Truth About the Split — Page 22
22 how the spiritual power of the Holy Prophet sa saved the majority of his immediate followers from following in the footsteps of the Jews except, of course, the few who indeed proved to be hypocrites. Similar also, the spiritual power of the Promised Messiah as was to save the majority of his followers from committing the mistake made by the followers of the first Messiah. And this is what has actually happened. The major portion of his followers, with the exception of a small section, have maintained their connection with the centre of the movement and continue to hold to their old beliefs. But, just as in the case of the Holy Prophet sa there arose after him a small party, who denied the validity of the Khilafat (Apostolic Succession) and endeavoured to belittle the Prophet’s rank, and who made their public appearance during the time of Hadrat Ali ra , the son-in-law or, so to speak, the son of the Holy Prophet sa , so also in the present case, when one of the sons of the Promised Messiah as came to hold the Khilafat there has appeared a small party like the earlier Kharijites, whose motto was: meaning "Obedience belongs to Allah alone; in affairs (of the Community) mutual counsel of the members