Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 282
282 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Messengers and Prophets of God Almighty. Those who recognise them through strong indications and believe, and who are termed the first of believers, possess a higher rank and station. However, when their truth becomes as manifest as the sun, and the ocean of their success begins to flow forth, those who believe in them then are termed as the ordinary, common masses. When this has been the law of God Almighty that has always operated in rela- tion to the institution of prophethood, and this has been the way of God with His divinely appointed ones, how could I be any different? Hence, if these people do not possess any spite or obstinacy, they ought to hear my words and follow me, and then they will see whether God Almighty leaves them in darkness or draws them out into the light. I am certain that anyone who follows me with patience and true sincerity of heart will not perish; in fact, they shall partake of a life that never ends. Of all the people who are with me and who are present, can even one of them say that they have not seen a sign? God Almighty has shown not one, but hundreds of signs. However, if one lays the foundation of their faith on signs, this at times becomes a stumbling block. As for the person whose heart is pure and who possesses fear of God, I once again present to them the verdict of Jesus as himself relating to the concept of the second coming; they ought to explain to me whether the Messiah was right or wrong in whatever response he gave to the Jews (who said that it was necessary for Elijah to appear before Jesus). The Jews pre- sented their book and pointed out that in the scripture of the Prophet Malachi, it is written that Elijah must come, not the likeness of Elijah. The Messiah said that the person who was to come was John; accept it if you wish. Now, present this case to an arbitrator and see for yourself in whose favour the judge would issue a verdict. Surely, the judge will issue a verdict in favour of the Jews, but as for a believer who has faith in God Almighty and knows the manner in which the cho- sen ones of God appear, they will firmly believe that whatever the Messiah said and did was true and correct. Is this not the case at present, or is this different? One who possessed fear of God would tremble if they were audacious enough to say that this claim was false. It is a pity and a matter of regret that these people do not even possess the degree of faith that was possessed by the man from among the people of Pharaoh, who said that if this person is a liar, he himself will be destroyed. In my relation, if the people had adopted righteousness, in the least they would have said this much and then observed whether God Almighty is showing His succour and support in my favour, or whether He is destroying my p. 257