The Descent of the Messiah — Page 28
THE DESCENT OF THE MESSIAH Dear ones! Keep all these admonitions in mind lest you un- wittingly be counted among the arrogant in the sight of God Almighty. He who arrogantly corrects his brother's pronun- ciation of a word exhibits arrogance. He who does not listen courteously to his brother and turns away from him partakes of arrogance. He who resents an impoverished brother sitting next to him partakes of arrogance. He who mocks and laughs at one who is occupied in prayer, partakes of arrogance. He who does not seek to render full obedience to one who has been appointed by God and is His Messenger partakes of arrogance. He who does not pay full attention to the directions of such a one and does not study his writings with care also partakes of arrogance. Try, therefore, to avoid any form of arrogance so that you may escape ruin and you, along with your household, may attain salvation. Lean toward God, love Him to the utmost possible extent, and fear Him more than you could fear anyone in this life. Be pure of heart and pure of intention, meek and humble, and free of all wrongdoing so that you may receive mercy. Returning to the main subject, the prophecy regarding the plague is not only to be found in Barāhīn-e-Ahmadiyya but also in many of the books and announcements that I have published since Barāhīn was written more than twenty years ago. Eight years ago it was to be found on pages 35, 36, 37 and 38 of the Ar- abic book Nūrul-Haqq; then on pages 59 to 60 of Sirāj-e-Munīr five years ago; and then in the announcement regarding the plague that was published about four and a half years ago on Feb- ruary 6, 1898. The words of the prophecy were: “I saw in a dream that God's angels were planting black trees in different parts of the Punjab. Those trees were very ugly, black in colour, terrify- ing, and small in size. I asked some of those who were planting them: 'What kind of trees are these?' They answered: “These are the trees of the plague that is about to spread throughout the 28