Scattered Pearls — Page 6
5 existence of material objects, which can be seen and handled. Referring to his prophecies he would say that since they had come from the lips of God, they would most surely be fulfilled; and that, if they should fail to be fulfilled in the manner characteristic of and consistent with the working of the Divine plan in such matters, he was prepared to suffer death on the scaffold, as a liar and a cheat. . When a fanatical Hindu, Lala Ganga Bishen by name, objected in regard to the prophecy concerning the death of Pundit. Lekhram, that this death had not taken place as a result of the prophecy, through the invisible Hand of God, but had been contrived by the Promised Messiah, in conspiracy,. Hazrat Ahmad replied with the utmost jealousy for the honour of God, and the reputation of his Divine Mission, that if this was really what Lala Ganga Bishen thought, he should come forward and go on solemn oath to that effect. Then, within one year, if Lala Ganga Bishen was not caught in some condign punishment, even such that it should be entirely beyond the compass of human contrivance, Hazrat. Ahmad, would stand exposed as a liar, and he would be prepared to suffer death, as a murderer and an assassin. . With his characteristic force, he wrote: "I am ready, not once but a thousand times, to affirm solemnly in a court of law that after I have been declared to be a criminal by a heavenly judgement in this wise, I should be treated to the gallows. I have the most perfect realisation that by fulfilling my prophecy in this behalf Allah has decided the matter with His Own Hand, to make manifest the Truth of Islam. Therefore it is in the highest, degree impossible for things on this issue to transpire in such a way that I should have to face the gallows. " 1 (Ishtihaar, April 5, 1897). Giving expression to his fullest sense of conviction in regard to Divine Revelations of which he was the bearer, he wrote in another place: