The Light of Truth — Page xv
FOREWORD XV Messiah's Arabic corpus. For this reason, we have presented the original Arabic masterpiece alongside both the Urdu and English translations. In Part I, the Promised Messiahas responds to several of 'Imad- ud-Din's allegations and criticisms, including the claim that Hadrat Ahmad was an enemy of the state. He refutes 'Imād-ud-Din's assertions concerning Jihad, Prophet Jesusas, the Antichrist, and several Quranic terms. He also exposes the corruption of India's Muslim ulama, notably Maulawi Muhammad Husain of Batala. Exasperated by the attacks of both Muslim clerics and Christian clergy, the Promised Messiahas closed the book with a long, emotional prayer that included the following supplication: Save me from the ulama of evil and their utterings, and from their pride and their audacity, and deliver me from the unjust people. Send down help from the heavens and come to the aid of your servant who is suffering hardship, and rain down your punish- ment upon the disbelievers. (p. 314) Scarcely a month had passed since the publication of this prayer when a great heavenly Sign occurred in support of Hadrat Ahmad's claim. More than fourteen hundred years ago, the Holy Prophet of Islam foretold of an unprecedented Sign that would accompany the advent of the Imam Mahdi: namely, a lunar eclipse on the 13th of Ramadan and solar eclipse on the 28th of the very same month. Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas claimed to be the Imam Mahdi in 1891. The two other notable claimants of the 19th century-The Bab of Iran and Muhammad Ahmad of Sudan—had already died, in 1850 and 1885, respectively. On 21 March and 6 April 1894-corresponding to the 13th and 28th of Ramadan-the moon and the sun were eclipsed, in exact accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Muslims everywhere rejoiced at the eclipses. Having witnessed the lunar eclipse personally, pilgrims in Makkah took to the streets to praise Allah upon hearing