Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 527
Undated 527 and favours had an effect to such an extent that the name of Madinah Taybah was not allowed to remain Yathrib because Yathrib means ‘to perish’. I say with certainty, and Allah the Exalted has manifested this truth upon me that he was like that grain in the dust of Madinah from which thousands of grains sprouted. These people who oppose me are blinded by bigotry and obstinacy and consider him to be like a grain that, God forbid, is moth-eaten. It is the wont of Allah the Exalted since time immemorial that the morals, habits and spiritual concentration of the Prophet are given to someone else, too, who is completely lost in his love and in his obedience. And who has absorbed his perfections and virtues by way of reflection. In such a case, it is as if the appearance of that Prophet is given to him. At that time, his name is that of that Prophet. This is the mystery behind what is written in the Bible that the Messiah will not come until Elijah comes. And at another place, the coming of Elijah is taken to mean someone coming in his character, nature, and power. Therefore, what has been said about the Mahdi, that he will come in the name of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, actually means that he will be the manifestation of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, by way of shadow and reflection. Objectives of the Advent of Promised Messiah There are two objectives for my advent. For Muslims, it is that they should become established on genuine taqw a [righteous- ness] and purity. They should become such true Muslims as Allah the Exalted has intended in the meaning of Muslim. And for Christians, [my purpose is] that the Cross be broken and