Tadhkirah — Page 290
290 1893 I beseeched Allah the High and threw myself before Him desiring that the mystery of descent might be resolved and the true interpretation of the Antichrist might be revealed so that I should know it with the certainty of knowledge and should see it with the certainty of sight. His favour then turned towards my instruction, my understanding, and it was revealed to me. I was taught from His Presence that descent in its true meaning is a reality, but that the Muslims have not understood that reality…. My Lord informed me that descent is spiritual and not physical…. As to the Antichrist, now listen, I will explain to you the reality on the basis of the clear and pure revelation that I have received…. Then understand, my dear ones, that it has been disclosed to me that the reference to the Antichrist as one individual is not designed to indicate his personal individuality, but his unity as a species, meaning thereby that in that species there will be a unity of ideas as is, indeed, indicated by the word dajj a l [Antichrist] itself and in this name there are many Signs for those who reflect. The meaning of the word dajj a l is a chain of deceptive ideas, the links of which are so attached to each other as if it was a structure of equal-sized bricks of the same colour, quality and strength, some of them firmly overlapping others and further strengthened by being plastered from outside. [ A’i na-e-Kam ala t-e-Isl a m , pp. 552–555, R uha n i Khaz a ’in, vol. 5, pp. 552–555] 1893 In those days I had a vision of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, after I had beheld him only a short while before. He converted me into his whip