Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 285
285 The Use of Metaphors and Allegories in Prophecies The fact of the matter, as I have stated time and again, is that prophecies largely make use of metaphors and allegories. Certain aspects, nonetheless, are fulfilled in the apparent sense as well. This is the law that has always operated and no one can deny this, whether they accept this or not. If every Hadith is meant to be fulfilled, that is to say, if all the narrations of the Sunnis and the Shias, and in the same manner, if all the narrations of other sects are to be fulfilled in entirety, then you can know for certain that neither will the Messiah come, nor the Mahdi. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was more needed at the time of his advent than I am needed at present. Now do tell me, did everyone accept him when he appeared? Were all the signs that were stated in the Torah or Gospel about him fulfilled? For God’s sake, think and do tell. If all the narrations which had been transmitted through them and all the signs that were recorded in their books had been fulfilled, what happened to the Jews and why did they reject him? It never happens that each and every sign is fulfilled, because in such cases, many are invented by the people themselves, while many others carry a mean- ing and sense which is different from what is apparently perceived. When all the righteous were rejected in their time, and the same excuse was presented in every case that the signs have not been fulfilled, if the people reject me now, they do so in accordance with the same old practice. I cannot stop anyone’s tongue from denying the truth, but I do say that they ought to listen to my explanations and then respond. Crafting statements without any real basis is against the dictates of righteousness. Judge this Community on the Precepts of Prophethood The people ought to judge this community on the precepts of prophethood and then see on whose side is the truth. Nothing can be achieved by self-invented principles and suggestions, nor do I seek to prove the truth of my claim on the basis of self-invented ideas. I present my claim to be judged on the criterion of the precepts of prophethood. Why then should the truth of my claim not be tested against these very principles? Anyone who opens their heart and listens to what I have to say, I am certain that they will derive benefit and accept. However, as for those who possess closed and spiteful hearts, my words can be of no benefit to them. Their example is like p. 260