The Noble Son — Page 54
– FULFILMENT OF A GRAND PROPHECY 54 ‘Do tell, the one elected by you, young and inexperienced and not appointed by God, who in the eyes of most of them has no status other than that of a schoolboy, in what way is he worthy of note or mention?’ Furthermore, they used to say: ‘To place the leadership of the nation in the hands of a twenty- five-year-old young man is dangerous. ’ 59 Thus, on the one side, there was a group who thought themselves wise and experienced, whose claim was that not ninety but ninety-five percent of the Community supported them. And on the other was a twenty-five-year-old youngster to whom they would refer to, by way of insult, as a child, of tender age, and inexperienced, who in their opinion had not yet even reached the age of discernment. 60 Who had still not attained to the age of being able to differentiate between obstinacy and resolve. 61 And those who had entered into his Bai ’ at were considered to be slaves—having no opinion of their own. In those circumstances, who would have thought that the individual who was being called a child and his companions slaves, would one day attain worldwide renown? Despite such circumstances, his achieving fame to the ends of the earth is certainly beyond human powers and a mighty sign of the help and assistance of God Almighty. As it is written in the announcement of 20 February 1886 that Allah the Almighty had given glad tidings to the Promised Messiah as