Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 46
46 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Advent of the Messiah in the Israelite and Ishmaelite Dispensations As I have mentioned earlier, the profound wisdom of God desired for two dis- pensations to be established on earth: the Israelite and the Ishmaelite dispen- sations. The first succession began with Moses and ended with the Messiah". This spanned an era of 1400 years. Similarly, there are indications of the advent of a Messiah in this day and age, who would appear 1400 years after the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. One significance that the number fourteen holds is also that a human being attains to maturity at the age of fourteen. Moses" was informed that the Messiah would appear when the Jews would become divided into many sects and their beliefs would differ with one another to the extreme. Certain sects rejected the existence of angels, while oth- ers rejected the Day of Judgement and the Resurrection of Bodies. In short, when irreligious ways would run rampant, at such a time the Messiah was to appear as an Arbiter. In the same manner, our Perfect Guide, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, informed us that when, in the likeness of the Jews, countless sects would develop amongst you; various false beliefs and ill-practices would begin to take root; and like the Jewish scholars, when some would declare others to be non-believers; at that time, a Messiah would appear as the Arbiter from among the Muslims in this blessed community. He would settle every matter in light of the Quran. He would be tormented at the hands of his people just like the Mes- siah and would be labelled a disbeliever. It was inevitable that these people, out of their ignorance, were bound to call this person the Anti-Christ and a disbeliever, because it had already been foretold in the Hadith that the Messiah who was to come would be branded as such. However, the belief which is taught to you is perfectly clear and evident. In fact, it does not even require any argumentation; rather, it already comes buttressed by conclusive proof. The Death of Jesus" The first bone of contention relates to the death of Jesus". There are clear and lucid verses that support this. Allah the Almighty states: