The Heavenly Decree — Page 31
31 weeks earlier for making available the afflicted persons and for ensuring their appearance before the Board on a fixed date. I shall myself bear all expenses for these announcements. 20 A copy of the two lists so prepared and bearing the names of the afflicted persons shall be kept at the Board’s office as well, and that very day will count as the first day of the appointed time of one year. Each party shall continue to pray for the afflicted ones who have fallen to its share and, as per the stated procedure, all the proceedings will be recorded in the Board’s register. If a party should die within the period of one year, before an estimate can be made of the plentiful acceptance of prayers and of clear victory, and should leave the entire matter of its contest unfinished, even then such a party shall be considered vanquished for the reason that Allah—through a particular intent— kept its work unfinished so as to prove its falsehood. Evaluation of a large number of afflicted ones has been made a condition, for it is only with such numbers that the acceptance of prayer can be tested. Conversely, as afore-mentioned, it is possible that there are only a small number—two or three—in need of prayers and they may have been destined 20 At the time of the reading of this manuscript in an open Jalsa, brother Maulaw i Ghul a m Q a dir Sahib Fa sih , owner and publisher of The Punjab Gazette , Sialkot, offered in writing to bear all the expenses for the printing and publication of these announcements. May Allah reward him in the best manner. [Author]