Hazrat Ahmad — Page 60
60. HADHRAT AHMAD former could not comprehend how the Messiah was alive, the latter could not realize how the Messiah could die. Thirteen hundred years ago when the Seal of the Prophets departed this life a poet had given expression to his heart rending grief in the following lines: 'Thou was the pupil of my eyes, at thy death my eyes have lost their light. After you, let whoever may wish, die. I was fearful only of thy death. . Thirteen hundred years after the passing away of the Holy. Prophet (peace be on him) the death of one of his servants exposed to the eyes of heaven the same scene over again-that those who had recognized him felt that the world was naught to them and that all their joy had passed away to the other world. Eight years have elapsed since that tragic event. Yet their feelings are still unchanged, their grief still unassuaged. A century may pass by, but they can never lay aside the memory of the days when the beloved prophet of God lived and moved among them. . Grief makes one lose one's balance. In speaking of the death of the Promised Messiah I wandered far from my subject. As I have said he passed away at about half past ten. At once arrangements were made for conveying his holy remains to Qadian, and by evening, with hearts heavy with grief, his followers started by train for Qadian carrying the coffin with them. Thus was the revelation fulfilled which had been already published in several newspapers, i. e. 'They have brought his body wrapped in sheets. ' From Batala the coffin was forthwith carried to Qadian. Before the burial, the members of the community present at Qadian (including hundreds of representatives from outside) unanimously selected Hazrat. Maulvi Noor-ud-Din of Bhera as the successor and Khalifa of the. Promised Messiah and swore the oath of allegiance to him. Thus was fulfilled that prophecy published in the Alwassiyat that just as after the passing away of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) God called Hazrat Abu Bakr to take his place, even so for the followers of the Promised Messiah, God would make a similar provision. . Then the Khalifa led the funeral service and the burial took place after midday. . Thus was also fulfilled the revelation. 'On the twenty-seventh an important event connected with me' which had been received in