The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 255
254 ΑΙΝΑ-Ε-ΚΑMĀLĀT-E-ISLAM-DAFI UL-WASĀWIS this connection, wherein the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is reported to have said that the maulawis and jurists of that age would be the worst of all people inhabiting the world at that time. ¹ And it is written in Hijajul-Kirāmah that it would, in fact, be these very maulawīs and jurists who would pronounce an edict of kufr [disbelief] against the Mahdi of Allah (the Promised Messiah). Most Muslims are unaware that it is established on the basis of ahādīth that even the Promised Messiah would be subjected to an edict of kufr. This prophecy has, therefore, been fulfilled. In short, the period between the early age and the age of the Promised Messiah is the period of great evils, about which the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: خير هذه الأمة أولها وآخرها . أولها فيهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وآخرها فيهم عيسى ابن مريم، وبين ذلك فيج أعوج ليسوا مني ولست منهم . Meaning that, only two Ummahs are good-the first and the last. And the middle one is a Crooked Host. They are like an army in numbers but are spiritually dead. They are not of me and I am not of them. An authentic hadith relates that at the time of the revelation of the following verse: آخَرِيْنَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ 2 The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, placed his hand upon the shoulder of Salman Farsi [Salman the لَوْ كَانَ الْإِيمَانُ عِنْدَ الثَّرَيَّا لَنَالَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ فَارِسَ أَوْ رِجَالٌ مِنْ فَارِسَ . 3 :Persian] and said 1. Al-Jami' li-Shu'abul-Îmān, Juzw 3, p. 317-318, published by Maktabat ar- Rushd Nāshirūn, Beirut [Publisher] 2. And among others from among them who have not yet joined them (Sūrah al-Jumu'ah, 62:4). [Publisher] 3. Şahih Muslim, Kitāb Fadā'iluş-Şahābah, Bab Fadl Faris, Hadith 2546 [Publisher]