Bounties of the Gracious God — Page 20
20 truthfulness were present within their own beings but they did not take a look at them due to the feebleness of their own minds. Another misfortune that has befallen them is that they have not pondered over the start of the 14th century, which, accord- ing to men of knowledge, is specifically associated with the Promised Messiah, and this is borne out by the testimonies of seers, authentic Hadith and verities of the Holy Quran. However, when the people persisted in denial, I turned towards the deniers and told them, ‘I have divine testimonies with me. Will you then be among those that accept?’ But they rejected those testimonies, even though their hearts were convinced of them. Woe to the transgressors! Then I prayed for an epidemic that might serve to warn the transgressors. And it was revealed to me that the plague was about to descend since the actions of the evil-doers themselves had invited it. Then, by Allah, it was not long that the plague wreaked havoc in these lands. They ascribed this plague to my ‘misconduct’ and said that they considered me a bad omen. They mocked at my words and said, ‘We will be saved. This fire will not touch us. None of our religious scholars will die from the plague. Surely we are righteous and God-fearing. So far as you are concerned, you will suffer from the plague and die because you are a liar. ’ At this I replied, ‘You speak lies. In fact, we have been granted protection from the plague. Do not threaten me with these fires. Surely, fire is my servant, in fact it is the servant of my servants. ’ A few days later death began to hunt them down and some of their most eminent scholars suc- cumbed to the plague. I had already prophesied about one of the victims of the plague. If you wish, you can read the verses of my