Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 501
Reply to the doubts raised by rashĪd a H mad gangohĪ 501 why, in the case of this hadith, should we not interpret the two saffron sheets in the way it has been done—in accordance with the tradition of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him— unanimously by all the eminent interpreters of dreams in Islam? There is not a single one opposed to this interpretation. And the interpreta- tion is that the two saffron sheets symbolize two illnesses. I can swear by God that this is also my own experience. Countless times I have seen a saffron sheet on the body of a person in a dream—either with refer- ence to myself or someone else—and it has always materialized as an illness. Thus, it is outrageous that just as the word متوفّیك [ mutawaff i- ka —‘will cause you to die’] is interpreted differently when it pertains to Hadrat ‘ I s a —in contravention of its universal meaning—so should the two saffron sheets be interpreted in contravention of the meaning given by the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, the T a bi‘ i n [the generation after the Companions], the Taba‘ T a bi‘ i n [the genera- tion of the T a bi‘ i n ], and the Imams of Ahl-e-Bait [those who belong to the household of the Holy Prophet s as ]. In short, the critically important discussion at this juncture is whether or not Hadrat ‘ I s a , may peace be upon him, actually died, because, if it is established that he has gone to heaven with his earthly body, then, as I have just mentioned, it is necessary for him to return to the earth in any event—whether to join the Mahdi or merely to die. This is the essential contention which, once settled, will resolve the entire dispute, and the party that possesses strong arguments in favour of the life or death of Hadrat ‘ I s a, may peace be upon him, is truthful. Once this disagreement is resolved, all peripheral discussions become unnecessary; rather, all the miscellaneous objections of the vanquished party become automatically rejected. Hence, this is the vital issue that a seeker of truth needs to ponder with full attention. The unfortunate matter here is that despite the fact that the Holy Quran has spoken of the death of Hadrat ‘ I s a , may peace be upon him, in clear words; the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be