Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 269
5 May 1907 269 was affected by the plague. A hundred and twenty-four thou- sand Prophets have appeared. Can anyone say that any of them died of the plague? However, there is no doubt that during the spread of such a disease, some believers of a lower category are afflicted (by the plague), but they are martyrs. In this way God Almighty covers their weaknesses and sins just as in the jihads that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, undertook against the disbelievers. Although it had been prophesied beforehand that the disbelievers would be made to descend into Hell during these jihads, some Muslims were also killed, but none from among the group of great Companions— for example, none of the likes of Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra and Hadrat ‘Umar ra —was martyred, nor was the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, martyred. It appears from this that in such battles the people of lofty [spiritual] status are not included in martyrdom. Similarly, if a member of our Jam a ‘at contracts the plague, it is martyrdom for him and Allah the Exalted will reward him for it. Jesus, Peace be on Him, Being Fatherless is Proven from the Quran A person’s question was presented whether it was necessary to accept Jesus to be born without a father. The Promised Messiah as responded: It is proven so from the Holy Quran, and we believe in the Holy Quran. Additionally, I also do not find any argument against it in the laws of nature as hundreds of insects and bugs are created who do not have a father or a mother. The place where this is mentioned in the Holy Quran, God Almighty has presented two wondrous examples of His power. First is the mention of Hadrat Zakariyy a as [Zechariah] that God bestowed a son to him in old age while his wife was barren as well. Along with