Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 70
70 being a member of the Muslim community. When these points are settled, it only remains to be seen whether my claim to the Promised Messiahship can be demonstrated to be true. The Holy Quran has described all circumstances and signs attending my advent in full and clear terms and has even hinted at my name, la the traditions even the name of my village has been given Kada and in the Bokhari my personal appearance has been des- cribed and distinguished from the Israelite Messiah. It is alluded to in one tradition that the Messiah would appear in India, for India is described as the working-centre of the Anti-Christ and it is also stated that the Promised Messiah would appear at a place to the east of Damascus, Kadian occupying exactly that > situation. Other signs detailed in the traditions have all been fulfilled, and as they have already been pointed out above, we need not repeat them here. Moreover Divine assistance has been with me in the same manner as it was with the chosen prophets of God. Nearly two hundred thousand people have been led to virtue and piety by swearing repentance on my hands. The found- ^ atipns of the Cnristian religion are shaken and the whole super- structure is destined to fall, Islam has been divided into numerous sects and fallen off from the high standard of purity and righ- teousness which it originally taught. False doctrines and evil practices prevail throughout the world, and drunkenness with all sorts of immorality is in full force. The world has undergone a deep change and every wise heart is panting for a true spiritual reformer. Such are the signs chat have been fulfilled and such the v condition of the world. Under these circumstances, I was com- manded by Almighty God to announce myself as the long-expec- ted Messiah. The heavenly signs which have been manifested in- support of my claim can be counted by thousands. The whole world has shown its powerlessness to produce their like. The