Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 230
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