Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 70
70 AHMADIYY AT and particulars and informing them of the day on which they would be required to present themselves to meet the partici- pants in the trial. Beginning with that day each participant in the trial would continue to supplicate during the period of one year for deliverance from their sufferings of the persons allotted to him by the drawing of lots. The association would maintain a record of the progress of the trial. If any of the participants should die before the expiry of the period of one year and before a clear estimation could be made of the success or failure of the respective participants in the trial, the deceased would be deemed to have failed in the trial; as it would be assumed that God Almighty had by His special design removed him in the middle of the trial so as to make it manifest that his claim was false. The result of the trial would be determined on the basis of the condition of a large major- ity of sufferers in each list. Ahmad pointed out that it was necessary for such a trial that there should be a large number of sufferers for otherwise the trial might prove inconclusive. For instance, if there were only two or three persons in a list it was possible that their sufferings might be under an irrevoc- able Divine decree so that they could not be helped by any prayer or supplication. A saintly person was recognized through the acceptance of a large majority of his supplica- tions and not through the acceptance of everyone of them. This was a well-recognized principle. He said: I have suggested the inclusion in the list of sufferers of people who are afflicted with diverse types of calamities so that Divine mercy may be manifested in diverse forms and people of different temperaments might be able to arrive at a true estimation of the result reached from different points of view. I promise and state it on oath that if I am defeated in this trial I shall myself announce my confession of failure and my falsehood. There will remain no further need for any of my opponents to adjudge me an infidel or impostor. In such case I shall deserve every humiliation and disgrace and contempt. I shall also confess in the public sitting of the association in which the result of the trial is announced that I have not been sent by God Almighty and that all