The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 312
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE MUBAHALAH 311 causing them to join Islam, then how can the rule of the imaginary dajjal be possible while there already prevails Christian rule? Nevertheless, it is wrong to suppose that the Promised Messiah will come with a literal sword. I am surprised why these ulema do not con- sider the words يَضَعُ الْحَرْبَ ]'he will end war'] and why do they not read the hadith الأَئِمَةُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ ]the Imams will be from among the Quraish'[. ¹ When worldly rule and worldly khilafat or imāmat is not lawful for anyone but the Quraish, how can the Promised Messiah, who is not from the Quraish, be a worldly khalifah? It is strangely absurd to say that he will pledge allegiance to the Mahdi; that he will be subject to his command and will wield the sword at his bidding like a servant. Not so, gentlemen. May God Almighty guide you aright! The Promised Messiah's Khilafat is spiritual. He has nothing to do with worldly kingdoms; he has been given the Kingdom of Heaven. Moreover, today, it is impossible to make anyone believe truly at the point of the sword. Ignorant people find fault even with the sword that was wielded in the past, let alone that it should be used anew to kill people. The spiritual sword, however, is sorely needed and it shall be wielded; no one can prevent it from being used. I now close this intro- duction, but I wield a spiritual sword against the opponents which is the following. 1. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Juzw 8, p. 239, Musnad Anas ibn Malik, Hadith 12247, published by Darul-Hadith, Cairo, 2012 [Publisher]