Fazl-e-Umar — Page 149
Fazle Umar 149 The pattern that developed and continued over a number of years without inter- ruption was that progressively the number and strength of the Community continued to grow visibly and perceptibly, and a visible decline set in on the side of the dissident group till their activities were reduced to insignificance. Right in the middle of the acute period of the controversy, immediately after the demise of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I [ra] , the second Khalifa received the revela- tion (Arabic): “He will shatter them. ” This prophecy has been strikingly fulfilled over the years. Fairly early they pre- sented the spectacle, ‘Thou thinkest them to be united but their hearts are divided; that is because they are a people without sense’ (The Holy Qur’an Ch. 59:V. 15). Sharp differences manifested themselves between Maulvi Muhammad Ali and other leading figures in the group, and the tensions thereby generated became so acute that in his will Maulvi Muhammad Ali specified by name those of the group whose hostility and rancour towards him had embittered his life, and gave the direction that not a single one of them should take any part in his funeral rites. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] , “He will shatter them. ” Several persons of note and a large number out of the bulk of their group had, even in the lifetime of Maulvi Muhammad Ali, left the group and sworn allegiance to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra]. On the other hand large numbers of them gradually became indifferent and merged into the orthodox body of Muslims. The second generation of the group, with a few exceptions, lost all interest in religion and ceased to attach any importance to higher moral qualities and spiritual values. Some idea of the progress made by the Movement under the fostering care and wise leadership and guidance of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] might be formed on the basis of the attendance in the Annual Conferences of the Movement. In the last conference under Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I [ra] in 1913, the attendance was