Hadrat 'Isa and his Disciples remained behind. Instead, it is evi- dent from historical records, that the Disciples came and joined him, some accompanying Hadrat 'Isā and some arriving later. For instance, Thomas went with Hadrat 'Isa, while the other Disciples came after- wards. Hadrat 'Isā, may peace be upon him, chose just one person, Thomas, to accompany him, just as our Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, chose only Hadrat Abu Bakra at the time of the migration to Madīnah. The Roman Empire had declared Hadrat 'Isā to be a rebel, and even Pilate had been assassinated on the order of Caesar due to the same accusation, because he was a secret supporter of Hadrat 'Īsā and his wife was also the follower of Hadrat 'Īsā. Hence, it was necessary that Hadrat 'Isā should depart the country secretly and not take a group with him. Therefore, he took only Thomas with him on this journey, just as our Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took only Hadrat Abu Bakra with him in his journey to Madīnah. And just as the rest of the Companions of our Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, joined him in Madīnah having taken different routes, so did the Disciples of Hadrat Īsā, may peace be upon him, join him through different routes at different times. And as long