The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 600
REPLY TO SHAIKH MUHAMMAD HUSAIN BATALAWI'S PAPER 599 go around proclaiming out of self-conceit that ‘there is no one like me’ and criticize others out of the darkness of their own souls. Verily, verily I say that after shirk [polytheism], there will be no evil like arrogance on the Day of Judgment. It is the type of affliction that disgraces man in both worlds. The mercy of God Almighty protects every monotheist from harm except for arrogance. Satan would also boast of being a monotheist, but since his head was filled with pride, he looked down upon and crit- icized Adam-who was beloved in the sight of God Almighty-he, therefore, was ruined and accursed. Hence, haughtiness was verily the first sin that eternally destroyed someone. Now I affirm swearing by Allah, glorified be His eminence, in whose hand my life is and who will never let a sinful liar go unpun- ished that just as God Almighty has established me as Masiḥ Ibn-e- Maryam [the Messiah son of Mary], so has He established me as Adam, and He said: أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْتَخْلِفَ فَخَلَقْتُ أَدَمَ. Meaning: I decided to appoint a Khalifah [vicegerent] from Myself in the earth so I created Adam; that is, this humble one. Since I have now been appointed as Adam, it was inevitable that I also have a critic, who—in the eyes of people-would initially be consid- ered one of the angels, but then shall don the robe [of God's curse] [until the Day of Judgment]. ' Hence, it is now evident that he is none other than you [Shaikh Batālawī]. I declare again on oath that the sentence that I have written above is the word of Allah, glorified be His eminence. If it is not the word of Allah, glorified be His eminence, I pray that God Almighty may not grant me respite even for one night and He may inflict such chastise- ment upon me that He has never been inflicted upon anyone: 'O my 1. This is in reference to verses 15:36 in the Holy Quran: ('And, surely, on thee shall be My curse till the Day of Judgment. ') [Publisher]