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Mighty Signs of the Living God

A Warner came unto the world, but the world accepted him not; yet God shall manifest His favour and demonstrate his truth with powerful assaults.3

Twelve years ago a Prophet of India foretold the pitiable plight of the Tsar of Russia.

According to the eternal law of God Almighty, when the world forgets God and falls prey to sin and iniquity; when the morals of people are corrupted and their spirits are low; when the throats of those who hanker for spiritual water are made so dry they ache as though pricked by thorns; when their lips are parched and their eyes sink with the extremities of thirst; God raises a prophet for their guidance and a messenger for their reformation. These [messengers] come as clouds of spiritual water which inundate every swathe of land capable of absorbing their rain and assuage the yearning of the thirsty. They are a light by which those who are shrouded in darkness begin to see. They are a fire which burns the enemies of truth to ashes. They are a jolt of electricity which, by sudden bursts, strikes such power into the fortunate that the blind are able to see, the infirm are able to walk and the mute are able to speak. Their friendship is an antidote to all toxins and enmity to them is such a fatal poison that once it is consumed there are no humanly means or cures that can save people from destruction.

In the present age, the estrangement of people from spirituality, the spread of vice and the prevalence of sin all signify that if God had raised prophets in the past, He must also raise one now, and if a reformer had appeared at any point in history, one must also appear today. The prophecies of earlier prophets unanimously testify that this would be a time for the advent of a prophet. Although there are thousands of differences between the various religions, to the extent that it is difficult to find even a single issue on which they are agreed, yet still they are united in the belief that a prophet is to appear in the latter days. The signs mentioned for his advent are all being fulfilled in this age. Unfortunately, despite the circumstances, need of the age and the combined testimony of all religions, people have made little effort to recognise the prophet of this time whom Allah the Exalted has sent from the heavens just when he was most required. Instead, it seems the world awaits a prophet who will descend from on high flanked by angels, and for whom God Almighty will testify with a thunderous voice that will be heard at once throughout the world; a prophet who has paradise to his right and hell to his left, and who has the power of fate and destiny in his hands. If this is the case, this desire will never be fulfilled. No such prophet has come before, nor will such a prophet appear in the future. It is always human beings who are sent as messengers for the guidance of their fellow people. One species cannot serve as a model for another, whereas the prophets come into the world as exemplars for others. They do not descend from heaven, rather they are born on earth from the wombs of their mothers just like any other human being. A prophet who does not follow in the abiding practice of his predecessors can never appear. Whosoever comes as a prophet will do so in accordance with the precedents set by his antecedents.

I call on those who would listen and see and those who are bestowed with erudition that they ought to know that in accordance with the eternal practice of Allah, which was manifested in the time of the previous prophets, the prophet who was promised in this age has appeared—that is, he who had been foretold to come among the Hindus as Krishna, as Maitreya in Buddhism, and the Promised Messiah in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. God has shown the same signs for him which He manifested in the past at the hands of the previous prophets. He (the Promised Messiah(as)) also prayed and God Almighty heard his prayers. Through him, those who found no cure for themselves in medicine were healed. That which he foretold and published throughout the world ahead of time was fulfilled exactly, even though none except the messengers of God are given such numerous divine signs. And this is attested to by all religions. The Holy Qur’an says:

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ِAnd He reveals not His secrets to anyone. Except to him whom He chooses, namely a Messenger of His.

Similarly, the Bible says:

If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it.5

I ask those who seek and enquire after the truth how I can make them understand that the promises found in various religions concerning the Promised Messiah, Mahdi, Krishan, Maitreya, Buddha [and so on] have found their fulfilment in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani(as), the founder of the Ahmadiyya Community. No one else will be the subject of these prophecies from now until the Day of Judgment. How can I instil your hearts with the knowledge that to recognise the chosen ones of God is a divine blessing against which all worldly accolades pale into insignificance? How can I explain to you that those who fight with God always meet a tragic end and those who reject divine messengers reject God Almighty Himself? If only I possessed a bugle by which to rouse all those who are asleep in the world from the depths of their slumber, so that they could see the Sun of God has reached its zenith.

Most parts of the world claim to believe in certain prophets of the past. Sadly, however, few reflect on the basis of their belief. Had they given thought to this and ascertained the proofs which support the truth of their prophets, these same signs would have led them to recognise the messenger of the age without any trouble. Regrettably, in our current time, true faith has given way to inherited belief. If the prophets whom different nations believe in were to reappear today, with the same proofs that were given to them at the time of their advent, they too would be met with hostility from their own followers.

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Alas for My servants! there comes not a Messenger to them but they mock at him.

God Almighty showed so many proofs and signs for the truth of the Promised Messiah(as) that: 7 ‘they are sufficient for those who are ready to accept them.’8 When the Promised Messiah(as) was unknown in the world he recorded the following revelation on page 241 of his book Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III (that was published in 1883 thoughtout India):

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That is, people and gifts will come to you from the far flung places of the world.

Again on page 489 of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, published in 1884, he recorded the revelation:

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The time has come that you should be helped and be recognised among people.

Similarly, in a supplement published with the newspaper Riyaz-e-Hind Amritsar on 1 March 1886, one of the many revelations recorded in it says:

God will maintain your name with honour till the day when the world comes to an end and will convey your message to the ends of the earth.11

And:

I shall carry your message to the four corners of the earth.12

[In effect through these revelations God says:]

People and gifts will come to you from all four corners of the world. The time has come for your help and renown among the people. God Almighty will spread your teaching across the entire world.

Events have shown that these words emanated from Allah the Exalted. For after their manifestation hundreds of thousands of people accepted the Promised Messiah(as) and his name was elevated in Europe, America, Africa, Australia and the entire continent of Asia. Pure souls from every continent accepted his invitation and continue to do so. And despite all opposition, each day his community progresses with ever greater speed.

Again on page 519 of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya he prophesied that plague would break out in India.13 Almost 15 years later the disease reached the subcontinent. Even now, hundreds of thousands of people die from the disease every year with no end in sight. In the early days when the death toll was contained, the Promised Messiah(as) published an advertisement about a dream in which he saw plants representing the plague being sown all over the Punjab, (it was entitled Plague and was written and published on 6 February 1898). Soon after, the plague broke out in the province. He also received the revelation: ‘There is death everywhere.’ (See Al-Wasiyyat published on 27 February 1905, and the newspaper Al-Hakm Vol. 9, Issue. 7, p. 11).

Similarly, he foretold news of the earthquake which struck on 4 April 1905, before its occurrence with the words: ‘Shock of earthquake’ (December 1903). [Again God revealed]:

That is, the earthquake would be so severe it would demolish buildings from their foundations and both temporary residences and permanent ones will be raised from their foundations and collapse. The latter revelation was published a year before the earthquake occurred in the newspaper Al-Hakm on 31 May 1904, and Al-Badr on 24 May and 1 June 1904. Following this revelation an earthquake duly devastated the Kangra Valley and claimed 30,000 lives. The number of injured was even higher. Whole villages were completely destroyed and the Punjab was convulsed from one end to another. For miles on end, lives and property were destroyed in towns and villages and its tremors were felt outside the Punjab, as far as even Bengal. Never in its history had India seen an earthquake of this magnitude.

Again, at the time of the announcement of the partition of Bengal, all high-ranking government officials were adamant this decision would not be reversed and English ministers consistently made public statements to this effect. In the February 1906 English and Urdu editions of the Review of Religions, Vol. 5, Issue 2, as well as the newspapers Badr, Al-Hakm and the Indian Mirror Culcutta, the Promised Messiah(as) published the revelation:

Relating to the order that had been given concerning Bengal at first, they (i.e., the Bengalis) will be conciliated now.14

Accordingly, six years later, despite the intransigence of the [British] rulers, the revocation of the partition was announced at the coronation of King George V and thereby this sign was fulfilled in an extraordinary manner.

Then there is the case of the American John Alexander Dowie, a resident of Chicago and the founder of a large Christian sect who declared himself to be Elijah. On one occasion when Dowie issued a series of poisonous and offensive claims against Islam, the Promised Messiah(as) published a handbill against him and said he would be overtaken by a grievous torment. Subsequently, Dowie’s wife and son turned against him and he was shown to be of illegitimate birth. His followers also left him. In the end he was stricken by paralysis and died in a state of madness. There are many signs of this nature, but the reason I have chosen to mention Dowie in particular is because he had acquired particular renown in both Europe and America and his followers were spread across both continents.

The collapse of the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire and Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan’s deposition by powerful elements within his own state was also proclaimed by the Promised Messiah(as) ahead of time in an announcement published on 24 May 1897. His words were fulfilled in the most emphatic manner. Likewise, regarding the Iranian [Constitutional] Revolution, he published the following revelation on 15 January 1906: That is: ‘The palace of Chosros has been shaken.’ (See Review of Religions Urdu, January 1906). Three years later this revelation was fulfilled with the Iranian Revolution and the overthrow and exile of the Shah.

The Balkan Wars were also foretold in the revelations of the Promised Messiah(as). One example is the following revelation published in the Urdu Review of Religions, January 1904:

The Byzantines have been defeated in the land nearby, but after their defeat they will soon be victorious.

Accordingly, the Balkan powers defeated the Turks near Constantinople, which was the capital of Turkey. However, immediately afterwards, due to infighting within the [Balkan alliance], the Turks experienced a great victory [by reoccupying] Adrianople (Edirne). As a result of this, both shades of the prophecy were fulfilled in an extraordinary manner.

Regarding the current war, the Promised Messiah(as) published the following prophecy in 1907:15

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A Sign will appear some days hence.

Which will overwhelm country and town and meadow.

People will be seized in a wave of Divine wrath,

So suddenly that a naked one will have no time to secure his loin cloth.

Suddenly an earthquake will severely shake them all—

Be they humans, trees, rocks or oceans.

In the twinkling of an eye the earth will be turned upside down,

And streams of blood will flow like channel tides.

Those whose night garments were white as jasmine,

Will wake up in the morning as if clad in red like the poplar tree.

Men and animals will go out of their minds

And nightingales and pigeons will forget their songs.

That hour will bear heavily upon every traveller,

And those on a journey will lose their way in agony.

The waters of mountain streams will run red like red wine,

With the blood of the dead.

Men high and low will be convulsed with fear and the Tsar himself will,

At that hour, be in sad case.

That Divine Sign will be a specimen of terror. Heaven will attack with a drawn sword.

Hasten not to repudiate this, thou stupid fool,

For my truthfulness depends entirely on the fulfilment of this sign.

This is a prophecy based on Divine revelation and will surely be fulfilled;

Wait then a while in righteousness and steadfastness.

Do not presume your ill-thoughts will be forgiven,

It is a debt that will be repaid to you in full.

[According to another revelation of similar effect]: 17. That is, vessels will sail in abundance from place to place for the sake of fighting. As we can see, seafaring vessels are playing a critical role in the current conflict as they ferry soldiers of various countries to different theatres of war. And this is happening to an extent unparalleled in history. Furthermore, the use of submarines is causing great devastation. Similarly, thousands of large and small ships are constantly being used for naval blockades and their number is 10 times greater than in any previous war. The word kishti (ship) [found in the prophecy] though also used for larger vessels, is especially applicable to smaller craft, with reference here to the ruthlessness of [German] U-boats and submarines which have become a significant component of the war at sea.

These signs are just a small selection from thousands of similar other signs that God Almighty has manifested through the Promised Messiah(as). They are such that once they have become known, there is no room left to doubt the truth of the claim of the Promised Messiah(as). For it is impossible for human beings to forecast such numerous and powerful events of the future which then go on to find clear fulfilment at their appointed time.

If these prophecies had been just a few instances one could attribute it to guesswork, but to make thousands of prophecies which find fulfilment at the appointed time is something that is beyond the power of human beings.

The followers of different religions accept the truth of the prophecies of their prophets which are found in their scriptures. Therefore, they assert their truth, even when there is doubt that these prophecies may have been added at a later date. Why then, after the manifestation of such prophecies that are free from all suspicion, are such people not willing to accept the truth of the Promised Messiah(as)?

We live in the age of the printing press and today things are not assumed to be true simply on the basis of spoken testimonies. All the prophecies of the Promised Messiah(as) I have hitherto alluded to were recorded in various books, newspapers, periodicals and essays ahead of time. Therefore, not even our staunchest enemies can claim these prophecies are a later invention. Not only were they published in the presence of friends and foes alike before the occurrence of their foretold events, but God Almighty has constituted another measure by which to establish the truth of their prior publication. Meaning to say, the Promised Messiah(as) lived under the authority of a government—the British—which professed a foreign religion and according to their regulations a copy of each and every book, periodical, essay or advertisement is filed with the [relevant] government department at the time of its publication. As a result, one can easily determine whether these prophecies were published beforehand by referring back to the official archives. This method of verification is one that cannot be controverted.

Thus in the face of such clear and insurmountable signs and proofs, how can one reject the claims of the Promised Messiah(as) and accept those of the previous prophets whose prophecies cannot be proven to have been published before the events they foretold, with the exception of the Holy Prophet(sa).

Further, one need not restrict themselves to those prophecies of the Promised Messiah(as) which relate to the past. Instead we observe that Allah the Exalted continues to show fresh signs in support of his truth. Only recently, two astonishing and powerful prophecies have been fulfilled, one pertaining to Mesopotamia and the other regarding the abdication of the Russian Tsar. I will deal with the former in a separate publication. In the current essay, it is this latter prophecy which I intend to set out before the world so that Allah the Exalted may enable pious souls to benefit from it.

As I have already mentioned the Promised Messiah(as) wrote a prophecy about the present war in an Urdu poem which included the following two lines:

That is: ‘Men high and low will be convulsed with fear and the Tsar himself will, at that hour, be in sad case.’ This prophecy was recorded on 15 April 1905, in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V.18 However, as can be seen from a supplementary note, for various reasons the book was not published until 1908. The prophecy was published again word for word, with an English translation in a 1914 edition of the Review of Religions.

An editorial note which accompanied the prophecy gave particular emphasis to this part of it. It said:

The description is of a complex character and its dire details are dreadful enough to cause a shudder and make one’s hair stand on end... But the name of [the] Russian Tsar attaches special interest to the predicted event.19

The prophecy was then republished in the [Review of Religions] of September 1914, June 1915 and January 1916. The prophecy was relayed in such clear terms that I need not go into a detailed explanation here. In plain words it stated that during the impending war, the Tsar of the Russian Empire would suffer a miserable plight and become an object of sympathy. In Urdu, the words used to express the condition of the Tsar are—(haal-e-zaar)—which mean to lose all of one’s means and become so helpless that one’s misery and ruin are obvious to see.

When this prophecy was first published, there was no indication of the events that have suddenly unfolded before us today in 1917. It is true that the Russians were at war with Japan, but [at the time of the prophecy] negotiations for peace had begun through the mediation of the Americans. Meanwhile the prophecy says: . That is: ‘A sign will appear some days hence.’ Meaning that a sign will appear after this date. Further it is clear that this calamity was to affect the whole world and cause widespread chaos. Thus the prophecy clearly distinguished the predicted events from the present and foretold a calamity which was going to afflict the world in the future. It was also set to be unlike anything the world had ever seen.

In summary, the prophecy was made at a time when it was impossible to know of these events through conjecture. It said that the Tsar would be reduced to ruin during an unprecedented calamity that would grip the whole world and:

The waters of mountain streams will run red like red wine; with the blood of the dead.

No such circumstances existed prior to 1914. Indeed, even the rulers of the aggressor nations did not initially foresee the dreadful course the [First World] War would take. Even certain British ministers said at the outbreak of hostilities that the war would be over by the end of the year and British soldiers would celebrate Christmas at home in the December of 1914. In light of this, the prophecy of 1905 was a mighty [sign] which vividly described the magnitude of the war and foretold that during the course of the conflict the Tsar would face a tragic plight and his circumstances would be made so pitiable and wretched that they would be clear for everyone to see. It is difficult to find a parallel to such a monumental prophecy in the history of the past prophets, and in view of the fact that there is historical evidence it was published before the time of its occurrence, its greatness is further enhanced.

The more one considers both the words of this prophecy and the supreme authority and influence held by the Tsar, and then further contemplates the circumstances under which he was forced to abdicate the crown and relinquish his power, the more the immensity and scope of the prophecy reveals itself. The extent of the sovereignty of the Tsar of Russia over his people is known to anyone who has studied Russian history. And as may be seen from a scholarly article in the Encyclopaedia Britannica under the heading of Russia, [prior to the fall of the Tsar], revolutionary elements in the country appeared to be moving towards a peaceful reconciliation and the administration of the Duma had done much to suppress any upheaval. Moreover, a regular Cossack militia, in whose loyalty the Tsar had complete confidence was ever present for his protection. And yet in spite of all this and the further subdual of rebel groups, the revolution which broke out on 12 March [1917] was so terrible that within three days the Tsar of Russia had been forced to abandon his throne. The graveness of the peril he faced can be seen from the constant fluctuations in his decision making. Initially, he informed his ministers that he was appointing General Alekseyev as the head of the government which shows how quickly the revolutionary movement had spread and how the Tsar, having been misinformed about the full extent of it at the beginning, considered it to be of little significance. Soon after, when he was told that the guards in the capital had revolted and the remaining imperial forces were joining the ranks of the revolutionaries, he resolved to abdicate in favour of his brother and when he saw that even this did not calm tensions, he made the following historic declaration:

In agreement with the Duma we recognised that it was for the good of our country to abdicate the crown and lay down the supreme power.

But the tragedy of the Tsar did not end here. Following his abdication Russian officials placed him under arrest. According to a Reuters report:

Prior to the ex-Tsar’s arrival at Tsariskoe Selo delegates arrived at Magilev. They presented the mandate for the arrest of General Alexieff who informed the ex-Tsar who was waiting inside the imperial train.

What the ex-Tsar said in response to this forms a sad commentary on the prophecy: ‘I am willing’ said he ‘to go anywhere and submit to any decision.’ These words clearly indicate the helpless state of the Tsar. Again another report from Reuters describes the condition of the Tsar in the following terms:

When he arrived at the imperial pavilion the ex-Tsar was wearing Cossack uniform. He stepped out calmly, but looked haggard and walked to the motor car.

A further Reuters report describes the condition of the Tsar after his arrest in even more wretched terms:

They (newspapers) are publishing daily interviews with the Grand Duke revealing the tragic isolation of the Tsar and Tsaritsa, who are wholly unacquainted with actualities in the country and the predictions of the Tsar’s own family.

All of these details reveal how the ex-Tsar, who was once a powerful sovereign, was reduced to the helpless state of a pitiable creature and by this the following words of God Almighty were fulfilled:

The Tsar himself will, at that hour, be in sad case.

Besides the afore-detailed events, various other events from the Russian Revolution show that the Promised Messiah’s(as) prophecy has been fulfilled in a truly remarkable manner.

First, as dispatches [coming out of the country] indicate, Russian thinkers of the day have concluded that there will no longer be a Tsar and instead the country is to be a republic. If the previous Tsar had been succeeded by another monarch, critics could have challenged the truth of the prophecy by arguing that one Tsar had been replaced by another who ruled in his stead in a far from wretched condition. However, the decision to form a republic means that the Tsardom has ended for good.

Secondly, the words of the prophecy indicated that the removal of the Tsar would happen in a manner other than through the murder of [Nichols II]; one who is killed cannot be said to suffer a pitiable plight. Misery can only accompany those who live and whose state of affairs so deteriorates that they are more helpless than their previous condition. And it was exactly such [a calamity] that overtook the Tsar. Instead of being executed [straight away], he was arrested and forced to abdicate and the entire world was witness to his unenviable end.

Thirdly, this prophecy was fulfilled in such a way that it is possible for us to freely publicise it and this in itself is proof of God Almighty’s power. If the torment of the Tsar had been inflicted at the hands of the Germans or if the administration established after his abdication had not continued a cordial relationship with the British, the prevailing political climate would have prevented the publication of this prophecy. However, as prophecies such as this are meant for the guidance of people, God Almighty Himself brings about the means for their dissemination when they are finally fulfilled. With regards to the current prophecy, the overthrow of the Tsar did not occur in a manner which ran counter to the interests of the British government and, therefore, news of its fulfilment could be easily broadcast. This shows that the prophecy emanated from God Almighty Who not only foretold an event [of such momentous significance], but also brought about the means for its proclamation.

In closing, I call on people regardless of their religion, creed or country to consider whether or not this magnificent sign is ample proof that the person through whom it has been manifested is from God Almighty and from among those whom God sends. If not, then it will have to be conceded that the truth of any prophet cannot be verified.

My dear people, owing to the spread of iniquity and corruption, Allah the Exalted has willed to rehabilitate the world through truth and righteousness and to set it again on the path of virtue and piety. The mercy of our benevolent God, Who has always sent guides in times of disbelief and ever raised the sun of righteousness when darkness prevails, demands that the current age is not deprived of His compassion. Thus He has sent His messenger and opened the doors to His nearness. Let those whose hearts are filled with love and whose souls anxiously desire to prostrate before His threshold come forward, for the time of the fulfilment of God’s desire has drawn close and the hour for the realization of His longing is at hand. Is not the fact that the followers of all religions are presently deprived of the supreme blessings which, by their own admission attended their forbears, enough to open the eyes of the wise. The followers of all faiths admit that their elders were recipients of divine revelation while they themselves are not. Are there no pious souls out there who would ponder why the door to revelation has been closed after having been open before? Surely this demonstrates that these religions have strayed from the guidance on which they were once set upon? How unfortunate that they blame God for these circumstances rather than confess their own shortcomings. They say God Almighty has closed the door to divine revelation without reason. People today act with the same piety as they did in the past, but God does not grant them the gift of revelation. However, they have failed to understand that God Almighty is ever ready to confer His bounties, and only their own abandonment of the path of divine pleasure has deprived them of these blessings. God speaks today just as He did before. He has spoken in this age to His Holiness, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah(as) and indeed thousands of his followers.

People of India! Regardless of what community, religion or language group you belong to, I call on you to cherish that favour of God which He has bestowed upon you out of His Grace. For a prophet to come in any country is a source of great honour and is such a divine reward that nations yearn for it. Be glad that in this age God has chosen India, the country of your residence. People of various nations longed for this favour and all people desired that their country be chosen for this reward. But the grace of God chose India as the place for this favour. Thus, o’ people of India no amount of rejoicing over this is sufficient. Can there be any greater foolishness than that God Almighty confers a reward on a country and its people choose to reject it? Therefore, hurry towards the truth for there you will find both worldly and religious honour. Those days are near when the name of India will be elevated through the Promised Messiah(as). Indeed, they are so close at hand that the first light of dawn has broken. Thus do not be unmindful and do not be like a person in whose home there is a spring of water and people from all over set up camp around it and partake of its water, while he himself aches with thirst but does not try and drink from it. Fortunate souls from various countries are seizing the robe of the chosen one of God Almighty and thereby receiving spiritual blessings. So pity on this nation which despite being close is far away and despite being so near is remote and distant. The water of the Ganges is flowing in your homes. Bathe in its blessed water and cleanse yourself of your impurities, for in the sight of God it is not a person who washes himself in physical water who is clean, but rather one who purifies himself with the water of spirituality.

Again, I remind you o’ people of India that to look after one’s own honour is a natural inclination which is rooted in all human beings even if people differ in their level of merit. Numerous people unjustly ascribe all honourable things to their own person. One need only look at the state of the Muslims who have made replicas of gravestones or other such monuments which commemorate famous individuals throughout the world and then falsely claim that the replicas they have erected are in fact the authentic memorial. The same is true of the Hindus. There are numerous places which claim to be the place of birth or former place of residence of a past saint, because this elevates the honour of that site. When so much effort is made to acquire such false and fabricated honour, then why is true honour eschewed. Cherish the reward of God for this is for your betterment. If God has graced you with His favour this also brings with it great responsibility. The wrath of God strikes against those who reject His favours. Therefore, you must decide in your hearts whether the grace of God or His anger is more acceptable to you. Know well that no one has the strength to endure the wrath of God. Therefore, welcome His favour and bring faith in His avatar and chosen one to find peace both in this world and in the hereafter.

People of Europe and America! You have availed the material creation of God Almighty and greatly benefited from it and resultantly the secrets of the arts and sciences have been disclosed to you. Is this not then a sufficient incentive for you to explore the spiritual world so that you may achieve even greater success? Your own eyes are currently witness to the might of God Almighty. You are in a better position to recognise the gravity of the present World War and the pitiable plight of the Tsar than other people of the world. Profit from the signs of God Almighty so that you may become heirs to His grace. The Islam presented to you by the Christian clergy is a distortion and far removed from the truth. True Islam is a trove of abundant spiritual treasure as cannot be equalled by any other faith. [Jesus(as)] the Messiah once said that a tree is recognised by its fruit. Do not look at Islam from the perspective by which its enemies wish you to see it. Instead look at it from the perspective shown to you by the Messiah(as). See for yourself how sweet are the fruits borne by Islam. At the present time there is no religion in the world capable of furnishing living proof of its truth except for Islam. It alone provides evidence of its life and only by following it can a person come to speak with God. So accept it and bring faith in that prophet (the Promised Messiah(as)) who attained his station from God through his complete loyalty to the Holy Prophet(sa) and by following the sharia of Islam. In this way you will be counted among those who follow all the commandments of God Almighty and accept all His prophets and the [resting] soul of [Jesus] the Messiah(as) will be pleased with you. For only those who truly accept [Jesus(as)] can also accept him who has come in his likeness. And those who reject the like of [Jesus(as)] also reject him in whose name he came.

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With Humility,
Mirza Mahmud Ahmad
Qadian, 4 April 1917