Jesus In India — Page 19
INTRODUCTION 9 of the Ahle-Hadith there are also those closeted Wahaabis who believe in a bloodthirsty Mahdi and in the common concept of Jihad. They believe what is contrary to the right path, and, at some opportune time, they consider it highly virtuous to kill all people who profess other religions. Whereas such beliefs, killing others in the name of Islam, or believing in such prophecies that some bloodthirsty Mahdi or bloodthirsty Messiah will come into the world wishing to advance the cause of Islam by bloodshed and threats of bloodshed, are absolutely against the Holy Quran and the authentic ahadith [sayings of the Holy Prophetsas]. Our Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, suffered great hardship in the Holy City of Mecca and thereafter at the hands of the disbelievers also. The thirteen years which he spent at Mecca were years of great affliction and suffering. Even to think of them brings tears to one's eyes. But he did not raise the sword against his enemies at that time, nor did he reply in kind to their abuse, until many of his disciples and close friends were merci- lessly killed, and he too was himself subjected to all kinds of bod- ily suffering. He was poisoned many a time; and many types of schemes were hatched to murder him but in which the opponents remained unsuccessful. When, however, the time for God's venge- ance came, it so happened that all the Meccan and tribal chiefs 1. Some from among the Ahle-Hadith write in their books unjustly and with great impertinence that the birth of the Mahdi is imminent: that he will imprison the British rulers of India, and that at that time the Christian king will be arrested and brought before him. These books are still to be found in the homes of these Ahle-Hadith. Iqtirābus-Sa'ah is one of these books, whose author is a very well-known Ahle-Hadith scholar. This very account is written on page 64 of this book. (Author)