The True Nature of the Mahdi — Page 47
47 blood; rather, they came as a rain of mercy, and did not fight except after much harm, killing, looting, and kidnapping at the hand of the enemies, and the excess of their corruption. So this Sunnah has been abolished due to the absence of its justifications in the present day, for we have been commanded to prepare for the disbelievers as they prepare for us. We do not raise the sword until our people are first killed by the sword. You see that the Christians do not kill us because of religion, nor do other people, be they far or near. So this tradition is a dishonour for Islam, that we aban - don kindness towards a people who act kindly. So pon - der, O noble ones. It is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Promised Messiah will abolish war; that is, he will not resort to bloodshed or violence. So it is not for me to oppose the command of the Noble Prophet, may the peace of Allah the Compassionate and Merciful be upon him. And this has been the Sunnah of our Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets, so which command is greater than this, O wise ones? Sufficient for you is what our leader, the Seal of the Prophets, has said, may the blessings of Allah, the angels, and the righteous from all mankind be upon him. So, with that it has been established that the