A Present to Kings — Page 80
( 80 ) is, moreover, a Divine law that in the beginning all religions spread very slowly. Smallness of the number of followers therefore, ought not to make one doubtful of the truth of any movement. What is to be seen is whether the movement is gaining or losing in numbers. A similar objection was taken against Islam by the infidels of Arabia, to which God gave the following reply:ا فلا يرون انا اتی الارفها افهم الغا ابون meaning: Do they not see that We have been daily shortening the land from near its borders? Will they, in spite of this fact, still believe that it is they who will come out victorious?. In other words, when every day they saw Islam growing and themselves dwindling in numbers, then how could they believe that it was they who would come out victorious. The case of the movement founded by the Promised Messiah is governed by the same law. It is daily growing in strength. . It began with only one man and already it has its followers in every land. This progress is itself a proof that very soon at the hands of this community Islam will triumph over all other religions of the world. . THE AHMADEES. . Thus the work of internal reform achieved by the. Promised Messiah consisted in founding a community which is a model of piety and purity. Even our enemies will bear testimony to the fact that as soon as a man turns an Ahmadi, the tenour of his life undergoes a change and a reformation is wrought within him, such that if a comparison be made between his past life and his new life, a difference can be seen like that of the Nadir from the Zenith. There are thousands who have increased in sincerity to an extent as to become the counterparts of the Holy Companions and who think it nothing to sacrifice their life, their property, their homes, their friends and their relations for the sake of their faith. In the eyes of the worldly men they pass as poor and weak, but in the sight of God they possess such a dignity that no one who persecutes them can ever meet with happiness, and those who oppress