The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 368
REBUTTAL TO SHΑΙΚΗ ΒΑΤALAWI 367 indeed even less, between the nikāḥ and Mirza Ahmad Baig's death. As I have already stated, the nikāḥ was performed on 7 April 1892, and Mirza Ahmad Baig departed from this mortal world on 30 September 1892. Now have some fear of God Almighty and tell me whether this prophecy has been fulfilled or not. If you are labouring under the misconception as to why it should be regarded as a Divine prophecy and why it should not be attributed to astrology or other sciences of divination, you should know that the prophecies of astrologers are not of this kind. They do not contain con- ditions of a personal character like, for instance, if so and so will give his daughter in marriage to so and so, he will continue to live, other- wise he will die within a period of three years or less after giving her in marriage to someone else. If any astrologer or other person versed in the science of divination has ever manifested such a prophecy, then come forth with its proof. Apart from this, the prophecy, as stated in the public announcement, included a claim; namely, that I have been commissioned by God Almighty, am gifted with Divine communion, being appointed by God to a spiritual office, and that this prophecy is a Sign of my truth. Now, if you have the slightest fear of Allah, glorified be His emi- nence, you will understand that a prophecy which has been put forward as proof of my appointment by Allah could only be fulfilled under the circumstance that this humble one had, in reality, been appointed by Allah. God Almighty would never fulfil the prophecy of an impostor, which he had presented as proof in support of his false claim, the rea- son being that people would be deceived thereby. As Allah, glorified be His eminence, Himself has declared as a Sign of the truthful: وَإِنْ يَكُ صَادِقًا يُصِبُكُمْ بَعْضُ الَّذِي يَعِدُكُمْ ! 1. But if he is truthful, then some of that which he threatens you with will surely befall you (Sūrah al-Mu'min, 40:29) [Publisher]