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The Plague

When it is God who has sent the plague, look towards it with a sense of reverence;
O transgressor! Thick not that it is accursed. Nay, it is you who are damned.

Now is the time to repent, seek reformation, and abandon sin;
I perceive a terrible end for him who continues to embrace evil.

People hold diverse opinions about the dreadful disease, which continues to spread throughout the country. Medical doctors, whose opinions are limited merely to physical remedies, stress that it is due merely to natural causes in the land that such bacteria have been born. They believe that these bacteria first lay their adverse effect on rats,3 resulting in a chain of death among humans; and that this disease has no relation whatsoever to religion. Instead, it is advisable for people to keep their dwellings and drains clean, free from all sorts of filth and rotten matter, and regularly clean them with phenol and the like. They ought to keep their homes warm with fire, and allow for the cross-ventilation of fresh air, and exposure to sunlight. Further, no dwelling should be overly congested lest excessive amounts of bacteria be born from the breath and waste of those who live there. People should not eat unwholesome food. And the best treatment is inoculation. Additionally, if dead rats are found in their homes, such dwellings ought to be abandoned. It is also preferable to reside outside in open areas. Soiled and dirty clothing is to be avoided. Should any person from an affected or contaminated place come to their town or village, he should not be allowed to enter, and if anyone from such a village or town is infected by the disease, he should be expelled, and should not be permitted to mix with society. So, in their view, these are the only measures that may be employed to counter the plague.

Such is the view of the learned doctors and physicians. I do not consider it to be a sufficient and permanent solution, nor do I regard it as completely devoid of benefit. I do not consider it a sufficient and permanent solution because experience tells us that some people died even though they moved out into the open, while others departed this world despite paying particular attention to their hygiene. Others yet, who had themselves inoculated with great hope, still ended up in the grave. So, who can suggest or assure us that all of these measures are a sufficient treatment. Rather, one is forced to concede that although these measures are beneficial to a certain extent, they cannot be deemed a completely successful remedy to rid the country of the plague.

These measures are not completely useless either, because wherever God’s will has decreed it, their benefits are being felt; however, this benefit does not excite a great amount of joy. To illustrate, it is true that if, for example, 100 people get inoculated, and another number of as many people do not, the number of deaths among those who did not get inoculated will be observed to be higher— and among those inoculated, fewer. However, because the effects of the inoculation last at the most for two to three months, even an inoculated person will become vulnerable again and again, until he departs this world. The only difference is that those who are not inoculated are as if riding upon a horse that can deliver them to the world of death within, say, twenty-four hours, whereas those who receive the inoculation are conceivably riding a slow mule that will carry its riders to the same destination in twenty-four days. In any event, all of the measures taken from a medical perspective are neither sufficient and comforting nor are they utterly useless and without benefit. So, since the plague is rapidly devouring the country, human compassion calls for the consideration of an alternative remedy that can guard against this destruction.

The Muslims have emphasised, as shown by the announcement published this month, April 1902, by Miań Shams-ud-Din, Secretary of the Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam Lahore, that all Muslim sects, whether they are Shiites, Sunnis, Muqallid or ghair-Muqallid,4 should proceed into the open and supplicate in accordance with their respective religious customs, and on a specific date, come together to offer a prayer collectively; this is a strategy that will most assuredly eradicate the plague at once. However, no method has been suggested for bringing all of the Muslims together. It is clear that according to the doctrines of the Wahhabi sect, salat [formal prayer] is not valid without the recitation of surah al-Fatihah. That being the case, how can they join the Hanafis in salat? Will this not lead to mutual discord? Aside from this, the author of this article failed to mention what the Hindus might do to repel this disease. Do they or do they not have permission, at a time like this, to seek help from their idols? And what method should the Christians adopt? And what about the sects that consider Hazrat Husain, or Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, to be their Qadiul-Hajat [judge of the needs of mankind], and make thousands of requests and wishes while undertaking penance in Muharram5; or those Muslims who honour Sayyid ‘Abdul-Qadir Jilani, Shah Madar, or Sakhi Sarwar to the point of worship. What are they to do? Moreover, are all of these sects not already offering prayers; indeed, every single sect, fear-stricken, is beseeching its respective deity. Visit a Shiite neighbourhood and there will not be a single house upon whose door the following verse is not inscribed:

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My [childhood] tutor was a revered Shiite. He would often say that the only cure for an epidemic is [tawalla] and [tabarra]—in other words, to love the Imams of the Ahl-e-Bait to the point of worship, and to continue cursing the Companions [of the Holy Prophet(saw)], may Allah be pleased with them. There is no better remedy than this [according to him]. I have heard that when the plague first broke out in Bombay, the initial view of the people was that this was a miracle of Imam Husain, because the epidemic first broke out among certain Hindus who had been in dispute with the Shiites. But when the same disease broke out among the Shiites, their slogans calling upon Imam Husain abated. Such are the ideas that the Muslims have proposed to eradicate the plague.

The Christian viewpoint is illustrated by a recent announcement published by Reverend [Herbert Udny] Weitbrecht and his organization. It is proposed that there is no means of eradicating the plague other than to believe in Hazrat Masih [i.e. Jesus] as god and to accept his atonement.

Among the Hindus, members of the Aryah sect are vehemently proclaiming that the calamity of the plague is caused by the neglect of the Vedas. They call upon the believers of all other faiths to accept the ‘true teachings’ of the Vedas and—God forbid—denounce all the Prophets as impostors. They claim that this measure would avert the plague.

Then, there is the Sanatan Dharam sect of the Hindus. This sect has suggested an altogether different idea for eradicating the plague—which I would have missed, had I not read the newspaper Akhbar-e-‘Am. Their view is that the calamity of the plague has broken out due to the [sacrilege of the] cow. If the government were to pass a law prohibiting the slaughter of cattle forever in this country, this would effectively eradicate the plague. In fact, at another place in the same newspaper it is reported that a person even heard a cow saying that the plague has come to this country because of it.

O readers, now decide for yourselves which of these diverse assertions and claims can gain acceptance by the world as a clear and self-evident argument. All these matters pertain to doctrines. In this perilous time mankind would perish before it could decide which doctrine to adopt. For this reason, the statement that is worthy of acceptance is one which can be easily understood and possesses some evidence. Therefore, I now proceed to put forth such a proposal along with the evidence to support it.

Four years ago, I published a prophecy stating that: ‘A terrible plague will soon afflict the Punjab; I have seen the black trees of the plague in this country, which have been planted in every single town and village; if the people repent, this disease will not exceed two winters and God will remove it.’ However, instead of showing repentance, people hurled insults at me, and published announcements containing extremely foul language against me— the outcome is this ordeal of the plague that you now observe.

The wording of God’s holy revelation that was sent down to me is:

This means that God has determined not to remove the affliction7 of the plague until people remove from their minds the thoughts that surge therein; that is to say, until they accept the commissioned one and Messenger of God. Almighty God will guard Qadian against the scourge of plague so that people should recognise that this was so because the Messenger and Apostle of God lives in Qadian. Now, observe how, over the past three years, both parts [of the prophecy] continue to be fulfilled. On one hand, the plague has spread throughout the Punjab, and on the other hand, although the plague has been rampant within two miles on all four sides of Qadian, the town itself remains free from it. In fact, even plague-stricken people from outside of Qadian who have come here have been cured. What greater proof can there be than the fact that those statements which were made four years ago have been fulfilled.

In fact, I even prophesied about the plague twenty-two years ago in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya,8  and with the exception of God, no one has knowledge of the unseen. Hence, for riddance from this plague, the message which God has given to me is that people should accept me with sincere hearts as the Promised Messiah. If I too had made my claim without any proof, in the way that Miań Shams-ud-Din, Secretary of Himayat-e-Islam Lahore, or Reverend Weitbrecht have in their announcements, then like them I would also have been deemed one who speaks nonsense. However, my pronouncements are those which were made prior to the present time, and today they have been fulfilled. Moreover, even in these days God has given me news. The Lord of Honour and Glory says in this respect:

Translation: Allah would not chastise the residents of Qadian while you are among them. He has given shelter to this town from the plague to invade and destroy. Were it not for favouring and honouring you, this town would have been destroyed. I am the Gracious One who removes affliction. My Messengers have no fear or grief in My presence. I am keeping watch. I shall stand with My Messenger and shall rebuke the one who rebukes him. I shall divide My time—for a part of the year, I shall break the fast, that is, I shall destroy people with plague, and for another part of the year, I shall fast, that is, there will be peace and the plague will subside or vanish completely. I am greatly wroth. Diseases will spread and people will die except those who believe and do not adulterate their faith with the least wrong; they will remain secure and will be saved. Do not imagine that the criminals are secure; We are getting close to their lands. I am secretly preparing My armies; that is, I am nourishing the bacteria of plague, so they will be left sleeping in their homes like a dead camel. We shall show them Our Signs in the distant people and then in their own selves. These will be days of help from Allah and clear victory. I have made a bargain with you, that is, something belonged to Me, but has been given in your possession and something was yours, but now it belongs to Me. Do you also acknowledge that bargain and say: ‘My Lord has made a bargain with me.’ You are to Me like My children.9 You are from Me and I am from you. The time is near when I shall raise you to a station that the world will praise. The above is with you and the below is with your enemies. Then, be steadfast until the decree of Allah arrives. A time will come upon the plague that no one will suffer from it; that is, the end is safe and secure.10

Now, three things have been proven from this entire revelation:

(1) Firstly, this plague has come to the world not only because the Promised Messiah of God has been denied, but also because he was made to suffer, conspiracies were hatched to kill him, and he was labelled a kafir [disbeliever] and a dajjal [antichrist]. But God did not desire to leave his Messenger without testimony. For this reason, He made the heavens and the earth bear witness to his truthfulness. The heavens gave its testimony by way of the lunar and solar eclipses that took place in Ramadan, while the earth produced its testimony in the form of the plague, so that the word of God, as recorded in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya should be fulfilled. This is as follows:

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Meaning that: Say, I have with me proof from Allah, then will you believe or not? Say, I have with me proof from Allah, then will you submit or not? The first testimony refers to the testimony of the heavens, which involves no force. This is why the word [tu’minun, i.e. you believe] has been used here. The second testimony is of the earth with reference to the plague. It involves force; for, it creates fear and thus causes people to join this Community. This is why the word [tuslimun, i.e. you submit] has been used here.

(2) The second point that has been proven through this revelation is that for the plague to abate, people will have to accept the Messenger of God, or, at the very least, desist from mischief, cruelty, and abusive language. For God states in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya that in the Latter Days I shall send the plague in order to silence those evil and wicked ones who level insults upon My Messenger. The fact of the matter is that the rejection of a Messenger alone does not, in itself, constitute the reason for a calamity to befall the world. In fact, if people reject God’s Messenger with respect and civility, and take no part in violence and abusive language, then punishment is decreed [for such people] in the Hereafter. Whenever an epidemic has befallen the earth in support of Messengers, it was not on account of denial alone. Rather, it was a punishment for mischief. Similarly, this chastisement will be lifted in the present case when the people refrain from their invectives, cruelty, and transgression, renounce their depravities, and inculcate gentle manners. When that happens, many of the fortunate shall accept the Messenger of God and will partake in the blessings of heaven. Then will the earth brim with blessed beings.

(3) The third point which is proven from this revelation is that, in any case, however long the plague remains upon the earth—even if it should last for seventy years—God Almighty will safeguard Qadian from its horrific destruction, because this is the throne of His Messenger. This is a sign for all nations.

Now, should anyone deny this Messenger of God Almighty and this sign, and if anyone believes that only superficial observances of prayer and supplication, or worship of the Messiah, or blessings of the cow, or belief in the Vedas—despite opposition, enmity, and disobedience towards this Messenger—will quell the plague, then such an opinion, unless supported by evidence, is not worthy of acceptance. Hence, a truly excellent opportunity now presents itself to any individual from among all these sects who wishes to furnish proof in support of the truthfulness of their respective faith. It is as if God has provided an exhibition hall so that the truthfulness or falsehood of every religion can be demonstrated. And God Himself took the initiative to put forth the name of Qadian [in order to establish its truth].

Now if the Aryah people consider the Vedas to be true, they should prophesy that their Parmeshwar [God] will protect Benares from the plague, for it is the true seat of Vedic learning. Similarly, the people of Sanatan Dharam should prophesy that the plague will not enter a city where cows are found in large numbers. For example, they could foretell that Amritsar would be saved because of the blessings of the cow. If the cow should exhibit this miracle, it would be wholly understandable if the government enforced a ban on the slaughter of such a wondrous animal. Similarly, Christians should prophesy that the plague will not afflict Calcutta because the great bishop of British India resides there. In the same way, Miań Shams-ud-Din and members of his Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam should make a prophecy about Lahore, that it shall remain protected against the plague. And the accountant, Munshi Ilahi Baksh, who claims to receive revelation, has an opportunity to aid the Anjuman-e- Himayat-e-Islam by making a prophecy concerning [the protection of] Lahore. It would also be appropriate for Abdul-Jabbar and Abdul-Haqq to make a prophecy concerning the city of Amritsar. Moreover, since Wahhabism prevails in Delhi, it would be appropriate for Nadhir Husain and Muhammad Husain to make a prophecy that Delhi shall remain protected from the plague. So, in this way, the whole of the Punjab will be delivered from this fatal disease. And the government too will be absolved of its responsibility at no cost. But should they fail to do so, it will perforce be determined that the true God is He who has raised His Messenger in Qadian.

In the end, remember that if all of these people—among whom are Muslim claimants to revelation, Aryah pundits, and Christian priests—remain quiet, this will prove that they are all liars and the day will dawn when Qadian, shining as the sun, will show that it is a station of the truthful one. Finally, Miań Shams-ud-Din should be aware that he is not justified in his hope for the acceptance of prayers, which he has expressed by reciting the verse 12 . For, in the Book of God the word [mudtarr] only refers to those who suffer on account of a trial, not those who are tormented by a punishment. This verse does not apply to those who have been afflicted as a form of punishment. Otherwise, it would have been necessary for the prayers of the peoples of Nuh [Noah], Lut [Lot], Pharaoh, etc. to be accepted in their time of despair. This did not happen, and the hand of God destroyed these nations. If Miań Shams-ud-Din should inquire as to which verse then applies to his circumstances, we would direct his attention to the following verse:

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Since it is possible that certain unlearned persons may fail to comprehend the true purport of this publication, I once again fulfil my duty by announcing my invitation. And that is, this plague, which is spreading throughout the country, has no other cause except that the people have refused to accept this Promised One of God, who, in accordance with the prophecies of all the Prophets, has appeared in the seventh millennium of the world. Not only did the people deny this Messiah but they used abusive language towards him. They called him a disbeliever, and conspired to kill him—and they treated him as they pleased. Thus God, out of His jealousy, desired to issue a warning on account of this insolence and disrespect. God had given news in previous holy scriptures that He would send a severe plague at the time of the advent of the Messiah because of the denial of the people. Therefore, it was necessary that the plague should break out.

The plague has been named ta‘un because it is a response to those who engage in ta‘n [taunting]. Among the Bani Isra’il [Children of Israel] it would always break out when they engaged in ta‘n. In the Arabic language, the word ta‘un means ‘one who indulges in excessive mockery’. This is an indication towards the fact that the plague is not sent in response to minor acts of taunt and ridicule; rather, it breaks out only when abuse of the one commissioned and sent by God exceeds all bounds, and efforts are made to humiliate him.

O dear ones! Your only recourse is to accept this Messiah with a true heart and sincerity. This is a definite cure. However, a lesser remedy is to refrain from openly denying him, and to desist from using abusive language, and to foster a sense of respect for him in your hearts. I say truly that the time is coming—indeed it is near—when people shall hasten towards me saying:

What I have mentioned above is God’s word and its meaning is, O you who have been sent as the Messiah for mankind, intercede on our behalf against this deadly epidemic. Understand with perfect certainty that in this day and age you have no intercessor other than this Messiah—the exception being the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—and this intercessor is in no way separated from the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; his intercession is, in fact, the very intercession of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

O Christian missionaries! Say not [Our Lord is the Messiah] and observe that among you now there is one who is greater than that Messiah [i.e. Jesus]. And O Shiites, do not persist in saying that Husain is your saviour, because I say truly that there is one among you now who is greater than that Husain. If I say these things of my own accord, then I am a liar. But if I possess God’s testimony concerning it, then do not oppose God, lest you be considered in opposition to God.

Now hasten towards me. I liken such a one who hastens towards me at this time to the one who boards a ship at the verge of a violent storm. However, I foresee that he who does not accept me will be like the one who throws himself into a tempest without any provisions to save himself. I am the true intercessor, and I am the shadow and zill [reflection] of the most venerated intercessor—Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa [the Chosen One], peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The blind of this age did not accept him and treated him with deep contempt. Therefore, now with just one proclamation God has taken revenge against the Christian missionaries, because they have deified ‘Isa bin Maryam [Jesus son of Mary], and insulted our chief and master who is the true intercessor, and have defiled the earth with their foul writings. Thus, in contrast to that Messiah, who was deified, God sent the Promised Messiah from our ummah, and he is greater than the earlier Messiah in his excellence. God gave the name Ghulam-e-Ahmad(saw) [the Servant of Ahmad(saw)] to this Messiah, in order to point out to the Christians that their Messiah who they deem to be ‘God’ cannot compare to even a lowly servant of Ahmad(saw).14 That is to say, what can be the rank of the Masih [Messiah] who is inferior even to a devotee of Ahmad(saw) in nearness [to God] and ability to make intercession.

O dear ones! This statement is not intended to upset anyone. If you do not consider this servant of Ahmad, who has been sent as the Promised Messiah, more venerable than the previous Masih [i.e. Jesus], and continue to state that he is the true intercessor and saviour, then furnish proof of this claim, as God has said about this servant of Ahmad:

This means that God, in order to manifest the honour of this intercessor, safeguarded the village of Qadian from the plague. As you can see, for five or six years now it has remained protected. He further said, had I not desired to manifest the superiority and honour of this servant of Ahmad then I would have destroyed Qadian as well. Likewise, if you consider the Masih ibn Maryam [Messiah son of Mary] the true intercessor and saviour, then as with Qadian, you too should name a town in the Punjab,15and assert that through the blessings and intercession of your ‘Lord’ Messiah such and such a town will be saved. But if you cannot do this, then consider for yourself how a person whose intercession is not established in this very world could intercede in the next life.

Miań Shams-ud-Din should keep in mind that his announcement is utterly useless and will not yield any benefit, and that the only remedy is the one I have stated. As he will recall, the last time he and his Anjuman challenged me, they were humiliated before a human government. They called upon the government to punish the author of Ummahatul-Mu’minin [Mothers of the Faithful] but I disagreed. In the end, it was my opinion that prevailed. Similarly, the memorial that they have sent to the heavenly government is nothing but a useless and nonsensical attempt—and as ineffectual as their first memorial. The true memorial is that which I have prepared, and in the end, you shall have to accept it.

Those who are foolish eventually tread the path of the wise;
But after they suffered the utmost humiliation.

Maulavi Ahmad Hasan of Amroha has a great opportunity to stand against me in this situation. I have heard that he, like other maulavis, is making strenuous efforts in support of his idolatrous belief to somehow prove that Hazrat Masih ibn Maryam did not die and would thus return as Khatamul-Anbiya’ [the Seal of the Prophets]. Hence, his dissatisfaction with the inference drawn from surah an-Nur, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari, 16 and the hadith in Sahih Muslim, 17 which state that the Promised Messiah would be born from this blessed ummah so that in the likeness of the Messiah belonging to the Mosaic dispensation, and thus illuminate the world with the excellences of the Prophethood of Muhammad. Instead, the Maulavi, like his brethren, wishes only for the same ibn Maryam—whose false divinity has drowned approximately five hundred million people in the swamp of misguidance—to descend with his hands upon the shoulders of angels, and by virtue of this new divine manifestation, bring another five hundred million to join the first five hundred million. For no one actually witnessed him ascend to the heavens. As the old adage has it:

Saints do not fly, it is their disciples who give them wings.

But now, if the entire world were to see him descend flanked by angels, the Christian clerics would seize the maulavis by their throats and ask, did we or did we not say that he is indeed ‘God’? What will be the state of Islam on such an infamous day—will anything remain of Islam in the world? [The curse of Allah be upon the liars]. They unjustly raise to heaven one who is buried in Mohalla Khanyar, Srinagar, Kashmir. How great an injustice! God has the power to do everything in accordance with His promises. But He will in no way send a person back to earth whose first advent resulted in a devastating trial for the world. These maulavis, the simpleton friends of Islam, do not realise how much the Christians have been aided by such beliefs. God Almighty does not wish to further embellish the glory of ibn Maryam in this world. In fact, He is already greatly displeased with the extent to which Hazrat Masih has been unduly praised. Therefore, the question [‘Did you say to men?’] had to be asked.18

It is the height of ignorance to look toward the heavens now to see when ibn Maryam shall descend. However, the ulema before me who held that ibn Maryam shall descend from the heavens due to their faulty interpretation are blameless in the sight of God, and they should not be criticised. There was no flaw in their intentions; rather, it was a misunderstanding on account of human weakness. May God forgive them, because they were not granted knowledge. Their error in ijtihad [reasoning] was akin to the error in judgement made by Dawud [David] in the case of the ghanamul-qaum;19however, his son Sulaiman [Solomon] was bestowed understanding by God [concerning the matter].

Twenty-two years ago, I recorded the revelation on the last page20of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya:

[So we have instructed Sulaiman in those signs.]

It relates to the discussion at hand. It is clear from the above-mentioned revelations cited in Barahin that people would criticise me, saying: Have you discovered meanings of the Holy Quran and ahadith, which you now present, that were not known to our earlier scholars and elders. Allah the Exalted retorted that although such is precisely the case, there was nothing extraordinary in this. After all, the ulema of the past were not Prophets. When Dawud, who was a Prophet, erred in his judgement, God granted his son Sulaiman the ability to arrive at a just decision. So this ‘Sulaiman’, who has been appointed as the Promised Messiah, is more correct [in his judgement] than your elders in the same way that Prophet Sulaiman proved to be more correct than his father Dawud.

And if Maulavi Ahmad Hasan does not desist through any means, then the time has now come that he should come to know by heavenly decree. That is, if he truly considers me a liar, and believes my revelations to be human inventions and not the word of God, he may avail himself of a simple mode of inquiry [to determine the truth]. So, just as I have received revelation from the Exalted God:

[He will give shelter to the town after it has suffered a little. Had it not been out of regard for you, this town would have been ruined.]

Let him also write [He has given shelter to Amroha]. After all, God does listen to the call of a believer. What kind of a believer is a person whose own prayers go unheard while the prayers of someone he considers to be a dajjal [antichrist], a faithless one, and a liar are heard. The present position is that Allah the Exalted has already accepted my prayer and proclaimed: ‘I shall safeguard Qadian from this destruction, particularly against the type of devastation in which people die of plague like dogs and do not even have the time to flee and escape.’ Maulavi Ahmad Hasan too should appeal to his God to somehow accept his prayer in regard to Amroha so that it should remain free from the plague. Until now, it would not seem farfetched for this prayer to be fulfilled because Amroha is situated approximately 200 kose21away from the plague, whereas the plague is raging on all four sides of Qadian at a distance of just two kose. This is a simple and straightforward contest that serves the people’s interests and also distinguishes between truth and falsehood. For if Maulavi Ahmad Hasan departs from the world in a state of rivalry calling down curses upon me, then what benefit will this provide to Amroha. However, if for the sake of his imaginary messiah he is successful in having his prayer accepted and God agrees to protect Amroha from the plague, then he will not only emerge triumphant, but will also have rendered the people of the town a great favour for which they will never be able to thank him fully.

It is appropriate that the text of the proposed mubahalah [prayer duel] be published widely within fifteen days of the publication of this announcement. He should write:

‘I publish this announcement as a challenge to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who claims to be the Promised Messiah. I, being a believer and putting my trust in the acceptance of prayer, or having received a revelation or seen a dream, publish the announcement that Amroha will most certainly be saved from the ravages of the plague. However, calamity shall befall Qadian for it shelters a liar.’

If such an announcement is forthcoming, the outcome will likely be determined by the winter that follows, or at the most, by the second or third winter. In accordance with the practice of God, the plague will begin to subside in the month of May throughout the country, and the days of God’s ‘fast’, as it were, shall come. However, it can be reckoned that in the beginning of November 1902 God shall break His fast. Then will it be known at the time of this iftar [breaking of the fast] who from among the people falls into the grip of the Angel of Death.

Since the Promised Messiah resides in the immediate vicinity of the Punjab and his first addressees are also the people of this province, the Punjab was struck first [by this epidemic]. Amroha too, however, is not beyond the encompassing strength of the Promised Messiah. Thus, the breath of this Messiah, which destroys the disbelievers, shall most certainly extend to Amroha as well. This is my claim: if Maulavi Ahmad Hasan should publish an announcement in which he swears on oath [that he is truthful], and as a result Amroha is saved from the plague, and enjoys at least three winters of peace, then I have not been sent by God Almighty.

So, what greater means can there be to settle the matter. On my part, I swear by God Almighty that I am the Promised Messiah. I am the one who was promised by the Prophets. The Torah, the Gospel, and the Holy Quran all give news about me and the era of my advent and expound that, in the heavens, the moon and the sun would be eclipsed at the time of my appearance, and a terrible plague will befall the land. This is my sign; each and every opponent—whether he lives in Amroha or Amritsar, whether in Delhi or Calcutta, whether in Lahore, Golra, or Batala—if any of them should swear on oath that their area of residence shall remain free from the plague, then it will surely be swept up by the plague, for they would have committed insolence against God Almighty.

And this matter is not confined to Maulavi Ahmad Hasan. In fact, the time has now come for a broader confrontation with the heavens. All those who consider me a liar, such as Shaikh Muhammad Husain Batalvi, who is a well-renowned maulavi; Pir Meher Ali Shah of Golra, who hinders many from the path of God; ‘Abdul-Jabbar, Abdul-Haqq, and ‘Abdul-Wahid Ghaznavi, who belong to the community of Maulavi Abdullah and are hailed as recipients of divine revelation; Munshi Ilahi Bakhsh, the accountant, who by way of opposition to me has made a claim to divine revelation and has raised Maulavi Abdullah to the status of a sayyid,22 without feeling any aversion towards such a manifest falsehood; and similarly, Nadhir Husain of Delhi, who is of a cruel temperament and was the first to issue a fatwa of disbelief against me.

All of the aforementioned people, at a juncture such as this, should seek to preserve the honour of their revelations and faith, by publishing an announcement that the place of their dwelling will be saved from the plague. The government and the people can but benefit from such an undertaking. This will establish their greatness and they will be considered as saints. If not, they shall set a seal to their being liars and deceivers. If God so wills I will soon publish a detailed announcement in this regard. [And peace be on those who follow the guidance.]