The Descent of the Messiah — Page 229
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS 43 [continued] of a mortal and which is the word of God Almighty. The critics' contention that this is no longer the age for such prophecies is merely a statement commonly ut- tered by people. However, I believe that this is an age for the acceptance of compelling and perfect truths and ver- ities, and there probably has never been such an age. No fraud or deceit can remain hidden in this era, which is all the more pleasing for the righteous because only a per- son who knows how to differentiate between truth and falsehood can truly appreciate the truth and embrace it with joy and eagerness. There is such an attraction in the truth that it draws people towards itself. Evidently, people of this age are accepting hundreds of new facts that their forefathers did not accept. If the people of this age were not thirsty for the truth, then what would be the reason for the beginning of such a wonderful revolu- tion? The present age is undoubtedly a friend, not a foe, of the truth. To say that this is the age of clever people and that the time of the simple-minded has passed is to condemn the era, as if to say that this is an evil time in which people refuse to accept the truth even after they have recognised it. I can never accept this to be the case because I find that the majority of those turning to me and benefiting from me are those with a modern educa- tion, and some even have B. A and M. A degrees. I see that these educated people are accepting the truth with great zeal and enthusiasm. A group of Eurasian Englishmen who are educated and newly converted to Islam reside in Madras and are members of my Community and believe in all the verities. I believe that I have now written all that is neces- sary for a God-fearing person to understand. The Aryas, however, are free to comment on this article as they wish. I am not concerned with what they might say, as I know that praising or condemning the prophecy at this stage is of no importance. If this prophecy is from 229