Fazl-e-Umar — Page 82
Fazle Umar 82 and actions, could not have appeared unless he had full conviction and perfect faith. F I R ST I n C I d E n T : d OE S H A d H R AT G A b R I E L S T I L L dE S C E n d It is true that different narrators as well as writers, who were childhood friends, have presented various accounts from different periods of his life. However, they were not in contact with Hadhrat Mirza Mahmud Ahmad sahib [ra] throughout his early life nor could their memories manifest everything anew. To overcome this deficiency we have relied on Hadhrat Mirza Mahmud Ahmad sahib’s [ra] own testimonies made in connection with various issues during his adult life. There is no question of anyone who possesses insight and perception raising doubt over the incidents because they testify to their own truth. Two incidents are presented below as examples. One is a small and simple incident maybe from early childhood, the other when he was in his prime. The first incident is prominent for its simplicity; it is an innocent account free from any artificiality. The second is significant because it relates to a dangerous, unexpected incident and the spontaneous and inimitable actions of Hadhrat Mirza Mahmud Ahmad sahib [ra]. Even more thought provoking are his thoughts regarding the event. The first incident is as follows: “When I was about nine or ten years of age, I was playing at home with a fellow student. There was a book lying in the cupboard wrapped in a green cloth (similar to the way the Holy Qur’an is sometimes wrapped). It was from the time of our paternal grandfather…. When I read this book, it stated that Gabriel (Arch angel) no longer descends. I said that this was wrong because he descends on my father. The boy stated that he does not descend as it is written in the book. We had an argument. In the end we went to Huzur (the Promised Messiah) and both presented our cases. He stated the book is incorrect, Gabriel still descends. ” 52