The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 189
188 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS these scientists, was unexpected. However, the meteoric phenomenon that occurred on 14 November 1833, and 27 November 1885, corre- sponds with astronomical expectations. Nevertheless, a search through the dates of the occurrence of such phenomena reveals that the same has been taking place on dates very much removed from those ascertained by astronomical calculations. For example, astronomers only observe silence in regard to the occur- rence of frequent shooting stars on 10 March 1521 and 19 January 1135 and May 610. Though we cannot fix a date of the occurrence of the shooting stars which appeared after the arrest of Jesus as and which afterwards became a comet with a tail, it appears that it must have taken place in early June. Although the Christian scriptures do not help us in investigating this long-gone event because of their contra- dictory statements, we can say by way of inference that when Jesus as was arrested by the Jews, it must have been the time of an intensely hot summer. His being extremely thirsty when he was arrested clearly shows that the weather at that time caused the feelings of heat and thirst. That month must therefore be June, for there was also a great dust storm as a result of which it became very dark, and June is the month of frequent dust storms. AUTHOR'S MARGIN NOTE Regarding meteors and sim- ilar phenomena, Europe's recent investigations have by no means reached the pinna- cle of complete research and are full of doubts. All this discussion shows that astronomers and scientists have attained no definite and conclusive methodology about the heavenly bodies and especially about meteors and comets. Whenever there appears a phenom- enon which does not agree with their calcu- lations, they are thrown into disarray and surprise and raise a clamour in agitation. European astronomers, and the scientists and astrologers who boast about their knowledge, are prone to publish predictions about the heavenly bodies and their influence—at times, they frighten people with impending famines and storms, and at other times, give them hopes of prosperity by foretelling opportune rains and lower