A Verdict Required — Page 50
50 A VERDICT REQUIRED account of it is that in the revelations of Barāhīn-e-Ahmadiyya, an announcement of three tribulations had been foretold in relation to me; that is, it was stated that three trials would befall me on three occasions. Before mentioning these three trials, it is necessary for the sake of clarity to explain that not every accusation of falsehood can be termed a fitnah [trial]. Rather, an accusation of falsehood could only be termed a fitnah in a situation where that accusation takes on the character of a violent mob, and a group collectively exerts its strengths in unison with the intent to inflict harm upon someone's property, life, or honour up to the extreme that some- one is capable of in a state of complete rage. Therefore, it is essen- tial for a fitnah that there be a group, and that group be united together with the utmost zeal in the desire to inflict harm against someone. Forming a dangerous body in the shape of a mob, they stand ready to attack someone's honour, life, or property. With mutual consultation whilst in the state of their fury, they employ every deceitful stratagem in an extraordinary exhibition of frenzy, through the use of which they create the fear of a sudden calamity upon the opposing party. Now that the definition of the term fitnah [i. e. trial, mischief, or disturbance] has been established, I shall proceed to mention these three trials. However, it might be more appropriate, for the sake of conveying a proper understanding, if, before present- ing the details of these three fitnas from the pages of Barāhīn-e- Ahmadiyya, I first mention the three fitnas that I have already experienced after the compilation and publication of Barāhīn-e- Ahmadiyya. Hundreds of thousands of people are witnesses to