In your earlier books Izala-e-Auham etc., it is written that the prophecies of earthquakes, pestilences, wars, and famines can hardly be referred to as prophetic. But now it has been noted in a number of writings that Your Honour has acclaimed these very prophecies to be grand prophecies.
Answer: It is not correct that I have pronounced those very prophecies to be ‘grand’. Greatness or lack of greatness of anything is indicated by its quantity and quality and also by the accompanying circumstances as being unique or ordinary. The country, about which Hadrat ‘Isa, peace be upon him, prophesied that it would be visited by the plague and earthquakes, is such wherein plague regularly breaks out and like Kashmir, the said country too is hit by earthquakes as a matter of course and also by famines. It has also suffered many wars. And the prophecy of Hadrat Masih [the Messiah] makes no mention of any extraordinary earthquake or of any extraordinary pestilence or plague. In this condition, no reasonable person can view such prophecies as great and significant.1 But in view of the circumstances of the country2 about which I foretold the plague and terrible earthquakes, these prophecies are indeed grand prophesies, for a study of the history of this country, extending over hundreds of years, will not prove that this country had ever suffered from the plague, let alone the kind of plague that killed hundreds of thousands of people in a short period of time. The text of my prophecy regarding the plague is as follows: ‘No part of this country shall remain immune from the plague; there will be severe destruction and the destruction will last over a long period of time.’ Now, can anyone prove that the kind of havoc caused by the plague, in accordance with the prophecy, was ever witnessed in this country before? Certainly not!
As for the earthquake, that was also not an ordinary prophecy on my part. Rather, the prophecy contained the words that a section of this country would be destroyed by it. As is evident, the havoc wrought by this earthquake in Kangra and the Bhagsu Khas volcano is without parallel in 2,000 years’ history. British researchers, too, have testified to it. Therefore, in these circumstances, criticising me amounts to reckless haste.
1 Of course, it is quite possible that the original prophecies might have been altered. Whereas, one single Injil [Gospel] has been turned into a multitude of Injils, how can it be a far-fetched notion to think that some text was in fact altered? Our objection, therefore, is against the current Injils [Gospels]. God has provided us with the occasion to raise these objections by declaring that these Injils have been tampered and altered. (Author)
2 It must also be remembered that prophecies by Hadrat Masih, as contained in the Gospels, comprise only mild and soft words, and there is no mention therein of any severe and dreadful earthquake or dreadful plague. But my prophecies regarding these two events contain expressions which declare them to be extraordinary. (Author)