The Heavenly Decree — Page 39
39 S ayy a d showed signs, and the awaited Dajj a l will do likewise, therefore, such signs cannot really be trusted. Moreover, I also hear and read announce- ments by my opponents in which they hold my unilateral signs in contempt. By way of sheer mischief, they say that even if I relate a true dream or a revealed prophecy, it proves no special merit, for even heretics have occasional true dreams, some of their prayers are answered and sometimes they even learn about events prior to their occurrence. Some of these people swear that they, too, have these powers. Little do they know that a mere penny does not make a beggar rich, nor can a glow-worm with its tiny light be called the sun. There is no way these people will understand, but through a contest. If they should feel too helpless about the contest, they are welcome to include ten or even twenty non-believers on their side. The long and short of it is that when the clerics do not accept my unilateral signs, and consider them to be a deception and hold them in contempt and also call me a kafir, where is the point in showing unilateral signs? And how can the people be convinced by such signs when their hearts and minds have already been poisoned by hostile propaganda? On the contrary, a contest for demonstration of the signs of faith is such a clear and manifest method that the clerics will not be able to fall back on excuses. Moreover, in no other way can the truth be made so clearly manifest, as in a