Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 74
74 AHMADIYY AT ter and should be in the nature of Divine chastisement, then it might be concluded that I have not been sent by God Almighty, nor do I speak under the urge of His Spirit. If I am. proved false in respect of this prophecy I will be ready to undergo any punishment and would be willing that a rope might be drawn round my neck and I might be hanged from a gibbet. Besides, apart from this agreement of mine, it is obvious that a person's being proved false in his prediction is in itself the highest degradation. Now all the Aryas should join together in supplicating that their advocate might be spared this torment. It should be understood that this man has offered such insult to the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, the contemplation of which makes one's body tremble. His books are full of contempt and defamation and vile abuse. There is no Muslim whose heart and liver would not be cut into pieces by listening to their contents. Despite his insolence this man is most ignorant, has not the slightest knowledge of Arabic and cannot even write in literary Urdu. This prophecy is not a mere casual utterance. This humble one supplicated in this particular regard and received the reply that has been set out above. This prophecy is a sign for the Muslims also. Would that they could realize the truth and their hearts could be softened. I now conclude with the name of God, the Lord of honour and glory, with Whose name I began. All praise belongs to Allah and may His peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad, the chosen one, the most exalted of the Messengers, the best of creation, our master, and master of all those that are in the earth and iri heaven. In a Persian poem published at the same time, Ahmad made reference to Lekh Ram in the words: 'Beware, 0 foolish and misguided enemy, and tremble with fear, of the sharp sword of Muhammad. ' This prophecy was criticized in certain quarters. In reply Ahmad declared, in his book Barakatud Dua: If in consequence of the prophecy nothing more happened than a fever or an ordinary ache or cholera after which normal health is restored, that would not be a fulfilment of the prophecy, and the prophecy would turn out to be a deception and a snare, for no one is free from such disorders; we all fall ill sometime or the other. In such case I w:ould certainly deserve the punishment that I have