An Introduction to the Hidden Treasures of Islam — Page 276
276 Background Hadrat Jal a l-ud-D i n Shams ra says in his introduction to the book that the Promised Messiah as wrote this book in Arabic in order to take his message to the pious, noble clergy and scholars living in the Arab countries. This book was motivated by a vision that the Promised Messiah as had, in which he was informed that pious and righteous people of these countries would believe in him and would pray for him and God will bestow so much blessings on him that the Kings and Emperors would seek blessings from his garments. The Promised Messiah as started writing this book in 1900. It appears that the intention of the Promised Messiah as was to write many more chapters but then it seemed his attention was diverted elsewhere. In the beginning of this book, he briefly described his ancestry and then he advanced arguments in support of his claim as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, and how he was blessed with revelations. Stating the differences between nations and various religions, he drew a sad picture of the decline of Islam and how differences among Muslim scholars and saints have caused harm to Islam and in the end he gave the glad tidings that the Christian clergy will meet their defeat at his hand. Now those attacking Islam have lost hope and by way of acknowledging the divine blessings he stated all the characteristics of a divine and saint are embedded in him. The Promised Messiah as described the divine blessings in the following words: “God, in His majesty, has granted me all favours and loaded me with all the spiritual and worldly wealth. Often a man while counting the favours becomes pensive that he had no son, but I never entertained this sadness, for God in His majesty has granted me sons. ” ( Lujjatun-N u r , p. 62, R uha n i Khaz a ’in , vol. 16, p. 398) On October 4, 1899, the Promised Messiah as proposed to send a deputation of three men to Afghanistan, Na si bain Karbal a and the Laghman mountains to make further research with regard to the