Reply to a Mockery — Page 122
122 The Mahdi was to appear in the 13th century of Hijrah. The whole of the 13th century passed but he did not come. At the time of writing we are already into the sixth month of the 14th century. Perhaps Allah the Majestic will have mercy and, through His grace and justice, grant that in the next four to six years the Mahdi will appear. ( Iqtir a bus S a ‘ati, Naww a b Nūrul H assan Kh a n, p. 221, Ma t ba‘ Muf i d Alam, 1301 AH) Maulana Sahib! Perhaps you do not realise that the writer of the above extract was one of your leaders. Now let us take a look at the Shiites. How do they express their restlessness at having waited so long for the advent? They have firm faith that he will indeed come as that is what the Leader of the Truthful, Hadrat Muhammad Mu st af a , had promised. Here we quote the Shia scholar Mr. Athar Fid a Bukh a ri: مہ ی ہ اب ااظتنر رکےت وہے کھت ےگ � ی ئ وارآ� ی د� ی ڈےنلھاگلےہاس� رےرظتنماامم ی ی م ئ ابآیھباج� ی ئ زعادارآ� ی ہ دمتےسرظتنم� This waiting has left us tired, The sun is about to set, Please come, my awaited Im a m, We have been waiting for you for so long. ( Ma‘ a riful-Isl a m, Sahibuz-Zam a n Number, p. 36, Athar Fida Bukh a ri)