The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page xxxv
Introduction. XXXV. First, through reason. It needs to be considered whether reason affirms that a Prophet or reformer should appear at the time when a Prophet or a Messenger claims to have come, and whether the condition of mankind demands such a reformer. . Secondly, the prophecies of previous Prophets should be studied whether any of them had prophesied concerning his appearance or concerning the appearance of a. Prophet at the time of his advent. . Thirdly, it should be considered whether there is Divine help or heavenly support for his claim. . These three conditions have been laid down from ancient times for testing the claim of a true commissioned one of. God. God has had mercy upon you and has established all three conditions in my support and it is up to you to accept me or not. [Lecture Sialkot, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, Vol. 20, p. 241]. From the beginning, I have been of the view that no one becomes kafir or dajjal by rejecting my claim. Such a one would certainly be in error and astray from the right path. I do not call him faithless but he who rejects the truth that God Almighty has disclosed to me would be in error and astray from the straight path. I do not designate anyone who believes in the Kalimah as a kāfir, unless by rejecting me and calling me a kafir, he himself becomes a kāfir. In this matter, my opponents have always taken the lead. They called me kafir and prepared edicts against me. I did not take the lead in preparing edicts against them. They would be prepared to confess that if I am a Muslim in the estimation of God Almighty, then by calling me kafir they themselves become käfirs according to the edict of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of. Allāh be on him]. Thus, I do not call them kāfir; they themselves fall within the purview of the edict of the Holy. Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. [Tiryāq-ul-Qulub, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, Vol. 15, pp. 432-433]