The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 372
REBUTTAL TO SHAΙΚΗ ΒΑΤALAWI 371 soon after the nikāḥ, not exceeding three years; Fourth, the passing away of her husband within two and a half years; Fifth, survival of the girl until the time of her nikāḥ with me; and lastly, Sixth, setting aside all the customs which she should otherwise have observed as a widow, her marrying me in spite of the opposition of her relatives. Now, can you say honestly that all these things are within the control of man? Think about it with due deliberation: Can such a prophecy, upon being fulfilled, be said to have been the work of man? Again, if you are not satisfied with that part of the prophecy which relates to the father of the girl and which was fulfilled on 30 September 1892, you should, in accordance with your promise, publish a notice in Ishaʻat-us-Sunnah that, if the other prophecies are also fulfilled, you will repent of your false misgivings and will regard me as a true claim- ant. You should also, with all fear of God, declare that at least one of the prophecies has been fulfilled. But if the fulfilment of this prophecy does not have much impact upon your heart, you should at the very least adopt silence until the time when the prophecy runs through its final stage. When one part of the prophecy has been fulfilled, there should arise at least some fear in your heart. You are of course expect- ing my destruction and waiting for the days of my disgrace, but God Almighty is manifesting Signs in support of the truth of my claim. If you still do not accept, I cannot coerce you, but bear in mind that a man in the early stages of denial may be excused on the grounds of there being some doubt, but after he has seen the Signs, he can never be excused. Was the prophecy which has been fulfilled such a coincidental event of which God Almighty was completely oblivious? Did this prophecy in support of the claim of a dajjal come to be fulfilled in and of itself without the knowledge or will of God? Is it not true that the prophecy of a false claimant is never fulfilled? This is indeed what is taught by the Quran and the Torah. If you possess any sense of justice and even an atom's weight of righteousness, you should now hold your tongue;