The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page xi
PUBLISHERS' NOTE. TO THE SECOND EDITION "Essence of Islām” is an English rendering of extracts from the writings, speeches, announcements and discourses of the Promised Messiah, Ḥaḍrat Mirzā Ghulām. Aḥmad of Qādiānas. Ḥaḍrat Aḥmadas claimed, in 1889, that he was the same Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been prophesied for latter days not only in Islām but also in other faiths. . Hadrat Aḥmadas announced his claim at a time when religious strife was at its worst. In India, the British rule had brought division between the Muslims and the Hindūs, who were always at daggers drawn and their divines were constantly debating. The Christian missionaries entered the fray to convert India to Christianity. As a result, India became the hotbed of religious debate and controversy. . Islām seemed to be on the losing ground in this battle. It had neither the numerical superiority of the Hindus, nor the resources of the Christians. Its divines had lost the spirit of truthfulness and religious uprightness and had succumbed to lowly morals and materialistic desires in the guise of religion. Indeed, the world of Islām was a demonstration of the prophecy of the Holy Prophets that "A time will come when nothing will remain of faith except rituals and nothing shall remain of Qur'ān except its words. . . ". At this time of desolate need was fulfilled the grand prophecy of the Holy Prophets that even if faith leaves the world altogether and ascends to Pleiades, a man, or some men, from among the Persians would bring it back