Lecture Ludhiana — Page 63
63 pulpits that even the beasts prayed for safety from the thirteenth century and that that the fourteenth century would be auspicious. How strange that in the fourteenth century, in which the Promised Imam was to appear, an impostor should appear in his place and that he should be supported by hundreds of thousands of signs and God Almighty should help him to emerge successfully out of every contest and competition! Just pause and think before trying to answer. It is easy to blurt out something thoughtlessly, and so difficult to utter a word if one fears God. Another point also worthy of your attention is that God does not grant so long a reprieve to a liar and impostor as exceeds even the period of blessed grace granted to the Holy Prophet sa. I am now sixty-seven and it is more than twenty three years since the Call to this office. Had I really been an impostor and a liar, God would not have stretched this period so long. Some people ask what is the good of my coming? Remember, the purpose of my coming is twofold: First, Islam is under attack from other religions, which, in a manner of speaking, are eating it up and have reduced it to the level of a small and weak orphan. God has sent me at this point in time to save Islam from the attacks of false religions, and to furnish incontrovertible proofs of its rationale and verities. These proofs, in addition to the scientific and intellectual argu- ments, lie in the heavenly signs and blessings which have always appeared in support of Islam. A look at the current