Truth Prevails — Page 87
( 87 ) So this is a great Sign that, in accord with Revelations from the Lord God, the second son, born under glad tidings conveyed before time, even that son became the second Khalifa , and held the reins of the Movement in his hand, as the supreme executive, for more than fifty years. On the death of his son, Bashir Awwal , the Promised Messiah wrote in the Green Leaflet: “The second boy, in regard to whom the Ilhams said that a second Bashir would be given, whose second name is Mahmud – although to this time, the first of December, 1888, he has not yet taken birth; but in accord with the promise, he would most certainly be born, within the time limit in regard to the matter. The earth and the heavens can stumble in their stride, or falter to fall away; but it is impossible that promise extended by the Lord should fail to be fulfilled. Ignorant people laugh at the Revelations coming from Him; and fools throw ridicule on the pure tidings of joy proceeding from Him. But this is because the last day is hidden from their eyes, and the final end is not open before them, that they could see it. ” (Green Leaflet) Further on, in this Leaflet, replying to the criticism of opponents, on the death of the Bashir Awwal , the Promised Messiah wrote: “To this day, we have not written in any Ishtihar , that this boy whould have a long life. Nor did I say that he was the Muslih Mau’ud. In fact in our Ishtihar of February 20, 1886, there was a prophecy in regard to some of my sons, that they would die at an early age. Therefore, the point needs proper thought whether by the death of this boy, a prophecy had come to be fulfilled, or falsified. In the entire number of the people, among whom we have had this Ishtihar distributed, most of them bore on the death of this boy. For instance, the following passage in the Ishtihar of February 20, 1886, that a ‘handsome and pure boy comes to you, as your guest. ’ The word ‘guest’ used here seems to be the name given to the boy; it conveys the hint that he would pass away from this world, soon, at a very early age. For a guest, in any case, is one who, goes away soon. He departs, while you stand looking on, watching him, and he wends his way. The man who, stays behind, saying farewell to those who depart, cannot be called a guest. In the Ishtihar under reference here, the expression that he would be free from rijis (i. e. sin) this also is an indication of the short span of his life. Nor should anyone fall into the error that the prophecy mentioned is the one concerning the Muslih Mau’ud since, on the basis, of Ilham , it has been made clear that all these passages concern the son who has passed away. The prophecy concerning the Muslih Mau’ud starts from the following passage, i. e. , ‘With him is Fazl who will come with his coming. ’ Thus the name given to the Muslih Mau’ud in the Ilhami expression, is Fazl. Also his second name is Mahmud; and his third name is Bashir Thani as well (meaning the second Bashir). In