Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 257
257 attracted to a foreign style of dress and behaviour. In a way, one foot of theirs is within the circle of Christianity. It can clearly be understood, therefore, that internally there are self-invented beliefs and traditions which promote polytheis- tic traditions, and externally there are the calamities of which I have just spoken, especially the harm which the religion of the cross has caused. The religion of Islam was such that if even one person renounced their faith and turned away from Islam, it would seem like the end of the world. Now the state of affairs is that countless people have renounced their Faith. The Need for a Special Manifestation of God Almighty Now, a sensible person ought to reflect on all of these facts collectively and contemplate for the sake of God—do we not need a special manifestation of God in this age? Has the time not come for Allah the Exalted to fulfill His promise of divine guardianship? For He states: 1 َ لَهٗ لَحٰـفِظُوْن الذِّكْرَ وَ اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا اِنَّا Verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian. If even now, His help and manifestation is not needed, someone ought to tell me when such a time will come? Reflect and ponder that on the one hand, events have transpired which demonstrate and call for a special manifestation of Allah Almighty, and for Him to show support for His chosen religion with practical truths and heavenly succour. On the other hand, the present century has set a seal on the fact that, in accordance with the promise of Allah Almighty (that a Reformer would be sent at the head of every century for the revival of religion as expressed by the tongue of His Chosen One, the Best of the Messengers and the Seal of the Prophets, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) it is clear that a Reformer must appear. Now nineteen years have passed since the start of this century. If even now, after all of these needs have come about, no one has been divinely commissioned, then reflect for the sake of God, what remains of Islam in such a case? Would this not establish that the promise َ لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْن اِنَّا (and most surely We will be its Guardian) was not fulfilled? Would this not prove that the proph- ecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, about the 1 al-Hijr, 15:10 p. 235