Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 459
463 the advent of a Reformer and in case iny claim is rejected it will have to be admitted that the promiae has not been fulfilled. Another of his sayings recorded in- the traditions, pfv f* ^ Jj i e. An Imam shall appear from among you, is also falsified. His annunciation of the appearance of a Mahdi and Messiah at the time of the spread of the religion of the Cross also comes to nothing because though the religion of the Gross has spread all o o o over the world, yet the Promised Reformer has not, according to the belief of the rejector of my claims, made his appearance. Do not his actions believe his professions? Again I say it explicitly that my rejection is not an easy thing. He who calls rne an infidel himself becomes so. He who calls me a, forsaker of the Holy Quran and of the sayings of the Holy Prophet will himself become the forsaker. I am the confirmer of the law of Islam and one who has appeared according to what was written in the scriptures. I arn not one who has gone astray. I am the Mahdi, the guided one. I arn not an infidel. I am first of those who believe and are Muslims ; and whatever I say has been revealed to me. Whosoever, therefore, believeth in Allah, in the Holy Book, and in the Holy Prophet must hold his tongue when he hears my claims from rne. But for him who is impertinent and insolant, there is no remedy ; Allah alone will deal with him. On the 26bh July 1902, the talk turned on the subject of the Abrnadis following the Jead of a non-Ahrnadi in their prayers in the course of which the Promised Messiah enjoined upon his followers the virtue of patience under trials, and strictly forbade them to conjoin their prayers with the non-Ahrnadis. "Therein lies the secret of your success," said the Promised Messiah emphatically "Even the worldly-minded forbear to see each other for many days if there arises some misfeeling or enmity between them- Your displeasure and separation are for Allah's sake. If you get mixed up, you will be refused the special favours of God. The virtuous prosper when they keep aloof. " ; On the 10th September 1901 Syed Abdullah an Arab (of Najaf ) who was to leave Qadian for his own country, inquired of the Promised Messiah whether he should follow the lead of a non-A. hmadi. who was ignorant of the claims and teachings of the Promised Messiah The latter replied " Tell them 'of the word