The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 74
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI was foretold, for instance, that in the time of the Promised One a new method of transport would render camels useless. This has been fulfilled by the introduction of railways. It was written that news would be carried instantaneously from one part of the world to another. This has been fulfilled by the invention of the telegraph and wireless telegraphy. It was written that women would increase in number and would be employed in large numbers for the sale of goods, that women's dress would leave exposed those parts of the body which were formerly thought fit to be covered. It was written that three great powers would wage war with three other great powers, and that the victorious three would occupy Constantinople, but that a man would run away from Constantinople to Asia Minor, and would wage a war and would recover his territory. It was written that the Christian nations would be supreme everywhere, that Arabia would be severed from the_Turkish Empire, and that separate. Governments would be established in Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. It was written that a certain people would shorten the months, the Islamic law would be disregarded, gambling would increase; large Police forces would be required; women would dress like men; working classes would come into power; the rich would grudge charity to the poor; Islamic governments would be destroyed; religious condition of. Arabia would become deplorable; inanimate objects would speak (this refers to the invention of the gramophone, radio, television, etc. ); new modes of conveyance would be invented (this refers to airplanes, etc. ). It was written that land lying between two seas, on one side of which there was coral and on the other pearls, would be cut, and thus the seas would be joined and a large number of vessels would pass through the opening. This refers clearly to the Suez and the Panama Canals. Again it was written, that books and newspapers would be published in large numbers; several discoveries would be made in astronomy; irrigation canals would be cut out of rivers which would consequently run dry; mountains would be blown up: travelling would increase; in some countries the aboriginal inhabitants would be wiped out; immolation of widows and other similar ancient customs would be abolished by the State. It was 74