So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 158
The third type are Zalimin. Their nature is such that they do not believe unless they receive some beating (punish- ment). Those who say that Islam was spread at the point of the sword, tell lies, for, the battles that the Muslims fought were defensive. But, of course, this much is true that God has destined that the Zalimin should see a sort of compulsion i. e. punishment. This method has been in action in the times of all the Prophets. He who sees with the naked eye cannot com- pete with the one who sees with the telescope. How can one and the same method benefit people having different talents. It is the Sabiq Bil Khairat who become the dear and near ones of tl:e prophets and later on, their true successors. Their likeness is to be found in Hazrat Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him; he did not ask for a miracle to be shown nor did he demand a Sign. As soon as he heard of the claim he declared himself to have believed. The fact is that he who knows the life of a Prophet (his moral condition) he does not stand in need of a Sign or a Miracle. And that is why the Holy Prophet, sallallaho alaihi wa sallam, reminded the people in the words: Fa-qad labisto feekum omaram min qallihi "I have lived a life time among you". The Sabiqin can discern the truth through their insight. When the Holy Prophet reached Medina, and many people came to have a look at him, one of them was a Jew. When this Jew was asked as to what kind of man the Holy Prophet was, he answered: This face could not be that of a liar. 158