Tadhkirah — Page 229
1891 229 am not affected by fear. Rather, I consider it most delightful to suffer in this cause. While the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was speaking his face shone with the light of truth. When he concluded, Ab u Ta lib, perceiving the light in his face, was overcome by emotion and said: I was not aware of this exalted condition of yours. You exist in a different world and in a different condition. Go and continue as you wish. So long as I am alive, I shall support you to the limits of my capacity. [Iz a la-e-Auh a m, pp. 16–18, R uha n i Khaz a ’in, vol. 3, pp. 110–111] All of this subject dealing with the events related to Ab u Ta lib is set out in well-known books, but the whole of the subject has been revealed upon the heart of my humble self by Allah the Almighty, except that an occasional phrase has been added by my humble self by way of explanation. [Iz a la-e-Auh a m, pp. 18–19 foonote, R uha n i Khaz a ’in, vol. 3, pp. 111–112 footnote] 1891 The S a hih Muslim relates that the Messiah would descend near the white Minaret in the east of Damascus…. It has been disclosed to me by Allah that the interpretation of Damascus in this context is a town the dwellers of which have the temper of Yaz i d and the habits and thoughts of the wretched Yaz i d… It has been conveyed to me that by Damascus, therefore, is meant the place which possesses this well known characteristic of Damascus. By specifying Damascus as the place of the appearance of the Messiah, Allah the Almighty has indicated that by the [word] Messiah is not meant the first Messiah to whom the Gospel was revealed, but it refers to someone from among the Muslims who, in his spiritual aspect, would resemble the Messiah [Jesus] and also Im a m H usain, for Damascus is