The Message or A Cry of Anguish — Page 49
THE MESSAGE OR A CRY OF ANGUISH 49 this move and consequently damaged the cause of Islam. It is as if these gentlemen intended to support Islam, but the author [i. e. the Promised Messiah], merely out of per- sonal grudge and jealousy, has purposely tried to injure the Islamic cause. The reply to this objection is that in my memorial, dated 14 May 1898 and published in the Urdu language, I surely wrote this much that it was indeed inappropriate to request the Government to ban the publication of the treatise Ummahātul-Mu'minin. Yet, on the other hand, I presented in that memorial the realistic proposal for countering the threat of public disorder, namely that a rebuttal to this book should be written with politeness and civility. Every scholar and erudite person knows that the treatise Ummahātul- Mu'minin was not the first publication by the Christians in which the author had made use of invective, slander and abuse; rather this has been the continuous practice by native priests for the past announcement. Now look, how clearly the prophecy about Ātham was fulfilled. Obviously Ātham and I, both were under Divine decree. What is the secret that Ātham died long ago according to my prophecy and I, by the grace of the Almighty, am still alive? Is it not the act of God that occurred in my support after my revelation and prophecy? I am extremely astonished at these people who, despite being the offspring of the Muslims, fail to discern these Divine powers that clearly demon- strate the brilliance of Divine succour. کیں رہ کہ تو میروی به ترکستان است ترسم که به کعبہ چوں رسی اے اعرابی O Bedouin! I wonder how you can reach the Ka'bah, When the road you have taken leads to Turkistan. (Author)