The Afghan Martyrs — Page 8
Dust Storm of Great Ferocity and Unanticipated Calamity of the Spread of Cholera N ow we quote from a book written by a British Chief Engineer who was in no way connected with the events in Kabul. In fact his book has been written covering certain other subjects and he has only mentioned this event in passing. He says that Sahibzada Abdul Lateef commanded great respect, he was held in very high esteem and he was counted amongst the most respected divines of his time. He had more than fifty thousand followers who would attend a convocation when the Sahibzada would arrange to house and feed them himself. Martin, the author of the book, has not himself recorded what follows and our sources lie elsewhere. However he does say that the Sahibzada was universally revered and was one of the topmost divines of the time. When he was about to be martyred the Sahibzada predicted that after a lapse of six days a great calamity would befall the inhabitants of Kabul and then he himself would be granted another life. The Promised Messiah (PBUH) has explained this phenomenon in his book 'Tazkira-tush-Shahadatain'. He said that soon after their martyrdom the spirits of martyrs are presented to the Almighty. It appears that in keeping with the teachings of the Holy Quran the Sahibzada had been told that after a lapse of six days he would be given a new life The Sahibzada had also made a prophecy about a great calamity. He declared that the Almighty would not forgive anyone of those who were involved in this monstrosity. He said that he was not in the least afraid of dying but was merely warning those who were involved in the plot to kill him. He said that as a result of the outrage the land of Kabul would be cursed and great 8